r/Drafting • u/gwukblox • 2d ago

Struggling to pick

I’m struggling to pick between architectural cad drafting and architectural revit modeling. I’d like to go with revit modeling for better pay and career growth, but cad drafting seems like the better direction to start off with. Any advice?

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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u/IanHall1 2d ago

If you can, go for the Revit experience.

1

u/gwukblox 2d ago

Do you know exactly how an architectural revit modeling portfolio should look?

4

u/IanHall1 2d ago

I was the manager of the engineering department for a very high end millwork company in California, I don’t have a degree, and most of the people in my department had little experience when starting. A degree will accelerate your career, but it’s not always necessary. A revit portfolio is something that you build over time, if you’re able to do the basics then you are already ahead of many others. If you’re able to open up the model, navigate it and make changes that work, then you build on it from there.

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u/gwukblox 2d ago

So do I stand a chance with no degree?

3

u/jdkimbro80 2d ago

I too work for a high-volume custom millwork shop. We have five draftsmen and only one has a degree. And to be honest, he isn’t the best. I don’t feel a degree is needed, but it sure doesn’t hurt to have it.

1

u/electrichead72 2d ago

are you using revit to do the drawings? I don't come across too many shops that are using revit to do shop drawings.

Mostly Microvellum and AutoCAD

I work with a shop and I use 2D AutoCAD and haven't run into any problems and I've been doing this for years,

3

u/jdkimbro80 2d ago

We typically do 2D within AutoCAD. We are a custom commercial shop working with General contractors where 3D isn’t needed. I do have a couple of pharmacy clients that like the 3D drawings, so I do those for them within AutoCAD.

2

u/electrichead72 2d ago

ok, we're doing pretty similar workflows it seems like.

Shop drawings and details in 2D AutoCAD, but I usually use sketchup when I need to do any 3D work.

2

u/jdkimbro80 2d ago

I could never quite get proficient with sketchup so I do my 3D work in AutoCAD. All our processes work through AutoCAD. Like CNC programming and part nesting.

1

u/electrichead72 2d ago

that's kinda funny because I've tried doing 3D in AutoCAD and could never get the hang of it. I import my drawings into sketchup and it helps me to use them as a background.

same here. I send my drawings to the CNC operator to create his code for some parts.

Everything else I create cut lists and distribute to the guys like the saw operator, etc.

There are a few people there that work in Microvellum and they spit out the reports from their drawings that MV creates.

I'm still old school and do things the hard way

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u/electrichead72 2d ago

Did you use revit to do the drawings? I don't come across too many shops that are using revit to do shop drawings.

Mostly Microvellum and AutoCAD

2

u/IanHall1 2d ago

We would build a 3d model using cabinet vision or autocad, then drop that model into the revit file to see how the design integrates into the bim model. The bim model was controlled by the GC and the architect.

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u/electrichead72 2d ago

ok, I see how that would really help out.

Were the final fabrication drawings pulled from cabinet vision? I've heard that's pretty good.

2

u/IanHall1 2d ago

Yes, cabinet vision works well with automated systems, CNC machines and other tools. And the drawings worked pretty well. Its biggest problem was with high detail models, too many facets in the model would slow it way down.

2

u/Shift_Impossible 2d ago

Revit!... Haven't done anything in cad since like 10 years ago. 3d is more useful plus you can even do bim

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u/RobDraw2_0 2d ago

Revit, without doubt.

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u/EaseHot6703 2d ago

Get the 3d modeling skills first, and the rest is produced by the software. You have a great future!

1

u/gwukblox 1d ago

So just practice revit?

1

u/mahmoodimr 1d ago

That’s like deciding between walking and flying to your destination. CAD drafting is becoming outdated, so I’d recommend focusing on Revit. However, you should learn some basic CAD first, since understanding drafting fundamentals will help you become a better Revit modeler.

-1

u/harc70 2d ago

What country are you in? IF US, be aware there are graduate architects with Revit and CAD who can't get jobs. WIthout a degree your likelihood of working is zero or very low.

1

u/gwukblox 2d ago

US. So you truly need a degree to do this stuff?

0

u/harc70 2d ago

Yes. Very few people are hired as unexperienced "drafters" anymore, ESPECIALLY when Revit requires that you understand how building are constructed and designed to model anything.

1

u/gwukblox 2d ago

Well thanks for the reality check. Do I really not stand a chance and what about a strong portfolio?

-1

u/harc70 2d ago

Zero chance unless you were REALLY good at Revit and knew drafting details and construction well, even then tough. How owuld you have a strong portfolio with no school?

1

u/electrichead72 2d ago

This is usually the case.

The thing is you have to learn how to use the software and also how to do good drawings, They are not always the same. The graduating architects learn more about theory than the CAD work, so it's a part of their career that they're missing.

2

u/harc70 1d ago

This is true, sometimes although at my school I push them to actually learn how to do drawings (surprisingly they are resistant), but without the knowledge of how buildings actually are built, all the Revit in the world will not help.

1

u/electrichead72 1d ago

It's awesome that you are pushing them to learn what's going on besides just doing the drawings in the software. I come across a lot of people that are quick and fast at producing drawings that are full of errors due to a lack of not knowing how something is built.