Seeking Advice on Getting into Scaffold Design and AutoCAD Add-Ons

[Tubular technician]

Hi all,


I’m currently halfway through my HNC in Civil Engineering, and I’ve decided that scaffold design is the path I want to pursue for my future career. I’ve been an advanced scaffolder for a few years now (I'm 26), and I really enjoy the technical side of the job, which has led me to this new direction.


I’m hoping to get some advice from anyone here who has made the transition into scaffold design or is currently working in the field. Specifically, I’m interested in:

1. How did you get started in scaffold design? What kind of qualifications or experience helped you move into this role, and what steps should I take to further my knowledge in this area?
2. What AutoCAD add-ons or software tools do you recommend for scaffold design? Im starting to learn the basics of AutoCad , through online YouTube tutorials and start the design module for the course in September. I’d like to know what extra add ons or programs I should be using to help with creating scaffolding layouts, 3D models, and ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated. I’m committed to making this career change and want to make sure I’m on the right track.


Thanks in advance!

 

[AshReactive]

I started straight out of school as an apprentice, but I know the transition from spanner to calculator is quite a desirable one at the moment.

I'd really recommend trying to foster a relationship with a local design company, (or even better, join one). This will help mentor you and give you access to all the data you need to reference. Sadly drafting really is just the tip of the iceberg. Balancing the drafting, calculating, buildability and safety aspects into a single design is where it get's really tricky.

As an Advanced, I'll assume you'll have buildability fairly sussed, and you'll be able to draw on your experience for safety aspects in sectors your familiar with (although they do tend to change fairly regularly) so you're right to start on drafting and I'm sure calculations will come later.

With regards to drafting, I've always used 2D software via programs like AutoCAD and BricsCAD and due to who I've worked for and the project's I've done, I've not yet had the need to learn 3D, but it's on the horizon for all of us in line with the sectors we works in.

I wouldn't say you need any add on's as such, most tubes can be represented by a 48mm polyline or a 48mm circle depending on where you view it from, boards are the same and I tend to only show couplers on details. Blocks are also really helpful for bit's like couplers and can usually be found online with a bit of digging. But I actually advise people to take one home and draw it themselves as a drafting practice.

If you're using AutoCAD, Polyline really is you're best friend and a tool you'll want to master fairly early on. Then comes Copy selection for duplicating items at regular controlled intervals and then things like trim, mirror

I'd start by drawing your own component library, then draw up a building (or import one off a planning website), then start wrapping various scaffolds round that building. Tied Independents, Freestanding Independents, Raking shores, Flying Shores, Roofs.

You can also draw the things you've erected yourself and see if there's anything you'd change about it.

All in all though muck, best of luck and best of resolve. It's a long journey and one that doesn't have many rewards that aren't self given.