The BEST grind for Architect is Crafting stations once you can make them. Don't worry about the sub-combines, you can make them without the sub components (they are optional). Use practice mode.
All you need is metal and LOTS of it. You will go through probably 800k+ of metal to grind to master, but you get BUTTLOADS of xp for crafting stations (because they use so many resources). I made master Architect in about 3 days of playing part time grinding crafting stations.
This is not a poor man's approach though. You will need buttloads of metal and that is expensive if you don't mine it (and even if you do). My suggestion would be get harvesters going as soon as possible and use all mineral harvesters (as high an extraction rate as you can find) and look for steel. Usually steel seems to come in the highest concentrations that I have found (but any metal will do, if you find a 98% copper, jump on it!). Mine your heart out. You may even have to do something that seems counterproductive and sell some of your resources (you will need money for power and to keep the harvesters running). As soon as I was able I got a Fusion-Ion generator and started getting my own power (that helps save a LOT of money). If you can find a good radioactive deposit of stuff with a high PE you can run the other 9 harvesters off that one fusion generator.
You can do all this while working on your artisan stuff. Also find a good route for artisan missions (personally I used Moenia-Deeja Peak, they were 1300+ each and you could get two each way for netting about 5k per trip once you take out travel costs). Once you have about 500k of metal stockpiled and some good amount of money, start flushing it down the drain making crafting stations and watch your xp FLY. The money comes in handy too if you don't want to wait to find a trainer. I camped in front of the architect trainer in Theed and ground, trained, ground, trained. Took me longer to get the AP points for master than it did to get from novice to 4/4/4/4!
Last point of advice on AP points. Pick up some pistol and ranged combat skills and some scouting (you want exploration 2 anyway for mask scent when you go checking your harvesters). You will have a much easier time finding people to train in that than in artisan/architect skills.
Hope this helps.
Squiddi McSquid
Master Artisan, Master Architect, Master Merchant
Kettemoor Server