Problem
A successful 3D design is a great thing. But, even in the 3D world, the 2D drawing is almost always your actual contract with your supplier. A very real challenge can be whether component and assembly drawings –
- Create all necessary functional points of vendor accountability.
- Maintain a representation of design intent.
- Communicate requirements clearly to the supplier.
- A substantial innovative effort may be lost if not communicated in a way that both Client and Vendor understand.
Action
- Meet or speak with the suppliers –
- Solicit their input in fabrication, and even in design, to best utilize their performance and economic strengths.
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- Assure that their understanding of the specifications is our understanding.
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- Make sure the supplier is ready to give my client (and also me) feedback on specifications that run contrary, in some way, to their process.
- Assembly and Fabrication Drawings: Create 2D Acrobat PDF, JPEG, 3D PDF, STEP, STL, and other formats.
- Revision-track all documents going to the Client and to the Vendors.
Result
The simple results are that your design drawings work for you, are understood equally by both the Client and the Supplier. This substantially reduces the chances of the Client receiving something different than intended.
