When it comes to CAD design software, the first thing that probably comes to mind is AutoCAD, and rightfully so. It was first released in 1982, essentially giving birth to the PC-based CAD (computer-aided design) movement as we know it. Since then, AutoCAD has become a household name in most AEC firms.
During the mid-to-late 2000s, many architectural, engineering, and construction offices throughout the country purchased Kip 3100 plotters and MFP units.
Nearly everyone is energy conscious today, and that can be a good thing. But sometimes "no good deed goes unpunished." You have probably experienced this with some of your office technology. This is especially true after the impact of COVID 19 forced many workers home and away from the office.
This motivated business leaders to simply close the office space and shut down all the equipment while the staff was away. Unfortunately, this can be a bad and costly move when it comes to a CAD plotter at an architecture firm or construction company. Here's how you can prevent problems from inactive plotter equipment.
The new Canon imagePROGRAF TZ 30000 is here, and it is specifically engineered to be the fastest imagePROGRAF plotter ever. It’s packed with a multitude of new technologies to make your work easier than ever before. See how the new TZ automations outmatch of all inkjet CAD plotters that came before it.
AutoCAD® and BricsCAD® are two well-known CAD software platforms. They share some similarities but are also quite different from one another.
If you considering a new CAD solution or looking to make the change, hopefully this article will provide some helpful context so you can compare the two.
Guest article by Renata Jolene
Picture source: pexels.com
The pandemic has necessitated rapid innovation across every sector, and the construction industry is no exception. In fact, in the 2020 JLL’s State of Construction Tech report, senior analyst Henry D’Esposito said,
Despite all the digital advancements in the AEC industry over the past few years, the concept of a completely paperless office just does not exist. There is still a need for paper plans, maps, and other large images.
So, a plotter is still very much a viable piece of equipment for any architectural, engineering, and construction offices. But there are more options now than ever. The choices can be daunting. So, this article will help narrow down the important aspects of how to buy a plotter today.
Just look around new construction sites and you will spot plenty of Tyvek material. It is the plastic “wrap” that builders use to provide a moisture barrier on newly constructed homes and buildings.
But, Tyvek has other uses besides wrapping new construction projects. It is also used for shipping envelopes (Think FedEx), luggage tags and even as an extremely durable print media. Canon Solutions America provides a version branded as Océ Tyvek Banner, but some users have complained about problems with printing on the Océ Tyvek Paper.
Once this issue is investigated, however, it usually turns out to be user error.
Many years ago, someone gave me the awesome advice of, “you have to be willing to give up who you are for who you may become.” It looks like Troy DeGroot is living by that creed with his launch of U Chapter 2 - his company dedicated to Bluebeam training – empowering people to get the most out of Bluebeam Revu.
Canon recently announced their latest additions to their imagePROGRAF line of large format printers with new hybrid solutions, the imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 and imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 multifunction printer (MFP) Z36.
When it comes to construction projects, Subcontractors (Subs) are the heart and soul of any job. General Contractors and Architects rely on their Subs (HVAC, plumbing, lighting, electrical, concrete, etc.) to complete the project on time and under budget. So, efficiency and productivity are the keys to subcontractor success.
But, it is a changing world and some subcontractors have issues adapting to some of the shifting business dynamics within the construction industry. The entire construction workflow us much more digital. Though this change has dramatically decreased the need to print hard copies of construction drawings, the need still exists.
Plotting needs have certainly changed, but have not gone away completely. In fact, construction-related printing is still very vital, but dynamic. So, every contractor should have access to a wide-format plotter, for a variety of reasons.
When it comes to working with construction plan revisions, speed is certainly a factor. Given the current construction labor shortage, the expectation is for more key people to do more work, make less errors, and still finish projects on time.
So, when a speed hack is discovered, it doesn’t take long for others to jump on board. This is why Bluebeam Revu software might just be muscle that companies need to supercharge comparing construction plan revisions.
See why Revu can be one of your most powerful weapons in your arsenal when it comes to finding changes in document revisions quickly.
This article was first published in 2013 and updated in 2021.
Anyone associated to the construction industry is aware that Building Information management (BIM) software solutions are more commonplace than ever - and with good reason. Over the past few years, the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) market has experienced a massive transformation and BIM has been a huge driver of change.
Guest post by Mark Senior, PointFuse
One positive outcome of the Coronavirus pandemic is that it has forced the AEC industry to take a long hard look at its relationship with digital tools. As construction sites closed across the country, firms up and down the AEC supply chain looked for new ways to keep work moving – with some turning to digital tools for the very first time.
Brian Kennard
Dawn Higgs
Donnie Schopp
Kevin Vaughan
Rick Hiller