CONCURRENT ENGINEERING FOR THE 90 ' S

CE Solution

DWG files and CADKEY

High Pe MONI

DRAF Prod uctivity

CADKEY at Work

HOT CARS Scaled Down

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Introducing a new evolution in product design, Digitize single points or polylines. Measure very large reverse engineering, and coordinate measuring objects with our unique IIleap frogll technique. machines... The Metrecom is portable, durable, and gives you The Metrecom by FARO Technologies Inc. convenient, affordable precision in an instant! today and discover this amazing device for The Metrecom's articulated arm measures points and orientations of objects in complete 3D for direct serial port input to AutoCAD, CAD KEY and other leading software packages. Custom interfaces are available. Simply connect the Metrecom to your system like another mouse! APRIL I MAY 1993 Vol. 2, No. 2

Surfaci ng Advances Scale Model Des ign by Jack Bilderback 14 CONCURRENT Hobby Kits with CADK EY and FastSURF ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OMS Doss ier by Martin van der Roest 24 Analysis of Document Management System Issues

CAD KEY an d AutoCAD in Mixed CAD En vi ro nmen ts by Frank Simpson 33 Bi-directional DWG and DXF file translation in CADKEY 6

MACROS / CADL/CDES by Craig Storms and 44 An Introduction to CADKEY's customization tools Usman Rashid

Concurrent Engineering Workshop - Part Two by Craig Storms 52 Stress Analys is wi th CADKEY ANALYSIS and Ken Fortier

ISSUES Rev iewing the Reviewers by Dana Seera 18

S.O.S. - Save Our Schools by Robert Martin 57

PRODUCT Monitors for CAD by Claudia Martin 26 F 0 C U S High Performance - More than High Re solution Monitors for CAD - Features 30

Product ivity Tools by Robert Martin 38 Software Tools for Enhancing CAD KEY drafting and design

ReVIEWPORT A brief look at hardware and software productivity tools

COLUMNS KeyTalk 5 AND KeyNotes 6 Cad key Forum 8 DEPART MENTS New Products 10 CADKEY Co rn er 50 CADL Toolbox 54 Advertiser Index 56 Solution Mart 58 Use r Group News I KeyMail 60 SOME OF OUR CONTRIBUTORS Knf.1·) 'I) it·) ~ ~1 Concurrent Engineering for the 90's

EDITORIAL Jack Bilderback, Business Manager with Value 509/928-5169 Managing Editor Engineering Associates, has been a materials profes­ Claudia Martin sional for 17 years in high-tech and AerospacelDefense contract environments. His positions have included Technical Editor Production and Inventory Control Manager at Output Dr. Robert Martin Technology Corp. and Director of Materials at Key Tronic Corp. He is a member and certified practitio­ Cadk.ey / KEYSoLUTIONS Relations Frank Simpson, Manager ner ofProduction and Inventory Management with the American Production and Inventory Control Society. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jack Bilderback, Charles Kyle, Ron Shea, Frank Simpson, Craig Storms, AI Torizzo Chavdar Popov has been involved in the develop­ ment of CAD KEY applications software since 1986. He DESIGN Art Director currently works for Merit Computer Solutions Ltd., the Melissa Clark CADKEY distributor in the UK. He is the author of the CAMLight CAM system, written in CADL, used in PRODUCTION several colleges and schools in the UK. He has also 509/928-5169 been a researcher at the Bulgarian Academy ofScience, Production Manager Institute of Cybernetics and Robotics, where he worked Gayle Simpson on the integration of CAD and numerical control systems. ADMINISTRATION 509/928-5169 Business Manager/CEO Steve Radford

Martin van der Roest is president and founder of ADVERTISING SALES WESTERN REGION - Jamie Bohn The van der Roest Group, Inc., a software publisher/ Ph: 818/543-0206 developer and consulting firm. He formed the Corpo­ Fx: 818/240-3234 rate Partners in Development program which investi­ gates solutions for the management, access and con­ MIDWEST REGION - Ed Krukowski trol of documents and drawings in distributed envi­ Ph: 708/806-1600 ronments. He has authored a book on this subject to Fx: 708/806-1604 be released by Prentice Hall later this year. EASTERN REGION - Susan Barbash Ph: 914/941-0195 Fx: 914/941-8659

SOLUTION MART / CUSTOMER SERVICE Usman Rashid is currently Manager of Applications Development at Jo Schmidt Ph: 5091928-5169 Cadkey, Inc. He is also the technical liaison for CADKEY 3rd Party Fx: 509/928-4937 Developers, and supervises the CAD KEY Software Developer's Kit (SDK) EDITORIALPOUCY: KrtSownONS is an independent for developing add-on applications using the CDE technology. He joined publication without obligation to any software or Cadkey in 1988 as a trainer for CADL and wrote the first CADKEY Tutor, hardware dealer, vendor or distributor, except 88 indicated. Articles noted 88 news or features are an interactive on-line tutorial that guides the user through 2D and 3D written without knowledgeable bi88. Articles noted 88 editorial represent the opinion of the author. design and layout exercises. Technical articles repreeent the opinion of the author and are selected by virtue of their educational value.

SUBSCRIPl'ION CORRESPONDENCE: (orders, change of address, etc.) should be directed to KEY SownONS, P.O. Box 11978,Spokane, WA99211-1978. Allow sis: weeks for processing.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE should be di­ rected to Managing Editor, KrtSownONS, P.O. Box 11978, Spokane, WA 99211-1978. KrtSownONS en­ courages readers to submitarticles,letters, questions and technical tips.

KEYSoLtmONS, Copyright 01993, (ISSN 1064-2146)is published bi-monthly by Value Engineering Associ­ ates. Microsoft; and Windows are registered trade­ marks of Microsoft; Corporation. IBM is the regis­ tered trademark of the International Business Ma­ chinesCorporation. CADKEY is the registered trade­ mark of Cadkey, Inc. AutoCAD is the registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.

4 • KEY Solutions. April/May 1993 ACCORD Technology, Incorporated

P.O... 651 L.., IIA 01238 fAX 41l-24J.2101 KEY TALK -Performance Produds for Professionals- 1-800-622-3373 S o many things are happening that this is a "mixed bag" - a little of this PLOTTERS and a little of that. First topic - KEVSOLUTIONS. This is the fourth issue and ROLAND DIY 1100/12OO/1lOO •••• • ••••••. 5799/995/1350 response has been superb. We appreciate your letters and calls. You're CAMM 1 'II..,t c-~ _ PrIat" •••••.•• . CAll telling us you're satisfied with the publication, but as our own severest critics, PIle 1100 24" ~ e-~ ...... CAll SKETCHfllAT£ I.SIa _/e- ...... CAll we continually analyze and critique ou r output and strive for perfection. Our STIKA _/e- ...... CAll attitude towards our product probably reflects our engineering, quality, and ENCAD SPlSOO AID I,. Sopor QuIet • • • • • • • • • • • • • $2499 manufacturing backgrounds. We want KEVSOLUTIONS to address customer SP2SOO AlE 8 ,. •••.•.•••• • . • • • .. • $3079 needs and surpass the highest standards for professional publications. Housto. Instruments lIMP 160 s.n. NEW .. fAST ••••• . •.••••• CAll Hewlett Pilcbrcl DESIGNJ£T •••••••ull To this end, we have added some new columns. One is called KeyMail and ulcoAip DallinMiite A-D, IPe. . .. $1992 lollDe •••••••••• • •••.••.ull features reader letters. If you have any issues, ideas or questions you think Mural 1000 AID. I Pe. ••.•.•• $2195 other readers would be interested in , or if you want to help us critique and Padftc Dab ProTrllCer M Inkjet 5Mb $1647 analyze our work, be sure to write. We will print as many letters as possible DlGrnZERS and respond to all. The other is a column on document and drawing CALCOMP 33120 12112 , 4 or 16 l1li, Cor...... •.... S299 management issues. This area is often taken for granted and/or allowed to 33360 2m6, 16 a.a... '-PIN ...... S1523 33480 36U8, 16 _ , C-...... S1610 develop haphazardly, but deserves concentrated attention in a true concur­ 33600 4U6O, 16 IIuttoo, '-PIN ...... $1929 rent engineering environment. SUMMAGRAPHICS s.-sutdI " 12112, 4 Ib/SIr ...... S299 __ " 12112, 16II1II • .• .•. • .•..• • • $310 Second topic. We are delving into CADKEY®6 seriously and are especially 50-'-111211&, 4 ao.;s., .. 16. . . •••••. 5595 KURlA impressed with its ability to read competitive drawings directly in their native XU' IUIZ, 41b\1StJ. SPECJAl PIIIC£II • • ••• • •5245 format. It's a mystery to me why this simple concept took so long. Spread­ XU' lUll, 4 1b\IStJ, SPECJAl PIIICEII ...... $483 IS/ONE 12112, 4 BIn/S", .. 12 II1II . . • . • . • • . • . • $34S sheets have done it for a long time, but Cadkey's first in the CAD world! We IS/ONE 12111, 4 BIIo/SIJ" 12II1II •••. •.• •.••• S579 applaud their courage in challenging Autodesk's dominant market presence XlC 2W6, 16 II1II .••••. ••• •.. •• ••• •• 51379 XlC36X41, 16 II1II . • • • • . • . • • . . • . . . • • • S1499 and addressing the awkwardness of their de facto DXF standard. This HITACHI promises to be a long term benefit to all. "-..... 12X12, 4/12/16 II1II ..•..•.••• . •• $323 GRAPHICS CARDS Great news is the addition of Varimetrix to the Cadkeyfamily of products. The NUMBER NINE GXlIJght lcwIo 20/21 .•• . • • •• ...... •56581$152 Varimetrix software stands head and shoulders above competitive packages GXllowoI 23, 1280XI024, 16 en, n34020 CAD • • • • $10s0 like SDRC and ProEngineer. Best of all, this move gives CAD KEY users the GXllowoI25, 1280Xl024, 256 en, n34020 CAD • •• S1350 GXllowoI29, True CDIor, 1280Xl024, 65K Colon • ••• SI668 ability to step up to a workstation product more extensive than CADKEY for VERMONT MICROSYSTEMS Unix and still stay within the Cad key product line. I know there are other Col". Dto 16 •••• . ••• . •••• •.•. . • . • . S115 CoiIfI Dto ~ •.••• ...... •• S1140 exciting developments to look forward to. In fact, I was told by key HERCULES management folks at Cad key that moves of earth-shaking proportion are Cor...... ,. _ Cord 11411/3111 . •• . ••• .• •. 5543/682 Coroplolc SQ1Ioo (;oW ••••••••••••••••• • • CAll afoot in coming months - but they weren't ready to release the information to Oor-. .... 1'rooIod, 9 _ I ., to 40MII . . . f,_ S1111 KEVSOLUTIONS. METHEUS the press - even to 1224/1228 1280XI024 16/256 Colon ••• .•• $1100/1500 1104 ...... YGA 0. Boor4 • • •• • ••• ••• ••••• $825 Pr ...... 53 IMII, w/Au\oPIII DIP •.• •••••••• •• $306 Last issue I gave credit to Cad key staff members who provided "above-and­ DIAMOND beyond" help with the article on CADKEY 6. I inadvertently overlooked some Speed SQr 24 16 Jill ...... _ ••• • •••• 5229 "behind-the-scenes" efforts and wish now to also thank Bruce Polderman, SIn!do, 1111 1280d024 • . • .••. .•.•••••• S289 VIDEO SEVEN ••••••••••••• CAU Cadkey application engineer, who supplied much valuable information; IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEMS 0werV!tw 102h/SoItEoiII.. DIP • • • • . • • • • • • • • $354 Steve Falusi who helped secure the screen grabs; and Gary Magoon who o..w. 1280 w/Sollfllgl .. DIP • • • • • . • . • • • • • $995 helped familiarize me and my staff with CADKEY 6 enough to be able to get MONITORS the last issue out the door. HITACHI CM208SI1 19" SoperSaoo + • • • • • • • • . . . • • • • SI810 HM43~21AP ""'- 21" fIoISa_.28dp ...... 52359 A final thought. We too will miss Jay Hirth, Cadkey sales manager for MITSUBISHI Hl694S.4TK 19" YGA to I28OXI024 ••.••••.•• SI851 CADKEY@NC (CUTTING EDGE), who passed away in February. I only met Hl6915S81t 20" DBF, ISM YGA .. J28OXI024 . ••••• $2169 him in person once, though we talked often by phone. In these brief TAXAN LNl000 20" YGA to J28OXI024, DBF, ISM ••• . •. • SI899 encounters, he left a lasting impression on me as a fine human being. We at LN1150 21" fIoISa_ 16OOX12OO, DBF, ISM ••••• $2459 KEVSOLUTIONS wish to extend our deepest regrets to Jay's family and friends NANAO for their loss and remind you that a memorial fund has been established for fSSOI 11" fIIIIa_ 128Ox1024 •..•••.•• . • . Sl199 T560I 17" fIIolia-. Tn""' .., 1280d024 •.•••• • 51895 Jay's family. T660I 20" Tnllllrool, l28Oxl024 ••• •• • . ••••• $2599 IDEK All Models, Grut PrIcIDg • • • • CAU SONY GDM 1936 20" Tn""'.. • •..••••. • • . . ..• $2499 ;:::;~/; New ProductsU CnatIw u. MooIll-Modl.1OI • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CAll o Robert Martin UMAX 5cooMn 1200/600 DPI ••. . •••••• . •.• CAll PRICES 5UBJEa TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE Technical Editor MASTER CARD & I'lSA Accepted

CIRCLE CARD 203

April ! May 1993 " KEY Solutions. 5 INDUSTRY CADKEV in the News How to Access Federal Research Cadkey Merges With Varimetrix Companies with small research and development budgets now have Cadkey Inc. announced a February 22nd access to research information from federal laboratories through the merger agreement with Varimetrix Cor­ federal government's National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC). This poration. a Florida-based developer of research is performed at 700 federal laboratories by about 100,000 re­ porametric surface/solid modeling soft­ searchers and is worth nearly $22 billion yearly. ware for high-end CAD. manufacturing By dialing a toll-free number - (800) 678-6882 - individuals can talk to and engineering applications. agents who access a database to pinpoint relevant research that's underway According to Malcolm Davies. Cadkey at the labs. The NTTC is an independent nonprofit organization created by president and chief executive officer. Congress and funded under a five-year agreement between NASA and Varimetrix will remain in Palm Bay. Florida Wheeling Jesuit College. Contact the NTTC at 316 Washington Ave., as a unit of Cadkey. Inc .•and Forrest Blair. Wheeling, WV 26003; 3041243-2455, or Fax 304/243-2457. president of Varlmetrlx. will become a CAD Market - 1992 vice president of Cadkey. Inc. Cadkey will begin sales and marketing of Total revenues for computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineer­ Varimetrlx's Intelligent 2D drafting. 3D ing inched up just 1% in 1992 and added up to $7.4 million according to mechanical design. modeling. manu­ Daratech Inc. These revenues were dampened by economic downturns in facturing and conversion software Japan, France, Germany, and the U.K. immedately. Cadkey will also distribute AT & T Plans ATM Varimetrix products through its dealer and distributor network in America and In Eu­ AT&T's ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) service is due in 1994 and rope. The Varimetrix unit will continue to will be set up much like a conventional telephone service. Basically, manage product development and new customers will hook into high speed data transfer services (150 to 600 megabits per second) with their own or rented AT&T equipment. Greg product planning functions. Cline, analyst with International Data Corp., Vienna, Va. said "The ATM -The advanced functionality of Varimetrix market will likely evolve in phases, starting with power users, moving to a products ensures that our mid-range to private LANIWAN backbone, to public WAN backbones, and possibly onto high-end customers can manage their the desktop. I believe (ATM) will reach critical mass by 1995." own growth knowing that Cadkey has solutions that fit their requlrements: sald AutoCAD Update Davies. "This product line expansion also David Cohn, editor of CADalyst magazine, discussed AutoCAD futures gives us pricing flexibility across these in his March 1993 editorial. "Rumors have circulated lately regarding an segments of the market: According to AutoCAD Release 12.5 as well as a scaling back ofthe company's two year Forrest Blair. "Another benefit of our old plans to completely restructure its flagship product with Release 13. But merger Is the opportunity to tap the rap­ the Release 12 Windows version looks to be right on schedule. There is still idly expanding Unix market. Workstations no work on an OS/2 version of AutoCAD, although a number of people are running Unix are the predominant plat­ beginning to look toward IBM with the latest delays in Windows NT." form of choice for high-end applications. - EPA and Printers Ingram Micro to Distribute CADI{EY The Environmental Protection Agency has expanded its Energy Star Cadkey. Inc. will be providing introduc­ program to include printer manufacturers. Lexmark, Dataproducts, and tory-level 3D products through mass dis­ the printer divisions of Apple, Hewlett Packard Co., Compaq Computer, tribution channels at prices under $100. and Bull Italia all now promise to deliver energy efficient products under An agreement signed between Cadkey the EPA's guidelines. and Ingram Micro authorizes the latter to sell CADKEY®Llght and DataCAD® 128 to Stac Sues Microsoft any resellers. The manufacturer's sug­ Stac Electronics is suing Microsoft for patent infringements in the latest gested retail price is $99 for each appli­ version, DOS 6.0. Stac claims that Microsoft knowingly infringed two of its cation. file compression patents. Stac's accusations are similar to complaints from many third party developers that are at the heart of the Federal Trade (continued on next page) Commission's investigation of Microsoft.

6 • KEY Solutions. April / May 1993 Pentium and Software Intel's eagerly awaited Pentium chip, introduced in March, is a 60MHz CADKEV in the News chip with a full 64 bit data path, 16K cache, and superscalar design. However, early testers of the system reported that to realize the speed gains Training Materials Available promised by this configuration, existing software must be recompiled. Training manuals for CADKEY®6 have Otherwise, users won't see much difference between the Pentium and the been developed and are available to older 486 chips. Companies such as Hewlett Packard Co., IBM, Compaq, dealers, end users, training centers and schools. The manuals c ome in two sets: AST Research, NEC, and Unisys all have introduced multiprocessor serv­ the introductory set covers 2D and 3D ers based on the Pentium and other companies will introduce single design and drafting in the form of student processor based servers. workbooks; the advanced set reviews more sophisticated 3D modeling tech­ No Pentium Till 1994 niques. An on-line computer-based tu­ Although PC systems have been sold as "Pentium ready" since the second torial is included. half of 1992, Intel Corp. isn't expected to ship the Overdrive Pentium CADKEY 6 and FastSURF processor, code named the P24T, until 1994. Instead, Intel plans to Under an exclusive marketing agreement introduce a 486DX3/99 later this year to help fill the gap. with FastSURF of Sonora, Ca., Cad key is "If! was Intel and I looked at how many 486 processors I was able to sell offering FastSURF's advanced surface­ and the limited market for the Pentium initially, I would probably focus on modeling capabilities with CAD KEY 6. the 486 this year as well," said Dean McCarron, a senior analyst for the FastSURF is also available as an individual market research firm InStat in Tempe, Ariz. "The situation would have product. CADKEY with FastSURF is avail­ been different if Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. had been able to ship its 486 able now for sale worldwide to dealers, clone early this year." distributors, developers and end users. FastSURF sells to maintenance CADKEY IBM and Microsoft have also announced a number of tools designed to users for $795 and to non-maintenance help develop 32-bit applications and a new generation of compilers that will CAD KEY users for $995. FastSURF's regular let software developers take advantage of the Pentium's superscaler capa­ retail price is $2,200. bilities. Cadkey's 30-Day Money-Back SGI Upgrades Maintain Prices Guarantee Cadkey agrees to refund a customer's Silicon Graphics Inc. has expanded its entry level three dimensional color money if the customer Is not satisfied with Indigo graphics workstation offerings with the Indigo XZ. Aimed at the the product and retur ~s it within 30 days entry level 3D solids modeling market, such as mechanical CAD/CAM and of purchase. This guarantee is effective molecular modeling, the XZ is based on the MIPS R4000 RISC processor immediately, and it applies to ALL of and two SGI Geometry Engine processors. It will cost around $23,000 and Cad key's products. probably replace the $22,000 Indigo XS24Z, which offered equivalent Record January Sales Earn Honors features but slower performance, company officials said. Congratulations are due to the following Patent Issues Muddy VESA Local Bus Waters dealers and distributor: First, Dell Computer Corp. claimed they have a prior patent on local bus Allegheny Educational Systems of Pitts­ technology. Then, VESA member and systems developer Advanced Logic burgh, Pa ., for earning the honor of Edu­ Research Inc. said it has a prior implementation of a local bus system that cational Dealer of the Month for their best month ever in sales. will render Dell's patent claim invalid. Dell's patent appears to cover local bus connectors that access memory and the 110 bus simultaneously. The MLC CAD Systems of Austin, Tx. , for VESA committee did not comment on the validity of the Dell patent. achieving the distincton of Dealer of the Month for their record sales and for COMPUTER TRIVIA: Michael Leesley's contributions in helping to formulate the proposal for the CADKEY History of the Dongle Dealer's Council. The SIM or hardware key plugged into the COM port of your computer 3E Praha Engineering of Prague, Czech lets you run CADKEY and prevents unauthorized distribution of software. Republic , for earning the honor of Inter­ Ever wonder why it is sometimes called a dongle? Originally developed by national Distributor of the Month for sales a programmer to protect his software, this small but effective piece of and for their help in making Cadkey's hardware needed a nau{'e. The developer didn't know what to call it, and his European Distributors' Conference such peers encouraged him to name it after himself. So he did, and soon everyone a great success. was calling the key a dongle.

April / Moy 1993 • KEY Solutions· 7 Cadkey Forum Thanks for the letters! Jay Hirth, with Cadkey, Inc. for seven years in a variety ofpositions, by Malcolm Davies , President-Cadkey, Inc. the most recent being CADKEY®NC Sales Manager, died on February ware. Topics have ranged from 27th. He was well known and reo memory issues like "changing spected by all who knew him. He will Cadkey so it doesn't hog the CPU" to printing and plotting issues. be missed at Cadkey. Gary Magoon of Cadkey knew I agree with these quality con­ Jay for 10 years and has some reflec­ cerns - from the largest to the small­ tions regarding his untimely death. est. I especially understand the po­ sition of waiting for several versions "Jay was the first serious Appli­ past an X.O release to upgrade. I cations Engineer that I ever met. I would do the same. In the past, new have met few, if any, who could releases of CAD KEY have had prob­ compare to his intensity and lems. Be assured, I do take this is­ perserverence. He led by example. He sue very seriously and we are com­ worked hard. He was constantly mitted to do better. We are working striving to become better at what he extremely hard to make CADKEY 6 did. He impressed upon me impor­ and all our products the best that tant characteristics of professional they can be. behavior. He applied these simple Our goal has not changed. Cad­ "truths" in each job he did. Inside key wants to become the number each lesson on work ethics there was one provider of concurrent engi­ a glimpse of"life ethics" from a hard neering and AEC software world­ working man, a sensitive husband, a A forum ideally involves wide. Obviously, we want to achieve dedicated father, a generous teacher two-way communications. I've high profitability and increased and a caring friend. I amgrateful to had my say in the last two issues market share, but none of this is have known him and to have learned of KEVSOLUTIONS. Now I'm really possible without satisfied users. So, these precious morals from someone glad to be getting letters from you. the measurement of our success will Thanks! as committed and compassionate as be customer satisfaction. We intend he. " All of us at Cadkey are glad when to create this by providing the high­ Cadkey has received many reo we get "rave reviews." Weare proud est quality products, service and quests from co· workers, customers, of our products and the things we support, and by aggressively ad­ dealers and international distribu­ do. However, we really appreciate dressing issues like the one above. tors for an opportunity to express constructive criticism as well. Soft­ A special thanks to Jeff Davis of ware development is an ongoing their appreciation for Jay's contri­ Beaverton, Oregon whose "truck process, perfection is elusive, and butions to Cadkey as a company and packs a license plate that says the product must reflect the needs their regard for him as a remarkable CADKEY." I have offered to trade of the users, so your comments, human being, colleague and friend. a Cadkey T-shirt for a photo show­ suggestions and ideas are a valu­ The Hirth Memorial Fund has been ing his license plate. able resource for all of us at Cadkey. established in answer to these re­ They help us develop products that So keep those letters coming. I quests and will be used to help his meet real needs. will answer each one and also pass wife and two young daughters. Ifyou questions, suggestions, etc. on to would like to contribute to this fund, Several recent letters expressed the appropriate department for ac­ send your check to: reservations and concerns about the tion. release of CADKEY®6. In sum­ mary, they criticised Cadkey's track Send your comments and ques- Hirth Memorial Fund record with new releases because tions to: c/o Carol L. Bryant or they've been ''buggy''. One in fact Malcolm Davies, President Ted Heywood said, ''Where I work now, they never Cadkey, Inc. use a version with a zero (X.O ) on it. 4 Griffin Road North c/o KEVSOLUTIONS They're just not reliable." Other Windsor, CT 06095-1511 P.O. Box 11978 letters have requested specific Spokane, WA 99211-1978 changes or additions to the soft-

8 • KEY Solutions ' April / May 1993 Cadkey Management to Visit User Groups

Cadkey, Inc. will host May 17 - Radisson-on-the­ May 21 - Sheraton Suites evening meetings with users in Lake Resort, Ypsilanti, Market Center, Dallas, centrally located areas around Michigan. Texas. the country between May 10 and May 22,1993. May 19 - Seattle Airport Users will be introduced to Hilton, Seattle, Washington. Cadkey, Inc.'s new manage­ ment staff, and they will hear firsthand about Cadkey's future. The program will feature new product demonstra­ IF A LITTLE tions and a special presentation of Cadkey's newest product KNOWLEDGE GOES line: Varimetrix. Cadkey technical representatives will be on hand to answer your A LONG WAY, IMAGINE toughest questions. "We invite all CAD users to WHAT YOU COULD DO attend the CADKEY user meetings, regardless of the AFTER A CADKEY CAD system that you currently use," said Malcolm Davies, President and CEO of Cadkey. TRAINING SEMINAR. "Special, competitive upgrade Now you have six ways to accelerate your learning curve. offers will be available to those Can.key who attend." • Training offered at Cad key , Inc. corporate headquarters. Courses include: People interested in attend­ 6 Introduction to CADKEY® 6 System Customization (CADL®& CDE) ing a CADKEY user meeting 6 Advanced Geome tric Modeling 6 Introd uction to CADKEY®NC must pre-register so that they 6 Introduction to FastSURPM 6 Introduction to DataCAQ® can be notified in case any • Training with your local dealer/value-added rese ller changes occur. To register and • On-site training at your faci lity. Call for details. for further details, contact • Training at Cad key Training Centers Danielle Cote at Cadkey, 203/ • CADKEY includes CADKEY®T UTOR, a self-running computer-based tutorial. 298-6424. • Training materials are ava ilable for CADKEY and DataCAD.

May 10 - Marriot Hotel at ~.(~~ Cadkey, Inc. 4 Griffin Road North, Windsor, CT 06095-1511 Research Triangle, Raleigh­ ~ (203) 298-8888 0 Toll Free (800) 394-2231 CADKEV Durham, North Carolina. r------, For information, check appropriate box(es) and FAX to Cadkey Training at (203) 298-6484. May 12 - Ryerson o A complete schedule of classes held at Cadkey, Inc. 0 Dealer training in my area Polytechnical Institute / o Training at my faci lity 0 Cad key training materials 0 Cadkey Training Centers C.A.T.E., Toronto, Ontario, ame ______Title ______Canada. CompanyName ______May 14 - Holiday Inn / Address ______Irvine, Irvine, California. City State/ZiP ______

L ______Phone FAX -_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-__ ~

CA DKEYand DataCAD are reg"cered reademarks of Cadkey, Inc. CADL, CDE, CADKEY NC. FastSU RF and CADKEY TUTOR are trademarks of Cadkey, Inc.

CIRCLE CARD 254 April / May 1993 • KEY Solulions • 9 I is compatible with SunOS™B 4.1.x for easier operation, installation INPUT and Solaris® 2.1. The kit includes utility, lifetime warranty and up to I IN3 Voice Command, IN3 Application 5000 lpi resolution. The GM II Program Interface (API), documenta­ contains multiple emulations to E·Size Scanner tion, microphone (a choice of two: the ensure compatibility with all major Vemco Corp. introduces Model FSS ATM71 noise-cancelling headset or CAD/CAM/CAE and graphics soft­ 10000, a multi-scan, large format the AT859a unidirectional desktop ware packages. Listed price, $595. scanner. The multi-platform model model) and custom cables for micro­ Contact Numonics Corp. at 215/362- features 25-1000 DPI, 300 DPI in phone connection. IN3 provides voice 2766 or Fax 215/361-0167. 169 secs., four CCDs, and 20,000 control of Sun's OpenWindows user pixel elements and is priced at interface as well as voice command $24,900. All Vemco scanners have a Voice-Recognition System input to applications running on Voice Dynamics Corp. announces the SCSI interface for PC, PS2, MAC, SPARCstations . SUN, HP, and 256 graytone levels. MicroDyn II, a voice-recognition Contact Command Corp. at 404/925- Its AUTOSCAN function automati­ system that enables the operator to 7950 or Fax 404 / 925-7924. cally analyzes the drawing prior to talk to any device which utilizes a scanning and during scanning varies standard RS-232 serial interface. Ultima™ Digitizer the threshold to compensate for The compact system recognizes up to GTCO Corp. introduces a 12" x 12" changes in background, faded areas 1000 verbal commands, with each illtima™ digitizer with unique and stains. AUTOSCAN is select­ command sending up to 255 ASCII standard features such as a 16 able in Tiled, Strip and Global keystrokes to the equipment being button cursor and technology that modes. All MULTI-SCANS scan to controlled. The system also provides allows the unit to operate without an more than 35 file formats including text-to-speech voice output to verify external power supply or batteries. vector formats .DXF & .DXB, and commands and make verbal prompts The illtima plugs into a serial port CCITT Group 4 for CALS capability. from the computer through the and draws the power it needs supplied headset or by a small Contact Vemco Corp. at 800/556- directly from the computer like a speaker. MicroDyn II works with 3344, 909 /599-6745 or Fax 909/599- mouse, providing immediate compat­ most DOS-based software applica­ 8199. ibility with power requirements tions including Microsoft Windows. worldwide. The 12" x Prices range from $1995 to $2495 12" model lists at depending on MicroDyn configura­ $399; a 12" x 18" tion. model, at $599. The Contact Voice Dynamics Corp. at illtima ships with 714/252-1211 or Fax 714/261-8563. Summagraphics® MM1201 compatibil­ ity, Microsoft® OUTPUT Windows and Mouse drivers. The unit is backed with a lifetime HP Pen Plotter warranty (USA) and Hewlett-Packard Co. announces the free factory direct HP DraftPro Plus pen plotter which technical support. offers a richer feature set than its predecessors. HP DraftPro Plus is Contact aTCO Corp. available in two models--E-size (36" at 410 /381-6688 or wide) for $4995 and D-size (24" wide) Fax 410 /290-9065. for $3695. The plotters have simpler i GTCO's Ultima™ digitizer menus and a vacuum fluorescent display panel that outlines opera­ Voice Command Small Format Digitizer tional steps. Other features include Command Corp., Inc. announced the Numonics Corp. announces the increased standard memory of 1MB, IN3TM Voice Command Developer'S GraphicMaster II, a small format improved speed and acceleration, Kit for SPARCstation which shows (12" x 12") digitizer, which incorpo­ both RS-232-C serial interface and developers how to embed voice input rates Six One Touch Softkeys (a Centronics parallel interface, and and audio messaging into their quick means of changing emula­ HP-GU2 compatibility. Both plot­ applications. Priced at $595, the kit tions), ADI Driver, audible feedback ters use commonly available media,

10 • KEY Solutions. April ! May 1993 either from A- to D-size or from A- to Color Electrostatic Plotters HP7 4 7 5A for direct access to HPGL E-size. The plotters come with a Oce Graphics announces G3244 (D­ and CAD/CAM applications without three year limited on-site warranty. size) and G3245 (E-size) color a PCL 5 driver; and GeniScript for Contact Hewlett-Packard at 800/752- electrostatic plotters, offering full­ fast output of PostScript files. 0900. color plots and images with state-of­ Contact GENICOM at 800 / 443-6426 the-art RISC processing, operating at or Fax 703/802-9039. Flatbed Plotter up to 66MIPS. This speeds the Euro-Tech Corp. announces two rasterization of data and boosts Presentation Grade Paper high-precision flatbed plotters: the throughput. Features include the ENCAD announces a new presenta­ 50" x 48" Kuhlman Plot MVP 1400 Silicon Imaging Bar™ writing head, tion grade bond paper that produces and the 50" x 96" Kuhlman Plot MVP a vacuum-lock paper transport plots with more brilliant, saturated 3000. Both can plot and cut with an system, dynamic emulation recogni­ colors, and more contrast and accuracy of 0.0002". Features tion and switching, and faster sharpness than those on normal include a servo-motor-driven rack­ writing speed and cut-sheet delivery. plotter bond. It allows dense, solid and pinion-drive system, an adjust­ With the G3245 full-color, typical E­ area fill while minimizing bleeding able acrylic vacuum top, tangentially size drawings are plotted in less than and rippling, and increases edge controlled high-speed tools, and an three minutes at 200 dpi and 400 dpi definition and line resolution. automatic roll-feed ENCAD's Presentation Bond is system. Routing/ available in 36" by 150' rolls only and engraving, oscillating costs $120 per roll. knife tools and high­ Contact ENCAD at 800/ 453-6223 or performance cutting can Fax 619/578-4613. be added. Contact Euro-Tech SOFTWARE Corp. at 303/690-9000 I or Fax 303/690-9010. Flow Analysis Package PlotterlPrinter Moldflow Pty. Ltd. announces MF/ Connectivity Quickcheck, a flow analysis package Solutions that gives instantaneous results on a CalComp announces PC. MF/Quickcheck solves three three connectivity common design and production solutions for its line of problems: it determines the optimum plotters and printers: processing conditions, provides the Model 981, an Ethernet user with the information to deter­ network interface; mine the number of gates, and Model 914, a VPI automatically sizes the runner (Versatec Greensheet) CalComp's Model 981 Interface dimensions for either natural or conversion unit; and a artificially balanced runner systems Microsoft Windows device driver. designs in four minutes. The G3244 and family molds. MF/Quickcheck is The interfaces allow users to alter­ costs $36,990 and the G3245 costs Windows driven, all options are menu nate between different software $48,990. selected and on-line help and tutori­ applications, connect plotter or Contact Oce Graphics at 800/545- als are available. The price, $2500, printer to a network for more effi­ 5445 or Fax 415/961-6152. includes the software and a generic cient resource sharing, or realize database. better output performance in speed Large-Format Laser Printer Contact MoldfZow at 203/925-0552 or and image clarity. Model 981 GENIC OM Corp. announces Model Fax 203/925-1175. interface ($995) includes a serial port 7150, a large-format laser printer, and a parallel port and automatically retailing for $4395 for the 2-bin ViewPort+ Supports discovers servers and queues at boot model and $4645 for the 3-bin model. Raster Formats time. Model 914 ($2450) is a protocol Features include 300 or 400dpi and CADMAN Corp. announces converter housed in a compact 15ppm performance. Resident ViewPort+ Release 4.0 which adds external unit. emulations include PCL 5 with built­ viewing and red-lining support for Contact CalComp at 800/932-1212. in HPGU2 LaserJet III-Si emulation; raster file formats. ViewPort+ now

April / May 1993 • KEY Solutions' 11 supports PCX, Tiffv5.0, CCITT Group Management System (DDBMS), two man PF converts images up to 8.5" 3 & 4, GTX Group 3 & 4, and CALS optional modules, are available. wide ($795). Draftsman HS converts Type 1 raster formats. ViewPort+ Redline provides mark-up and images up to 5" wide ($199). compresses industry standard plot annotation capabilities, and DDBMS Contact Arbor Image at 313 / 741-8700 files like HPGL, CALCOMP 906/907 includes search functions and report or Fax 313/741-8806. and Houston Instruments DMPL into creation capabilities. AutoVue is compressed vector files. Now, with available for DOS, MS-Windows, 5 Release 4.0, users can input files for Unix workstations, including SUN GRAPHICS viewing and retrieval regardless of Sparc, IBM Risc, HP Unix, DEC, and the source of the file, including SGI, and is fully network compatible. scanned images. View Port+ comes in Contact Cimmetry Systems at 514/ 16.8 Million Color both stand-alone and networked 735-3219 or Fax 514 / 735-6440. Accelerator Card versions and supports linkages to all Genoa Systems Corp. announces major databases. Free demo disk Raster to Vector Conversion WindowsVGA 24, offered with a 16- available. Arbor Image Corp. announces bit ISA bus or a 32-bit VESA local Contact CADMAN Corp. at 805/371- Draftsman 7.02, a raster to vector bus VGA card. With its 24-bit 0424 or Fax 805/496-2866. conversion program with a new accelerator, the True-Color cards interface that permits Draftsman to support up to 16.8 million colors. CCDK Now Supports be called by CAD Overlay 4.0 (from Using 1MB of standard DRAM, the Borland C++ 3.1 8500/8500VL models provide Building Block Software full graphics functions with announces that its CAD/CAM VGA capabilities. They offer Developer's Kits™(CCDK), C resolution of up to 1280 x function libraries used by 1024, and support a 72Hz CAD/CAM, GIS and AIE/C refresh rate at 800 x 600, developers, now support and 70Hz at 1024 x 768 non­ Borland C++ 3.1. CCDKs interlaced. Both support a wide range of CAD/ WindowsVGA 24 models CAM operations such as conform to all current video constructing, editing, and standards, including VESA, displaying 2D and 3D CAD 8514/A, VGA, EGA, CGA geometry, and reading and and Hercules monochrome writing DXF files. By sup­ and are compatible with all porting the Borland C++ analog and analog environment, programmers multisynchronous monitors. can take advantage of Price lists at $179 (8500) and features like full support of $199 (8500VL), with a two­ Windows 3.1, increased year limited warranty on program speed and Borland's parts and labor. debugger and profiler Contact Genoa Systems at utilities. Each CCDK is 408/432-9090 or Fax 408/ Genoa Systems' WindowsVGA 24 available in either a Personal 434-0997, 800/934-3662. or Professional Edition. Prices range Image Systems Technology, Inc.). from $499 to $1799. CAD Overlay 4.0 permits raster Upgradable Motherboard Contact Building Block Software at images to be viewed and manually AMAX Engineering Corp. announces 617 / 899-4350 or Fax 617 / 899-4399. traced. Now a section of the entire the Impression 786 ACIO raster image can be selected by CAD motherboard which incorporates ISA CADKEY Drawing File Support Overlay for automatic vectorization and VESA local bus technology on Cimmetry Systems, Inc. announces by Draftsman. Draftsman converts one motherboard. Sockets for the full support for CADKEY drawing the selected raster image to a draw­ 80486,80387, and 80386 make the files with AutoVue version 12.1 ing made of lines, arcs, circles and board compatible with Intel, Cyrix, featuring fast viewing, printing, polylines. The vectors are automati­ and AMD CPUs. The board incorpo­ plotting, file conversion, overlaying cally pasted over the raster image for rates two VESA local bus slots and and redlining of many CAD, vector, editing, viewing and plotting the eight ISA card slots. raster, bitmap and text file formats. drawing. Draftsman LF converts Contact AMAX Engineering at 800/ Redlining and a Document Database images up to E-size ($ 1695). Drafts- 800-6328 or Fax 510 / 651-3720.

12 • KEY Solutions' April! May 1993 KEY

LATE ADDITIONS I MISC. ,

3861DOS·Extender TRAINING Version 5.0 Phar Lap® Software, Inc. an­ nounces Version 5.0 of its 386/ DOS-Extender™, which allows SALES & SUPPORT developers to use the Microsoft®Windows NTTM 32-bit C/ C++ compiler for 32-bit Extended­ • DOS development. 386/DOS­ Extender provides support for the SEMINARS 32-bit Microsoft compiler under DOS, offering developers full Half day hands on seminars on the new features of functionality of the 16-bit Mi­ Cadkey Version 6 will be scheduled throughout April & crosoft C/C++ DOS run-time libraries, including graphics. All May. These seminars provide a fast start for current standard 16-bit calls now work Cadkey users to get up to speed on Version 6. under 32-bit Extended-DOS. The 386/DOS-Extender Version 5.0 One day hands on seminar on Cadkey Version 6. Software Development Kit (SDK) Includes a free copy of Cadkey Light and a comprehen­ also includes Phar Lap's new 386/ SRCBug™, a 32-bit source code sive overview of Cadkey's Cad, Cam, Surfaces, Reverse debugger for protected mode 386/ Engineering and Analysis. DOS-Extender programs. SDK documentation has been revised We also offer one day hands on seminars on Gibbs, and updated. Price lists at $495. Surfcam and Cimlinc Cam Systems. Contact Phar Lap Software at 617 / 661-1510 or Fax 617 / 876-2972. Our one day seminars are designed to acquaint you with Large Format Hybrid Plotter the system features and uses. These seminars are very Vemco Corp. announces the FSP useful in evaluating system capabilities. 4200 Hybrid Plotter priced at $10,900. FSP 4200 is a large format, E-size, direct imaging thermal plotter with a 36" plotting • width, 400 x 200 dpi, and an integrated automatic cutter. The TRAINING FSP 4200 can transmit and plot E-size drawings in 98 seconds. It Monthly Beginners and Advanced classes are is equipped with a high speed offered on Cadkey, Surfcam and Gibbs Systems. SCSI interface with a transfer rate of up to 1MB/sec. FSP 4200 Plotter uses CADImage/Plot Call or Fax for dates, times, pricing or product information. Interface Kit for PC, PS2 or Sun. Corporate Headquarters CADImage/Plot supports 28 raster file formats and facilities for elM SOLUTIONS & NETWORKING conversion. 2200 N. Canton Center Road • Suite 210 Contact Vemco Corp. at 909 / 599- Ann Arbor, Michigan 48187 6745 or Fax 909 / 599-8199, 800 / 556-3344. Phone: (313) 981-7470 Fax: (313) 981-7473

CIRCLE CARD 265 April / May 1993 • KEY Solutions' 13 SURFACINGADVANC ...... ~ SCALEMoD~_

by Jack Bilderback

Some say the difference between they are pioneers. standing. Dietz has been active as men and boys is the size of their By taking a very different an independent designer for 40 toys. Maybe so, but Ed Dietz and approach to the methods in which years in the hobby kit industry. Bud Alford of Inscale Design miniature vehicles are designed and Alford, an aspiring artist when they Engineering spend the better part produced, they were the first in the first met in 1979, was dating Ed's of each day creating 3D designs for industry to develop scale model daughter. (They're now married). plastic scale models, and they are hobby kits which are cut entirely The two discovered their mutual definitely doing "man-size" work. from computer data. interest in hobby kits and began to Although in some ways there is Inscale is located 250 miles discuss the possibilities in their very little difference between northwest of Detroit in Traverse contrasting design methods. Now designing "toy" and full-size car City which is home to many compa­ they incorporate both an engineer­ parts, what is different about nies supplying the large ing and artistic perspective. Inscale Design Engineering is that automakers with component parts. Reviving a Dinosaur Ed Dietz and Bud Scale models almost went the Alford started way of the dinosaur. Adversely Inscale in 1992 to impacted by the popularity of video contract part games in the 1970's and 1980's, design, rapid they had been relegated to the prototyping, and backburner by many of the large overall project toy companies. This despite the fact supervision for that the market is comprised of both miniature more than 50% adults. Craft House, autos, trucks, and a major model producer, had airplanes in hobby acquired Lindberg, a struggling kits, and compo­ model maker, and was trying to nents for full-scale rejuvenate the industry with new vehicles. products. Bud and Ed's In the fall of 1989 Dietz was partnership is approached by Craft House about involved and long- rejoining the organization as chief

14 • KEY Solutions' April ! May 1993 engineer. He had CAD KEY. The exploded view CAD designs have a tendency to worked for them begins the design process for the look a bit too mechanical. With for a number of individual parts (which can range FastSURF we can define a surface years, and from 90 to 130 pieces per model) and then, with the surface editing subsequently necessary to create the kit. functions, essentially sculpt the enjoyed an These details ongoing consult­ are then saved in ant relationship. .PRT files which He saw this as an are used to create opportunity to the surface configu­ take advantage of ration for each new technology in individual part. CAD and surface The CAD and design software surface data is then from "inside" the sent to a pattern company. These maker, where the improved meth­ first representation ods of design and is produced using production can either wood or produce models renwood, a polyes­ with a variety ter/plastic material. and level of detail CADKEY data, previously along with unknown in scale FastSURF, pro- model building. duces the 3-D model. Basically, the surface into the shape we need, so Ed believes the time-consuming and costly process that the entire form 'flows' without revitalization of of manually reproducing three looking mechanical." the industry is dimensional models for mold There is a risk creating tools already underway creation is eliminated. directly from CAD data. Total cost due to quicker Ed and Bud originally chose can run as much as 150 to 250 development CADKEY because of its 3D and thousand dollars, should there be a cycles and reduced costs. CAM capabilities. At the time it problem somewhere in the process. Not too long after, Bud joined was the only PC CAD program that However, eliminating the need to Ed at Craft House and they subse­ met their needs, but with the manually reproduce the model body quently set out on their own. addition of FastSURF they now are saves much time and investment, A Unique Approach doing things they never thought and is destined to follow as the next elevation of standard practice in the Inscale's approach focuses more possible. It's best told in Bud's own on an artistic representation of a words. "FastSURF vehicle rather than a strictly has been ofimmea­ engineering, design-by-the-num­ surable help to us. bers methodology. Primary concen­ Without surfacing tration is on the shape and form capability, using (facilitated by CAD and surfacing CAD to produce 3D software) rather than coordinates models for the or dimensions. The trick is to industry would not remain true to the original design. be economically Dietz observes, "The typical viable, if not approach has been to take CAD outright impos­ designers and try to turn them into sible. I have toy makers. The important ele­ worked closely with ments to us are solid CAD experi­ our Cadkey VAR, ence as well as experience in kit Meeter and Associ­ design from an artistic perspec­ ates, and Bob tive." White, FastSURF The first step in transforming a founder, for two life-sized vehicle into a model from years now. We're somewhere between 1I20th to doing things with CAD KEY and hobby kit industry. 1172nd scale is to photograph the FastSURF that were never planned subject from all angles and measure for or thought about." Inscale has designed several all critical dimensions by hand. The "The biggest obstacle to 3D CAD scale models that are already in the entire subject is then reproduced in in the scale model industry is that stores. The Toyota 4x4 Pickup

April / May 1993 • KEY Solu~ons • 15 marketed by Lindberg was the first that supply parts to large Dietz and Alford see their busi­ kit in the industry to have the body automakers is growing. Inscale ness expanding. Demand for their successfully cut from computer clients include manufacturers who services has increased to the extent data. In addition, they used CAD supply auto components, such as that new resources are being added, tools for portions of the GMC instrument panels. Their services both human and hardware/software. Syclone pickup and the Mitsubishi speed the process which provides Global involvement with toolmakers 3000GT. The 1993 Camaro Z-28 the data necessary to physically and customers continues to grow. and 1993 Formula Firebird replica­ fabricate the parts. In the industry, Bud feels that with the facility and tions are also CAD designs which a number of companies are unable sophistication available today in will ultimately be mass produced to translate data from CAD files CAD/CAM software the possibilities for the Ertl Co. A model of the directly into CAM due to a lack of are endless. This will continue to Boeing B-52 aircraft will be avail­ resources in the form of either provide solutions to creative barriers able at press time. manpower, time, or expertise. which exist today. Inscale's Future Inscale fills the gap. Inscale's work Although 80% of Inscale's for companies such as Ertl, Mono­ business currently is model/hobby gram, Revell, and Testors Corpora­ kit design, service to companies tion has yielded impressive results.

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CIRCLE CARD 269 16. KEY Solutions· April/May 1993 Powerful CAM software for CADKEY users

SURFCAM's menu structure and view numbers are similar to CADKEY's for a clean and con­ sistent interface.

SURFCAM includes bi-directional CADL support for seamless data translation between CADKEY and SURFCAM, including 2D & 3D geometry and NC tool paths.

SURFCAM translates CADKEY's Bezier Surfaces from the Super Patch format into SURFCAM Bezier surfaces. (SURFCAM supports highest degree Bezier surfaces.)

SURFCAM out-performs most high­ end workstation systems in speed and features, yet has been judged the easiest-to-Ieam all-around CNC machining system.

SURFCAM's NURBS features: a) One-step, gouge-free surface cutting of hundreds of trimmed surfaces, b) Contain cutter paths SURFCAM's Surfaces within boundary splines to allow gouge-free cutting to adjacent Proven over 5 years. surfaces, c) Import IGES trimmed NURBS surfaces. o Easy! Learn to construct & cut surfaces the first day SURFCAM creates true surface o 3D surface design, modeling and machining models and optimized tool paths with gouge avoidance for 2 axis o Powerful 2 axis, 3 axis, 4 axis and 5 axis systems through 5 axis CNC mills, lasers, waterjets, routers, o Workstation speed & power at PC prices digitizers, CMMs. Includes Call 1-800-488-3615 for demo disks, $15 VISA support for simultaneous 4 and 5 o axis machining. Dealer Inquiries Welcome SURFCAM 32-bit DOS and 32-bit Windows versions require a SURFWAREINCORPORATED ( , I I )' ( / II 386/486 PC computer with 4 MB 421 Park Ave., San Fernando CA 91 340 ) ), ) I , memory. (818) 361 -5605 Fax (818) 361-1919 REVIEWING THE February 26, 1993 REVIEWERS

PC Magazine recently published an eight page review of several CAD Dear Mr. Miller:

programs entitled "2-D Drafting: Why Pay More?" The February 23, As a long time subscriber to PC Magazine, 1993 article included AutoCAD and AutoCAD extension for Windows; and a system provider for mechanical CADI CAM software and systems, I'm deeply CADKEY 5 and DataCAD; Cadvance and Cadvance for Windows; troubled by your February 23 review of 2-D DesignCAD 2D; DrafixCAD Ultra and Drafix Windows CAD; Drawbase drafting systems. I'd like to detail my con­ 2000; EasyCAD 2 and FastCAD; Generic CADD; IBM CAD/PIus, cerns, and request a reply. In some instances, I believe you owe your readers an apology, and MicroCadam Plus; Microstation Nexus and Microstation PC; Point Line an explanation. Professional; Silver Screen Professional Edition; TurboCAD, VersaCAD/ I. General Considerations 386 and VersaCAD Design . The criteria given for software selection Why 2D Drafting? were 2D drafting programs that supported extended or expanded In the two years since you tested 3-D mechanical CAD packages, we've seen the memory, text annotation, e-size drawings, symbol libraries, dimen­ drafting market consolidate, while demand for sioning, hatching, command scripts/ links, DXF support and priced 3-D and solids-based tools is increasing. under $4,000. According to Daratech, while 48% of CAD data is currently represented as 2-D, 84% of users The CADKEY section contained several glaring inaccuracies. For in­ would prefer to represent their data as 3-D solids. Almost every 2-D-only PC CAD package stance, the reviewer stated plainly that CADKEY does not have a has added 3-D, solids, and rendering tools to "stretch" command. Oops! CADKEY's EDIT: BOX MOVE command be competitive. Yet in 1993, you review 2-D programs, stretches geometry, but the words for the commands are different. The while giving credit for 3-D (in your Editor's reviewer also did not address or mention several of CAD KEY's strongest Choice conclusions). The explanation is that, features such as drawing layout, history line and immediate mode " ... most users are still only doing two-dimen­ sional drafting." By this rationale, you commands, and had difficulty with a hatch routine which should be shouldn't review color printers, CD-ROM's, easy. The reviewer was obviously unfamiliar with CADKEY and the object-oriented programming tools, graphics accelerators, or any multi-media tools. material was not submitted to Cad key or an expert CAD KEY user for a We expect leadership from PC Magazine in technical read before publication. Is this fair to readers who are looking evaluating new, important trends in technol­ ogy. 2-D drafting tools are not an area of active for accurate information? development by CAD vendors, who are work­ ing on "automatic" dimensioning of 3-D solid Many CAD KEY users have contacted PC Magazine regarding the models that can be varied in many ways. Why errors, but Dana Seero, CADKEYVAR and president of Computer-Aided did you decide to select 2-D tools now, when Products of Marblehead, Mass., was also very concerned about the the future in 1991 was 3-D?

underlying design and execution of the review in addition to the Qualifications of Reviewers accuracy. His comprehensive letter to Mike Miller, PC Magazine Editor, We are dealers of CAD KEY, and in the past of Ashlar-Vellum (we also sell high-end addresses these issues in depth and is printed here in its entirety. UNIX solid modeling systems and PC CAM software). I state this up front. But one of Editor's Note your reviewers is not just a consultant - he is an AutoCAD dealer. Another is not just a KEYSOWTlONS talked with PC Magazine's editorial staff and consultant - he is an AutoDesk Fellow. That the author of the letter about the problems described here. PC Magazine will be printing a correction in an upcoming issue. said, I believe that, within their frame of experience, your reviewers tried very hard to be fair.

18 • KEY Solutions • April! May 1993 PC Magazine Review - cont.

What qualifications do you command input (i.e., 2.312 x tan(2» . You state a price less than require of reviewers? What special Others have an on-line calculator $4,000. This is entirely arbitrary - or unique expertise and experience that supports important functions customers looking for drafting do your reviewers provide that (ie, Sine, Cosine) and can access the productivity typically look at PC­ justifies any faith in their conclu­ results without retyping. Others based packages in their entirety. sions by your readers? In this require you to input a command And it seems to have eliminated review, it seems that primary script for the result, and others from consideration two other familiarity with one product by require you to type in output from a powerful drafting-only packages - several reviewers may have unin­ calculator on your desk. Which Hewlett Packard's ME10, and tentionally biased the way the would you prefer to use? This is a ADRA Systems CADRA-III. evaluation was organized and critical productivity tool for draftsmen. ComputerVision's Personal De­ conducted. You require command scripts or signer includes advanced 3-D links to outside databases. You surfacing capabilities for a list price Choice of Packages specify "command scripts," instead of $3,995 - but does not include the ANVIL 1000 is a long-popular of macros, although most of your programming language at that professional drafting program, other software reviews score macros price, apparently another victim of brought to the PC environment (especially keystroke recorders) as your command script requirement years ago by one of the leaders in beneficial for users. Ask your that nevertheless fulfills the needs the development of 3-D CAD. It readers - the "most" users that are of many designers. comes with an extensive library of currently doing 2-D drafting. According to Daratech, there are mechanical components that are Draftsmen aren't programmers. If two life-forms in the PC CAD expensive add-ons to other pack­ lack of macros or a programming market. Personal CAD systems cost ages. The developers of this product, language is a "shows topper," than less than $1,000; dealer-supported who understand and flourish in the why didn't you evaluate them in professional packages cost $2,000 or 2-D drafting market, do not feel the your benchmarks? more. Prices change constantly, need for "command scripts." How Your benchmark was trivial and discounts are often available, and does PC Magazine justify this as a does little to differentiate the prices are trending downward. Do critical function, when support of products. Do you believe that you think your readers find this drafting standards or associative drafters who purchase anything but restriction appropriate? The higher dimensions are not? $500 packages are foolish and don't the price, the more flexibility in This same scripting requirement understand the technology and that price. knocked out another program of their needs? If a $99 package does II. Suitability to Task substantial merit to your readers, just as well in your tests as a $3,495 As my area of expertise is Ashlar-Vellum. Vellum uses a package, maybe you aren't testing mechanical CAD, I'll limit specific "sketcher" to create geometry, anything of meaning. comments to that area, but there which can be constrained. You can You require DXF support, but are general areas of concern as well. dimension the drawing, then drive not IGES, STEP, VDA, or one of Special or All Purpose? changes by editing the dimension several other industry standard You evaluate packages for value. Formula relationships can be (and non-proprietary) translators. architectural, mechanical, and established between dimensions, DXF is an AutoDesk-proprietary facilities management use. For and parametrically driven to create format that sometimes imposes home or part-time use, I suppose linked changes or families of parts. grave restrictions on data inter­ someone might use the same Don't you think this is important? change (for example, 3-D splines are package, on a limited basis, for all CADKEY Light, currently output as polylines, which makes it three purposes, and I think that's selling for $99, would have scored difficult to use CAM software good. But professional products in just as high on your benchmark as without special techniques). True, it these general areas have special­ CADKEY, if it had not been ex­ is a de facto standard - but is not ized, as the many 3rd party offer­ cluded by your command script the primary means of data ex­ ings attest. Access to external requirement. change in the CAD world. We think databases is an absolute "must" for Your Criteria - Omissions PC Magazine should support and facilities management, yet is much One thing is really important to promote open and industry stan­ less important for architectural or a draftsman - an engineering dards, not proprietary ones - that's mechanical use. Ability to use 3-D calculator! Some of the reviewed what made PC's popular to begin data from other packages is critical programs will accept formulas as with! in mechanical CAD, but less

April I May 1993 • KEY Solutions • 19 Only one company today can offer engineers unprecedented flexibility puter-based training. Hundreds of engineers fully integrated computer- and control early in the design process. third party solution partners. And at aided design, analysis and manufac- Opt to add CAM with CAOKEye NC, $3,495 CAD KEY 6 offers an excep- turing for desktop concurrent and product designs can be moved tional price/performance advantage engineering: Cadkey. into manufacturing rapidly and with with a money back guarantee. Visit significant time savings! your authorized CAD KEY dealer, or introducing CADKEYe 8 call Cadkey for more information and CAD KEY 6 takes the design-to-man- It II comes together willi C8IIcey a free CAOKEY 6 poster. ufacturing cycle to a new level of per- Cadkey offers everything a design formance never before available in a engineer could possibly want: Tech- ~ CadkeYJ Inc. desktop environment. To an award- nical superiority. Complete data 4 Griffin Road North , Windsor, CT 06095 winning 2-0/3-0 CAOO product, exchange between other CAD sys- (203) 298-8888 0 FAX: (203) 298-6401 To ll-free 1-800-394-2231 CAOKEY 6 now adds analysis, giving tems. Direct customer support. Com- CADKEY' and CADKEY' NC are registered tredemarks of Cadkey. Inc.

CIRCLE CARD NO. 202

PC Magazine Review - cont.

important in AEC. do this automatically - others patterns of use of CAD drafting prod­ What was the rationale for require editing of individual cross­ ucts, personal or professional, and evaluating these tools in all three hatch patterns, a laborious process. excluded programs that are in many areas, when many of the tools are Some programs have associative instances better for their intended use specialized for a specific functional cross-hatching - others don't. than the ones evaluated. As mentioned area? In your Editor's Choice conclu­ above, if not for the requirement to run sions, you state, " .. .the price of your "command scripts," CADKEY Light Standards, Dimensions, package may bear little relation to would have fulfilled all your bench­ Associativity its quality; we've seen inexpensive marks the same as CADKEY 5. Do you You give no examination or credit packages that can take on jobs that think you've done the right thing for to drafting standards compliance. can't be done by packages that cost your readers here? There are ISO standards, JIS ten times as much." The exclusion of ANVIL 1000, standards, ANSI geometric dimen­ This is not a reflection on the Ashlar-Vellum, CADRA, ME10, and sioning and tolerancing standards, value or quality of the software Personal Designer is not in the best and several more specific standards products you reviewed. It is a interest of your readers. Ashlar Vellum (i.e. , guidelines used on some federal reflection on the lack of familiarity has a sketcher, an intelligent cursor, contracts). No one buys a profes­ of your reviewers with drafting and parametrics. ComputerVison's sional CAD package that doesn't tools users find important, as DesignView has similar functions, plus meet their particular standards detailed above. You have done a solver capability, for $1,000. ANVIL, needs - you don't mention or measure grave disservice to your readers, MEW and CADRA are professional this. who may have been led to a pack­ drafting packages just about as good as You give no examination or credit age that will significantly hinder, any workstation drafting package at to other critical dimensioning needs. rather than enhance, their drafting any price. CADKEY and Personal Tolerance dimensioning is a critical productivity. Designer were among the first to function in many drafting environ­ include 3-D and advanced surface ments. Most of the low-end packages III. Editor's Choice modeling tools on a PC. If your readers you review do not support tolerance This was supposed to be a 2-D are going to buy a professional product, dimensioning, and users should drafting review, yet you state, do you think they consider a list price of know this! Datum and ordinate "AutoCAD Release 12 ... .it's ability $3,995 acceptable, but not $4,195 or dimensioning are required in most to take you all the way from design $4,495, a 5-10% difference? mechanical drafting environments. to execution of both 2-D and 3-D I have every confidence that PC You mention associativity but do projects more than makes up for its Magazine wants to be the best - and not define or measure this or other drawbacks." If 3-D tools were part this means service to your readers. types of dimension change. Signifi­ of your evaluation criteria, how? Reading your review, it is difficult to cant changes in geometry often With all the shortcomings noted believe that this was your primary result in other types of editing, such above in evaluating 2-D drafting objective. The selection and evaluation as moving the location of the dimen­ tools, do you think your reviewers criteria seem to have been chosen, out sion, changing the number of decimal have the knowledge and expertise of ignorance or commercial interest, for places, changing the text height, or to compare 3-D functionality of all reasons other than to fairly evaluate 2- changing the cross-hatching. Some these packages as well? This is D drafting tools the way your readers systems preserve their associativity sheer opinion on the part of the use them. throughout these changes - others reviewers, and I would like you to Please have someone get back to me don't. IGES output should reflect the offer their qualifications for making with your plans for a response to this same dimension types with the same this statement, or retract it. letter. I consider the implications of this level of associativity as the native article very serious and hope you will binary format. If you are going to IV. Concluding Statements address them squarely. test associativity (and you should!) I've been a subscriber to PC then test it in a meaningful way. Magazine for a long time, and I You mention being able to cross­ expect leadership. I do not believe Sincerely, hatch in complex boundaries, but that this review will help readers leave out other important measures select the package that best fits Dana Seero, President of functionality. Cross-hatching their specific requirements. The Computer-Aided Products, Inc. around islands, including text and organization of the review and Marblehead, MA dimensions, is a common problem for criteria used do not reflect the all types of drafting. Some programs

22 • KEY Solutions· April! May 1993 Need full-featured parametric solid and surface modeling?

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CIIlCLE CARD 269 OMS Dossier

by Martin van der Roest

rawing management has distilled into features wars - like, feedback mechanism is a FAX poll taken on a high level of "my red wagon is shinier than (see following page). Future columns importance over the past yours." will address subjects gathered from D decade. It is critical to DMS, on the other hand, paral­ the FAX poll(s). Your participation fulfilling the promises of concurrent lels accounting systems. You don't is looked forward to, and will be engineering and computer inte­ run down to the local software valued. grated manufacturing (CIM). It is stand and pick up an accounting Let me begin with a broad the mechanism which can maintain system expecting 'plug and play' perspective of what DMS is and its the order and value of an operations. Of course not. Exten­ most obvious benefits. To me, organization's "currency." Unfortu­ sive planning must go into defining document management refers to the nately, in spite of its importance, such things as chart of accounts, practices, policies and procedures an drawing management is still not vendor/customer setups, invoicing organization uses, (manual or fully understood, much less imple­ policies and procedures, forms, automated), to support the introduc­ mented. multiple department interactions, tion (creation or capture), manage­ The subject of drawing manage­ etc. In other words, the software ment, and control of documents used ment reminds me of an annual facilitates and provides the mecha­ to deliver product and/or services. event that took place at the end of nisms necessary to support the This definition suggests that nearly spring football practice during my administrative needs of the organi­ everyone has developed, consciously high school years. The event, a zation. A well planned effort or unconsciously, a DMS solution for liberal interpretation of rugby, was permits the enterprise to focus on their business. If we narrow this actually played in the school pool the business at hand. Likewise discussion to CAD and related with a heavily greased watermelon! with an automated DMS solution. applications such as engineering/ I remember the players (who were A successful system is the result of manufacturing, we find a class of feared and respected on the field) a well planned effort which consid­ DMS typically referred to as engi­ were reduced to a pair of ineffective ers both software and administra­ neering document management. flailing arms in the pool. What a tive practices, policies and proce­ EDMS environments have three glorious equalizer! Trying to get a dures. basic components. These include the hold of the "watermelon" was next With that, let me welcome you to drawing creation and/or prerelease to impossible. If it popped in a the DMS Dossier which will address stage, the release stage, and the direction you wanted it to go, it was the "greased watermelon" known as document distribution stage. So, purely coincidental. The water­ drawing/document management. comprehensive EDMS solutions are melon feed afterwards was pursued On an ongoing basis I plan to focus not isolated to the drawing creation with equal vigor, but with much on what DMS is, its common stage using CADKEY. They go more control and success. components, how it can benefit your beyond and encompass the release Defining and understanding the business, how it works, and how to processes, the controls imposed, issues of an automated drawing! implement and support it. Clearly, engineering change controls proce­ document management system every business is different in its dures/processes, relationships to (DMS) is like that "greased water­ needs and goals. However, just like MRP environments, and then of melon." Companies struggle to get CAD systems have basic and course, the challenges of document their hands around the issues, but expected operations, DMS will also distribution. An organization can if they do get a hold and make a have basic and expected operations. benefit from such a broad implemen­ push towards a solution, the results The organization I belong to has tation by being able to quickly and do not necessarily reflect the goals. done extensive work in this area for easily find a drawing/document and Drawing management systems are the past five years. Continuous having the confidence that it's the not like other applications software. feedback regarding the evolving right document! As intuitively CAD and other well known and challenges of DMS is essential, so I obvious as this sounds, this is a huge understood applications have been am requesting your input. The barrier to productivity in most

24 • KEY Solutions' April / Moy 1993 organizations. Nearly 60-70% of the this becomes a significant resource subject with you. Making it relevant time spent retrieving documents is drain that will have a noticeable and applicable is a given. Your consumed in searching, verifying, and impact on the bottom line. This is feedback will be a plus. So let's get understanding inter-relationships. clearly unacceptable, regardless of the started. I:l This may be acceptable for smaller state of the economy. operations. But for larger operations, I look forward to digging into this rr===~~~~~------=- KEVSOLUTIONS DMS Dossier FAX POLL

We want to hear from you. Tell us what's going on with your CAD related drawing management activities. The results and input provided will be published in the next issue of KEVSOLUTIONS. Send this FAX form to 714/543-4931.

1. What is your primary business? 6. Once a drawing is found, your confidence that it is the correct drawing is: AlE/C Instruments High Automotive Machinery Moderate Aerospace Metals Low Electronics Other Unknown Government

7. Please profile the state of a OMS solution for your organization. I 2. What is your primary area of responsibility? Exists Executive Planned Management II No Plans I Technical I Unknown

3. What is your CAD system used for? 8. What specific questions or topics are of interest to you? Architecture Manufacturing Construction Mechanical Civil Rendering Electrical Other Facilities

4. What network is currently being used, or is planned for use with your CAD system(s)? None IBM Novell StarLAN Banyan PC NFS ------'-Optional Information: Respondent's identities will be kept , 3COM Other confidential:

5. The time it takes to find or locate commonly used drawings Name ______is (on average): Quick If not Quick, why? Company ______Moderate Phone Number______Too long Unknown FAX Number______IL ~======~~~======--~~~==-- April / May 1993 • KEY Solutions. 25 MOttlTORS FOR CAD High Performance • More Than High Resolution

If you spend long eye-burning based on a complex set of interrela­ less than the actual real estate of hours at a computer working on tionships between monitor size, dot the screen and/or there may be CAD, you know you need all the pitch and resolution. Images distortions ofthe image along the help you can get. Large, high­ displayed on smaller monitors at a edges and in the corners. Flat and resolution monitors can be very very high resolution but a large dot flat-and-square screens and other valuable. They not only make the pitch can be unusable because text, technologies tend to alleviate these work easier by reducing obvious for example, is often unreadable, problems. things like eye strain, but let you etc. In general, the smaller the dot work faster by lessening the need pitch the clearer, sharper the Display Features for pans and zooms. They're not picture because the phosphor Glare and reflection are enemies cheap, but the benefits they provide elements inside the CRT are closer of productivity. Coated anti-glare for CAD make them worth the together. glass, tints or other ways of decreas­ expense. A few comparisons should make ing this problem are essential. High There are many complex fea­ these relationships clear. A 20" performance monitors also generate tures and terms to understand. The monitor with .31 dot pitch produces large amounts of static electricity. following explanations and defini­ good 1280 x 1024 resolution. On the An anti-static coating stops this and tions are very brief and intended other hand a 17" CRT requires a .28 lowers the amount of dust that only as an overview. For those who dot pitch for top quality 1280 x 1024 collects on the CRT and stops the want to research the topic in more display. Higher resolutions really dust from being thrown on your technical detail, "How to Select a should have a smaller dot pitch. At face. CRT Monitor" is an excellent book .31 dot pitch the best resolution on Flicker (even below the eye's available from Beta Review Inc., a 14" monitor will only be 800 x 600, perception level) can be fatiguing. 703/837-1436, fax 703/837-3063. but at .26 dot pitch the 14" will That's why high performance The cost may seem a little "pricey," produce fine 1024 x 768 resolution. monitors are predominantly set up but compared to the cost of a We believe high-production CAD for non-interlaced operation. In non­ monitor (from $1600 to $3500) plus needs a monitor that is at least 17" interlaced mode each line of the nearly as much for a graphics card with 1024 x 768 resolution or better. screen image is drawn consecutively to support it, this could be $185 well If you want a larger screen, be in one pass. Interlaced mode draws spent. aware that 19" monitors and larger the screen image in two passes: first High performance monitors can require an enormous amount of drawing every other line and then be understood on two levels: desk space. filling in the missing lines on the 1) what you see and use; and 2) second pass. Flicker is also reduced what you can't see or the internal Size/Display Area as the vertical refresh rate in­ electronic technology. Monitor sizes are normally creases. This is discussed below. described in inches (17", 20", etc.). User Controls What You See Like a television, this number measures the diagonal of the CRT High J?erformance monitors are Resolution/Dot Pitch (Cathode Ray Tube), but the big. A simple1thirig like'.onloff switches and other controls located Many people believe high viewable area is usually about 1 at the back of the unit can be a resolution is the main factor in inch smaller (20" = 19" viewable). major inconvenience on a regular selecting a high end monitor for However, (pardon the pun) this is basis. Make sure your monitor's CAD, the theory being, the higher only part of the picture. The active controls are forward not aft. Many the resolution the better the display display area is measured horizon­ have front drop-down panels which image. This idea is not totally tally and vertically in millimeters. provide excellent access. accurate. Display quality is actually On many monitors this area may be

26 • KEY SoIuHons • April I May 1993 Minimum Europe, and more controls on a high o ADJUSTMENT FUNCTION SELECT BUTTONS recently in the performance United States, monitor allow you standards have to adjust horizon­ evolved so that tal display position refresh rates of at (phase) and size least 70Hz are and vertical required. Users display position become more and size which can productive with vary for different (1) POWER SWITCH higher refresh video modes. Some o CONTRAST CONTROL () (j) POWER ON INDICATOR rates because BUTTONS (1) DEGAUSSING SWITCH have degaussing L-___ ® BRIGHTNESS CONTROL they can work switches for BUTTONS longer without discharging the * fatigue or discom­ magnetic field that Typical high-performance front control panel. Line art courtesy of Mitsubishi. fort. can build up on the CRT. This build up Scan Rate can throw all the colors off. Some phor must be excited, or updated, The scan rate is the frequency at monitors have additional sophisti­ with sufficient frequency. This which the monitor's electron beam cated external controls for color and update frequency is called the must sweep horizontally across the correction of geometric image refresh rate. In general, 70Hz or face of the CRT in order to make its distortion. higher is considered a high refresh way from top to bottom of the rate, and the higher the rate the screen at the required refresh rate. Flip Screen more stable the image will appear. Monitors can be grouped into An important factor for CAD or Higher refresh rates also produce distinct performance classes on the Windows users is "flip screen time." more vivid images. Since the basis of their minimum to maxi­ This is the black out interval when phosphor begins to fade immedi­ mum scan rates. Given a desired switching the PC from high resolu­ ately after it is excited by the refresh rate, for example 72Hz, and tion graphics mode to text command electron beam, increasing the a desired resolution, for example mode (VGA) in either sequence. A refresh rate will raise the average 1280 x 1024, you can roughly good design takes approximately 0.5 brightness of the glowing phosphor. calculate the type of monitor that seconds to switch; others may take A 60Hz refresh rate (the display will be required: [refresh rate] x 2 to 3 seconds. image updated 60 times each [vertical resolution]= scan rate. In second) has been a de facto stan­ our example, 72 x 1024 =73,728 or Cables/Connections dard for computer monitors. In approximately a 74Hz scan rate. Two types of connections are common: 15-pin D sub and BNC. The BNC type has three to five separate color-coded connections on ----EMISSION STANDARDS the monitor end. A new version of The concern over possible effects from electromagnetic emissions is controversial and the D SUB type, 13w3, has coaxial unlikely to be resolved in the near future. To be on the safe side some people are embedded instead of regular pins. purchasing low emission monitors. Currently the U.S. does not have any ELFNLF Developed for the B2 bomber, they emission standards. In Sweden, three standards have emerged. are not common yet for monitors, The first standard MPR-I came in 1987. It is very limited and only addresses VLF magnetic but offer some excellent technologi­ fields. It does not address ELF or electrical fields. Some companies say their monitors cal advantages. Make sure the meet Swedish standards, but don't say which standard they meet. When this is the case, vendor includes the proper cable they usually just meet MPR-I, which isn't very much. with the unit. MPR-II covers the areas MPR-I missed. The selection of the parameters for this standard wasn't based on any research, but on what was possible at a reasonable price. What You Donlt See At the same time MPR-II was created (Dec. 1990). the Unions in Sweden demanded a tighter standard. This became known as the TCO option. Meeting TCO requirements is Refresh Rate possible. but does add considerably to the final price of the monitor. A CRT monitor generates an Some monitor manufacturers "Pass' the test by measuring their monitors at VGA image by passing an electron beam resolution. The electrical emissions from a monitor increase at the higher resolutions. (in the case of a color CRT, a set of A Simplified Comparison of Standards three beams) across a glass area that is covered with phosphor. The MAGNETIC FIELD ELECTRICAL FIELD ELF VLF ELF VLF electron beam excites the phosphor MPR-I" nla 0.50mG nla nla causing it to glow momentarily. The MPR-II* 2.5mG 0.25mG 25 VIm 2.5 VIm phosphor must be continually re­ TCO"" 2.0mg 0.25mG 10 VIm 1.0 VIm

excited in order for the glow to Measured al SOcm (19.6 inches) around. create a visible image. For the ~ Measured al 30cm (11 .8 inches) from front and SOcm all other sides. image to appear stable, the phos- by B. Diaz - Nanao U.S.A, Corp.

April/May 1993 • KEY Solutions. 27 This is only an approximation. In practice, the calculation must include another factor called the retrace period. Retrace Period The amount of time that it takes for the beam to retrace to the top of the screen to start scanning again in the horizontal direction is called the "vertical retrace period." The scan rate as calculated above must be adjusted upwards to include the retrace period. In our example, we ••• can safely assume that a multiple frequency monitor capable of 78KHz will be able to achieve 1280 x 1024 Trinitron® technology uses one gun instead of three for accuracy. The aperture grille allows a large portion of the beam to pass through, making the image brighter. Less expensive, the common triangular three·gun and shadow·mask resolution at 72Hz refresh rate. arrangement is also less accurate and subject to misalignment. Trinrtron was developed by Sony for their monitors and is also used in some Mitsubishi and Nanao models. Line art courtesy of Sony. Video Bandwidth The video bandwidth is mostly looks like a mesh or household simple. Do your homework. associated with horizontal compo­ window screen. Sony's and nent. The 1 volt signal from the Mitsubishi's new aperture grill Microprocessor Based CPU must be amplified by 40 by the looks like the wires inside a piano. High performance monitors are video amplifier without distortion. All variations are attempts to autoscanning and provide versatil­ Basically, the higher the band­ increase brightness and color purity. ity with a wide range of applica­ width, the higher the resolution and tions from VGA to 1280. Among clarity of each pixel. Graphic Card Support other things, a microprocessor You must have a graphics based monitor can store video Tube Types accelerator card that supports all settings for different resolutions in There are two basic types of the features of your monitor, memory so you don't have to adjust shadow masks. The most common otherwise it's a waste. It's that settings for different video modes.

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CIRCLE CARD 257 28 • KEY Solutions' April ! May 1993

MOHITOitS FOit CfiD Special Features Go Beyond High Resolution

The monitors KEySOLUTIONS reviewed for this article are quite similar in some ways. All are capable of 1280 x 1024 resolution or higher; they have very high scanning frequencies and refresh rates; they are about the same size; and all meet high standards for electromagnetic and radiation levels and have some type of non-glare displays. Their differences lie in the technologies the manufacturers have developed or adopted for such things as type of shadow mask, electron focusing guns and adaptibility with color and memory settings. The following descriptions assume the features shown in the chart and focus on a few of their special technologies and capabilities.

• Premium, bonded anti-reflective CRT panel. • Dynamic Beam Forming (DBF) automatically corrects pixel shape over the entire CRT reducing image distortion in the corners. • Built-in digital scan mode memory stores custom and preset settings for up to 20 different operating frequencies. • High speed switching for VGA-pass-through graphics cards (ap­ proximately 0.5 seconds flipscreen). • Ultra high 1280 x 1024 maximum resolution including all new high vertical refresh standards (up to 76 Hz at 78 KHz) and VGA pass­ through capabilities. • Easy to use, icon-based front panel display set-up controls. Mitsubishi - Diamond Pro 20

• Anti-glare coating eliminates glare and static electricity. • Dynamic Beam Spot Control and Dynamic Focus systems provide edge-to-edge sharp focus. • Stores and automatically recalls horizontal/vertical picture adjust­ ments and modifications such as Side Pincushioning and Trapezoi­ dal Distortion for up to 30 signal sources. • Color Control to adjust red, green and blue color intensities sepa­ rately. • Reduced picture interference with a special SIS (Saddle/Saddle) Deflection Yoke reduces previously required 24-inch distance to 6 inches. Nanao - Flexscan 750i

• Microprocessor Controls: 20 memory settings, including 12 user adjustable controls. • ColorKey System lets user calibrate color to match Pantone colors for true WYSIWIG output and optimum user control of color. • Special Invar Shadow Mask to increase brightness and contrast. • Lowest price for monitors in this size range with similar features. Price equivalent to competing 17" monitors.

Sampo - AlphaScan LE

o • KEY Solutions· April / May 1993 • Incorporates Triniton® technology (25 years old this year), a one­ gun, three beam system that provides brighter, sharper images with truer colors than conventional systems. Trinitron tubes feature the Super Fine Pitch™ Aperture Grille with thin unbroken vertical openings and a vertically flat, black screen. • Complies with MPRII emissions standards. • Features microprocessor-based Sony Display Memory System, providing 9 preset display modes and 15 user-definable modes. All controls located on front panel. • Announced at press time: New Sony 20" GDM-2038 monitor provides highest refresh rate (80Hz) at 1280 x 1024 resolution and advanced digital control of video modes and image parameters, Sony GOM-2036S including color temperature. Provides full, edge-to-edge display in all video modes.

• DQ-DAF gun (double quadropole dynamic astigmatism focus) uses two lenses rather than the normal single lens. The double lens system increases the screen image focus at least 20% over conven­ tional dynamic focus guns with reduced moire at all resolutions. • AIM (Advanced Invar ShadowMask) for brighter images. • ViewMatch™ color control system adjusts color to match printed output and selects either temperatures of 9300K or 6500K. • 21 programmable modes. • Flat square screen.

ViewSonic 17"

High Resolution Monitors

Milsubishi Nanoa Sampo Sony ViewSoniC® Diamond Pro 20 F lexscan750i AlphaScan LE GDM-2036S ViewSonic 17

CRT Dot Pitch 0.31mm 0 .3 1mm 0 .3 1m m 0.30mm(AG pitch) 0.2 8 mm

Glass Surface Non-glare, high contrast, Dark face, non-glare, Non-glare. sil ica coating AIR coating Tint (TM =52%), anti-static, optical Iy coated, bonded anti-static anti-static coating anti-glare, anti-reflection

Maximum Resolution 1280 x 1024 1280 x 1024 1600 x 1280 1280 x 1024 1600 x 1280 non-interlaced non-int'erlaced

Tube Size 20" flat 2 1" 90' delection 20" 20" 17"

Display Area(HxV) 345 x 275 mm(l280x 1024) 380x285 m m 360x270 m m 360x274mm 300x 225mm

User Controls Front Access Fron t Access Front Access Front Access Front Access Static Convers io n

MicroProcessor Ba sed Yes Yes Yes Yes Ye s

Scanning Frequency Horizontal Scan 30-78 KH z 30-78KHz 30-82KHz 30-7 1KHz 30-82KHz Vertical Refresh 50-130Hz 55-90Hz 45-90Hz 50- 120Hz 50-90Hz

Video Bandwidth 130MHz 120MH z II OM Hz 60- 100MH z 135 MH z

Conne ctions 5-B NC with termi nation 5-BNC & IS -pin D-sub 5-BNC & High 5-BNC & IS -pin swi tc hes for loop th rough 15 pin D-s ub 'density IS- pin mini O-sub

Power Supply 155 watts 160 watts 150 watts 180 watts 140 watts (Max. Consumption)

Radiation Standard No rating MPR-Il MPR-lJ MPR-Il (fu ll ) MPR-Il

Dimensions (wxhxd) 495x493x543mm 496x567x47 1 mm 480x450x480mm 4 80x481 x500m m 4 14x4 12x448mm

Weig bt 33 Kgs 36.5Kgs 26.5Kgs 33 Kg s 19.4Kgs

Price $ 2,999 $ 3,299 52,395 5 3,399 $ 1,599

For More Information Mitsublshi Electronics Nanao Sampo Corp. Sony Corp. ViewSonic 800/843 -2515 310/325-5202 404/449-6220 800/352-766 9 800/888-8583 714/236-6352 Fax 310/530- 1679 Fax 404/447-1 109 408/435-7990 909/869-7318

April/May 1993 • KEY Solutions . 31 THE PERFECT TOOL FOR CONCURRENT ENGINEERING

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CIRCLE CARD NO. 234 CADKEY AND AUTOCAD IN MIXED CAD ENVIRONMENTS

by Frank Simpson

In today's engineering, manufac­ Sirlin CAD+ + Engine®, produced That Require Approximation turing, and industrial environ­ by Sirlin Computer Corporation, • Attributes to Entities ments, the active use of more than Londonderry, New Hampshire. one CAD system has frequently CADKEY 6 can directly read and • Entities that Don't Fit into become the rule rather than the write data files in Autodesk's DWG Any Category exception. This has heightened the and DXF formats in a manner that need for bidirectional data-transla­ is transparent to the user. (Tables • Entities/Attributes that Can­ tion software. Foremost among 1 and 2 describe in outline form not Currently be Translated these translators are the Initial how CADKEY entities translate Graphics Exchange Standard into AutoCAD, and how AutoCAD System Interpretations (IGES), the Product Data Exchange entities translate into CADKEY). to Expect Specification / Standard for the In CADKEY 6, a user who wants Even the best bidirectional Exchange of Product Model Data to translate data from DWG or DXF translator cannot directly translate (PDES/STEP) and other specifica­ format merely makes selections, geometric entities that are not tions supported by the Interna­ starting from the main menu, with supported in both the source and tional Standards Organization, and a mouse or function keys: FILES target systems. End users need to by the American National Stan­ (Fl); TRANSLAT (F8); DWG (Fl) or understand exactly what type of dards Institute. However, interest DXF (F2), IMPORT (Fl) or EX­ translation to expect when translat­ in data translation also includes PORT (F2) and OPTIONS (F3). ing data between two very different software based on proprietary From now on CAD systems. A significant techni­ specifications, Windows-like cal difference separates CADKEY such as the dialog boxes and AutoCAD. This difference DWGformat CAD KEY 6 can directly prompt the user essentially comes down to the type andDXF® read and write data through the steps of mathematical entity representa­ format of files in Autodesk's to translate the tion that each system supports. Autodesk, Inc., geometric data DWG and DXF formats At the risk of oversimplifying Sausalito, from AutoCAD matters, the situation can be California. into CADKEY or summarized in this general way: Autodesk's DWG format is the vice versa. In fact, the user can CAD KEY supports higher-order unpublished binary format used in even specify that the data being (more complicated) mathematical AutoCAD® data files. DXF is the imported into CADKEY remain in entities, and AutoCAD supports acronym for Autodesk's Drawing AutoCAD-entity format so that lower-order (less complicated) Exchange Format. Although these after work in the file in CADKEY mathematical entities. A typical Autodesk data formats are propri­ has been finished, the data can be example is the spline. A spline is etary, they have become a quasi­ exported more easily back to an irregular curve mathematically standard due to the number of AutoCAD as a DWG or DXF file. AutoCAD users around the world. defined by node points, each This article describes the file Therefore, CAD software develop­ individual point of which is math­ translation capabilities of CADKEY ers, including Cadkey, whose end ematically verifiable. A more 6 including: users frequently work in mixed­ comprehensive definition of a spline CAD environments must take • System Interpretations to follows. A spline is a sequence of Autodesk's DWG and DXF formats Expect parametric polynomial curves into account. (typically quadratic or cubic polyno­ • Entity Type Distinctions The DWG and DXF translators mials) forming a smooth fit between a sequence of points in three­ in CADKEY®6 incorporate the • Entities and Display Attributes dimensional space. A spline is a

April / May 1993 • KEY Solutions • 3~ Table 1: CADKEY to AutoCAD Translation Table 2: AutoCAD to CADKEY Translation

CAD KEY Entity Translated into AutoCAO as AutoCAD Entity Translated Into CADKEY 8S

Arc Arc 3D Face Polygon (unfilled)

Arrow Solid (filled or outline),line or circle Arc Arc

Circle Cirde Attdef (attribute definition) Not translated

Collective Block and Insert with a special name. Mrib (attribute) Not translated Note: If you export a CAD KEY part Block Collective (collection of entities) file into AutoCAO, and then you Circle Circle import the same file into CAOKEY, Color Mapped to CAD KEY's RGB color palette you may experience some data loss Dimension Dimension. Linear, circular, radial , Conic Curve-fit polyline, that is , a polyline diametriC, angular and ordinate dimen· with a cUlve between two vertices sions are translated .Some special charac· Copious Data Cannot translate ters in the text, such as +/. (plus or minus), the Cross-Hatch Block and Instance degree symbol, tile radius symbol and the diam

Dimension Dimension eter symbol are translated. Associated blocks are not translated. Drawing Layout Not translated Elevationffhickness Collective. All entities with thickness Drawing Instance Not translated are translated as collectives File Note Text EED (external entity data) Not translated Font User-defined in tile DWG or DXF Handle (entity identification) Not translated translator's OPTION dialog box Insert Collective (collection of entities) Group Not translated Layer Level. Note: The translator maps the Label Block and Instance AutoCAD layers 0 to 254 to levels 1 Block and Instance Leader 10 255 in CADKEY. The translator keeps Level Layer. The layer name can be up to aU layer names. The user defines in the OWG or 30 characters long. DXF translator's OPTIONS dialog box whether to Line Une put data from AuloCAD layers above 254 all onto level 255 in CADKEY or to add the data to individual Note Text levels, starting again at level 1 in CADKEY. Point Point Line Line Polygon 3D Face (if not filled) or solid (if Line Type Translated as one of four CADKEY line fitted) . types: solid, dashed, center or phantom Polyline Polyline line. The user defines which line type the Subgroup Not translated translator will use in the DWG or OXF Spline Polyline with user-defined tolerance translato(s OPTIONS dialog box.

View Entity Coordinate System vector Paper Space Not translated

Viewport Not translated Point Point

Witness Block and Instance Polyline Polyline 20 Polytine Polyline

CAD KEY Entity Attribute Translated into AutoCAD as 3D Polyline 3-D pelyline

Color number Color_ Mapped to the approximate Polyline + Vertex Polytine. Note: As an entity with AutoCAO color match . multiple vertices, the translator connects each vertex to its adjacent vertex by a Fill celor If applicable, mapped to the approxi­ linear, quadratic or cubic curve. mate AutoCAD fill color match. 3D Mesh Several 3-D poIylines Group number Not translated Polyface Mesh Collective (Polygon Mesh) Level number Mapped to tile AutoCAD layer Bulge Arcs and polylines Line type Line type_ Mapped to the approxi­ mate AutoCAD line type. B-Spline Polyline

Line width Not translated Shape Not translated

Pen number Not translated Solid Filled polygon. Fill color is mapped to its approximate match in CADKEY. Subgroup number Not translated The translator does not import the View number Mapped to AutoCAD's Entity Coordi­ AutoCAD solid's invisible edge. Note:if you nate System vector. import a solid from AutoCAD inlo CADKEY, then expert it from CADKEY into AutoCAD,

CAD KEY Text Attribute Translated into AutoCAO as you may experience some data loss .

Angle Rotation Text Note.The user defines the note's font.

Aspect Xscale Trace Polygon. It the trace has color fill, the translator maps the fill colors to their Filled flag Not translated approximate match colors in CADKEY. Font number User-defined in the DWG or DXF View-3D Orthogonal view translato(s OPTION dialog box Viewport Not translated Height Height XRef Collective and reference. XAef will only be Une space Not translated imported when the user defines in the OWG Mirror Mirrored text or DXF translato(s OPTIONS dialog box Slant Oblique that tile Entity Format is to be AutoCAD

Underline text Not translated format.

Not inCluded in this tab+e are 2G additional te.t.jnlorlTHltion ~ts related 10 n<*. In CADKEY that the DWG Of DXF translator can translate Into AutoC AD. For information about thea. elements, consult the documentation fl)( the DWG and OXFtraMlalors.

34 • KEY Solutions • April I May 1993 high-order mathematical entity which the DWG or DXF translator because users can define their own that has great significance not only cannot translate because there is no individual line types. AutoCAD in three-dimensional computer­ other entity in the target system line types get translated into one of aided design, but also in computer­ that can even approximate these the four CADKEY line types. The aided manufacturing. CADKEY entities. user defines which line type to use users can create geometric figures Both CADKEY and AutoCAD in translating AutoCAD line types that are true cubic parametric support these geometric entities: into CADKEY in the OPTIONS splines. AutoCAD uses its polyline arc, circle, line, point, polyline and dialog box of the DWG or DXF entity to dimension. The translator. The default line type for represent a note entity in the DWG and DXF translators is B-spline. solid line. A line type in CADKEY Both CADKEY and AutoCAD CADKEYand However, the text entity gets translated into its approximate AutoCAD's suppOtt these geometric entities: in AutoCAD match as a line type in AutoCAD. B-spline is arc,circle, line, point, polyline have different not math­ and dimension names, but their Entities / Display Attributes ematically definitions are Requiring Approximation verifiable at essentially the A CADKEY spline translates every point. same. CADKEY's note translates into AutoCAD as an approximation In translating from AutoCAD into AutoCAD as text, and vice of a spline, that is, as a polyline into CAD KEY, if the DWG or DXF versa. with a user-defined tolerance. The translator encounters a geometric Although both CADKEY and translator does not export a entity defined in AutoCAD as a B­ AutoCAD have an entity called CADKEY spline into AutoCAD as spline, it will translate it into dimension, each system defines the an AutoCAD B-spline. Similarly, a CADKEY as a polyline. AutoCAD entity slightly differently. CADKEY conic translates into defines its B-spline entity as a CADKEY defines six types of AutoCAD as an approximation of a variation of polyline. However, in dimensions: linear, circular, radial, conic, a curve-fit polyline, that is, as translating from CADKEY into diametric, angular and ordinate a polyline with the best curved-line AutoCAD, if the DWG or DXF dimensions. The translator exports fit between two vertices. translator encounters a geometric CADKEY's dimensions into The polyline in AutoCAD is a entity defined in CAD KEY as a AutoCAD, but the detail entities, very generic entity. CADKEY spline, it cannot directly translate it such as generic dimension, label, accepts each type of AutoCAD into AutoCAD because AutoCAD leaders, etc. do not have a direct polyline in somewhat different does not support mathematically equivalent in AutoCAD. The ways: true splines. The translator exports translator exports these as blocks (1) What AutoCAD designates a CADKEY spline into AutoCAD as and instances, but it does not asa2D an approximation of a spline, that export polyline, is, as a polyline with a user-defined some CADKEY tolerance. The translator does not dimension A CADKEY conic translates into imports as a export a CADKEY spline into attributes AutoCAD as an approximation of polyline, but AutoCAD as an AutoCAD B-spline. (whether a a conic, a curve-fit polyline .. . a CADKEY A similar contrast between dimension does not CADKEY and AutoCAD relates to is a linear, polyline with the best curved-line support the another high-order mathematical circular, fit between two veltices variable entity, the conic. CAD KEY users radial, widths that can create true, mathematically diametric, AutoCAD's polyline can have. verifiable conics. AutoCAD users angular or ordinate dimension) for (2) CADKEY accepts AutoCAD's 3D can approximate a conic as a curve­ each dimension entity. Dimensions polyline as a three-dimensional fit polyline, that is a polyline with in AutoCAD are translated into polyline. (3) What AutoCAD the best curved-line fit between two CADKEY as linear, circular, radial, designates as a bulge, CADKEY vertices. diametric, angular or ordinate imports as a collection of arcs and dimensions. In translating from polylines. (4) AutoCAD's 3D mesh AutoCAD into CAD KEY, the DWG Entity Type Distinctions gets translated into CADKEY as or DXF translator skips associated CADKEY and AutoCAD systems several three-dimensional polylines. blocks in AutoCAD, but does contain geometric entities that are The translator brings these translate some special characters in common to both systems. They also polylines into CADKEY as indi­ the text, such as + / -, the degree contain entities that are specific to vidual polylines, not as a mesh. (5) symbol, the radius symbol and the each system, but which the DWG or Among its many polylines, diameter symbol. DXF translator can translate into AutoCAD defines one that it calls a other related entities that exist in CADKEY has four line types: B-spline. CADKEY imports the target s ystem ~ Then, there are solid, dashed, center and phantom. AutoCAD's B-spline entity as a entities specific to each system AutoCAD has many line types

April / May 1993 • KEY Solutions . 35 polyline. A CADKEY spline gets has 255 layers or fewer, the transla­ height, line space, mirror, slant and translated into AutoCAD as an tion of AutoCAD layers to CADKEY underline text. This is the meaning approximation of a spline, that is, levels is straightforward. of the function ATTRIB that as a polyline with a user-defined AutoCAD's first layer goes to appears in the CONTROL menu in tolerance. CADKEY's levell, etc. However, if CADKEY. The AutoCAD entity called trace the AutoCAD file contains more AutoCAD has two types of gets translated into CADKEY as a than 255 layers, the user must attributes: display attributes and filled polygon. The translator m~p s decide whether to put all of the non-display attributes. AutoCAD the trace's fill color to the approXI­ data from all of the additional defines display attributes essen­ mate color match in CADKEY. AutoCAD layers onto level 255 in tially as CADKEY does. A display The AutoCAD entity called CADKEY, or to put the additional attribute is a data element related vertex is translated into CADKEY data, layer by layer, onto CADKEY to the graphical display of data in as part of a polyline. Because a levels, beginning once again at level the file. Among AutoCAD's display vertex in AutoCAD follows a 1. Putting additional AutoCAD attributes are color, layer, line type, polyline, the DWG and DXF data onto CADKEY's levell, for line width, etc. AutoCAD defines translators example, does not mean that the non-display attributes as non­ embed the AutoCAD graphical data attached to a block. data origi­ The cost of material or the name of vertex inside The DWG and DXF bidirectional the polyline. nally trans­ a manufacturer are examples of translators in CAD KEY 6 inter­ lated and such non-graphical data. It is this CADKEY put onto has an entity face directly with AutoCAD non-graphical data attached to a level 1 gets block that defines the function called polygon. Releases 10, 11 and 12 destroyed. A polygon in ATTRIB that appears in the The data AutoCAD menu. The DWG or DXF CADKEYcan from AutoCAD layers 0 and 255 be filled or unfilled. What translator does not translate these will be stored together on non-graphical attributes into CADKEY designates as an unfilled CADKEY's levell, and so on. The polygon, AutoCAD calls a 3D face. CAD KEY; so it disregards them. user must distinguish among the What CADKEY identifies as a filled Among text attributes to the data elements which ones originally note entity in CADKEY, angle, polygon, AutoCAD calls a solid. came from AutoCAD's layer 0, and The color of the solid in AutoCAD aspect, height, mirror and slant which ones came from layer 255. translate respectively into the gets translated into its approximate When CADKEY data is translated match in CADKEY. The translator rotation, Xscale, height, text mirror into AutoCAD, if the user chooses to and oblique attributes in AutoCAD. does not import the AutoCAD name a particular layer on which solid's invisible edge into CADKEY. CADKEY's font number depends the data is located, the layer name upon the font that the user defined It is important to note that if a user can include up to 30 characters. imports a solid from AutoCAD into in the OPTIONS dialog box of the CADKEY, and then exports that The entities identified in DWG or DXF translator. The solid from CADKEY back into CADKEY as cross hatch, file note, default font number is 1, which AutoCAD, some loss of data may label, leader and witness, all get represents CADKEY's standard take place. translated into the AutoCAD font. entities called block and instance. What AutoCAD identifies as a block, that is, a named collection of An Entity That Does Not Fit Into entities, CADKEY imports as a Attributes to Entities Any Category collection of entities called a Entities in CADKEY and One entity in AutoCAD, XRef, collective. The same is true of the AutoCAD data files can have appears not to fit into any category. entities that AutoCAD defines as attributes, and users can define XRef is an externally referenced, insert, elevation/thickness and these attributes. Here, too, complete drawing that appears ~s a polygon mesh. CADKEY accepts CADKEY and AutoCAD differ in block in another AutoCAD drawmg these AutoCAD entities as collec­ the term "attribute." CADKEY file. CADKEY can import tives. defines an attribute as a data AutoCAD's XRef entity into a element which is related to the AutoCAD files have layers, CADKEY file, but only under the graphical display of data in the file. while CADKEY files have levels. condition that the user has defined Data elements, such as color AutoCAD files can contain an the target file in CADKEY as number, fill color, level number, unlimited number of layers which remaining in AutoCAD format. line type, line width, group number, are identified by layer names of up AutoCAD's XRefbecomes a subgroup number, pen number and to 30 characters. AutoCAD's CADKEY collective and reference. view number are entity attributes default layer name is "0." CADKEY in CADKEY. CADKEY has addi­ files can contain up to 255 levels, tional text attributes for notes. Entities/Attributes That Can-not numbered from 1 through 255. If These attributes to notes are angle, Currently Be Translated the AutoCAD file being translated aspect, filled flag, font number, This version of the bidirectional

~ • KEY Solutions • April I May 1993 DWG and DXF translators cannot translate these CADKEY entities into AutoCAD: copious data, drawing layout, drawing instance, group and subgroup. Don't Tie Up Your These attributes to CADKEY entities currently cannot be trans­ PC For Plotting! lated into AutoCAD: filled flag, group number, line space, line pSERVER drives your plotter width, pen number, subgroup from plot files on diskette, so you number and underline text. keep full use of your PC while The bidirectional DWG and DXF plotting. Use it stand alone, or translators cannot presently connected between your PC and translate these AutoCAD entities plotter for optional direct into CADKEY: attdef (attribute plotting too. The LCD front • Offline Plotting definition), attrib (attribute), EED panel displays disk directory for • Plotter Sharing (external entity data), paper space, file selection, plot status and pen • Interactive File Selection shape and viewport. change requests. • Multiple File Diskettes

Range and Flexibility pSERVER keeps you in control The DWG and DXF bidirectional of both your PC and plotter. translators in CADKEY 6 interface Works with HI, HP, Calcomp s~ directly with AutoCAD Releases 10, and other CAD supponed FAR MOUNTAIN 11 and 12. CADKEY users are not plotters. CORPORATION necessarily the only ones who will find this additional capability for 1420 NW Gilman Blvd. Suite 2163 Issaquah, WA 98027 working in mixed CAD environ­ (206) 392,6541 ments valuable. Even AutoCAD users may need to take advantage CIRCLE CARD 238 of CADKEY 6's DWG read-write capability because the file format GET the POWER OF l\Aous TABTM used in AutoCAD 11 and 12 is not NOW BRING THE POWER OF A TABLET TO YOUR GRAPHICS SCREEN !! compatible with the file format in MousTAB, with CADKEY's macro and cadi format, allows the AutoCAD 10. Therefore, AutoCAD user to glide thru the menus as much as 5 times faster using pop up users working in mixed-CAD dialog boxes and icon pictures of each function!! MousTAB has environments, or even in mixed Also special HOT-KEYS for commonly used a DRAFT-PAKTM AutoCAD-release environments, functions!! can use CADKEY to exchange geometric data files among differ­ CREATE TO : ent versions of AutoCAD. So, CADKEY users can import an AutoCAD file into CADKEY and work with it either as a CADKEY part file or as an AutoCAD drawing MousTAB file. And, CADKEY or AutoCAD Sells for users can export a CAD KEY part $225.00 U.S. file or an imported AutoCAD drawing file in DWG or DXF format z Z z z Z TIRED of waiting for your PLOTTER? from CADKEY to AutoCAD and r;~o/d~ll BZZZZZZzzzz Add up to 40% more design time work with that file in AutoCAD. Gl ,,~, J with: KEYPLQT-iM 10" 1 t;al/ Ask about: , " , --=--- --=.=:.. PATH OAT - directory organizer that KEYPLOT allows you to manage part, pattern and cadi Editor's Note: Reference forthe definition of a mJS2~1~6°~s files ,changing them within CADKEY. spline and of a 8-spline: see CAD/CAM Dictio­ . . . PATHDAT sells for $175.00 u.s. nary; Edward J. Preston, George W. Crawford, Call: CADTech Systems OISKSAVE - utility that compresses part Mark E. Coticchia; Marcel Dekker, Inc., New 29 Arlington Street and pattern files up 80%. York, 1985, pp. 12 and 174. New Britain, CT. 06053 DISKSAVE sells for $200.00 U.S. PHONE (203) 226-4066 FAX (203) 226-4128

CIRCLE CARD 249

April / May 1993 • KEY Solutions. 37 PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS

for Drafting and Modeling

by Robert Martin

DRAFT·PAKTM • •••••••••• dimensioning accuracy. A user-programmable icon DRAFT-PAK's features for 2D pattern loader provides several pre­ drafting and 3D modeling include configured libraries containing Features, Fasteners and Mechelem hundreds of symbols for electrical, (mechanical elements), and compre­ fluid power and logic symbols. A key hensive parametric libraries of feature of the library allows users to everything from nuts and bolts to visually see their patterns on disk as sprockets and roller chains. The icons and to incorporate their own modeling function that most im­ symbols of 3D patterns into the pressed me was Mechelem. This library. function's options include Gear, Rack, Database utilities allow you to Spring, Sprocket, Chain, Bearing, "tag" geometry with data such as Bushing, Shaft, Strucshp (structural "Flow Control Valve, 80PSI" and steel shapes), all in 3D. then extract the information for After holes, fasteners and/or other analysis. Pattern files can also be features are created, you can use "referenced" using DRAFT-PAK's PTNREF function. This capability allows you to draw one pattern and use the pattern in hundreds of DRAFT-PAK geometry supports the pad files. Change the CAD KEY 6 "Picture-It" utility for pattern file and it will rendering and shading. automatically change in One ofDRAFT-PAK's finest every part file that uses it. features is the optional Bill of Materi­ For example, you can search als (BOM) Database Generator. I for all occurrences of a believe the BOM belongs on the face of pattern reference (say a 4" x every assembly drawing. However, in 6" bracket) and replace a true concurrent engineering environ­ them with an alternate ment, BOM data generated in engi­ pattern (6" x 10"). neering needs to be available in One ofDRAFT-PAK's electronic format - not just as a paper most popular features is its drawing. DRAFT-PAKIBOM can do it Modeled in 3D with DRAFT-PAK's Mechelem Automatic Drawing Cre­ and export data to many common AUTO LABEL to construct manufac­ ation and Compress utility. This spreadsheet and database file formats. turing notes. Since the program allows you to easily create a multi­ This feature turns CADKEY into a automatically constructs and formats view drawing from a 3D wire frame, strong non-graphic database generator. the note, accuracy and consistency is add horizon (tangency) lines and then Other DRAFT-PAK features that maintained. Additional detailing compress it into a 2D file. Additional impressed me included Automatic capabilities include geometric utilities include a file browser/ Balloon placement, manual arrow dimensioning and tolerancing, weld manager, pop-up calculator, entity termination editing, user constructed symbols, dual dimensions, balloon offset or "DRAFT" function, level and data templates, and extensive dialog notes and a function that verifies picture management, and more. All boxes including a bill tree.

38 • KEY Solutions • April I May 1993 DRAFT-PAK is accompanied by a built-up symbols can be reviewed you quickly and easily load CADL tutorial and complete documentation. before placement on the screen. (*.CDL or *.CDX) directly into the It is the most comprehensive CAD KEY A unique feature I found extremely CAD KEY application menu. drafting tool around. Most CADKEY useful is the QUIKVIEW function CADJET Drafting comes with one dealers will furnish a free limited-use which allows you to quickly access any additional CADI{EY font, Helvette. EZ evaluation copy ofDRAFT-PAK with a of the eight predefined views and Fonts is an add-on which includes 17 tutorial booklet. create up to 15 other views. The views additional fonts, a font manager and are graphically displayed in a dialog drafting symbols (like depth, diameter, box as icons. Switching views is as degree, +/- which are called as ASCII CADJET Drafting has standard simple as clicking on the icon. Selecting codes). features, fasteners and utilities A useful feature in CADJET for 2D and 3D drafting, including Drafting is SET/CHANGE symbols for ANSI Geometric ATTRIBUTES. This function lets tolerancing, welding and text. you select any entity in CADKEY But CADJET Drafting is not a and set or change the LEVEL, "me-too" in how it handles these COLOR, LINE TYPE, PEN elements. It has a unique and NUMBER, TEXT ATTRIBUTES user-friendly interface that makes in one simple step. selecting CADJET functions and LIBRARIAN is another accessing symbols extremely fast unique and incredibly useful tool and easy. The CADJET on-screen that can be incorporated into Tool Bar utilizes the latest in CADJET Drafting or operate as a CADKEY CDE technology, but is stand-alone unit. It allows you to only available for CADKEY 6. organize any pattern files and CADJET Drafting loads retrieve them quickly and easily. automatically into the CADKEY CADIEr's Tool Bar with Weld Symbol dialog box Currently, with CAD KEY pattern menus and can be accessed with file names, you are limited to the mouse, keyboard or the optional an icon immediately changes the view DOS's standard maximum 8 letters. digitizer template. and CADKEY refreshes the screen with The file names can get pretty cryptic. the new view. With symbols that have to be built LIBRARIAN lets you name pattern up, such as ANSI welding symbols, CADJET Drafting also has a series files with a special code that converts it to a string of words that you define. CADJET adds another feature that of convenient utilities such as ard works quite well. A dialog box circular text, search & replace for text, Then you build libraries of com­ prompts you for the proper attachment Dynamic text that adds text to the monly used pattern files and access to be added to the welding symbol. All screen as it is being typed, a font them from a "Rolodex-like" popup manager, and an autoloader that lets dialog box. This looks like a file drawer

PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES OVERVIEW

DRAFT-PAK Release 5 CK-SYNERGY General Purpose Drafting Productivity General Purpose Drafting Productivity Basic Drafting Productivity 15 Styles 2D/3D Fasteners including 60 Styles 2D/ 3D Fasteners, including Symbols screws, nuts Ex washers screws, nuts Ex washers Weld Symbols 4 Styles Holes 7 Styles Holes, Slots, Pockets ANSI Geometric Tolerancing Geometric Tolerancing MILSPEC notes ANSI Y 14.5 M (1982) ANSI Y 14.5M (1982), ISO 1101 Ex 3040 Fonts Weld Symbols Weld Symbols Spell Checker Drafting Symbols Drafting Symbols Special Drafting Features Set/Change Attributes Function Set Attributes Function Enlarged View One Font - Helvette One Font - Proportional Helvetica - Type Zoomed View Digitizer Template (optional) Digitizer Template (optional) HANSEN DESIGN 206/ 643-8528 Symbols Symbols Beams, Channels, Ducts Unique Features Unique Features 3D to 2D Compression Librarian/Organizes pattern files Parametric Mechanical Elements - gears, PARADESIGN 1 7 Font styles (optional) racks, springs, sprockets, chains, bushings Modeling Productivity QuikView - Select views graphically bearings, structural beams, shafts Paradesign 619/484-8386 Font Manager User programmable Icon Loader Circular Text Dynamic External File Referencing Search Ex Replace Attribute Tagging ABC - PM Keyboard Template (optional) Transform Offset Function Part and Level Manager Text Handling Hole Table/Text Table Generator Alton Boring 313/522-9595 Dynamic Text Feature Labeling Tool Bar User Interface Pop-up Calculator HLB TECHNOLOGY 703/977-6520 Full compatibility w/ CADKEY SOLIDS/ SURFACES BOM Database Generator (optional) BAYSTATE 508/755·1172

April! May 1993 • KEY Solutions. 39 aerospace industry) for his a constant. While it's necessary to own use, so you get some show shafts at full length in a model, real-life solutions with this it's not always practical to create a product. CK-Synergy is a detail drawing six feet long just to simple but basic dimension the shaft. To make this draftsman's utility kit. Its type of shaft fit on a standard sheet, tools include the standard shaft breaks must be used. CK­ ANSI Y14.5M Geometric Synergy easily and neatly creates shaft tolerance symbols, 2D and breaks in either oftwo of the tradi­ 3D fasteners, weld symbols, tional display methods. standard note and detail Balloons are one of my pet peeves. balloons, surface texture Many productivity tools that use symbols, tablet overlay, balloons to identify a specific item will fonts and more. not allow you to identifY a series of What sets CK-Synergy items with multiple balloons. CK- CK·SYNERGY apart is the attention paid to detailing with file folders tabbed "A-Z" and " 1- in the 2D or layout mode. 9." Each file folder can hold an unlim­ For example, using the ited number of pattern files. You can ZOOM VIEW Circle store custom pattern files in the function, you just window LIBRARIAN, and organize them, as select the area to zoom, you like. Scaling and rotation can be type a name for the view set as you retrieve the patterns. and place the enlarged CADJET Drafting is a good tool view with the line width set . with worthwhile drafting utilities, and and the arrowheads added several truly innovative and useful properly. Another example features. is how CK-Synergy handles shafts. Usually, a long CK-Synergy ••••••••••••• shaft has detail on either CK-Synergy was originally created end and the middle is by Scott Hansen (a designer in the merely an extension and is Synergy not only allows multiple balloons, but also creates alignment lines so assembly drawings look much s:: cleaner. o One of the most important features Q. E of CK-Synergy is its MIL-spec capabili­ (1) ties. When you grab the HDNotes E command, there are MILSTD notes for CIS sheet metal, castings, plating, etc. The ... program displays the notes by cat­ Cl egory, the user selects any of the notes o in the order desired, and then places ... the automatically numbered notes into the drawing. Notes and note catego­ ries are fully customizable. w Although it's hard to choose, for me, c Compression Software CK-Synergy's piece de resistance is the () -~ spell checker. (I can't spell worth a Reduced to $89.95 dern.) This feature lets you take selected text into any DOS word • Allows part file name of longer than 8 characters processor, spell check it and return to .J • PRT File Compression • Works within Cad key's "FILE-PART" Menu the drawing - all on-the-fly using the C • Project/Assembly Manager. Simple to Use and Easy to Install CAD KEY DOS shell.

CADJET LlBRARIAN:_v6 ...... $149 Organizes your Pattern Files into a ROLODEX! Great addition to CADKEY! CADJET KEYBOARD TEMPLATE for DRAFTING PACKAGE_v5_v6 ...... $25 Lays right on your Keyboard Drafting Package Commands Programmed to HOT KEYS! Comesa with---- Keyboard Template, Software, and Installation Instructions. Ez FON,.. Ez Fonts for CADKEY®. Works with CADKEY®Y3.5,4.X,5.X, 6.X,386®, DOS, UNIX, and Light®• •••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••• Ea. $49.95 All 17 Fonts(FONTPAC) •••••••••••••••• $299 17 DIFFERENT STYLES TO CHOOSE. Additional FONTPACs 1/2 Price ($149) Call for Catalog CIRCLEIT! Text Utility (Draws any CADKEY text on an ARC or CIRCLE) ...... Ea. $69.95 Get a FREE Circle IT! BLACKL I NE W~ Urn rn ru Y () 1l & f t with each FONTPAK order. DJ GJTRL Kirk Block D 0t OikDraw H ELVETT rOr er ®I billy Vf jll~l l ~[ P a r ag 0 n :=; / Clf)-C-

\11 prices US$. CAD KEY is a reg. trademark of CADKEY, Inc. . . . . : . 'RICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE NlTHOUT NOTICE. All our products for CADKEY carry a Full, Money-Back Guarantee. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, then (703) 877.20 ou ma return it for a full refund. HLB Technology We accept MasterCard , VISA, AmericanExpress & Corporate P.O.s PO Box 527 Site Licenses on most CADJET products available. Blue Ridge, VA 24064 CIRCLE CARD NO. 205 SPECIAL D~lli~~D OFFER FOR CADKEY® USERS

Yes, we want to give you a FREE DRAFTING PACKAGE without RISK or OBLIGATION 01 any kind. THIS IS NOT A GIMMICK! Just call us TODAY lor the BEST, FASTEST, and USER-FRIENDLY DRAFTING PACKAGE YOU'VE EVER USED!

703-177-8920 Only one FREE Drafting Package per customer, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REJECTIDENY ANY APPLICATION FOR FREE DRAFTING PACKAGE. Some programs shown may not be Included in FREE Offer, T LIMITED TIME OFFERI Offer goocl in US and Canada only; Prices and conditions subj ect to change without notice. We Make CADKEY Even Better! CADKEY and CADKEY Dynamic Exchange are reg. trademarks of CADKEY, Inc. CIRCLE CARD NO. 250 This column will be on ongoing

programmer's gUide to customizing

CADKEY ond w appear regularly In MACROS KEYSOLUTIONS. This installment offers an

OVeMew ofCADKEY'S customlZaIion tools.

Starting with the next column, we will show

you how to write your own utilities with the

CADL tools described below. When appropri-

ate, we will provide the entire code for

these utilities here, and a~o place it on CDEs Cadkey's Bulletin Board.

An Introduction to CADKEY ' S Cust o mization Tools

by Craig Storms and Usman Rashid

OPEN ARCHITECTURE sions, and perform other tasks REDRAW, and SET VIEW are all At Cadkey, Inc_, we believe in involving work in the drawing command keywords that CADL open architecture_This provides viewport(s)_ Nearly any program uses_ Other programming com­ flexibility in how you use our task you consider repetitious can be mands typical of many languages products and gives you the ability to converted into a macro_ include IF, ELSE, GOTO, and =, customize them to meet your needs_ You can construct complex etc- CADL also performs logical We pride ourselves in offering one of macros to create parametric de­ and mathematical operations with a the most powerful, flexible, and signs_ For example, you use repeti­ sophistication that rivals many easy-to-use CAD/CAM solutions tive steps to create a series of bolts_ advanced programming languages_ available today_ Right out of the The values you use to construct a Possible CADL applications box, CADKEY® and CADKEY®NC bolt may vary, but the steps (and include level management, file (Cutting Edge) are excellent tools construction functions) remain the management, adding, removing, for productivity, yet improvements same_ and modifying geometry in the data are always possible. Macro creation includes optional base, inputting data from a file, Both CADKEY® and PAUSE statements which you can writing data to a file, setting status CADKEY®NC include three use to allow flexible input for options, parametric design, and primary customization tools to help length, width, pitch, etc- For a truly customized construction and you shape the products into your custom parametric macro, you can dimensioning routines_ The possi­ ideal productivity system_ They are define unique prompts to appear in bilities are endless_ CADL is a macros, CADL, and CDEs_First, place of the CADKEY prompts_ For powerful tool that can: some brief definitions and then a example, you can substitute the L Create, modify, and delete more detailed description of how to prompt "Enter bolt width:" for the CADKEYentities_ use them and potential applica­ standard CADKEY prompt for the 2_ Read and modify system tions. CREATE,CIRCLE,CTR+DIA settings_ function_ MACROS 3_ Add new menu options_ Macros are recorded keystrokes, CADL 4_ Create custom dialog boxes_ menu selections, and cursor posi­ CADL is an acronym for the 5_ Access position and selection tions_ They are often used to repeat CADKEY Advanced Design Lan­ options_ commonly performed tasks such as guage_ It is an interpretive pro­ B- Use file and device input! locating a frequently used menu gramming language that you use to output_ selection, loading a standard part or customize CADKEY applications_ 7_ Use subroutines and sophisti­ pattern file, or configuring a CADL is an excellent language for cated program controL preferred viewport arrangement. A new and experienced programmers macro "remembers" cursor selec­ alike_ You can use CADL to automate repetitive routines that are com­ tions in the drawing area_ Also, you CADL has many commands that mon_ Advanced applications such can use macros to reconstruct resemble their CAD KEY counter­ as FastSlJRFrMand DRAFI'PAKTM geometry, place notes and dimen- parts. POINT, LINE, WINDOW,

44 • KEY Solutions • April! May 1993 DRAFrPAK™have also been written create custom dimensions. exactly what it sounds like: a means using a combination of macros and Data Transfer: of extending CADKEY while CADKEY is running. You can load CADL. The language packs plenty Other programs often have a use CDEs into memory at any time of power, and you decide exactly for the data in a CADKEY part file, using the FILES, CDE, OPEN or how you want to use it. and vice-versa. CADL provides an LlST/OPN options. They dynami- The following categories help easy way to exchange data in group applications into a logical the correct format for each framework. Some common applica­ program. If a specific format is DEFINITIONS tions include: required, CADL allows for Parametric Programs: customized input and output. MACRO · Recorded keystrokes that repeat common tasks. These are programs that draw CADKEY DYNAMIC You can customize macros With user·defined prompts and an object (a bolt, for instance), by EXTENSIONS (CDE) bind them to a hot·Keylor 'mmedlate access from any place inputting parameters such as CADKEY Dynamic Exten­ length, diameter, and thread size. sions allow the most powerful In the system Data Management: access to customization tools. Levels and other entity attrib­ All of the CADL functions utes are often used according to described above are also CAOL - The CAD KEY Advanced Designed Language is a standards set by a group of end available as CDE functions. programming language built right into CADKEY. This interpre­ users who work together. Auto­ To write CDEs you will need tive language uses easy to read commands which are mated routines can be set up to CADKEY's Software Develop­ name levels, manipulate geometry ment Kit (SDK) and a 32 bit C outlined In the CADL Reference GUide based on color and line-type, pen compiler (such as the number, etc. Metaware High C compiler or COE - CADKEY Dynamic ExtenSions are sophisticated Construction Utilities: the GNU C compiler). You mechanisms that allow programs (written In C programming Unique tasks demand unique also need a DOS-extender functions to complete them, and suitable for creating 386 language) to dynamically I nk to CADKEY and lITerally extend extended memory access (such CADL can be used to create utilities the CADKEY program. such as OFFSET and DRAFT as the Phar Lap Extender). ANGLE functions, or to quickly A dynamic extension is

.n r An affordable solution to secure, enterprise wide data access. Empower yourself with true 3D viewing ojCADKEY data files.

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Copyright © 1993, Information Technology international Corporation. CA DV iew is a product of information Technology International Corporation. CADV iew is a trademark of lnfo nnation Technology lnternational Corporation. All other product names are trademarks of their respective companies. CIRCLE CARD 266

April / May 1993 • KEY Solutions. 45 cally link to CAmmy at this time can select the menu option without makes the copy. Overlay functions and add new functions. You can any indication that a special add-on allow customized applications to access these functions through program is running. The user handle functions such as XFORM, custom menu selections like the assumes the new function is a part DELTA and EDIT, BX MOVE so FILES, CDE, EXECUTE or LISTI of CADKEY. This is not the case for that the underlying data stored in EXE options, or from the APPLIC MACROS and CADL, which clearly the reference entity (and copious list. If you want to remove them display the PLAY or CADL system data) can be modified as needed to from memory, use the FILES, CDE, indicator at the upper left comer of retain the integrity of the applica­ CLOSE, or LIST/CLS options. the CADKEY screen. tion. Once you load a CDE into THE CDE ADVANTAGE CDE technology offers the memory, it executes with the same CDE technology provides a following advantages over CADL: speed as a CADKEY function. This means of customizing the CADKEY 1. Execution speed. is one of the prime advantages of database in a way that CADL 2. C language programming. CDEs over CADL. CADL is an cannot. Although both CDEs and 3. Dynamic linking to extend interpretive language. That is, it CADL store copious data (non­ CADKEY functions. requires commands be interpreted CADKEY data), CDEs provide a one line at a time. This slows down 4. Access to all of CAD KEY's superior solution to custom entities. leaf functions. program execution considerably. For example, if a program was 5. The ability to execute a This is a minor issue for simple written to handle assembly design compiled CADL program. programs, but a very important using predefined sets of geometry to issue for complex programs such as represent bolts, fixtures, etc., CDEs 6. Reference entity Creation surface creation or boundary could attach a reference entity and and Manipulation. element analysis. create collectives which represent 7. Overlay functions for You can install and set up a the shape of the parts and addi­ XFORM, BX MOVE, etc. CDE so that it appears transparent tional information stored in the These functions can replace to a CADKEY user. That is, when reference entity. If you copy a normal CADKEY functions when a you load the CDE and set it up as a collective using XFORM, DELTA, user calls XFORM, BX MOVE etc. modified menu option, the new CDEs call for an overlay function to to change a reference entity. function(s) will for all practical handle exactly how CADKEY Happy programming! purposes be CADKEY. An end user

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CIRCLE CARD 2A3

46 • KEY Solutions • April I May 1993 Frustrated with slow pen plotters?

NOVAJElMl1 increases black and white print speed by up to 2000% and gives you full-color capability for only $7995.

INCREASE NOVAJETII to shell out around $35,000 or YOUR SPEED­ Mono Color Pen Plodder more for an electrostatic plotter. Dran 4:27 11 :49 2:36:11 DRAMATICALLY. Now, for a fraction of the cost, Normal 6:21 14:02 - It's time to retire your you can plot everything from black High Qual ity 19:13 19:40 - slow"pen plodder:' PLOT TIMES FOR E.SIZE FlOOR PLAN and white line plots to the most throwaway those IShown belowl complex color CAD drawings in messy pens and move A through Esizes.The NOVAJET II gives you the option of printing on up to the speed and plain bond, vellum, or special inkjet film , on either cut sheets or rolls. performance of the And best of all, plots cost no more than those done on a pen plotte r. NOVAJET II color inkjet plotter/printer EMULATES INDUSTRY from ENCAD. STANDARDS. NOVAJET II allows you to LIGHTNING FAST COLOR PLOTTING. work with a variety of Whether you 're printing in color or black and white, the enhanced industry-standard software NOVAJET II outperforms even the fastest pen plotters. Imagine blazing products because it through an Esize monochrome check plot in as little as 3 minutes or a emulates HP-GL, HP-GU2 and full color final plot in just 10 minutes. HP-RTL raster language. Now you can add the drama and im­ DRAWING PROVIDED 8Y AUTODESK IMAGE U8RARY pact of solid or shaded color printing GET MOVING FASTER! CALL 1-800-892-5476. for about the same cost as a high performance pen plotter. It's time to increase you r plotting speed! Give ENCAD a call today. DRAWING PROI1DED 8Y AUTODESK IMAGEU8RARY We'll rush you complete NOVAJET II THE LOW COST OF HIGH PERFORMANCE. product information, a sample color Until the NOVAJET, if you needed fast color plots, your only choice was plot and benchmark plotting times. ENCAD EN CAD , 7710 KENAMAR COURT, SAN DIEGO , CALIFORNIA 92121 , TOLL FREE 1·800·892·5476 HP·GL, HP·GL/2 and Hp·RTL are registered trademark s of Hewle tt Packard.

CtRCLE CARD NO. 201 REALIZE - A Fast Rendering/ Animation Tool

The REALIZE Rendering TooFM is display, giving you WYSIWIG an extensive 3D solids rendering control of the rendering process. software package that works directly All model viewing is real time with Cadkey Solids polygons, CDL (for reasonable size files) display files, both ASCII and binary STL motion. The model can be moved and (stereolithography) files, and all 2-l/2D rotated around the screen and moved button or from the DOS prompt. It can and 3D DXF entities. towards or away from the viewer import 16 color as well as 256 color PCX images to allow titling and REALIZE has tools for modeling using intuitive icon buttons and the inclusion of corporate graphics into a smooth, flat and gradient surfaces. mouse. REALIZE viewing tools can be movie for a great introduction to Examples: you could present an auto used to walk through a model or fly projects, In addition REALIZE body with smooth glossy highlights or around it. A rendered image can be uniquely creates interactive bidirec­ a matte finish or a stairway with rough produced any time during wire frame tional movies which are played back concrete steps and smooth shiny rail. viewing. Eleven different field of view with mouse button control. An in­ Lighting can be placed anywhere and settings can be used to view the tended use ofthe interactive feature can simulate sun, constant and spot model from isometric to wide angle. would be to spin a mechanical part lights. All objects in the model are In addition to full featured render­ and be able to go backward and assigned surface and color properties ing, REALIZE has powerful animation forward as you view it - to examine it independently and can be turned ON movie capabilities, including movie in fuller detail with your customer, or OFF to achieve the desired image. scripting, special effects, and interac­ This movie file format is proprietary Dynamic color editing is achieved via tive animation. REALIZE generates to REALIZE and has tested 30 percent interactive color slider bars. movie files directly and plays them faster than Animator Pro ™ when Model viewing uses a wire frame back from the main screen's MOVIE reading large movies from disk. All you need is a mouse to select REALIZE options from icon buttons, dialog boxes and pop-up menus. Basic rendering can be performed on any <.!) HELVETICA LIGHTC » 80x86 DOS computer with standard 0 - ERAS LIG H T CARTA 0 ~ ;;:a VGA, but requires the increased video .....J • RAM on Super VGA boards to provide m ~ TYPEWRITER Z ~ < 0 1024x768, 256 color resolution. To :$ LLlCl m~m C accomplish animation (movies), « ::D REALIZE requires a 386 computer U Q(}ifi m en :::0 (or better). Producing apparent motion of a CAD model requires a w I- ~CI -tc » w W "T1 fast processor and a large amount of ~~ n z hard disk space. The rendered image ~ ..... u. ~ ~~ ,. ~ format produced by REALIZE is the W ~u Z ::IJ standard 256 color PCXTM format and I :>V1 a SVH 3 'JNIH:JVM1

CIRCLE CARD 245 48 • KEY Solutions ' April I May 1993 r CAD Machine! Visit Tri-Star at AUTODESK EXPO BOOTH 747

INTEL 486 PROCESSOR INTEL 486 PROCESSOR 8MB RAM 8MB RAM 128K WRITE-BACK CACHE 128K WRITE-BACK CACHE TRUE 32-B/T VL-BUS IDE VL-BUS IDE CACHE CONTROLLER CONTROLLER WITH 2MB RAM VL-BUS ACCELERATOR CARD WITH VL-BUS ACCELERATOR CARD WITH 1MB RAM 1MB RAM 17" FLAT SQUARE EDGE TO EDGE 17" FLAT SQUARE EDGE TO EDGE SVGA MONITOR SVGA MONITOR 250MB 13ms IDE HARD DRIVE 340MB 13ms IDE HARD DRIVE TEAC 1.2MB & 1.44MB FLOPPY TEAC 1.2MB & 1.44MB FLOPPY DRIVES DRIVES MICROSOFT WINDOWS 3.1 & MICROSOFT WINDOWS 3.1 & DOS 6.0 DOS 6.0 TOWER CHASSIS WITH TOWER CHASSIS WITH DUAL COOLING FANS DUAL COOLING FANS 101-KEYBOARD 101-KEYBOARD 12" X 12" DIGInZER WITH 12" X 12" DIGITIZER WITH CORDLESS PUCK CORDLESS PUCK DX-33 DX-33 $3309 $3759 DX2-66 DX2-66 $3649 $4099 DUAL REMOVABLE 170MB DUAL REMOVABLE 255MB HD UPGRADE $235 HD UPGRADE $265 DUAL REMOVABLE 250MB DUAL REMOVABLE 340MB HD UPGRADE $435 HD UPGRADE $665

For over five years Tri-Star has been satisfying the appetites of the most demanding power-hungry CAD professionals. So far in 1993 alone our computers have won two Editor's Pick awards from Windows Sources and aBest Buy award from PC World. In areview against Compaq, AST and Gateway, PC Week called Tri-CAD, ". ..the best value of the systems that cost more than $4000." Tri-Star now ranks among the industry's best in PC Magazine sannual survey of service and reliability.

V IDE 0 UPGRADES

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A new Tri-Star exclusive: DUAL REMOVABLE Every Tri-CAD Workstation includes our most pop­ HARD DRIVES. Offers users the option of config­ ular CAD KEY productivity bundle .. .including the uring one large volume or two duplicate volumes. Tri-CAD 12" x 12" digitizer with cordless 16-button Either way, security and fault-tolerance are cursor along with Vibrant Soft Engine. optimized.

Call about ou r Leasing Programs TAI,..5TAA Two Year Parts Warranty Lifetime Labor Warranty COMPUTER CORPORATION 30-Day Money Back Guarantee Toll-Free Technical Support 1 aoo 736 5699 24-Hour BBS Service One Year On-Site Service 120 South Weber Drive, 0landIer, ArV.ona 85226 One Year Overnight Parts Replacement (602) 961-340\ Fax (602) 961-4010

CIRCLE CARD NO. 270 ORNE

final drawing product and would not My Favorite Soap Box CAD KEY ®Light need the full design capabilities of version 5. And, Light wi ll print and plot. •• Light can perform as an inexpensive Recently, a CADKEY®Light One thing that has always been remote station. software package for Version 5 arrived important to me is the future of our kids. on my desk. It seemed like quite a lot of The manual which accompanies Being involved in both education and software and is being offered at a very CADKEY Light is impressive, quite technology has made me want more to be reasonable price. How would it compare detailed and written in plain English. avail able to them. I beli eve that the with Version 5? Loading and configur­ It has a very detailed setup section educational system needs to address those ing was easy thanks to a simplified and a worthy index. The TUTOR kids that have a knack for the technical; pamphlet. The system requirements do provides a worthwhile learning experi­ those that do not go on to college. They indicate a need for 10 megabytes of disk ence. Another plus is the inclusion of have interest, creativity, incentive and space and 4 megabytes of RAM. Like DXF abilities. There is no required simm true potential. Version 5, a math coprocessor is key or other software protection. I'm talking about those kids who do required. Installation showed over 6.6 I happen to know that Cadkey will be not have technical schools available after megs taken for the total package. The promoting more of its products. There eighth grade; those who do not have a help files do take up room and should wi ll be special offerings for those that career path laid out for them during their not be loaded if they are unnecessary. have smaller operations, or just want high school years. Although a few good New users should load them, please. something so that some work can be technical studies programs exist, these The help program will be quite benefi­ done at home. There have been special are not reaching the majority. cial to you. The included sample promotions made to students and schools Finally, a program call ed Tech Prep is drawings take nearly one meg of disk for some time. Watch for these new emerging across the country. I lend much space. offerings. energy and support to the program in my Similar to other Light packages, NOTE: CADKEY Light is retailing for own state, Florida. Similar to Co llege certain functions were removed and $99 and will be mass marketed through Prep, this Tech Prep program is a direct others carefully retained. I found both Ingram-Micro. See KEYNOTES in this career path. The U. S. Department of issue. positive and negatives here. For Education is promoting its direction and instance, on line documentation and resources to address the needs of these FOLIO are included. The ALCADMY Translating Error kids. Several successful applications are utility is retained. Viewport options are in place in South Carolina, Oregon, two choices, single or 4 view. Mesh, Messages Rhode Island, Kentucky and Texas. construction planes (views), delete by Course tracking includes Engineering polygon, and selection by window or Technology, Applied Science, Mechani­ polygon via all out, part out or part in Here's a word about Phar Lap error cal, Industrial, Practical Arts and Trades, are not available. messages. Upon "nearly-but not quite Agriculture, Health, and Business. successful installation of CAD KEY" this The LAYOUT feature is available message may appear. If it does, feel In a Tech Prep program, fust, in CADKEY Light. However, it only directed to increase the number of register students are tracked according to interests works on models created in the version variables found in the CADKEY main and abilities from the middle grades 5 software. Models made in the Light config program under the Program through, and beyond, high school. In package cannot be used for this Options Menu. Increase it by increments most instances, courses are aligned with function. I believe this is a plus for of 50 and retry loading CADKEY. This the community colleges so that these operators who primarily work with the has solved the problem for many users. students can continue right on with their

50 • KEY Solutions· April I May 1993 studies toward a certificate or degree and Tech Prep will align and update what we National Tech Prep Network full readiness to enter the work force. already do. And, consider what a positive Center for Occupational Research and Paths toward four year degrees are effect this will have on the self-worth and Development avail able. Certain high school technical self-image of our kids. Waco, TX courses can even replace community If you have the time and the abilities, 800/972-2766 college courses so that students can get involved in your own way with your expedite their studies as they move local schools. For more information National Network for Curriculum Coordi­ toward viable careers. about the Tech Prep program, call or nation Second, educators of vocational and write to: Sangamon State University academic disciplines work hand in hand. Springfield , IL In the specific school program I have Office of Vocational-Adu lt 2 171768-6375 become involved with, math teachers Education work with drafting and design teachers. U.S. Department of Education They share the same planning time and In closing, Version 6 is here. Be sure to Washington, D.C. the same students; they team teach and upgrade. You're going to welcome the new blend their curriculums. For example, 202/205-5440 features, ease of use and added abilities. imagine a student learning geometry in 3D on a CADKEY system, or trigonom­ National Center for Research in Voca­ Till next time -- etry? The cience teachers at this school tional Education will be joining the Materials Processing University of California at Berkeley instructor in a woods, plastics, and metals Berkeley, CA laboratory. 8001762-4093 Done properly, such programs can easily promote interest and learning.

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CIRCLE CARD 247

April / May 1993 • KEY Solutions. 51 Part 2 Stress Analysis with CAD KEY ANALYSIS by Craig Storms and Ken Fortier

This is the second in a multi-part series designed to familiarize you with several Cadkey concurrent engineering tools. The first session showed you how to create a conceptual design of a storage bracket for compressed gas cylinders. In this session you will use CADKEY ANALYSIS to evaluate the structural integrity of the bracket. The bracket design allows for many cylinders to be stacked on top of one another, and the key issue for analysis is to evaluate the internal stress on the bracket under load. By approximating the weight expected under maximum load conditions, the analysis will reveal whether the current design is strong enough to withstand the load. Also by inspecting the stress results throughout the bracket, it is possible to identify strong and weak spots, providing a guide to assist in optimizing the overall design.

ANALYZING THE [J ~FII~ ' C ~I""" lI... ~ . C ,•• ,.'"., ~ STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF [] ~"""'fo .. J III

A BRACKET STEP 4 1. Load the part file.

• Change to view 7 (ALT-V) and autoscale (ALT-A). • Choose FILES, CADL, OUTPUT and enter a file name.

The new file contains instructions for reconstructing 5. Fill out the Configuration information. the top plane geometry. In this case the CADL file passes data to ANALYSIS. CADL is the CADKEY • Choose CONFIG from the Analysis main menu, ADVANCED DESIGN LANGUAGE. • Click on Analysis Type until Elastic appears, (Thermal, , Elastic, and Thermoelastic are the analysis types.) SEl.[<: l

l AI'MlJ. l'JlI • Click on Dimensionality until 2-D Plane Stress appears. P'OS l flj

""'"'"" IL lO'rS rrut SfI UPT [] _ I,.., ( , ~ . 0 n.r... c-.I E:.:u ur [] I ... I II, po"" t ,'IC.IIN..Iko [J 'P'IIo"t' , _ I.- ", ESC"" [J ~ _ , ( I ~' [] ....._ . --If' [] _.,.,. '1'!" f,_ I, [] ..... c..11 • STEPS 7 & 2 [] 01 ..... 1_11., l-C" .... ~ ... .,. C ...... 1 ~ I ... • ~ [] ",,'" ,_., """-7 [] UlI". "' .... I~I ;J~ STEP 5 ~r'RD...... ,", " - 9 .9 5684~ - B . J!I ~ eo.. ,.t "..t ,...tlon "t 2. Select the top view of the 3D model.

• Choose SELECT, PLANE, ENTITY. • Select any of the arcs on the top plane. 6. Specify units and materials. • Click on DONE to end the CADL output. • Choose Units and Materials from the Analysis Config menu. 3. Run ANALYSIS from inside CADKEY. • Verify that ENGLISH_(in) is highlighted (screen not • Press ESCAPE to return to the main menu. shown). • Choose APPLIC. • Click DONE. • Click on ANALYSIS. • Click on the down arrow located on the right side of the • Press twice to start ANALYSIS. Material box. • Select aluminum from the list, 4. Fill out the Files information. • Click DONE. • Click DONE to accept the remaining default values and • Choose FILES from the Analysis main menu. return to the main menu. • Choose Input File and enter the file name. • Verify that Input Type is Line Segments. 7. Select the segmentation length. • Verify that both Session Save and Fern Mesh Save read NO. The SEGMENT menu determines the boundary element • Click DONE. mesh. It is important to have the segmentation fine enough to highlight all the important features, but not so fine as to slow system performance, S2 • KEY Solutions • April! May 1993 CDlFIC D ,...... c.... Ibt-'flll ilcall l ~ 9. Restrain the model.

• Choose DISPLY, XY-DISPL, WINDOW, ALL IN and

fl1 MCk-lJP enclose the center of the part in a selection box. .~"""" • Enter a value of O. STEP 6 HlLP Ul[W.o l • Click on DONE three times and select YES...... CPLfICf ,- 1 Nt"'""

=~:~aJIIIaI :W 10. Begin the analysis process. ...5 .... -9929113 • Choose SOLVE, STATUS. KP4 .52S8411 Yf' 1 . 1111ti!JJ7 S. 1 ~ l • • I' ."",l... >.l 0 ...u" . • When the analysis is complete press to return to the CADKEY main menu. • Choose SEGMENT from the Analysis main menu. 11. Use a Von Mises stress plot to map the stress • Press to load the file. values in pounds per square inch (psi). • Choose GLOBAL and enter "0.3" as the value for the segment length. • Choose RESULTS, STRESS, VON MISES, SHADED. • Press . • Choose PROCESS, DONE, YES, and enter a new file name to save the segmented model to.

f111AC1C~ l HDBnL '""""". ,LOa< STEP 77 "4RE'J ...I EII tnl' 'IIUSS UIDt-1 IEIO Q01MO., ...... RL~.I , CONST .] . tXIID :W ...,...-T.-:t STEP 7 l . ~ . , s.... StlADQ UOM ,USES STJ.!SS PUll o cn1 o1 aJII'5 T:JJ CXJIIU :UtI ~ ' . 1IW88U In the color coded stress plot of the part, red areas J .2:1Il'l1i r--.mrn--- show high stress concentrations and blue areas show 'IE' low stress areas.

8. Apply load conditions to the model. The value next to the red color code is the highest stress value. With a conservative safety factor of 3, the • Choose ASSIGN from the Analysis main maximum stress is approximately 4000 psi. From the menu. units and materials section the value of Yield strength • Choose LOAD, DIST-LOAD, X-DIREC, of aluminum is 60,000 psi which indicates that the part WINDOW, ALL-IN and enclose the left will not yield. end of the part in a selection box. • Enter a load in the x-direction of 150 pounds. 12. Save the stress plot and exit ANALYSIS. • Choose WINDOW, ALL IN and enclose the right end of the part in a selection • Choose YES and enter a name for the stress plot. box. • Choose YES to clear the display. • Enter a value of -150 (negative) pounds • Exit ANALYSIS by clicking on DONE twice, followed • Click on DONE three times. by EXIT, YES.

The stress model must be fixed in space. If a point of zero displacement is not defined, errors may occur due to rounding off of values in the thousands of calculations being performed, creating a dynamic rotation (imbalance) in the part.

DlSPL M'-tlISI'L !lINDON

STEP 9

UII!N-l CPUftE- l ALfUoI ~I Dum-1 CONSJ :Je (DJRJ :UN D-fI ....1I8 5+1 .174"95 ~~ Y

M'2.288993 Lx \/'2.1>12798 Indlcat.... ltlonfor2nd_lec:thm .. IPdooo cor .... r April! May 1993 • KEY Solutions. 53 CADL TOOLBOX ROTX.cdp

The ROTX.cdp is a program to r ROTX.cdp - VIEW ROTATION ABOUT THE Z WORLD AXIS Ch.Popov, 1990 ., create views that display the part r This program creates CADKEY views that display the 3D part *' as rotating about a vertical Z axis r as rotating about the Z world axis. .,

and offers tools for view rotation local incr,t,I,curscale.vw,opt that match a designer's intuition. The current view is rotated in a r Get the current view matrix and check il the Z axis is vertical ., getview @view way that the part seems to rotate about a 3D axis passing through a il (abs(@lHdat[6]) > 1e-3) ( point that belongs to the part itself. set view, 7 During the rotation, the axis auto redraw preserves its orientation and getview @view relative position on the screen,

creating the impression that the r Deline the current values 01 the Euler angles ., part is rotating about a fIxed point. , = atan2(-@lItdat[7),@IHdat[8])

The standard Cadkey ROTATE il ( sin(t) == 0 ) RIGHTILEFT IN/OUT functions ( always spoil the Z axis orientation, 1= atan2( @IHdat(1), @lItdat(4) ) ) and trying to see the rear of the else teapot would fInally spill the { 1 = atan2( @IHdat[2Ysin(t) , @lltdat(5)1sin(t) ) contents.

The program could also be used for incr = 15.0

creating consecutive images of a do part which is rotating as if on a { turn table. It helps to select the getmenu "ROT: Select rotation direction ","TOP our,l "TOP IN ",I correct view for design or rendering "CW",I of parts while keeping their natural "CCW ",I "ANGLE" vertical orientation. opt = @key The program is based on the so r Increment the angles *' called Euler angles that describe switch ( opt ) the relationship between the local { and global coordinate systems. case 1 r Top in *' t=t + incr When the program is started, the break current view matrix is examined case 2 r Top out *' and the Euler angles are calculated. t=t- incr In the main program loop, the break Euler angles are incremented case 3 r Clockwize about Z *' according to the selected direction 1= 1 - incr of rotation. New views are then break created using the new angle values. case 4 r Counter-clockwize about Z *' I=I+incr The program menu offers several break rotation directions. case 5 r Enter the angle Increment *' getflt "ROT: Enter rotation angle (%1) =>", incr, incr -With the CW/CCW options, the incr = ( (incr > 0) && (incr <= 180) ) ? incr : 15.0 part may be rotated as if on a turn break table. delault r Exit *' exit -The vertical position of the

viewing point is controlled 1* Create the new view using the incremented angles *' through the TOP INITOP OUT cursesle = @scale

options. VIEW 9, cos(I), cos(t)*sin(I), sin(t)*sin(I), -sin(I),1 cos(t)*cos(I), sin(t)*cos(I), 0.0000, -sin(t), cos(t) -The angular step of every call cdlv2sysv, 9, vw rotation may be entered by set view. vw scale cursesle selecting the ANGLE options. redraw

) while ( 1)

This Toolbox is provided by rEnd 01 program', Chavdar Popov of Merit Computer Solutions - London, England

54 • KEY Solutions· April/May 1993 TOP IN/OUT SPIN AROUND Z 3D AXIS xv (I .. I ~ - ~)

2 XV 2 2

J xv

Rotating on a 3D axis with ROTX ,cdp

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CATEGORY CODES:

A ADD-ONS/ACCELERATOR BOARDS M MONITORS SC SCANNERS C COMPUTERS/SYSTEMS MC MISC. COMPONENTS S SERVICE BUREAUS CN CONSULTANTS N NETWORKS SW SOFTWARE E EDUCATION/PUBLICATIONS o OFFICE SUPPLIES/FURNITURE SA SOFTWARE: AEC/CIVIL/STRUCTURAL G GRAPHICS BOARDS P PRINTERS/PLonERS SM SOFTWARE: ME/CAM/CiM I INPUT DEVICES Q SALES/SERVICES U UNIX

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56 • KEY SolutIons • ApItII May 1993 A WYSIWYG RENDERING TOOL? The REALIZE Rendering TooFMis the first rendering tool

by Bob Martin available under DOS offering true • What You See Is What You Get control over the rendering process. For two issues I've been talking about results will shake the very foundations of the SAVE OUR SCHOOLS (S.O.S.) project vocational education and reshape the being sponsored by KEVS OLUTIONS and economic future of our country. A note for Cadkey at Selkirk, a small rural school those who take issue with my attitude district in Metaline Falls, WA. This pilot about government's involvement in the project in technical vocational education is public good. I'm in excellent company. a "bootstraps" operation run and funded Thomas J efferson said, "If government by the school and the private sector with were to control the sowing and reaping of Sounds too no federal or state involvement. wheat it would not be long before we easy but its true. And The program has had super response would be in dire need of bread." REALIZE Rendering from our advertisers and Cadkey, Inc. who Weare technologically behind almost has "virtual reality" are supplying products for the classrooms. every other industrial country in the viewing to allow realistic walk This is a great start, but not enough. We world. We are rated fourth in industrial throughs. Finally there is an need your help, too. Here's how and why. standing and quickly losing ground. It is affordable full featured animation estimated that by the turn of the century The goal of S.O.S. is to change and rendering package. Producing vocational education so high school foreign governments will hold more U.S. students are employable in the technical patents than Americans. They'll own our a spin movie of a design object is fields right after graduation. To accom­ technology. A major part of the solution is incredibly easy and intuitive. plish this we need to make manufacturing better education. and engineering equipment (the best and I'm asking you to help S.O.S. with ** Features ** latest we can afford) available to them. We whatever resources you can afford. Selkirk • Movies and renderings at resolutions up to also need to supply top-level instructors needs people who can share skills, 1024x768· 256 colors who can assist teachers in the classroom knowledge, equipment, and/or money - • FAST rendering and ANIMATION ! with special topics and/or train the specifically the following: • Renders any model size in standard 640K teachers who are in this for the long haul. - Qualified CAD, CAM, CNC, and RAM on Standard or Super VGA Why S.O.S.? machine shop instructors to donate time to • Icon driven user The vast majority of our public school write curriculums and/or assist in the interface with systems are failing to prepare children for classroom on-line help the technical job market where they can - Discarded equipment, tools, and raw • Dynamic wi re make decent wages. Now the government materials such as sheet metal bar stock, frame display proposes spending millions of tax dollars and blocks of materials such as aluminum, • Phong, flat and in the inner-city schools to solve the steel, brass or bronze gradient shading with textu res problems. Although this is good, it still - Even with donations of equipment leaves the crying needs of thousands of and software, project schools have • Dynamic color image editing rural and suburban school districts extremely limited budgets and need cash untouched. for supplies (such as technical textbooks • Imports CAD files directly: CadK E ~ Solids, CDL, And what about the children in these and raw materials), teacher training, and STL, and all 2-1 /2 and 3-D districts? There are many non-achievers, equipment that isn't available through DXpM entities. but they're not stupid. They are just bored donations. • Key frame driven animation to death with a curriculum that is If each KEVS OLUTIONS reader were to primarily aimed at the college bound. No • Built-in and DOS level animation player and send $10, the resulting resource would let builder wonder they drop out . Meanwhile, us support three or even four schools each teachers and administrators struggle • Bi-directional interactive mouse driven year instead of one. We would like to add animations under an educational bureaucracy that is one new school each year. out of step with the times and with a lack • Full featured movie scripting language : All donations are tax deductible and of funds for relevant vocational programs. combine multiple animations with thousands of semi-annual reports will be made to frames into a single run movie Then the post-secondary (Junior participants. A trust fund is being • Special movie effects: fades, pauses, looping, Colleges and vocational) schools must deal established. For more information on how and mouse interaction with the results (or lack thereof) of the to participate call Robert Martin at secondary educational institutions. In two KEVS OLUTIONS. years they not only must prepare students VAR , dealer, & distributor inquiries Many thanks from all involved: first for a vocational field, but they also have to VISA, MasterCard accepted and foremost from the Selkirk students make up for what they did not learn in themselves, and also from their teachers high school. This is a tall order. Sadly, and parents, the community of Metaline after fourteen years of formal education Falls, myself and the KEVS OLUTIONS staff. I:l our children can barely function in the 23845 Currant Dr. Golden, CO 80401 USA technical field of their choice. (303) 526-2553 lox :(303) 526-7319 S.O.S. Needs You. All other trademarks and copyrights acknowtedged Made in USA We want to forge a partnership C 1993 Lunar Graphics Inc. REALIZE Rende ring Tool is a trademark 01 Lunar between business and education whose Please Don't Let These Kids Down! Graphics Inc

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An Engineer's View / CADKEY 6 and AutoCAD 12 require the user to buy an expensive digitizer to perform this simple operation. Talk about a biased article! The part about how AutoCAD does a Window Zoom is absolutely not true. R. Martin, Technical Editor Window zooms can be done from within a function right off the tablet. Publication for DataCAD Users?

B. J. (An AutoCAD 11 User) I'm just another DataCAD user who is now receiving Belmont, California KEVSOLUTIONS and doesn't know what to make of it. Is there a publication for us? DearB. J., You're absolutely right about the bias! This article was Baffled, Portland, Oregon written from my perspective as an ex-ACAD user, and expresses my personal opinions. I feel that CADKEY Dear Baffled, wins hands down on all counts. The Windows Zoom For the time being DataCAD users continue to receive comparison was of CADKEY and AutoCAD as they come "Reference Point", a quarterly pub for DataCAD. out of the box without modification. CADKEY does not The Editor

article, "Ocean Projects Are Much More DL-Xpress to all maintenance customers Than Academic Exercises." and to customers who have specifically NOR'EASTER is published by the purchased CADKEY 6. ERROR University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island The article also indicated that Vibrant Sea Grant, Naragansett, Rhode Island Graphics' Soft Engine/CK will be shipped MESSAGE! 02882-1197. with CADKEY 6 beginning in May, 1993. Soft Engine/CK will be available later this year. Cadkey, Inc. apologizes to everyone who has experienced inconvenience Correction to the• CADKEY®6 Article because ofthis situation. on page 13: In identifying the types of analysis performed by CADKEY®ANALYSIS, the article states: Thermal Elastic, Elastic and Cad key User Group News Thermoelastic. These should read: Thermal, Elastic and Thermoelastic. It is San Diego CADKEY User Group important to note that, although CADKEY Please note the following corrections ANALYSIS is integrated with CADKEY 6, Sponsored by: and additions to the FebruarylMarch the user must install the module sepa­ Engineering Technology and issue of KEySOLUTIONS: rately. Once installed, CADKEY ANALY­ Systems International, Inc. (En tech On page 42, in the article about SIS operates as a CADKEY®Dynamic International, Inc.), 9560 Black REPPS Plankton Sampler entitled Extension™ inside CADKEY. You select it "Students + CADKEY = Learning and from the APPLIC (application) section of Mountain Rd. , Ste.124, San Diego, Results," the article stated that software CADKEY's main menu. CA 92126-4586, Ph: 619/695- donated to educational institutions is The CADKEY IGES Translator is also 0102; Fx: 619/549-0875. Meetings always Version 1.4. Cadkey's Educational now bundled with CADKEY 6 as part of a held monthly at various locations. Programs Department always works with single product. However, the CADKEY Currently they have 237 members. the latest production release of Cadkey's IGES Translator still operates as an Serving: San Diego, Imperial and products for sale and grants to educa­ individual software module, external to Orange Counties. tional institutions. The Educational CADKEY 6. The CADKEY Advanced Programs Department also heavily IGES Translator, scheduled for release discounts previous versions of Cadkey's later this year, will operate as a CADKEY CALCAD products, for example, the student offer of Dynamic Extension inside CADKEY. CALCAD User Group would CADKEY 5 for $150 (available only in the like to invite more CADKEY users U.S. and Canada), until June 30, 1993. in Orange County, CA to join their The students in the story were using group. Please contact CALCAD a very old version of CADKEY; still, they Clarifications from• Cadkey about were able to invent a brand new product Vibrant Drivers: The article on page 48, Editor Larry Maldarelli of Lawrence for technical research in marine biology/ "CADKEY Gets 12x Performance Boost Engineering at 7141731-9277 for zoology. Additional information about this with Vibrant Graphic Device Drivers," more information. project is available. REPPS Fall 1990/ indicated that DL-Xpress/CK, a product of 1991, the report written by the students Vibrant Graphics, Austin, TX, is included for the University of New Hampshire with CADKEY 6. However, although Please send all material to: documents their project in detail. KEySOLUTIONS published information that User Group Editor . NOR'EASTER, the Magazine of the it had received from Cadkey, Inc., DL­ KEVSOLUTIONS Xpress is not yet available with CADKEY Northeast Sea Grant Programs, Volume P.O. Box 11978 6. When the software is ready, Cadkey 4, Number 1, Spring 1992, page 27 also Spokane, WA 99211 -1978. documents the REPPS project in the will ship a CADKEY 6 update containing

60 • KEY Solutions • April / May 1993 - Intel 486 CPU with Integrated Math Coprocessor - 17" FST Color Monitor 1280x1024 NI .26dp - Intel Pentium Overdrive Socket Upgrade - VESA L-BUS Orchid P9000 3Mb w/Weitek - 32 Bit VESA LOCAL BUS + 32 Bit EISA Mboard Graphic Processor, 1280x1024NI, 76Hz, 24Bit - 8MB High Speed 32Bit RAM (exp. to 128MB) - Panacea Turbo Display List Drivers - 32 Bit VESA L-BUS Hard Disk Controller - 101 Key High Tactile Quality Keyboard - 240MB 14ms Cached Hard Disk Drive - Microsoft-DOS 5.0 with 3 Button Mouse - 3.5" & 5.25" H.D. Floppy Disks, 2S/1P ports - Xi Desktop I Deskside Case with Double Fan

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