Standards for CAD Drafting

Standards are important in CAD drafting to maintain consistency in a project.

When drafting a project, it is highly important that consistent standards are applied across the project. If drawings are not standardized, then they can become confusing to read, so costly mistakes could be made.

National Standards

Most countries have their own standards organization, each of which will publish a standards document for computer-aided design (CAD) drafting. These standards usually apply by industry, so engineers would use a different standard than an architect. You must, therefore, be clear about which national standard you are following in a project.

Company Standards

Many companies have built their own set of standards. These often reflect drafting practices within the company. Some standards are created around the features of the CAD software used in that industry. These standards may not follow the national standard.

Contents of a Standard

Whether you use an existing standard or create one for your project, CAD standards generally include the following: Llayer naming conventions, color conventions and text and dimensioning conventions. These are all included in a standards manual, which should be adhered to. Standards checking and enforcement are often part of a CAD manager's job.

References

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers CAD Standards
• National CAD Standards