Stuck between a 2D detail and a 3D model for a client's rush job

Had a client yesterday who needed a quick turnaround on a steel bracket for a machine shop in Tacoma. They gave me the basic specs and I had to choose: bang out a fast 2D detail drawing, or build a full 3D model first and then detail from that. I went with the 2D route to save time, figuring I could get the shop a PDF in under an hour. Big mistake. The shop foreman called back with five questions about clearances and weld access that would have been obvious in a 3D view. I ended up spending double the time answering emails and making redlines. In my experience, that initial time saving is almost never worth the back-and-forth. Has anyone else found that taking the extra twenty minutes to model something simple actually saves you a headache later?

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3 Comments

barbara_campbell6mo ago

Depends on the shop, honestly.

8

the_angela6mo ago

Even the time of day can change things...

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cooper.phoenix6mo ago

Notice how the light hits things differently in the morning versus the afternoon. That golden hour before sunset makes colors look totally different than they do under harsh noon light. It can completely change how you see a color on a wall or a piece of fabric.

1