DesignCAD Productivity Tips

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When inserting doors and windows to a plan (over a double-line) it's pretty common to rethink the placement and end up removing the door or window.  Anytime you remove an automatic door or window you'll still have the section that was trimmed. The best way to fill the gap is to heal the double-line. From the Edit menu, use the Line Connect command to connect the double lines again where they were broken.

Place a Point an Exact Distance Away

To set a point a certain horizontal and vertical distance from another in the drawing, use Point Relative. The Point Relative command can be found in the Point menu, the Point Toolbox or just press the hotkey the apostrophe key.

Place a Point Away at a Precise Angle and Distance

To set a point a certain distance and angle from another in the drawing, use Point Polar.

Create a Custom Color

To create custom colors just double click on an existing color on the color pallet.

Move One Point of an Object

To quickly move one point in an object, use the Point Select tool (Point Select Mode). Begin by clicking on the Point Select Mode tool on the toolbar. Then click on the item you want to 'reshape'. All points of the object will appear with a blue handle. Drag a box around the point you want to move. Then either drag the point or use Point Relative or Point Polar to move it to an exact position (an exact distance in an exact direction).

Copy and Paste = s l o w e r

Duplicate = FASTER

You can use the Duplicate command for quick copy and paste operations within the same drawing window. The hotkey for duplicate is N. So just select what you want to duplicate then press the N key.

What would you want in a Kitchen Design Program?

Do you have any suggestions to make for a Kitchen Design program by Upperspace? We're all ears!

Email your suggestions to:

press@upperspace.com

Extrude an Object to a Consistent Draft

Particularly of interest to molding manufacturers, DesignCAD keeps a consistent draft on extrusions using a fixed angle. Click the image below to see the consistent draft of this object when extruded out at a fixed angle.

Taking this simple object, a box, this is how to extrude an object to a consistent draft. First create the shape you want to extrude, a box for example. Toggle to 3D view if you aren't currently in it. Select the object. Then start the Extrude command (hotkey is X). You need to set a handle on the object (hotkey is Control + H). To set the handle onto the center of the object just tab to the Set Handles box and press the down arrow key until you see Center selected in the field. Notice the blue dot (the handle) moves to the boxes' center. Click in the Extrude dialog box, turning on the Fixed Angle option. You can set the fixed angle extrusion in the Extrusion Angle box above. For this example, set it to 1.5, then press Enter to enter this setting in the Extrusion dialog box.

Snap to one of the corners of the object that you're extruding (the box in this example - just place the pointer over it and press period, the hotkey for Gravity Snap if you want to use a shortcut). Then extend the drawing cursor out on the Z axis. Either use Point Relative (or other point command) to set the point where you need it or for the sake of testing this out, just hold down the Control and Shift keys while moving the cursor. Holding down Control and Shift at the same times restricts the cursor to the Z axis. Then set the point (click or press the Insert key).

You'll see the consistent draft in the Front view window. Even though the height of the box is much greater than the width, the draft between the start and end of the extrusion is consistent on all sides of the object.  In other words, the extrusion tapers back at a consistent angle on all sides. To see it best, Fit to All Windows. Press Control+Shift+W to fit each view to its window. Notice the consistent draft all around the Front view.

Hint: If making a consistent draft isn't important to your job and you aren't sure what we're talking about here, the "Consistent Draft" is the space that shows the extrusion. In the Front view it looks like a double-line. If the draft is consistent that double-line will be the same size all the way around. If the draft is inconsistent then the sides are often wider than the top, or vice versa.

Extrude Along a Curve at a Varying Scale

Our Extrude command is really more flexible than the Extrusion feature in a lot of modelers out there, for one reason ... Not only can you use the Extrusion with a Fixed Angle, but you can also use the Along a Curve option with the Varying Scale Option together in a single operation.

That means you can select a curve to extrude along, and snap a few points on that curve with the line snap tool, enter different extrusion scale factors for those points along the curve, and tell the program to use a different scale at those points. Engineers who draw 3D pipes always need to do this, as pipes and wires often have fittings on their ends that are just a larger scale version of the pipe shape itself.  That means making this shape can be done all in one step in DesignCAD, whereas in other packages you'd have to do this in multiple extrusions, then add the different pieces together later. The below shape was created in one extrusion operation (click the thumbnail for a larger view) ...

For instructions on extruding along a curve at a varying scale ... click here

Need Output to CNC?

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.
www.cps-stampings.com/ccam.htm

Contact CPS Stampings Corp:

Register Your Version of DesignCAD!  

You can register at www.Upperspace.com/register, 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!