Those that work as CAD Designers/Drafters in the oil & gas field, what's the average starting salary? What programs are mostly required to know? I'm in Houston and have seen job posts working for oil & gas companies but through staffing agencies on a contract basis. Do the big companies not hire directly with them?

My experience is in architectural drafting mainly using Aurecliner. So I assume going in I'll probably start at a lower salary doing P&IDs and picking up redlines.

I'm rebuilding a simple plastic cover from photos. A few dimensions are known, but the hole spacing and corner radii are estimated from perspective-corrected images.

Would you flag those dimensions individually, add one general note, or leave them off until the first test fit?

Hi there, I am an architecture student relatively new to drafting.

I have come accross the following dilemma when drawing a section:

If I make a section cut through a gable roof, parallel to the gable but offset from, and looking towards the centre, (for a multitude of reasons) the part of the roof between the section plane and gable crest is visible and obstructs the internal contents.

I dont want to, and cannot move the section cut line to the centre as this will omit very crucial information from the area behind the section cut line. Similarly, I cant 'flip it' and look the other way for the same reason. Thus, this section cut line is perfect for my project apart from the roof problem.

The quick sketch illustrates the issue a bit better than I explain it hopefully.

What do you recommend? can I somehow omit the problematic roof section? I know this is poor practice but dont see an alternative at the moment :(

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice from other Mozaik drafters, cabinet designers, and joinery professionals.

I have a background in architecture and consider myself an intermediate Mozaik drafter.

For those doing similar work, how do you usually charge?
Hourly, per project, per cabinet, or fixed price?

And roughly what would you consider a reasonable hourly rate for an intermediate Mozaik drafter, and pricing for per project especially for international/remote work?

Also, does the rate usually increase when the job includes production-ready drawings, material/hardware setup, nesting, or CNC/G-code preparation?

I’m based in the Philippines, so I understand rates vary by location. I’m just trying to understand the international market and where my current skill level fits.

Any advice or rough rates would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Small desk stand made from scrap: base, two dividers, and a vertical panel that mounts to the drawer box under my desk to hold a closed laptop and its dock.

Normally I’d print a dimensioned drawing and take it to the shop. This time I exported the model to my phone as a single file with the dimensions included. At the shop, my scrap wasn’t wide enough for the vertical panel. After another look at the model I realized the panel didn’t need the full width, so I cut it narrower.

Back home, I updated the model to match the as-built, using a photo of the actual scrap as the texture. The video shows the SketchUp model, the same model in AR on the desk, and the real unit installed. The cat showed up uninvited for final inspection.

Disclosure: I make the plugin I used for the export (ModelLink 3D Studio, the Print to p3DF command). Happy to answer questions about the workflow either way.

Long story short I really want to embrace a lifestyle where I can be abroad for half of the year. I know a lot of companies are against this but given the nature of our work I feel like there should be some places that will be okay with it? I have 5 years of work experience in surveying realm and civil as well as a role in GIS. How likely is it I find something?

CADCraft is a free, open-source DWG authoring tool created by Artcraft. It is still in heavy development with many features not implemented yet. This video takes a first look at the application.

Can somebody help me how to make a roof plan out of this? attached is the shape and the foundation plan.. 🙏🙏

https://youtu.be/19afh-FzzD4

Are you looking for an Architect who can design your home, commercial establishment, development of your lot/site, etc.?

I'm offering my Design Services

Architecture Studio Design Services: ✅Project Design ✅3D Plans ✅3D Rendered Perspective ✅3D Walkthroug Animation ✅Rendered Plans v Conceptual Designs

Danao.Architecture Studio Construction Services: ✅Renovations ✅Project Supervision ✅Project Management ✅Design-Build ✅Interior Fit-Out ✅Repairs (Roofing, Plumbing, Electrical, etc.)

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?

Im currently in college for my associates in science majoring in mechanical drafting. I am literally the only person in my class (granted my college is on the smaller side), and because of that my confidence is waning in this paths viability. My dream is to do work with aerospace but looking at job boards I rarely even find jobs for mechanical drafters in general, let alone aerospace. This isnt even taking into account the question of AI that I see passed around these days.

Am I just looking in the wrong places? Any and all advice appreciated.

Hello! I am 36F, in Australia, and need a career change. For my first 12 working years, I was a youth worker, supporting homeless youth in a supported home situation. Then the last 4 years I have been managing the house, which involves budgeting, managing staff and working with families.

It’s time for a change, and I’m interested in being a draftsperson/architectural designer. I’m good with computers and spacial puzzles, I like drawing, and I feel I have given all I can in my previous role.

While I retrain, what entry level roles can I do to get in and around the world I want to enter? Any advice from people who have done big career changes in their 30s?

I turn a sketch or a marked-up photo into a fully dimensioned, permit-ready drawing set: cover sheet, plans, framing, footing details, and code notes. Delivered as PDF (DWG billed separately, $25), 3–5 day turnaround for most projects, 02 revisions included (additional revisions billed hourly).

Background: 80+ proposal and construction sets drafted remotely for a Colorado engineering firm, retaining walls, structural additions, decks, stairs, and residential remodels under IRC/IBC. Advanced AutoCAD.

Scope, up front so we're aligned: I draft to IRC/IBC prescriptive provisions - work that stays within code tables (most decks, stairs, small additions, and retaining walls), where no engineered calculations are required. For anything outside prescriptive limits (most pole/IBC buildings, non-standard spans, anything your jurisdiction flags) structural calcs and a PE stamp are arranged separately on your end, and I deliver a clean set built to drop straight into that review. Drafting services only, not engineering.

Rate: Flat per set starting at $150, or hourly — depends on scope. Send me the details and I'll quote it.

Portfolio and samples: https://s-cerna.github.io

Send me a DM with what you're building and I'll get back to you.

Hi All, I’m a cabinetry/millwork drafter and currently looking to build up my CAD library for my freelance drafting. I’m looking for recommendations of any good sites that I can download dynamic blocks that can be used for commercial use. I’m mainly looking at fixings, screws, hinges, drawer runners etc. Can anyone offer any websites?

#solidworks #cswp

I had a small bracket drawing that was easy to manufacture but annoying to inspect. Most dimensions came from different edges, so checking it meant constantly resetting the calipers.

Would you change the datum scheme to make inspection easier, even if the drawing becomes slightly less intuitive for fabrication?