engineering

Architects – Stay Safe and Work from Home

Architects – Stay Safe and Work from Home

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Work from home, they are telling us. These are times unlike any that we have seen in recent memory. There is a global pandemic, that has forced the world economy to come to a screeching halt. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all of our lives. Stay at home orders, social distancing rules, face-covering requirements and business closures. Many are not working, and many are working from home. If you are a designer, it may no longer be difficult to work from home.

Have a Remodel? We Can Help

Plans to CAD
Converting architectural, engineering, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and landscape plans to CAD.

PDF to CAD

Send over your PDF plan to have it converted to fully layered vector CAD file.

Many times, we have clients who want changes to their existing home or business. An addition, second floor, updated electrical, more water efficient landscape. You could go to the site, take measurements, redraw the building in CAD, and make your changes from there. You could also get the original plans from the client, or local building department, and have the plans scanned, and sent to us to give you a fully layered CAD file. That way you can make your changes directly to the original plans. We can have the the plans back to you in as little as 24 hours.

Skilled CAD Drafters

CAD drafters team
Our team of highly skilled drafters can complete your drawing quickly and accurately.

Our team of over 100 skilled 2D and 3D designers are efficient and accurate. Delivering sharp, accurate design, for you to present to homeowners, builders or subcontractors. The Convert2AutoCAD team uses the best practices for layer names and colors.

Serving More Than Just Architects

Serving all design industries
We serve more than just architects.

Architects make up the majority of our customers, but we also serve many other industries. Some examples are health care, fabrication, engineering, construction, education, public works, government, defense, biotech, craft beer and wine, fashion, and tech. We are located in the United States, but we serve clients worldwide.

Posted by Michael Mellor
Engineering Scales and Equivalents Chart

Engineering Scales and Equivalents Chart

We have a handy PDF file showing engineering and map scales, and their decimal and fractional equivalents. This is an easy to use chart so you can convert to different scales. We have found this useful for converting fractional scale to feet per inch, inches per 1000 feet, inches per mile, meters per inch, acres per square inch, square inches per acre, and square mile per square inch.

Download a printable PDF version of this chart at the link below.

Posted by Michael Mellor

AutoCAD Scale Factor Charts

AutoCAD Scale Factors Charts

Here are some simple charts to help you convert drawing scale to scale factor, for working in CAD

Convert your PDF to AutoCAD

Architectural Scales

Drawing
Scale
Scale
Factor
Viewport
Scale
Decimal
Scale
1/16″ = 1′-0″ 192 1/192xp .0625″ = 1′-0″
3/32″ = 1′-0″ 128 1/128xp .09375″ = 1′-0″
1/8″ = 1′-0″ 96 1/96xp .125″ = 1′-0″
3/16″ = 1′-0″ 64 1/64xp .1875″ = 1′-0″
1/4″ = 1′-0″ 48 1/48xp .25″ = 1′-0″
3/8″ = 1′-0″ 32 1/32xp .375″ = 1′-0″
1/2″ = 1′-0″ 24 1/24xp .50″ = 1′-0″
3/4″ = 1′-0″ 16 1/16xp .75″ = 1′-0″
1″ = 1′-0″ 12 1/12xp 1″ = 1′-0″
1 1/2″ = 1′-0″ 8 1/8xp 1.5″ = 1′-0″
3″ = 1′-0″ 4 1/4xp  3″ = 1′-0″

Engineering Scales

DRAWING SCALE SCALE FACTOR VIEWPORT SCALE
1″ = 10′-0″ 120 1/120xp
1″ = 20′-0″ 240 1/240xp
1″ = 30′-0″ 360 1/360xp
1″ = 40′-0″ 480 1/480xp
1″ = 50′-0″ 600 1/600xp
1″= 60′-0″ 720 1/720xp
1″ = 70′-0″ 840 1/840xp
1″ = 80′-0″ 960 1/960xp
1″ = 90′-0″ 1080 1/1080xp
1″ = 100′-0″ 1200 1/1200xp

We can convert your PDF files to fully layered AutoCAD DWG files.

 

Send us your PDF for a free quote.

PDF to CAD

Send over your PDF plan to have it converted to fully layered vector CAD file.
Posted by Michael Mellor in AutoCAD tips
Most used AutoCAD keyboard shortcuts

Most used AutoCAD keyboard shortcuts

Here are the most commonly used AutoCAD 2018 keyboard shortcuts.

Get more work done!

Keyboard shortcuts help you do navigate AutoCAD much quicker than clicking with the mouse. Get to know these commands to speed up your productivity. Print up this chart of keyboard shortcuts for AutoCAD 2018. We can save you more time by converting PDF plans to DWG AutoCAD files. From there, you can simply edit in AutoCAD. Contact us for a free quote.

PDF to CAD

Send over your PDF plan to have it converted to fully layered vector CAD file.
KeypressCommandDescription
F1HELPCalls for Help screen
F2TEXTSCRToggles the Text screen display
F3OSNAPToggles Object Snap mode
F43DOSNAPToggles 3D Object Snap mode
F5ISOPLANEToggles Isoplane mode
F63DOSNAPToggles 3D Snap to Plane mode
F7GRIDMODEToggles Grid mode
F8ORTHOToggles Ortho mode
F9SNAPToggles Snap mode
F10POLARToggles Polar mode
F11OTRACKToggles Object Track mode
F12DYNMODEToggles Dynamic Input mode
Ctrl+SaveQSAVESaves the drawing
Ctrl+OpenOPENDisplays the Select File dialog box
Ctrl+PPLOTDisplays the Plot dialog box
Ctrl+Tab Switches to the next open drawing
Ctrl+PgUp Switches to the next tab in the current drawing
Ctrl+PgDn Switches to the previous tab in the current drawing

For more shortcuts, visit the AutoCAD website.

Posted by Michael Mellor
How do we convert to AutoCAD?

How do we convert to AutoCAD?

How do we convert to AutoCAD?

Hint: it’s not just done in seconds with software

One of the most common questions is, “how do you do it?” We take your file and redraw each line in AutoCAD.  This is much much more complex than simply using software to convert the the image to vector.  This ensures a quick, and accurate AutoCAD file, that can be manipulated just as it was designed by an architect or engineer. We can convert any type of plan, including architectural, landscape, interior, engineering, plumbing, electrical, and schematics.  This is also a good way to clean up hand drawn plans.

How this saves you money

Some people will say, “well I can do that on my own”, and that is true, but we do it for only $85 to $150 per page. That rate is very affordable for a project that can take you many hours. You cannot hire a drafter to redraw your plans for the price that we charge. This gives you more time, and higher profits. We can also do this for large jobs. We can have them done in batches of 100 for you, every month.

We convert the following types of plans:

  • Architectural
  • Structural
  • Engineering
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Grading
  • Landscape
  • Mechanical
  • Shop Drawings
  • Topographic Maps

We work with the following industries:

  • Construction
  • Building
  • Surveying
  • Health Care
  • Government
  • Education (Universities, K-12, Colleges)
  • Biotechnology
  • Software Development
  • General Contracting
  • Defense
  • Coastal Commissions
  • Airports

We work in all Autodesk applications. Convert2AutoCAD is a small, independently owned company located in Del Mar, California. No job is too small or too large. Contact us for a fast quote today.

Posted by Michael Mellor