CADalyst articles from April 2002

CADalyst archives from April 2002

One CAD program for everyone?(Editorial)
April 1, 2002... Not anytime soon. Yet we often hear from readers who take us to task for recommending CAD program A, when everyone knows that CAD program B--the one they just happen to use--is the world's best. Perhaps the problem is one of semantics....

Dialog box : Readers talk to us.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... Thank you, Tony! I would like to thank Tony Hotchkiss for his help, knowledge, and expertise in creating an AutoLISP routine to add one of four coversheets to our drawings (see p. 56 for the routine). As a small design firm specializing in...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
April 1, 2002... In the March issue we had some technical difficulties. Code printed in Lessons in Programming and AutoCAD Clinic lost all quote marks ('/''). The code is correct in the download.

Autodesk to buy Revit.
April 1, 2002... Autodesk announced plans to buy AEC competitor Revit for $133 million in cash. The Revit AEC design product uses parametric modeling technology to create a single 3D building model. Autodesk's Architectural Desktop also is a 3D building...

ALLIANCES.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... EDS and Autodesk announced a preliminary agreement to establish interoperability between applications based on Parasolid and Shape Manager, Autodesk's new proprietary kernel. The companies will develop a direct link between the two kernels to...

BUSINESS.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... LightWork Design, a developer of component graphics software, spun off its NavisWorks division into a separate company. NavisWorks Ltd. will focus on visualization and interference-checking products for the AEC industry. LightWork Design will...

Hardware : 190 monitor.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Dell announced the Dell 1900FP for $1,299. The 190 flat-panel monitor offers viewing angles of up to 858 from all sides of the monitor. The 1900FP offers SXGA resolution at 60Hz with a 25ms response time, according to the company. Its PVA...

Hardware : LCD Display.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... The new Silicon Graphics F180 ($1,495) 18.10 digital flat-panel display uses AIPS (advanced in-plane switching) technology in the LCD and offers 128031024 resolution in a 1.3-megapixel format screen, according to the company. The F180 also...

Hardware : 3D laser scanner.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... MENSI, Inc., announced the release of GS100 Geomatic 3D Scanner (call for pricing) that scans bridges, tunnels, architecture, infrastructure, process plants, and facilities. It recognizes scanned data combined with color images of the objects...

Hardware : Wide-format solution.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... The Ricoh FW780 ($7,462) and FW770 ($5,465) wide-format copiers from Ricoh Corp. produce four copies per minute and can hold up to two roll feeders for large jobs, according to the company. The FW780 makes up to ten copies at a time and lets...

Hardware : Graphics tablet pen.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... The new Intuos2 ($99.99) DesignerPen from Wacom Technology Corp. works with all Wacom Intuos2 graphics tablets. The pen features the com-pany's patented cordless, battery-free technology with 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity. The pen tip...

Hardware : Wide-format plotters.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Kyocera Mita America, Inc., released the KM-P4850w ($23,998) and KM-P4845w ($17,498) 600dpi wide-format plotters. According to the company, the KM-P4850w prints up to six D-size drawings per minute and the KM-P4845 prints up to four D-size...

Software : Hand-sketch simulation.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Insight Development Corp. released Squiggle 4 ($139) hand-sketch simulation software. Squiggle offers variable line customization to any CAD or design application. You import any standard DWG, DXF, or HPG2/2 file (plus 50 other formats) and...

Software : CAD for handhelds.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Arc Second, Inc., unveiled two new viewer products, PocketCAD Viewer 4 ($139) and the entry-level PocketCAD DWFview ($29.95). PocketCAD Viewer 4 supports DWG and DGN files and lets you view, redline, and query drawings. DWFview lets you export...

Software : Hybrid drawing editor.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... IDEAL.com launched WiseImage ($3,160), a hybrid drawing editor and raster-to-vector converter for scanned color, monochrome, and grayscale images. WiseImage is compatible with IDEAL's IntraNETIX software, which searches, views, and prints...

Software : Lifecycle Management.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... IBM and Dassault Systems announced ENOVIA portal solutions V5R6 and VPM V1R4 (call for pricing) collaborative product lifecycle management solutions. The software lets you implement and deploy best practices for innovation. V5R6 feature nine...

Software : Diagram networks.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... NetZoom 2000 ($299) from Altima Technologies, Inc., lets you create detailed and accurate network diagrams and proposals in Visio, PowerPoint/Office 2000, and other drawing solutions. It contains more than 40,000 vendor-specific networking...

Software : Document management.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Oce Engineering Exec 3.1 (pricing starts at $20,000 for plotting and archiving modules) document management software from Oce-USA Inc. automates technical document archiving, distribution, and printing activities. New features include enhanced...

Software : Push-button transfer.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... DP Technology announced that ESPRIT CAM (call for pricing) add-in for Solid Edge includes push-button transfer of native Solid Edge v11 part models into ESPRIT for machining. ESPRIT also inspects the onscreen as-machined part against the...

Software : Simulation software.(Engineering Geometry Systems FeatureCAM 8.0)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... FeatureCAM v8 ($1,500-$10,000) from Engineering Geometry Systems integrates with MachineWorks 3D simulation software. It identifies any section of a model that must be refined to meet part tolerance by comparing the selected original part with...

Software : Mill-turn machine design.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... VERICUT 5.1 software (call for pricing) from CGTech simulates NC machining on a computer to detect errors, potential collisions, and areas of inefficiency. It enables you to reduce prove-outs and errors and optimize toolpaths for more efficient...

SolidWorks World 2002.
April 1, 2002... Held in Las Vegas from February 17-20, the SolidWorks World 2002 user conference attracted more than 2,000 attendees from 65 countries. The conference included a partner pavilion crammed with products from 85 third-party vendors--an impressive...

Harbec Plastics Molds Time-Saving Process With CoCreate's Online Collaboration Solution.
April 1, 2002... As an early adopter of CNC and CAD/CAM technologies, Harbec Plastics and Bob Bechtold, the company's founder, believe in innovative technologies such as online collaboration. "Collaboration is proving critical to our ability to provide...

Software : Design and Documentation.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... BOA Research released BOA 2 for Windows architectural design and documentation software available in a fully configured version that supports up to 128 drawings ($999), a 20-drawing version ($599), a light version ($249), and a 90-day...

Software : Piping and plant design.(COADE's CADWorx/PIPE 3.2)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... COADE's CADWorx/PIPE v3.2 (prices start at $3,900) piping and process plant design software includes a new steel module for plant design to model a variety of 3D steel sections in AutoCAD. The steel module comes with various steel shapes such...

Software : Water distribution system.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... WaterCAD 5 (call for pricing) from Haestad Methods is a water management solution for water authorities and consultants. The Darwin Calibrator for WaterCAD 5 incorporates genetic algorithms and automates pipe roughness, demands, and pipe and...

Calendar.
April 1, 2002... E-mail calendar items to editors@cadalyst.com COFES May 2-5 The Congress on the Future of Engineering Software The Scottsdale Plaza Resort Scottsdale, AZ 914.941.0195 www.cofes.com AIA 2002 Convention & Expo May...

TEN CAD OPTIONS : Automate your architectural designs.(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2002... During the past ten years, we've seen CAD and CAAD (computer-aided architectural design) programs become increasingly more sophisticated. In the early 1990s, programs were basically electronic versions of standard drafting techniques, but today...

Chief Architect 8.(ART)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Chief Architect 8 ART, Inc. 800.482.4433 www.chiefarchitect.com Last review: May 2001, p. 46 (4-star rating) With a list price of $1,495, Chief Architect is one of the least expensive CAD pacakges included in this overview. Targeted...

ARCHITECTURAL DESKTOP 3.3.(Autodesk)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... ARCHITECTURAL DESKTOP 3.3 AUTODESK, INC. 415.507.5000 www.autodesk.com Last review: March 2001, p. 46 (5-star rating) Building on all the traditional drawing tools of AutoCAD 2002, Autodesk Architectural Desktop 3.3 ($3,995) uses...

BENTLEY MICROSTATION TRIFORMA.
April 1, 2002... BENTLEY MICROSTATION TRIFORMA Bentley Systems, Inc. 610.458.5000 www.microstation.com Last review: January 2001, p. 40 (4-star rating) Bentley is the second-largest provider of engineering design software. Its flagship building...

DATACAD PLUS 9.5.(Software Review)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... DATACAD PLUS 9.5 DATACAD LLC 800.394.2231 www.datacad.com Last review: March 2001, p. 52 (4-star rating) DataCAD Plus ($1,995) is a flexible design tool that can draw or model almost anything. The drawing and modeling commands are...

ARCHICAD 7.0.(Graphisoft)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... ARCHICAD 7.0 GRAPHISOFT 800.344.3468 www.graphisoft.com Last review: October 2001, p. 48 (5-star rating) Since its inception, Graphisoft has focused on software for architects. It's one of the few major CAD applications available...

ALLPLAN.(Nemetschek North America)(Software Review)(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... ALLPLAN NEMETSCHEK NORTH AMERICA 831.626.0102 www.allplan-usa.com Last review: February 2002, p. 38 (5-star rating) Nemetschek's Allplan ($4,995) is a fully integrated, object-oriented, parametric building design software. For...

VECTORWORKS.(Software Review)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... VECTORWORKS NEMETSCHEK NORTH AMERICA 888.646.4223 www.nemetschek.com Last review: September 1999, p. 46 (4-star rating) VectorWorks ARCHITECT 9.5 ($1,295) is based on the core application Nemetschek acquired in a merger with Diehl...

REVIT 4.1.(Revit Technology)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... REVIT 4.1 REVIT TECHNOLOGY CORP. 866.467.3848 www.revit.com Last review: August 2001, p. 40 (4.5-star rating) Editor's note: Autodesk has announced plans to buy Revit Technology. See p. 10 for more details. Revit Technology...

ARRIS ARCHITECT STUDIO.(Sigma Design)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... ARRIS ARCHITECT STUDIO SIGMA DESIGN 888.990.0900 www.arriscad.com Last review: November 2000, p. 40 (4-star rating) Sigma Design offers ARRIS Architect Studio ($2,955), which comprises the basic ARRIS CAD drawing engine and integrated...

ARCHITECH.PC V3.(SoftCAD International)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... ARCHITECH.PC V3 SOFTCAD INTERNATIONAL 800.763.8223 www.softcad.com Last review: May 2000, p. 42 (4.5-star rating) ArchiTECH.PC v3 ($1,950) is an object-based CAD program aimed specifically at the architectural, environmental, and...

Flat-out fantastic : LCD panels come of age.(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2002... CAD, CAM, and big monitors just go together. Having reviewed my share of large monitors, I can speak first-hand about how big, heavy, and cumbersome traditional analog displays are. For those who need them, however, the extra real estate that...

2000FP.(Dell Computer)(Hardware Review)(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... 2000FP Dell 5 stars out of 5 The Dell 2000FP flat-panel display is a bright, elegantly designed 20.10 monitor with an excellent image and many niceties--all for a remarkable price of $1,599. From a pencil trough on the front on the...

Pro Lite AU4831D.(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... Pro Lite AU4831D Iiyama 4 stars out of 5 The iiyama Pro Lite AU4831D flat-panel monitor is one of two 190 displays tested here. It's the only monitor reviewed that includes USB support out-of-the-box, though most other manufacturers...

NEC-Mitsubishi.(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... NEC-Mitsubishi 4 stars out of 5 The NEC MultiSync LCD2110 flat-panel monitor ($3,799) is a lightweight and generally well-designed monitor that comes with drivers and panel rotation software to switch the display to vertical/portrait...

SYNCMASTER 240T.
April 1, 2002... SYNCMASTER 240T Samsung 5 stars out of 5 This Samsung SyncMaster 240T monitor is an extraordinary, eye-catching display with clean color, great image brightness, and a 16:10 aspect ratio screen. The SyncMaster 240T displays a 4:3...

DISPLAYMATE FOR WINDOWS MULTIMEDIA EDITION.(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... DISPLAYMATE FOR WINDOWS MULTIMEDIA EDITION DisplayMate Technologies 800.932.6323 www.displaymate.com For as long as I can remember, Cadalyst has used DisplayMate for Windows ($495) to help set up and evaluate the monitors we test for...

VIEWPANEL VG191.(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... VIEWPANEL VG191 ViewSonic 4.5 stars out of 5 ViewSonic's ViewPanel VG191 flat-panel monitor is one of two 190 displays tested in this roundup, and at 19.8lb it's the lightest. The VG191 monitor also had the greatest vendor-rated...

It's Elementary: Ashlar's Xenon caters to industrial designers -- Successor to Vellum Solids provides strong support for surfaces and solids.
April 1, 2002... There is no shortage of midrange solid modeling programs aimed at mechanical engineers and machine designers, but few are ideally suited for the more specialized field of industrial design. One notable exception is the Designer Elements product...

SolidWorks 2001Plus beefs up assembly capabilities : Across-the-board improvements make SolidWorks 2001Plus a major release.(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... SolidWorks 2001Plus is the tenth release of SolidWorks' flagship 3D solid modeling product, first introduced in 1995. It's now 2002, so why the "2001" moniker? According to SolidWorks, its corporate policy is to name its software according to...

AEC/VIZ : 3D visualization and viewer.(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... How many times have you created, rendered, and delivered a 3D visualization, only to have the client ask for a different view? How many times have you wished that your client could quickly navigate through a scene? AEC|VIZ by Tornado...

AutoCAD 2002 : Rent AutoCAD for short-term use.
April 1, 2002... When Autodesk announced the arrival of AutoCAD 2002 in May 2001, it also introduced several alternate delivery systems, including the option to rent AutoCAD and related products (Autodesk Architectural Desktop 3.3, Autodesk Raster Design,...

AutoCAD installation two-step : Preparation is key to successful software upgrades.(Column)
April 1, 2002... In my CAD consulting work, I often install and configure AutoCAD on clients' computers. Frequently, this job first requires installing or reinstalling an OS (operating system) or at least configuring the OS so that the computer works well as a...

Attach data to objects in Map : Autodesk Map links data and documents to objects in your drawing.
April 1, 2002... It's probably not news that data is king. Everything we touch nowadays is geared toward capturing data. From swiping a membership card at your local grocer to paying for a meal with your credit card to surfing the Net, someone is collecting...

Active attributes : Add attributes to your drawing's border.
April 1, 2002... I read somewhere about creating an attribute for a drawing's border that contains date, time, and file location and automatically updates according to Windows' clock. Is it possible in AutoCAD 2000? --Ahmed Sarwat via Internet You...

Tips from our readers.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... $50 BONUS WINNER HOLES OF ALL TYPES AND SIZES Tip #1787 [HOLE.ZIP] This dialog routine draws English and metric holes in any of three views: 2D side, 2D plan, and 3D solid. The data-bases include screws sized #1 through 40. All...