CADalyst articles from July 2003

CADalyst archives from July 2003

What's yours? (Editor's window: opinions, comments, and predictions).
July 1, 2003... Who has rights to your designs? What about work done at home on weekends? Or designs done in collaboration with an outside contractor? How about when you are the contractor? Whether you work for a company, agency, or yourself, it's in your best...

Dialog box: readers talk to us.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... Bill Fane, I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your Learning Curve articles. I can't buy Cadalyst, so I read and refer to your articles online. Today, a new worker asked me, "How do you make 3D text?" I went to our books and...

Clarification.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2003... You can purchase third-party documentation for TurboCAD 9 (reviewed June 2002, p. 35) from CADCourse (www.cadcourse.com). CADCourse also sells TurboCAD/training bundles.

21.30 LCD monitor. (hardware).(Samsung SyncMaster 213T)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Samsung announced the SyncMaster 213T, a dual-input analog and digital 21.30 LCD monitor ($1,299) with a super-slim narrow bezel that is only 0.730 wide. The SyncMaster 213T features pivot technology to easily switch orientation to portrait or...

Graphics card. (hardware).(3Dlabs ildcat VP880 Pro )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... 3Dlabs announced the new Wildcat VP880 Pro workstation-class graphics card ($499), which ships with 256MB of memory and is designed to fit a single AGP slot instead of taking up two slots. The VP880 supports emerging high-level shading...

Flatbed scanner. (hardware).(Paradigm Imaging Group Colortrac FB24120 )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Paradigm Imaging Group announced the Colortrac FB24120 large-format flatbed scanner ($59,250). The 240 3 360 color scanner is designed for scanning irregular documents and fragile artwork. You place documents on the scanner to avoid any...

Workstations. (hardware).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Hewlett-Packard announced two Intel Itanium 2-based workstations that run Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003--the HP Workstation zx2000 and zx6000 (starting at $3,711). Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 takes advantage of the...

Simulation and analysis. (Software: mcad/mcae).(LMS' LMS Virtual.Lab Rev 2 )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... LMS released LMS Virtual.Lab Rev 2 (call for pricing), which offers an integrated environment in which you can engineer key performance attributes such as noise, vibration, durability, and ride and handling. LMS Virtual.Lab Rev 2 has new...

Online consultants. (Software: mcad/mcae).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Liebert Corp. launched Consultant's Corner (call for pricing), a secure Web-based resource for engineers and consultants involved with the design, installation, and management of computer support systems, including power protection, precision...

Blank shapes for solid edge. (Software: mcad/mcae).(Forming Technologies' FASTBLANK for Solid Edge)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Forming Technologies announced FASTBLANK for Solid Edge (call for pricing) to develop optimal blank shapes for complex sheet-metal designs for use in the stamping industry. The software improves formability and product quality while reducing...

Airplane design. (Software: mcad/mcae).(DaVinci Technologies' 3-D AirplanePDQ )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... DaVinci Technologies released 3-D AirplanePDQ ($99), a computer-aided design tool for general aviation, homebuilt, and ultralight airplanes. New in this release are 3D viewing and export capabilities for better visualization of a design, an...

Migrate CATIA V4 to V5. (Software: mcad/mcae).(from Avatech Solutions)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Avatech Solutions released PrescientQA Passport V5 (30- and 90-day subscriptions, $1,500 and $3,000; full permanent license, $7,500), a product that facilitates the migration of data from CATIA V4 to V5. Passport V5 automatically corrects,...

FEA analysis. (Software: mcad/mcae).(Alibre's ALGOR DesignCheck)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Alibre announced ALGOR DesignCheck ($995 North America, $1,295 elsewhere), an analysis add-on for Alibre Design Professional. With DesignCheck FEA software, you can perform a first-pass engineering analysis to virtually test the behavior of...

COFES 2003--where engineering gets its due. (report).
July 1, 2003... Engineering regarded as a value-added process instead of just overhead? What a concept, but a concept of value creation that all too often goes unrecognized not only by the public at large, but by the very organizations that employ engineers....

Injection molding process management. (Software: mcad/cam).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Moldflow released MMS 1 (Moldflow Manufacturing Solutions; pricing varies), a modular system that allows manufacturers to perform a range of mission-critical tasks such as process and production optimization and control and monitoring for...

Mold, tool, die design. (Software: mcad/cam).(Capvidia's FaceWorks 2003)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Capvidia released FaceWorks 2003 ($2,495 plus translator options, 20% for annual maintenance) add-on to SolidWorks for mold, tool, and die design. FaceWorks adds surface operations to SolidWorks. It also structures the mold design process and...

Model comparison. (Software: mcad/cam).(from ITI TranscenData )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... ITI TranscenData announced a CAD model comparison module for CADIQ 4 (call for pricing) called CADIQ Compare. It compares the quality of two models to identify defects introduced during translation or release upgrades and defects that affect a...

Design suite. (Software: mcad/general).(IronCAD's InnovationSuite 2003)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... IronCAD shipped InnovationSuite 2003 (call for pricing), an integrated 3D design and collaboration product. InnovationSuite 2003 includes IronCAD, a design production tool; Inovate, used to create, modify, and communicate 3D designs; and...

Zip your drawings. (Software: mcad/general).
July 1, 2003... DWG2ZIP for Windows ($29.95 single license, quantity discounts) lets you perform operations on a group of AutoCAD DWG files, make archival as-built drawings, share drawing files with others, and zip and e-mail DWG files. Group DWG file...

3D design. (Software: mcad/general).(Eovia Amapi Designer 7.0)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Eovia released Amapi Designer 7 ($499; upgrade from Amapi 3D v6 $199; Amapi 3D v4/5: $299). Amapi Designer 7 offers a palette of high-end 3D tools for the conception, modeling, and assembly of 3D objects and scenes. Versions of Amapi Designer 7...

Viewing, markup, collaboration. (Software: mcad/general).(Informative Graphics' Brava! 4.0)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Informative Graphics released Brava! 4, the latest release of its viewing, markup, and collaboration software (minimum 15-seat configuration is $3,750 plus an annual maintenance fee). The new version uses Java 2 for better security and...

Virtual prototyping tool. (Software: mcad/general).(MSC.Software's MSC.EASY5 7.0)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... MSC.Software released MSC.EASY5 v7 (call for pricing), the newest version of its modeling and simulation software that comes with easy-to-use, prebuilt component libraries. These libraries let you quickly design and analyze many types of...

Manufacturing quotes. (Software: mcad/general).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... ManufacturingQuote announced MfgQuote.com v4, an online marketplace that connects buyers and suppliers of made-to-order parts and equipment (see Web site for pricing). It offers an array of new enhancements and tools for buyers and suppliers....

PDFs for engineers. (Software: aec/general).(Adobe Acrobat 6.0 and Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Professional)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Adobe announced the Acrobat 6.0 desktop family, the latest version of its electronic document software that lets you create, share, review, and archive files in the Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format). The most comprehensive product, Acrobat...

ArchT for IntelliCAD 2001. (Software: aec/general).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Autodsys released ArchT for IntelliCAD 2001 ($499). ArchT is an add-on architectural package for AutoCAD and IntelliCAD originally created by Ketiv Technologies. ArchT provides AEC-specific functionality, such as 2D production drafting...

Spiral stairs. (Software: aec/general).(AFV Software's 3D Spiral Stair for autoCAD)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... AFV Software released 3D Spiral Stair for AutoCAD ($40), a fast, easy-to-use add-on for AutoCAD 20001 and Architectural Desktop. 3D Spiral Stair lets you build complete, high-detail 3D spiral stairs that include center post, post plate, tread...

Bentley conference champions content value. (report).
July 1, 2003... In the initial keynote address for the BIUC (Bentley International User Conference), held in Baltimore the week of May 18, CEO Greg Bentley recapped the company's 2002 financial performance. He said that subscription licensing formats were a...

CAD translations. (Software: aec/general).(Tailor Made Software's CADServer 2.0)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Tailor Made Software announced CADServer 2 ($2,599), which converts DXF, DWG, HPGL, and HPGL/2 files into an array of output file formats. This new release features advanced PDF and PostScript output support, support for multiple-page drawings,...

Strict control and easy access coexist. (on the job).
July 1, 2003... No matter the size of your operation, you suffer enormous time loss when files are misplaced, new files are overwritten with old data, or multiple people update different copies of the same file. Kevin Jackson, senior project manager and...

3D landscapes. (Software: aec).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Dosch Design introduced three new products: Dosch HDRI: Chrome & Studio Effects, Dosch Movie-Clips: Animated Backgrounds, and Dosch 3D: Landscapes ($99 each). Dosch 3D: Landscapes provides 50 scenic backdrops of natural landscapes ranging from...

Simulation tool. (Software: aec).(Blue Ridge Numerics CFdesign 6.0)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Blue Ridge Numerics updated CFdesign v6 (call for pricing), a high-powered engineering simulation tool for product development teams. It's now certified for Autodesk Inventor 6. On average, CFdesign can reduce the time it takes to develop,...

Extend CAD to CAM.
July 1, 2003... Among the benefits of a 3D digital model is the ability to leverage it to create molds or actual parts in the portion of the design process called CAM (computer-aided manufacturing). Advances in CAD technology help countless users, with varying...

VB/CAM for mechanical desktop: modify this CAM routine to work with your milling tools. (From the trenches: practical solutions to real-world problems).
July 1, 2003... As CNC (computer numerical control) machines continue to invade our lives, wouldn't it be nice to have a simple, no-cost CAM package that works inside a familiar CAD package? This is what you get with VB/CAM, a small Visual BASIC program that...

ADT 2004 hits its stride: Autodesk polishes its AutoCAD-based architectural application. (cadalyst labs review).(Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2004)(and related article)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2003... Architectural CAD software has matured greatly from its beginnings in the 1980s, and users have become more discriminating purchasers. Today, software upgrades are viable for the architect or designer only when they provide a reasonable payback...

Proof Positive: check the quality of inventor models. (First look reviews: brief hands-on product reviews).(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2003... While strolling down the aisles of Autodesk University's exhibit hall last December, I came across a fascinating product from Avatech Solutions called Proof Positive, described as "quality assurance for digital design data." Further...

Viewpoint Model Library: 3D models add details to design. (First look reviews: brief hands-on product reviews).(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2003... Digimation's Viewpoint Model Library is a collection of 20,000 well-constructed 3D models available on demand. They come in a variety of file formats for use with most 3D programs, including 3ds max. The library includes various character,...

COSMOSWorks 2003 professional: finite-element analysis for SolidWorks. (First look reviews: brief hands-on product reviews).(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2003... Over the past few years, much discussion about FEA (finite element analysis) software applications has focused on two issues: * making FEA a more integral part of the product development cycle and * getting FEA into the hands of more...

Rip through project roadblocks: Autodesk's Buzzsaw Professional tackles project workflow management. (i-collaboration: tools and technologies for collaborative design).
July 1, 2003... Ican sum up the benefits of Autodesk's new Buzzsaw Professional (www.autodesk.com/buzzsaw) in two words: effective communication. Very effective communication. This service is more than just collaborating on drawings. It's about effectively...

May I take your order? Make fill color transparent with Draworder. (Learning curve: strengthen your knowledge of AutoCAD commands).
July 1, 2003... It was a clear, crisp Friday afternoon. Captain LearnCurve and his gorgeous wife played hooky, sneaking up to Whistler for a pleasant day of skiing. Before the drive back to town, they stopped in the village for a coffee, where their children...

Remove selected attributes: pick the attributes you want to purge from multiple drawings. (AutoLISP solutions: reader-requested AutoLISP routines).
July 1, 2003... Gail Rolland asked for a modification of a previous program, purge-attribs.lsp (February 2003), so that it removes certain selected attributes, but not all of them. Regular readers may recall that in the earlier program the function to do the...

Coming up in Cadalyst's August issue ...
July 1, 2003... Feature: State of the AEC Industry Keep up-to-date with the latest developments in CAD standards, 3D building information modeling, and more. Cadalyst Labs review: Software for Design Visualization Render your visions...

Making the case for VBA: what programming language should you learn? (Lessons in programming: how to customize AutoCAD).
July 1, 2003... Should I learn AutoLISP, ObjectARX, or VBA (Visual BASIC for Applications)? I hear this question often from users who want to go beyond custom toolbars and menu macros. Which one is best? That depends on whom you ask. Many articles available on...

Fatal distraction: wrong rights, missing dictionaries can cause fatal error. (AutoCAD clinic: AutoCAD Helpline answers your support questions).
July 1, 2003... When working in AutoCAD, I receive this message: FATAL ERROR: All of the possible directories for storing temporary files either do not exist or are read only. Please correct this situation before running AutoCAD again. I have reinstalled...

Tips from our readers. (hot tip harry).
July 1, 2003... $50 BONUS WINNER FOLLOW THE LEADERS Tip #1882 [LEADERS.ZIP] These four AutoLISP routines draw specialized leaders (figure 1). LDRSETUP.LSP is a routine designed to set the options for the leaders. It includes drawing scale, arrow...