DesignCAD News
DesignCAD News
Thursday
April 18, 2002
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InwThiswIssue
Customization That Saves You Time and
Money
Third Party Programs for
DesignCAD
DesignCAD Tips
Productivity with DesignCAD!
Macro of the Month
March Macro Madness
Results of the Upperspace Chili
Contest
Kevan's Winning Chili
Recipe
Send feedback
about this newsletter to:
newsletter@upperspace.com
----- Important
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To run DesignCAD at peak performance
download the latest program update free from the Upperspace website.
Click this link to download the latest update for your version of
DesignCAD
http://www.upperspace.com/Support/updates.asp
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A Bit of CAD Trivia
Right-handed versus Left-handed
coordinates has nothing to do (not directly anyway) with which hand you
sign your name with. It determines whether, in a "Front" view, positive Z
goes away from you, as if going into the screen (left-handed); or towards
you, as if coming out of the screen (right-handed).
DesignCAD has always
defaulted to left-hand coordinates. Some other CAD programs default to
right-handed. The terminology comes from a mathematical mnemonic for
keeping straight which system is which. Hold up your right hand, and point
the thumb in the direction of positive X (out to the right). Point your
index finger straight up -- this corresponds to positive Y. Now bend your
other fingers out straight, 90 degrees away from your index finger. They
now point towards right-hand positive Z (in towards you). If you do the
same with your left hand, your fingers point away from you towards
left-hand positive Z.
You'll find this setting in the Options dialog
box in the General tab.
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Third
Party Programs for DesignCAD
Customization that saves you time and money!
Did you know
there are tons of programs created for customized application of
DesignCAD? There are programs to help you do everything from a
lithography system to 3D kitchen design, sunroom design, irrigation
design and a CAM program. Just a handful of these programs are listed in
this article. You'll find a complete listing on the Upperspace website
where you'll also find contact information for the companies that offer
these customized solutions.
Visit
www.upperspace.com/developers/solution_developers.asp
for complete listing. |
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NPGS is the top selling SEM lithography system
at research institutions in the US, and its use is becoming widespread
around the world. The objective for NPGS is to provide a powerful,
versatile, and easy to use system for doing state-of-the-art electron
beam lithography using a commercial SEM or STEM. The success of NPGS at
meeting this goal is supported by the strong recommendations from
current users.
www.jcnabity.com
click the image to
see a larger view of it
Designer Plus is easily mastered. Designer Plus was tailor
made by a kitchen business to meet the cabinet draftsman's needs. With
Designer Plus you need to learn only a few of the fundamental CAD
commands before you can begin producing professional grade drawings.
This is because Designer Plus will draw the cabinets for you!
www.kitchen-consultants.com
click the image to see a larger view of it
"SunroomCAD" is a
dealer/manufacturers dream come true. Draw complex shaped sunrooms in
seconds with all dimensions, any size, most shapes, any roof slope, add
doors, adornments and more. Dimensions are automatic.
SunroomCAD Website
click the image to
see a larger view of it |
CustomCam™ with DesignCAD 2-D puts the "CAM"
in your "CAD" for a fully functional low-cost CAD-CAM software package.
Works with DOS DesignCAD 2-D DOS version 3.0 or later, and all
Windows DesignCAD 2-D versions.
CustomCam™
is a filter program that takes a DesignCad 2-D drawing file in the order
it is drawn and converts it in to a G-CODE format required to operate
your NC/CNC machine tools.
www.cps-stampings.com/ccam.htm
"Indexer LPT" converts an ordinary printer
card into a powerful multi-axis step motor controller. It is ideally
suited for a broad range of motion control applications, simple and
complex. Compatible with numerous motor drivers, Indexer LPT is the most
easy to use and inexpensive means of motion control available.
www.abilitysystems.com
click the image to
see a larger view of it
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If you have a third party
application for DesignCAD or you want to create one contact Michael
Budde,
mbudde@upperspace.com.
http://www.upperspace.com/developers/solution_developers.asp
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DesignCAD Productivity Tips |
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2D/3D
Toggle
You can click on the 2D
tool on the main Toolbar, (directly beneath the menu bar), to change from
2D to 3D drawing mode. You can also change from 2D to 3D drawing mode by
pressing Alt + O, then 2 on the keyboard.
works in
DesignCAD 97, DesignCAD Pro 2000, DesignCAD 3000 and DesignCAD 3D Max
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Move
One or Some of the Points
The Point Select mode
allows you to move points on objects with great precision. Just choose
Point Select Mode from the Options menu or click the Point Select Mode
tool.
Select the item you want to
adjust and you'll see all of its points with white boxes. Drag around the
points you want to move then move them. |
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Draw
with Double Lines
You can click on the
Double-line Tool in the main Toolbar, (directly beneath the menu bar), to
automatically offset any line, curve, or arc drawn. This is a super handy
tool to draw walls. Be sure to turn on the Double line toolbox for access
to all of the options.
works in
DesignCAD 3000 and DesignCAD 3D Max |
Come
Again!
To repeat the last drawing
command, press F3.
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Right
Angles Please!
The Ortho mode can toggle
you into and out of constraints for drawing straight lines. Just press the
H key on your keyboard when drawing a line. You can even turn Ortho mode
on and off while drawing a line so some segments are straight and some are angled.
works in
DesignCAD 3000 and DesignCAD 3D Max |
Escape
To cancel the current
drawing command, press Esc. If you're drawing something (such as a line or
box) you can also use the Escape key to undo the last point set - if no
points are set it will undo the drawing command.
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Right-Click Snap
You can press the
right mouse button to bring up a context sensitive menu of common
commands, or to gravity snap to the nearest point in the drawing. The
first time you right-click the mouse you'll be given a choice to use the
right-click as a snap. You'll find this option in the Options dialog box
(press Q > General tab). For right-click snap, be sure "Enable right click
popup menu" is not enabled. |
Undo
and Redo
You can use Undo
repeatedly, using Ctrl-Z key, Undo on the toolbar, or Undo from the menu.
Redo will undo an Undo. This works until you save the file once you save
the drawing you cannot use undo to remove or undo a task.
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Step
Sizes
Use the Cursor options to
set the cursor step size. This makes it easy to move the cursor with
precise counts across the drawing window using the arrow keys.
To adjust the cursor step
size, go to the Options dialog box (press Q > Cursor tab). In the Cursor
tab, adjust the large and small step to your preference.
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Stacking Order
To move objects in front of
or behind others, change their stacking order in the Edit / Edit Selection
sub-menu. This is a handy way to put text in front of a hatch, or lines on
top of an embedded image.
works in
DesignCAD 3D Max |
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Macros
submitted by Mr. Herbert Jackson |
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A big thank-you to
Herbert Jackson who has submitted many macros for all of you. One of the best
macros he submitted last month just didn't get into the newsletter
(Oops!). If you do steel detailing - you'll want to check out his Drawbeam macro.
Drawbeam
If you draw structural steel beams then you will love this program.
It will draw all of the shapes listed in the Manual of Steel
Construction. Ninth Edition. All the dimensions used to draw these
shapes are taken from the "inch" columns. The decimal columns are not
used.
Download Drawbeam.bsc
If you want any of these macros you
can download them (and others submitted for free use) from
www.Upperspace.com courtesy of the authors. These macros are merely
detailed here in this article.
Do you have a macro you'd
like to share with the rest of us in DesignCAD News? Email you macro with
instructions to
newsletter@upperspace.com
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The "STEP" programs listed below will draw a
run of stairs. Although they can be edited to show detail, they are
meant just to show a section of the stairs and be plotted out at 1/4" to
3/4" scale. These programs just draw the RUN, you must edit them to show
landings.
STEPS.BSC
This program will
draw a steel stair 12”. Channel is used-but can be edited if another
stringer is required. All inputs must be in entered in decimals of a
foot. (to get the decimal enter the inches in a calculator and divide by
12) Set a point for the top riser. You will be asked for the run length,
riser height, the number of risers, treads and the pan depth. The stair
will be drawn going down from right to left. Use the mirror command if
you want the stair going from left to right.
CONCSTEP.BSC
This will draw a
concrete stair. You will be asked the same questions as above, except
for pan depth.
WOODSTEP.BSC
This will draw a
wooden stair. You will be asked the same questions as above, except for
pan depth.
Download
Steps.bsc |
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Register Your Version of DesignCAD!
You can register at
www.Upperspace.com, by calling 800/233-3223, by mailing your
registration card, or faxing it to 918/825-6359. Here's why you should …
#1 All registered
software gets free technical support. Even when new versions are released,
you can still take advantage of free technical support.
#2 When you
register it gives us a copy of your serial number. If you should lose
your serial number sometime in the future, you can call us and we’ll
read it back to you. This can be a real lifesaver when upgrading to a
new computer or if you’re forced to reformat your hard drive. It can
save you from having to buy another package of the software!
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Chili Today Hot Tamale
For anyone interested in
the internal goings-on at Upperspace, we had a chili contest March 28th.
Seven pots of chili lined the table while three taste-testers judged the
best pot - and the rest of us waited impatiently for a choice to be made
so we could dig in too.
Needless to say, we had
lots of good chili for lunch. If you're in the mood for some, perhaps
you'll enjoy trying the winning recipe.
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Words from the winner ... "Chili is not an
exact science, and no two batches are alike. Here's my "basic ingredients"
list, however. Note I didn't mention salt. The garlic and other spices
pretty much remove the need for added salt, as far as I'm
concerned."
Kevan's Winning Chili
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion chopped
1 or 2 cloves of garlic chopped or crushed
1/4 cup of chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup of
chopped red bell pepper
1 stalk of celery, sliced thin
1-1/2 to 2 pounds
lean ground beef
1 packet of Williams Onion Chili seasoning (or your
favorite brand)
1 tablespoon of sugar (optional)
various other spices as
befits your personal taste preferences
1 16-oz can of diced tomatoes (substitute Ro-Tel tomatoes and peppers for a spicier result)
1 10-oz can
of tomato puree
Louisiana hot sauce
Heat the vegetable oil in a large
skillet. Sautee the chopped onion, peppers, and celery over medium heat
until the onion is tender. I like to add some fresh-ground black pepper,
paprika and maybe a bit of thyme to the veggies while they sautee, and
maybe a dash of cajun seasoning. When the onions are tender, add in the
ground beef. Cook the beef at least until it is no longer pink. Drain
excess fat and liquid. Add the chili seasoning to the beef/vegetable
mixture, and stir it in thoroughly. Add in the tomatoes and tomato puree,
and the sugar if desired. Simmer for twenty to thirty minutes, stirring
frequently. Add Louisiana hot sauce to taste. Serve with cheese, and
crackers or cornbread. Ambitious cooks might like to have some red beans
prepared separately to mix with the chili.
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