LET'S FACE IT!

If you use CADI

CUTTING EDGE SURFACES has: No other CAM package has: • all the geometry of CAD KEY • 100% CADKEY data base compatibility • surface modeling of FASTSURF • 1 00% CADKEY human interface • complete tool path editing • a complete CDE & CADL environment • a library of over 1 00 post processors • general NURBS surface machining • CADKEY IGES capabilities

CUITING EDGE SURFACES can be used as a stand alone CAM system for 3-axis milling, drilling, boring, reaming, slotting, pocketing, tapping and contouring. Immediate verification of the tool path before cutting reduces material waste.

CUITING EDGE SURFACES is fully integrated into Cad key's desktop engineering tools. Now you can manufacture your designs directly from CADKEY part files with I 00% failure-free data transfer. NO TRANSlATION needed! You can also transfer other CAD files using IGES, DXF, and CADL

CUITING EDGE SURFACES offers ease of use unparalleled in the CAD/CAM world, an outstanding customization environment. general surface machining, and the ability to bring surfaces from any CAD system that supports IGES.

If you don't have a blue print or a CAD design, we can help with that too. Ask about the reverse engineering ability of CADDlnspector.

Call your CUTTING EDGE dealer or Cutting Edge Technologies, Inc. c::::J

4 Griffin Road North Windsor, CT 06095 • (203) 298-6433 Fax: (203) 298-6490

24 Hr. Automatic Fax Info 1-iOO-n~ Code 124408 The new NOVAlE! III makes your best ideas look brilliant.

Fast line drawings Picture perfect quality NOVAJET III eliminates the pen NOVAJET III can even print photographic-quality plotter bottleneck that can throw images, when professional imaging software is used. your project behind schedule. Your 3-D renderings or industrial designs come to life. E-size (ISO AO) black line drawings are produced in as Priced right little as 6 minutes-color in as little as 10. And say good-bye to messy At $7495 for the 24" (61em) model and $8495 for the 36" (92 em) model, pens that clog or ski p. you won't find a better value. Brilliant color renderings We'll help you look brilliant NOVAJET III goes we ll beyond drafting. It produces renderings that you have Don't take our word for it. See NOVAJ ET III in action. to see to believe. Brilliant color. No banding. In fact, the images shown in this ad were printed by NOVAJET III and are unretouched. And yo u can choose froma varietyo f fi ne inkjet papers and films for your best presentation.

ENCAD, INC., 6059 Cornerstone Court West, San Diego, CA 92 121, Fax (619) 452-0891

Engine iUus rrarion by jeffGoenzen, © 199 1 Aldus Corp . • Ferrari iUus rration by Dennis Kimble · Map CDllTtesy ofVesrra Resollrces , Inc. Automatic Dimensioning for Cadkey Unitec, Inc., announces "Dimension quru". A CDE utility that automatically dimensions geometry. The first in the "quru" product set to be released for Cadkey users.

.99~ ~ .300 .l~O .)00 -J Simply select the geometry• ---, Dimension Guru does the rest.

R .!5O only: $99.95

Call about our new Cad key 7/IOuru" bundle for less than the price of Cadkey 7.

only: $479.95

Coming soon: "File Qum" Unitec's new file management system that runs in Cadkey. Call us for more information.

Unitec's software pricing Dimension Guru $99.95 DraftpakIBOM $635 Cadkey 7 (Unix or DOS) $395 Draftpak $435 Cadkey Drafter $195 Draftpak Overlay $155 Cadkey Advanced Modeler $995 Cadview 5195 Cadkey Annual Upgrade $250 20" color monitor call Cadkey Phone Support call 17" color monitor call Cadkey ProlPentiumlGuru bundle call Custom turn-key system bundles call - Unitec Inc. - 120 College St. 1-800-365-9595 - Middletown, Ct. 06457 - Phone: (203)343-8460 Call about our trial offers!!! - Fax: (203)343-8462 TRENDS A First Look! by Robert Martin Hottest features of CADKEY Windo ws & DataCAD 6 AND ISSUES CAD Standards & Libraries - Why & How by Robert C. Yule & Robert Bean Selecting and creating CAD standards & libraries

COMPUTER ERGONOMICS by Seth Frielich The right chair can save your back

Students Learn More Than CAD by Claudia Martin CAD Exciting student projects in CAD AT WORK DataCAD Portfolio by Russell L. Thomas Designer shares modeling tips for working with clients

PRODUCT RX for Document Insanity by Claudia Martin FOCUS Easy ways with CAD graphics in documents REVIEWPORT HighRES, No vaJET III InkJet, Quannon Pentium PC, CALSVIEW, Printlt!

DATACAD DataCAD Ti pS by Carol Buehrens TECHNICAL A step-by-step tutorial on using the new Frameit macro

Tech Support Direct by Berry Taylor Constructing 3D models quickly by "sketching" with DataCAD

CAD KEY CADKEY Lisp by Ron Brumbarger & Scott Workman TECHNICAL Using the file I/O function to create geometry CAD KEY Toolbox by Ara Kirdi CADKEY ANAL YSIS and elasticity calculations

COLUMNS KeyTalk 6 AND Cad key Forum 7 DEPARTMENTS KeyNotes 8 KeyMail 9 New Products 10 Solution Mart 44 Advertiser Index 46 The Magazine for CADKEY & DataCAD , KEVTALK

P.O. Box 11978, Spokane, WA 99211·1978 The "ivory tower" syndrome is a potential danger in any type of Ph: 509/928-5169 Fax: 5091928-4937 education. Even technical fields such as engineering and architec­ ture are not immune. The problem is that theory alone is, at best, an impediment. It definitely is not adequate training for the real world pressure cooker of deadlines, design compromises, financ­ EDITORIAL ing, cost reductions that don't diminish functionality, project man­ Editor-in-Chief agement, working as part of a team and working with customers. Claudia Martin Technical Editor We all know that doing is one of the best ways to learn. Robert Martin Fortunately for the future of the design, engineering and architec­ ture fields, today's students are getting involved in projects that Senior Editor not only hone their CAD skills, but give them hands-on experience Jack Bilderback, CPIM in things not usually learned in a class room. Some participate in challenging intercollegiate competitions. Others take on projects CONTRIBUTING EDITORS springing from local needs. In both, they use "book-learning" to Ron Brumbarger, Carol Buehrens, produce a "product" and see a project through from design to use. Mark Hyjek, Dana Seero, They learn skills not taught in their text books and experience the Frank Simpson, Craig Storms, Scott Workman realities of design, engineering and manufacturing. DESIGN During the 1993/94 school year students using CADKEY and Art Director DataCAD did just that. Here are a few examples: seniors at Melissa Clark California State University at Long Beach participated in the Human Powered Vehicle contest sponsored by ASME (American PRODUCTION Society of Mechanical Engineers); sophomore mechanical engi­ Production Manager neering technology students at Penn State's Shenango Campus Gayle Simpson designed, built and raced a car for the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Mini-Baja competition; and two high school seniors Production Assistant Sherry Dahl-Montee from Lewiston, Maine designed a handicapped-accessible house for a quadriplegic 6-year-old with DataCAD that was subsequent­ ADMINISTRATION ly approved by the FHA and constructed by the community. Business Manager/CEO Steve Radford You can read about their projects in "Students Learn More Than CAD" in this issue. Their stories and Russ Thomas's descrip­ ADVERTISING SALES tion in DataCAD Portfolio of how he uses DataCAD to work with Jo Schmidt clients reminded me how easy it is to forget that CAD is just a tool Ph: 509/928-5169 Fx: 509/928-4937 of the trade. Even (maybe especially) at KEVSOLUTIONS we get com­

pletely caught up in the "nuts and bolts" of making the software EDITORIAL POLICY: KEYSOI.UOONS is an indepen­ work. While we need to be as proficient as possible, CAD is a dent publication without obligation to any software or hardware dealer, vendor or distributor, except as means, not the end. indicated. Articles noted as news or features are written without knowledgeable bias. Articles noted as editorial represent the opinion of the author. Technical articles represent the opinion of the author Kudos to the super students (and their instructors and advi­ and are selected by virtue of their educational value. sors) for their skills and their attitude. It's refreshing to know that SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: (orders, not all members of the younger generation are going to Hades in a change of address, etc.) should be directed to KEVSoLUTlONS, P.O. Box 11978, Spokane, WA 99211- hand basket. Congratulations also to Cadkey, Inc. for their pro­ 1978. Allow six weeks for processing. gressive support of education with software and technical support. EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE should be direct­ ed to Editor-in-Chief, KEvSoLUTIONs, P.O. Box 11978, Spokane, WA 99211-1978. KEVSoLUTIONS encourages readers to submit articles, letters, questions and technical tips.

KEYSoLUTIONS, Copyright © 1994, (ISSN 1064-2145) is published hi-monthly by Value Engineering Associates. Microsoft and Windows are registered ~ trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. IBM is the reg­ Claudia Martin istered trademark of the International Business Editor Machines Corporation. CADKEY and DataCAD are registered trademarks of Cadkey, Inc. AutoCAD and DXF are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. by Malcolm Davies, President and CEO - Cadkey, Inc.

I am pleased to announce that object-oriented environment sup­ the long-awaited CADKEY for porting Visual C++ and Microsoft Windows will be available shortly. Foundation Classes. CODe is fully This new product has the function­ compliant with Microsoft standards. ality of CADKEY 7, but with a full CADKEY Windows will be Microsoft Windows interface. Microsoft Office compatible. Cadkey, Inc. has been slow to The user interface has been make CADKEY and DataCAD redesigned from the ground up to available on Windows, but by wait­ support the way in which Windows ing until now we have gained many users work. As a Windows user VVI N ..I~>OVV S significant competitive advantages. myself, I believe that our technical CADKEY for Windows is a full 32- team led by Steve Mastrangelo has bit application. It runs very effec­ achieved everything that a Windows tively on the 16-bit Windows user would wish for. The inter­ 3. 1 using the Win32s library face is totally customizable and Windows NT in 32-bit mode. We also have it fully-operational in Microsoft application which was the users. There is no Windows CAD 32-bit mode r unning under design goal. product available anywhere to Windows 95 (formerly Chicago) in CADKEY for Windows is a match CAD KEY for Windows in price ($495) or performance. For ~..... ~_: .. p.. .1.. _ ..> ... KEY additional information, upgrade pricing, or to place an order, please the lab, ready when Microsoft ships remarkable product and I am confi­ contact your CADKEY Value Added that operating system. dent that it will attract not only Reseller. CAD KEY Windows uses some many CAD KEY DOS and UNIX components of CODe (CADKEY customers but many users of com­ PS.: DataCAD for Windows is not OBJECT Developer) which is a C++ peting products and many new far behind!

Quannon POWERstation 90 with CAD KEY 7 for $4,499 • 90 MHz Pentium™ CPU ; 16MB RAM ; 256 Cache • Speed PCI Graphics Accelerator w/2 MB DRAM • 17" Flat Screen Monitor • 4 PCI and 2 VESA Local Bus Slots; 2 ISA Slots • 515 MB Enhanced IDE Hard Disk and 1 Floppy Drive • One Year Parts/Factory Labor Warranty Leading CA DKEY Reseller since 1985. • Custom Configurations Avai lable "We kn ow what a sys•tem nee ds to make CADKEY fly!" • Quannon CAD Systems, Inc. ~ (800)467-3467 or (612)935-3367

November 1994 • K EV S OLUTIONS • 7 CADKEY in the News Architects Go On Line The American Institute of Architects (AlA) is introducing its AlA EduCAD Support Team ONline software free to AlA members, associated members and allied mem­ Cadkey has announced that Tech Ed bers on the Macintosh, DOS and Windows platforms. The cost for using the service in 15 cents/minute for local line time; there is no monthly fee or long­ Concepts (TEC) of Concord, New distance charges. Hampshire will assist in sales and sup­ port of the EduCAD America campaign. Too Busy to Read Business Books? TEC also offers technical support at a Summaries of new business books are available on cassette tape or as 20-30 page booklets. One recent summary of The New Partnership by reduced rate on CADKEY and DataCAD Tom Melohn, tells how he and his partners turned North American Tool & for schools, educators and students. Die into a world class enterprise, achieving an average sales growth of 29% a TEC has been an authorized Cadkey year and a 480% increase in productivity. Recognized experts read the book Educational Dealer for over six years. and extract the important ideas and insights of the author. Tapes are Richard Amarosa, president of TEC and approximately 45 minutes long and cost $6. For more information call Audio­ former educator, has built his organiza­ Tech Business Book Summaries, Inc. at 8001776-1910 or 312/345-1910. tion around Cad key products and the Have Modem, Will Plot educational market. Mutoh America has announced a new direct modem connection for EduCAD America, Cadkey's latest edu­ their LD-2000 series of LED electrophotographic plotters to enhance remote cational program allows schools, educa­ service and plotting capabilities. Mutoh America and Authorized Service tors and students to receive CADKEY 7 Center technicians can diagnose a troubled LD-2000 from remote locations and DataCAD 5 Professional for $99 quickly and efficiently. Also, upgrades can be downloaded immediately and each plus shipping and handling. For end-users can exchange drawing files for plotting from two remote locations more information on EduCAD America anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. call TEC toll-free at 8OO-EduCAD Team '94 Movies Use State of the Art Graphics (338-2238) or 800-639-5409. Technological advances blur the line between reality and special effects in movies. For example, 16mm archival footage was manipulated to Czech Use, Group Forms place Tom Hank's character in "Forrest Gump" at the scene of historical DataCAD and CADKEY Users Groups events. In "The Flintstones," the computer-generated character Dino was were beginning in October in the Czech seamlessly integrated with live actors. These effects are the result of collabo­ and Slovak Republics. For more informa­ ration between JEDI (Joint Environment for Digital Imaging), an advanced tion contact Josef Maly at 3E Praha production environment for creating digital imagery for special effects and Engineering, (02) 6835881, 6835882, computer animation; Silicon Graphics, Inc., a leading manufacturer of visual 6840783. computing systems; and Industrial Light & Magic, the world's leading visual effects facility. According to Mike Ramsay, of Silicon Graphic's Visual DataCAD on the Internet Systems Group, "Today movie audiences demand technologically advanced, The DataCAD Boston Users Group highly creative film. Those expectations drive animators to be more innova­ (DBUG) has started an Internet Mailing tive and pushed Silicon Graphics to develop more sophisticated hardware. List Forum dedicated to DataCAD The entertainment industry is responsible for accelerating the pace of tech­ issues. If you have an e-mail address nology in the 1990s." through CompuServe, America Online, New Technical Centers etc. or an Internet site, to join the Mail Desktop Engineering has opened technical centers in Ithaca, New List just send an e-mail message to dat­ York and Troy, Michigan. The new offices will actively market a range of acackIbug-requestOworld.atd.com. engineering services including computer-aided software development, com­ and in the body or RE: line type puter-aided engineering analysis, engineering testing programs and struc­ subscribe datacad-dbug. Joe DePietro tural/mechanical engineering consulting. The technical centers will also ser­ of Cadkey, Inc. is currently working out vice the company's packaged software products including the DE/CAASE computerized engineering handbook. DE/CAASE represents the world's the details for a DataCAD newsgroup on largest known compilation of solutions to structural/mechanical engineering Internet. Details will be announced as applications and incorporates solutions to over 5000 structural/mechanical soon as they are final. engineering applications. Version 4.1 provides a new graphic interface that operates in Windows, UNIX and DOS.

8 • KEY SOLUTIONS • November 1994 pSERVERplus Diskette Based In teractive Plot Server

An even better solution for your plotting bottlenecks! helps us areas of user concern and .,f Plotfile compression correct any problems that exist. Ed's first up to 4:1 difficulty was that when he selected OLD-NEW, MOVE, POLYGON, the enti­ .,f Plot all or any files ties sometimes got translated to incorrect from diskette locations or did not get translated at all. This error (i.e., intermittent translation .,f Split large files over errors when using POLYGON on the multiple disks CADKEY menus to select entities which are part of a collective) has been correct­ also available ed. His second difficulty was that the .,f & Soft Engine cursor button setup for Combo 3.5" 5.25" invoking Icon Panels using the Kurta IS­ drives in one unit ONE digitizing tablet did not work prop­ erly. This error (i.e., incorrect cursor but­ pSERVERplus runs your plotter from plot files on ton response codes when using specific graphic cards and the Kurta tablet to diskette so you keep full use of your PC while plotting. invoke Icon Panels) has also been cor­ rected. Both fixes are available as part of ~ the CADKEY 7.03 Patch Utility via the Far Mountain 1420 NW Gilman Blvd., Suite 2163 , Issaquah WA 98027 (206) 392-6541 Corpor a tion Cadkey BBS. Felix Giordano, Acting Director of Product Services · Cadkey, Inc. New DataCAD Users Rave! I have been absolutely thrilled with the More choices. More answers. performance of DataCAD 5. I have exten­ Now, graphic digitizers with more specialized features. sive knowledge of and experience with Add our unique value to your CAD. GIS. and medical applications. other CAD programs, too -- including GridMasterTil Roll-Up Digitizing Mat that horrible AutoCAD . I've been won­ Desktop performance to go. dering why there were no user groups or Just 1/32 in. thin, 12 oz light. Accuracy, publications dedicated to this excellent +/- 0.010 in. Resolution. up toS.OOO Ipi. program, but your flyer answered that Self-diagnostics. Operates all graphics question. I look forward to receiving my software. 4 or 16 button cursor, or 2 button first issue. stylus. 3 sizes ...... -t Robert Takei - Pasadena, Calif GraphicMaster IITII Digitizing Tablet Thanks to Cadkey and the designers Looks familiar. But It's different. of DataCAD 5! There is life after the Ti lt top varies tablet angle. Changes field of vision. Accuracy, +/- 0.0 l O in. Up to 5,000 Ipi resolution - ''board." I began working with AutoCAD industry's highest Compatible with CAD/CAM/CAE.. about 31/2years ago because it was the 6 soft keys. 2 button stylus, and 4 button cursor or software my company had. I became 16 button cursor. 2 sizes. frustrated because it did not operate with an architectural process. Company AccuGridTil Digitizing Tablet architects and engineers (who were used Opaque, translucent. or backlighted models. to the way the software worked and Excellent for CAD professiona ls; optical light panels accepted it) would tell me that I had to ideal for GIS, mapping, and medical applications. customize it and write all these macros Accuracy, +/- 0.0 10 in. or +/- 0.005 in. Resolution, to get it running the way I wanted it to. I 2.000 Ipi. Opaque, 4 sizes. Translucent/backlighted. wondered why you should spend $3,500+ 6 sizes each. on software that wasn't designed for your o NUMONICS trade. I purchased DataCAD in January 800-247-45t 7 and love it. 101 COMMERCE DRIVE· PO BOX 1005· MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA 18936 Henry Ford, Springfield, Mass.

November 1994 • KEVSOLUTIONS • 9 designed for VESA Local Bus archi­ s c::::» -=~~~-= ProTOOLS now ships with all Pro Key-124 and Max Pro-II keyboards. tecture. It supports a maximum non­ Blocks and Materials interlaced resolution of 1280 x 1024 Blocks and Materials™, a CD­ The utility is available to all current users from Maxi Switch's electronic and has a standard 1MB DRAM and ROM library, has over 600 3D blocks built-in sockets for upgrading to linked to 1,000 material definitions. BBS or on disk for a small shipping and handling charge. 2MB. The Phantom 64 is based on All objects and textures can be used the S3 Vision864 chip, with 64-bit directly from the CD (without using Contact Maxi Switch at 602 / 741- 3306. architecture, True Color 24-bit at any hard disk space) with any CAD 1280 x 1024 non-interlaced, and a software that can read DXF DWG maximum refresh rate of 106Hz. It is and 3DS files. All blocks ha~e bee~ Eagle 3640C Color Scanner ANA Tech introduces the Eagle available in PCI or VL-bus models pre-scaled for imperial and metric 1MB on board (with sockets for ' use. There are 400 3D bitmaps avail­ 3640C Color Scanner, with 24-bit single pass, color capabilities.The' upgrading to 2MB) or 2MB on board. able, of which 200 textures are seam­ The Phantom 64 also features the lessly tileable. A set of full color Eagle 3640C concurrently scans, classifies, compresses, and saves to "virtual screen," which simulates cards are included to help the user resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 on low­ locate any block in seconds. disk original E/AO size color docu­ ments. Incorporating three 5000-ele­ resolution monitors. Both boards Contact KETIV Technologies, Inc. at ment, tri-linear, color CCD cameras support DPMS in accordance with 800 / 458-0690 or Fax 503 /252-3668. the Eagle 3640C offers variable sca~ the EPA's Energy Star program. resolution and a scan rate of 400dpi. Suggested list price for the Hornet Pixar One Twenty Eight The scanner uses Intergraphs's 1MB DRAM accelerator is $159, and Pixar's collection of 128 photo­ the 1MB DRAM Phantom 64 lists for graphic textures was created by a I1CLASS product on the scanned data, giving users the ability to sepa­ $249. professional photographer and Contact Genoa Systems Corporation designed specifically for use in pro­ rate multi color originals into discrete color components. at 800 / 934-3662 or Fax 408 / 434- duction quality imaging. Available 0997. on CD-ROM, this package includes a Contact ANA Tech at 800/ 533-0165. Photoshop compatible plug-in which Replaceable Inkjet Cartridges Multimedia-Ready Notebook allows the user to seamlessly tile a Toshiba's Computer Systems texture into any area. Each 512 x A new inkjet replacement car­ tridge system is now available from Division is shipping its SatellitesTM, 512,24 bit texture can be tiled to fit T2400C multimedia-ready notebook any area up to 4000 x 4000, or 300 Dia-Nielson USA. This HP Deskjet compatible unit features a reuse able computer line. The Satellite T2400C dpi at 13.3" x 13.3", and can be used Series features an optional sound as backgrounds or as materials for printhead (up to 8 times) and Liquid Ink High Capacity Refills. The refills card with Sound Blasters™, Pro soft­ mapping into 3D graphics. Any ware compatibility, a SCSI-2 port for application that can read PICT or which are filled with ink do not use sponge material in the cartridge, and CD-ROM connection, and the TIFF files on Mac, Windows, or Unix AccuPoint pointing device. It is pow­ can be used. provide over 900 pages of writeout. The cartridges snap into place, and ered by a 50MHz i486DX2 CPU, and Contact Pixar at 800/ 888-9856 or are available in four colors: black, comes with a Dynamic-STN dual Fax 510/ 236-0388. cyan, magenta, and yellow. Contact Dia-Nielson at "'~~E:.~~~-= 609/829-9441 or Fax ProTOOLS 609 / 829-8814. Maxi Switch, Inc. is shipping programmable keyboards with Genoa Graphics ProTOOLS, a Windows-based key­ Accelerators board programming utility. Genoa Systems ProTOOLS provides on-screen view­ Corporation recently ing of the keyboard image, highlight­ announced the Hornet and ing those keys that are macro keys the Phantom 64 graphics or that have been remapped from the accelerator cards. Based on original factory setting. Clicking on the NCR 77c32BLT GUI any macro key on the screen, dis­ chip, the Hornet is a 24-bit plays the full content of the macro DRAM-based True Color Dia-Nielson's inkjet replacement cartridge system. including variable fields of text and graphics accelerator, execution delay instructions.

10 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 scan color or TFT active matrix New UPS Models display. The T2400C ranges from UPSONIC's new Station series $3200 to $3499. The Satellite of UPS models feature power rat­ T1960C Series includes the same ings from 280-volt-amperes to 2 CPU as the T2400C and choice of kilovolt-amperes and provide up display with a 200MB or 320MB to 15 minutes of battery power. hard disk drive for $2749 to The Station models automatically $2999. Both models include local activate during power interrup­ bus video and graphics accelera­ tions such as blackouts, sags, tor. surges, noise, and brownouts. Key Contact Toshiba at 800/334-3445. features include over-voltage pro­ tection, hot-start buttons, addi­ Energy-Saving UPS tional device recepticals, and Optiquest, Inc. introduced a Optiquest's energ- y-.sa- v-ing- o- p-ti.-U-PS------' Pulse Width Modulation circuitry. line of green Opti-UPS The six models are designed for (Uninterruptable Power Supply) with a pure sinewave output. The use with PCs, LANs, telecommunica­ back-up systems for monitors, CPUs, systems protect against power sags tions equipment, POS systems, and networks, tape drives, and other by providing automatic voltage regu­ midrange computers. Each model is peripherals. Microprocessor con­ lation (AVR) which boosts line volt­ compatible with all major operating trolled back-up systems include age by 12%. The Opti-UPS system systems. Prices start at $142. Models UPS-400 ($249), UPS-600 performs a self-diagnosis every time Contact UPSONIC at 800/ 877-6642. ($299), and UPS-800 ($399); the the system is turned on. model number represents volt-amp Contact Optiquest, Inc. at 909 /468- capacity. Each model has a typical 3750. transfer time of two milliseconds 100MHz 486DX4 PowerBrick Have Your CADKEY and Take It Toof Faster Than Most Desktops 7S-100MHz Intel DX4 PowerBricks are • 260-S2SMB Hard Disk supported by the PowerBricks are serious CAD KEY CPU Intel 486, 33, 50, 75, 100MHz machines. They feature the latest • 2 PCMCIA+ FAX Slots Vibrant Graphics Intel clock tripled 100MHz or • Local Bus Video & Disk video driver and RAM 4,8, 16, 20, 32MB 75MHz DX4 processor with large • 4-32MB RAM, 5.8 Ibs. take full advantage Hard Disk 260, 340, 525MB • Internal 3.5" floppy 16K onboard cache. • Active or Dual Scan Color of CAD KEY. Accelerated Local Bus Graphics 9.5" LCD Mono, Dual Scan or Active Big Drives and PCMCIA Too! PowerBricks fast Graphics 640x480x256 color LCD graphics are optimized Hard disk options range from 260MB, 340MB, 1280x1024 external VGA for both internal LCD and 525MB all with local bus IDE interface for Size 8.6" x 2.0" x 11.1" lightening quick disk access. An internal 9.6/2.4 use or external hi-res Weight 5.8 Ibs. Mono VGA monitors. One Fax/modem is included (14/14 optional) in 6.3 Ibs. Active Color MB video memory addition to two Type II PCMCIA (or one Type III) slots. An optional expansion chassis Price Dual Scan Color $3,795 allows 256 colors Active Color $4,795 at 1024x768 allows easy connect/disconnect and 260HD, 8MB, 100MHz, Fax two full-length ISA slots.

COMPUTI N G One Intercontinental Way, Peabody, Massachusetts 0 J 960 r508) 535-75 J 0 FAX: r508) 535-75 J 2

November 1994 • K EV S OLUTIONS • 11 ...,. • .:s c:::: _ E ...... Cii ...... EE~ ...... Cii build set-up process, saving time The ArmStation Geopath Upgrade when building many copies of the The Kode Company of Dallas, Solutionware Corporation same part or single copies of many Texas has introduced the announced Geopath for Windows, parts. The Automatic Part ArmStation ™ as a solution to version 1.6. Features include Placement software places selected Repetitive Movement Injury. The Windows interface, fast program­ parts in the build volume of the station allows the user to align the ming support, 3D support, direct Sinterstation and calculates the arm and shoulder so that the arm import ofIGES, DXF, and other location of each part, Information on can hang at a natural depth. CAD files, high speed machining the status of each part included in Features include: removable arm support, program modification, layer the build volume is readily available. and mouse pads, height adjustment, control, on-screen tool paths, built-in DTM will be offering this software at and left or right-handed use. The technology table, programmable an introductory price of $6,450 ArmStation™ can be used with feed-rate control, automatic RPM through the end of 1994. mice, trackballs, joysticks, and small control, unlimited memory access, Contact DTM Corporation at tablets. and a variety of special functions 5121339-2922 or Fax 5121832-6753. Contact Kode Company at 2141351- such as DescribelLabel for identify­ 3081. ing operations. System requirements Moldflow Dynamic Series are 486 with math co-processor, The Moldflow Dynamic Series Windows 3.1, minimum of 8MB for Windows is a suite of predictive RAM, 6MB minimum of free hard analysis tools that optimize produc­ disk space, mouse or pointing device, tion of plastic parts. The Series lets VGA card, and serial port for NC an engineer assess the feasibility of machines. This release is available a design in a short time. To help as a complete package or as an track analysis work, Moldflow's on­ upgrade for previous Windows or line project manager graphically DOS users. Contact Solutionware at 4081249- 1529.

Digital Gages from Mitutoyo Digi-Test Gages, now available from Mitutoyo, provide a selection of different jaw styles for use on diffi­ The Kode Company's ArmStation TM cult characteristics. The new models are designed with a large handle Process Improvement and thumb trigger. Measurements Process Dynamics International are presented on a high contrast (PDI), a management consulting LCD readout with 6mm high digits. firm that helps companies increase The display operates in four modes: profitability through process Continuous display, Maximum Hold, charts the stages of work completed. improvement and business reengi­ Minimum Hold, and Static Analysis tools include: MFIWARP neering, is offering a free booklet Measurement. Eight models of Digi­ isolates and controls part warpage; that explains its stage-based Test are available for inside dimen­ MF/STRESS ensures the part meets approach, a results-driven roadmap sions with a choice of two or three structural and performance specifi­ for implementing strategic and oper­ contact surfaces. Another five mod­ cations; MF/SHRINK determines ational improvements in a compa­ els are equipped with jaws for out­ shrinkage to enable accurate mold ny's key processes. The booklet side dimensions. Digi-Test is pow­ cavity sizing; MF/GAS optimizes describes five basic business princi­ ered by a single 9 volt battery cell plastic and gas flow for gas injection ples and models that underpin the and an auto-power off feature to con­ molding; MFITSETS optimizes ther­ stage-based approach and includes a serve life. moset molding; and MF/OPTIM real-world study on how the Contact Mitutoyo at 7081820-9666. determines optimum machine set­ approach has been successfully tings. All analyses are performed applied. PDI consists of an interna­ Automatic Part Placement Software using a mouse controlled graphical tional network of senior level consul­ DTM Corporation announced the interface in Windows 3.1. The series tants. release of Automatic Part Placement requires a 33MHz 486 PC with a Contact Process Dynamics Intn'l at software for the Sinterstation® 2000 minimum of 16 MB RAM and 100 5121345-2588 or Fax 5121263-9105. System. This software allows for MB free disk space. rapid placement of parts during the Contact Moldflow at 2031925-0552 or Fax 2031925-1175.

12 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 Designers, architects and engineers need more than good CAD skills - things like creativity, initiative, perserverence and the ability to work with people in real­ life situations. How do students today rate in these areas? The following students not only learned to use DataCAD and CADKEY, but got involved in projects. In the process, they learned much more than CAD.

Designing a Handicapped­ Opportunity Program and Accessible House was coordinating the effort In June of 1991, 5-year-old Adam to build Adam's family an Bailey suffered injuries from a car affordable handicapped­ accident that left him both quadri­ accessible home. Not so High. School, work at the computer on drawings for the plegic and ventilator-dependent. The coincidentally, she is mar­ handicapped-accessible house. (Photo by Winslow Durgin) ried to Don Jalbert, family's small apartment was not was a struggle doing the fine-tun­ teacher of the Technical Center's adequate; it wouldn't even permit ing." (Editor's Note: Think they're Drafting Technology and Computer free movement of Adam's wheel­ learning about real life here?) Aided Drafting Course. chair between rooms. Both students had purchased Derek and Eric started with two Concerned groups and individu­ DataCAD for their home computers. basic plans, ran them back and forth als in the close-knit communities in "They worked at home as well as in to Adam's mother, Lisa, for changes and around Lewiston, Maine got class," said Don Jalbert, their draft­ and suggestions and eventually set­ involved and worked together to help ing instructor. "They went well tled on a final plan. Even seasoned solve the problem. They donated beyond what's strictly required of house designers know that those time, money, materials and also car­ them. Labrecque even came in dur­ changes were infinitely easier on the ing towards the construction of a ing summer vacation to help finish computer. Working with DataCAD, handicapped-accessible home. up." they then developed a complete set of Students from the drafting class at Derek and Eric's house design working drawings. The home was Lewiston Reginal Technical Center received preliminary approval from pitched in, too--by designing a spe­ designed to meet Adam's special the Farmers' Home Administration cial house. needs. The doors are all 3 feet wide, in the spring and after a final pass Derek Labrecque and Eric the shower is wider than normal and from a registered architect received Milliken, senior drafting students there are many ramps. Labrecque final approval in late summer. and local leaders in the vocational explained, "There's a door from Ground was broken in September Industrial Clubs of America at Adam's bedroom directly to the out­ and general contractor, Steve Lyons, L.R.T.C. became involved in the pro­ side with a ramp and another set of was confident the family would be ject in the fall of 1993 through the ramps in the interior of the attached celebrating Thanksgiving in their efforts of Susan Jalbert. She works garage." Milliken added, "There were new home. for the People's Regional a lot of changes and modifications. It

November 1994 • KEV$OLUTIONS • 13 This was the first time a CSU­ Long Beach team used a fiberglass fairing with true airfoils. Kevin cre­ ated XTASY's fairing design concept. "I copied an airfoil design out of a model airplane book and modified it," he said. "I took a horizontal sec­ tion of the airfoil and plotted those points on the computer to make the airfoil. Then 1 measured the rider on the bike in three dimensions and translated that into CADKEY. 1 placed horizontal airfoils around the bike and rider, scaled the airfoil around the rider at six-inch inter­ vals, and then took a section cut and TeamXTASY with road race fairing (mounted on HPV) and sprint fairing. lett to right: David used those points to make a spline. Haigh. Harvey Cook. Kevin Sequeira. Louise Earley. Mall Wong and Shirlynn Cortez. CADKEY's 3D wire frame let us cre­ ate all the shapes we needed." CAD was essential in this project for get­ ting the complex shapes required in a fairing design. The students then built a fairing mold using the CADKEY design data. They made vertical plywood cross-sections and put one-inch wood stripping across vertical cross sec­ tions to give it form and surface shape. They added spackle paste over wood, primed and sanded it and finally added a fiberglass la;er and put resin on it to form a shell. Two fairings were built from the mold, a full fairing (7.5' x 5' x 2') for the sprint race and a partial for the longer thirty-five mile lap road race. Wood mold for sprint fairing. XTASY directors. lett to right: David Haigh. Kevin Sequeira and Harvey Cook. "A full fairing gives you better speed over a short distance," explained Kevin. "But in a road race if you fall down with a full fairing, you can't get up without help." Practical vehicles. XTASY was a Building and Racing a Human The May competition at the semi-recumbent standard with a Powered Vehicle University of California at Davis fairing. The challenge in this ASME com­ consisted of three phases: static in XTASY's semi-recumbent bicycle petition is to build and race the which the student's creations were and fairing were both engineering fastest human powered vehicle - judged on design innovation testing challenges. According to chief design­ basically an aerodynamically analysis, safety and aesthetics; a ' er Kevin Sequeira, "We started with enhanced (usually with a turtle sprint race judged on the fastest a racing bike design and modified shell-like fairing) bicycle. For their speed through a 200-meter time the seat tube's position from the nor­ senior project Cal State Long Beach trap; and a road race of thirty-five, mal seventy-three degrees to thirty­ engineering students Kevin nine mile laps to be completed in one five degrees, which put the seat fur­ Sequeira, Harvey Cook and David and one-half hours, relay style. ther behind the crankshaft. Our Haigh led a ten-student team that The XTASY team's design refine­ modified bike had the comfort of a designed and built a human-powered ments paid off in personal bests and recumbent, and we could change rid­ vehicle, code-named XTASY, from an overall improvement in the ers as fast as a racing bike in the scratch. This year's race was open to schoo1's ranking. Of 27 Standard pit." Standard (single seat), Tandem and entrants from five states, the XTASY

14' KEVSOLUTIONS' November 1994 placed ninth overall, up from six­ for the first teenth in 1993. The team finished time, but they third in the road race in spite of competed heavy cross-winds and an upgrade against engi­ track. The team had placed thir­ neering stu­ teenth in 1993 without the aerody­ dents at four­ namic fairing. year institu­ tions and A First lime at the Midwest placed in the Mini-Baja middle of all The Society of Automotive the static and Engineers Mini-Baja competitions pit dynamic student-designed off-road vehicles judged cate­ against one another and against gories. They some tough terrain. The 1994 placed eigh­ Penn State's Mini-Baja off-road vehicle. Midwest Mini-Baja in Waukesha, WI teenth in the attracted 68 vehicles and some tough combined category of design and cost tionships, clearances and interfer­ competition. reports and overall vehicle cost. ences, and driver ergonomics and Some mechanical engineering According to William Henry, the safety. technology students at Penn State team captain, they were especially A 3D welding fixture was concep­ University's Shenango Campus "did proud of completing a complex pro­ tualized using CADKEY and eventu­ themselves right proud" this year. ject in a tight time frame. Although ally constructed from plywood and Shenango, a two-year technology and the rules for the Mini-Baja were wood blocking. Then full scale plots were done of the chassis side frames pre-engineering school, not only par­ received in September 1993, the stu­ and cross members to be used for the ticipated in the SAE Collegiate Mid­ dents reviewed the rules and began welding fixture. The full size plots of West Mini-Baja Design Competition designing the vehicle at the begin­ ning of the spring semester 1994. the chassis were also used to layout They had the chassis and fabricate all of the chassis struc­ design completed by tural elements which were made the beginning of from aircraft tubing. Each individual March so the chassis structural element was fabricated by fabrication could be taking dimensional and angular data completed over spring directly from the CAD KEY generated break. A Safety Report drawings and setting up a small com­ was submitted puter numerically controlled (CNC) February 7. All dead­ mill to manufacture the parts. Don lines were met and the Styduhar, the Engineering vehicle was ready to Technology instructor, said it suc­ roll by race time dur­ cinctly. "Without the time saving ing the first week of advantage of CADKEY with CNC, June ..... on time and the short time frame for design and under budget! fabrication could never have been Three dimensional detaD drawing of rear swing arm and engine mount. The students could met." have used another The design of the rear wing arm CAD system, but and engine mount also benefited chose CADKEY from CADKEY's strong 3D capabili­ because of its user ty. As a result of 3D modeling, this friendly environment assembly was designed as a modular and analytical capabil­ unit which is attached to the chassis ities. It was used in at six points. This allows for ease of many instances to cal­ servicing and replacement. culate centroids and Plans are already being made for moments of inertia. In the 1995 Mini-Baja competition. The addition, they drew car's design will be improved by the entire chassis in redesigning the front suspension, 3D because it allowed steering and power train - with them to analyze vehi­ CADKEY of course! de subassembly rela- Three dimensional drawing of vehicle chassis incfoolng front suspension and rear swing arm.

November 1994 • KEVSOlUTIONS • 15 At first glance you may not recog­ nize this Windows CAD product as something from CAD­ KEY. Once you begin working with it, you'll real­ ize it is CAD­ KEY -- a new and different CADKEY -­ and a real Windows application that makes using CAD- KEY easier operating system CADKEY Windows and faster. To create CAD KEY still works. Windows, the development team first made some involved decisions. • An intuitive layout and space Should the CADKEY Windows saving design lets you get to func­ product look just like the DOS ver­ tions easily and quickly. For example for the Create, Conic, Ellipse func­ Cad key's two major relmes sion? How "Windows-like" should it be? What about Windows NT? or Windows 95 (a.k.a. tion all you need to do is select the Chicago)? And most importantly, how do you Ellipse icon. Also, CADKEY this fall are full of impressive take a powerful program like CADKEY 7 and Windows can handle up to 15 options make it work in a Windows environment per menu (the DOS version was lim­ and 1M-fiiendly features that while maintaining flexibility, speed and effi­ ited to 9). ciency? should appreciably enhance • All CADKEY Windows func­ The goals set for CADKEY Windows tions and controls reside in Dialog were simply to make one product that works in functionality and productivity. Boxes that can be undocked and Windows 3.1, Windows for Work Groups 3.11, moved anywhere on the screen. They Windows NT 3.5 and Windows 95; design the are even smart enough to know Both packages -- DataCAD 6 program so users never have to go more than when they are near an edge and will three levels deep to execute any function; allow re-dock automatically. You can and CADm for Windows -- users the flexibility to change their screen layout experiment with the screen configu­ at will; and take advantage of all the capabilities ration that works best for you. have refieshing new interraces Windows offers. Here are some highlights of the inaugural • It's a true Windows application: designed for ease of use. version of the Windows version of CADKEY. you can minimize the session at any time to swap between Best of all, both reflect • The 32 bit different programs. program runs You can also capture Cad key's commitment to meet­ under screen images to the Windows 3.1, clipboard. 3.11, NT 3.5 ing the wants, needs, and criti­ and Windows • Its input flexibility 95 -- right out lets you work the way cisms of users. The develop ­ ofthe box with you like to work. no special ver­ Functions can be exe­ ment team really listmd. sions and no cuted via icons and extra cost. If the menu area, but Thanks! you upgrade you can also do it from your the history line. Icons Windows can be copied to a DataCAD 6 users customized toolbar simply by DataCAD 6's new key features include a major "interface-lift" based on an icon dragging and dropping. What used to toolbar; new easier-to-use 24-bit color rendering; and a framing utility with an require at least four keystrokes to optional (add-on sold separately) estimating package. create line strings can now be achieved by simply clicking on an Customizable icon toolbars icon. now provide a visual and easy-to-use alternative to • In addition, all CADImy existing menus and hot-key Windows Immediate Mode com­ access. You just point and mands can be mapped to any two­ click on the icons to access key combination. They can also be all the commonly used mapped to multiple keys. For exam­ DataCAD commands, ple, in Windows Ctrl-S saves a file including Walls, Doors, and can be used to save a part file. Copy, Move, Stretch, However, you can also map Ctrl-F Cleanup, etc. Even (just like CADImy DOS) to save a RenderStar can be accessed file. directly within DataCAD by Icon Toolbar Interface clicking on the appropriate icon. (Remember how you used to have to exit to DOS to run this program?)

Icons are also available for N[ PGRAO[ the add-on macros Touch­ Up, Blocker or Command Performance - if you have them now or buy them in the future.

CADny Windows RenderStar now comes up directly within DataCAD. Full CADKEY Windows $495.00 This powerful program pro­ 24 Bit Rendering vides true photo realistic Platform change from rendering. With point and DOS version $150.00 click access, you can create high resolution color graph­ Plus Shipping/Handling on these products ics and control light sources, shadows, texture maps and support of 16.7 million col­ ors. This even works with simple IBM VGA 16 color graphics cards and drivers.

Upgrade Price $69.95 Framing was the number one request from end users Full DataCAD 6 and here it is. Frame It $149.95 Frame It automatically creates the "Estimator" $99.00 framing for walls and floors from a 3D image of the building's foundations. Also, the system can output an Plus Shipping/Handling on these products ASCII file containing a description of the materials used for framing which is a complete list of ''board feet" for all2x4s, 2x6s, etc. The optional add-on estimat­ ing package accepts the text file output and allows a full cost estimate for the Call Cad key, Inc. at 800/394-2231 job based on the bill of materials. for more information. Other new features of note include a filter to control layers with "wild card" characters like DOS (* or $) and two-way transparent file transfer between DataCAD 5 and 6.

November 1994 • KEVSoLUTIONS • 17 ------Simplf Ways With 6raphia by Claudia Martin

All that architects and engi­ lent products are available. The ferent software programs which can neers do is conceptualize great DOS and Windows versions of high­ get confusing. designs, draw them in CAD and out­ end word processors can perform That said, I'll confess that at put beautiful drawings. Right? many desktop publishing functions KEVSOLUTIONS we use two: Word for W-r-o-o-n-g!! Although you might in addition to general word process­ Windows 6 for general word process­ like it that way, nothing could be fur­ ing. The "biggies" in word processing ing of reports, office correspondence, ther from the truth. You must deal are Word Perfect and Microsoft small books and miscellaneous engi­ with (shudder) the written and print­ Word, but there are others. Page­ neering documents. In spite of occa­ ed word and regularly produce docu­ Maker, FrameMaker and QuarkEx- sional bugs which crash everything, ments - letters, reports, propos- we like all the wonderful things it als, presentations, catalogs, prod- does. (Save often!) We also use uct sheets, etc. - to communicate INCLUDING DRAWINGS, CHARTS, PageMaker for rough draft layouts information about your ideas, pro­ of magazine pages because our jects and products to customers, TABLfS,GRAPHS,AND Macintosh-based graphics produc­ supervisors and team members. tion people can work most easily These documents must not only with this PC file format. be clear, concise and complete, but SPRfADSHHTS IS WHfRf DOCUMfNT If you work with outside artists must include graphic elements. or production houses, be aware that Including drawings, charts, tables, INSANITY USUALLY BfGINS. most graphic-types work on the graphs, and spreadsheets is where Mac. Oil and water can mix, but document insanity usually begins. press are the "heavy-weights" in PC-types must have their wits about So, here are some hints on how to Windows desktop publishing pack­ them. For example, find out about get those pesky graphics out of CAD ages. AmiPro is somewhere in compatibilities before you invest and into a document without glue between. money in a product or time on a pro­ and scissors, swearing and/or mad­ Whether you prefer to work in ject. We got all excited when we got ness. Many of the ideas are based on Windows or DOS may be a deciding PageMaker 5, and then couldn't use our experiences at KEVSOLUTIONS factor. There are pros and cons. it because the Mac version couldn't combining CAD output, assorted Windows brings WYSIWYG (what read PC PageMaker 5 files at that graphic files, spreadsheets and for­ you see is what you get) and OLE time. And even though PC-MAC file mulas with text. (object linked embedding) capabili­ translations get more sophisticated ties. On the other hand, Windows all the time, some files and transla­ ASOUND fOUNDATION programs gobble up disk space and tions can be peculiar. Our Mac-based Since technical documents com­ can be appallingly slow unless you artist cannot open PageMaker files bine words with drawings and other have a hefty hardware platform with graphics files embedded. We illustrations such as spreadsheets, under them. provide PageMaker (text only) and the problem is how to combine these If your company doesn't produce the graphics as separate files. disparate elements easily, effectively mega-quantities of technical docu­ - and electronically. The beginning ments, you're probably best served IMPORTING (AD GRAPHICS of the solution is word processing or by one of the all-purpose word Since text programs do not import desktop publishing software that can processors. You save disk space and CADKEY .prt or DataCAD .dc5 files import a variety of graphic formats won't need to learn and use two dif- directly, you must create a graphic without gross problems. Many excel-

18 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 image of the drawing in a file You can also use a shareware format your document soft­ utility such as tga2fli to create ware understands. There are WAYS To GET (AD DRAWINGS fly-through animations from three methods: you can use the READY FOR DOCUMENTS your quick-shaded views. internal capabilities of Data­ When you capture an image CAD or CADKEY, an external I. Crl'atl' an HPGl fill' for linl's with your CAD program or an screen capture program or Z. Crl'atl' aCADKfY Glr or DataCAD external screen capture pro­ scan a hard copy of a drawing. por fill' for acolor imagl' gram like HiJaak, remember it The method you choose will be really is WYSIWYG. Color, line determined by whether you 3. USl' aScrl'en capture program width, contrast and screen all want color images or lines. 4. Scan hard copy -text or graphics affect the quality of the cap­ It's important to realize tured image. This may require that once you create a graphic some experimentation. file and place it in a document, you Color Images - Graphic images in Resolutions below 1024 x 768 cannot modify it. You can manipu­ color can be produced with DataCAD tend to look a little "jaggie." We also late it minimally - make the image or CADKEY's internal tools or an find that the line width normally larger or smaller and sometimes crop external screen capture program. used for drawing (looks great on the off the edges. But if you want to The internal image capture function screen and is easy to see) doesn't change the lines in the drawing, you in both CAD programs is easy to use work well for color reproduction via must return to the CAD program, and trouble free. You set up options the screen capture process. (This modify the drawing and begin again. (the entire screen, the viewport only, isn't a factor in most HPGL files. ) We As Windows CAD comes into its own, or a selectable area). Then with the take drawing files, widen all or most OLE will help with this limitation, drawing displayed the way you want of the lines, and then capture the but for now, "it's back to the drawing it on the screen, you enter the com­ screen. It looks terrible on the screen board." mand. (you would never work that way), but Black Line Drawings - If all you In CADKEY a GIF file is created the hard copy output is legible. If we need is lines, the HPGL files pro­ and automatically placed in your don't do this, the lines become pale duced by your CAD program function CADKEY\PRT subdirectory. GIF, shadows of their real self - wispy beautifully with most word process­ the standard Compuserve graphic and too fine. Sometimes images that ing and publishing software. The format, is recognized directly by most look dreadful on the screen print files are relatively small, you get only other programs. CADKEY also fine. Another trick for making an the drawing without the menus or names the files sequentially (S1.gif, image in a document look better is to other screen stuff and the line quali­ S2.gif). At some point you should output an HPGL file at a larger than ty in the final document is good. rename the GIF files and perhaps normal scale. Then when it is placed You simply create the HPGL file move them to a more logical subdi­ in the document reduce the size of the standard way and then import, rectory. the image. All those little "dots" that insert or place it (depending on your Some CDE and CADL routines make up the raster image get pushed software's terminology) in the docu­ interfere with CADKEY's slide func­ closer together - a less than techni­ ment. tion. The solution is a screen capture cal explanation. One confusing thing about work­ program like HiJaak. Such programs let you capture screens from any ing with HPGL files is that there SUNNING seems to be no standardization for Windows or DOS program. Scanning is a really quick way to In DataCAD the process is simi­ the file extent. If a particular pack­ produce a graphic image. Once the lar, except the image file is produced age tells you it cannot recognize your image is scanned, the file can be in POF (pixel output format) and HPGL file, look at the extent. You dealt with exactly like files created may have to rename the file to get placed in the DataCADIPOF subdi­ through the CAD program or a the software to recognize it. Word for rectory. This proprietary format screen capture program. This isn't a Windows 6 looks for an .hgl extent, must be converted to a format usable document application, but some engi­ but HiJaak and PageMaker want a in other programs. A utility in the neers scan drawings from catalogs, .pgl extent - for the exact same file. DataCAD\POF subdirectory lets you convert them to vectors and use them convert the POF file to PCX or TIF Note for CADKEY: Warning! Files created but you must shell to DOS to use it. as a library of symbols. by the PLOTFAST program (via the Files, Plot, 3D Power Tools, a DataCAD The OCR (optical character recog­ Save menus) cannot be read by other programs. macro (see details in "DataCAD Pro­ nition) software that comes with To create a true HPGL file, select Control, Plot ductivity Tools" column) can auto­ most scanners is a real boon if you from the Main Menu. Then select HPGL in the matically generate a series of quick­ have pages of words that must be Plotter box and File in the Port box. Name the shaded images from 3D Goto Views keyed in from hard copy. file with the correct extent. It will be saved in The cost of small desktop scan­ the main CADKEY subdirectory. and batch process them to .tga, .pcx, or .2rn files with just one command. ners is coming down.

November 1994 • KEVSOLUTIONS • 19 GRAPHIC rll£S All graphic files are big; some are Easy & Affordable Answers to humongous and those from rendering packages are bigger than that. For Your Document Questions example, one photo realistic image of the house in this issue's DataCAD How can I create ~ ~ -- s...as:IFcu. ~Ii6td . ~ 'MlIIi:toDoNeDt portfolio was over 7 megs. We I~ 1-"-'1 1 1 booklets, fliers or Mrio-Pgt on stlMl sr-cOnwaoon: ...J uoo-..."t;;;.,...... b received it on five floppy disks along Ell ActoI1 r-l~ ~ I -.- I~ set up for printing EB! 0- ...J ...... ~ with a little program called Combine 0_"", Priot"", """*'-..... that put it back together on our hard on both sides of -.JF~bOQ6I ...J ...... Jeu- ...J- r- ~ r- TIM

20 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 What can I do if I want to place files from AutoCAD (DWG) or another CAD program (DXF) in a document? DataCAD Productivity Tools You could take the file 3D POWER TOOLS into your CAD program, 3D Power Tools, a new macro from manipulate it there, and Unique Software and Madura Studios, then create an HPGL, helps create and manipulate custom GIF or POF file. architectural elements. Here's what it However, if you don't does. need to modify the 3D Knife slices and dices 3D drawing, some word slabs and polygons with a one-line-trim processors and interface, and slices through slabs at publishing packages can custom angles to create mitered import these formats shapes. directly. Polyline to Polygon converts Or, you can convert polyline shapes to 3D surfaces or slabs the files into the format you HiJaak PRO's Browser utility creates thumbnails of your in one step. It also automatically sup­ need with HiJaak. HiJaak images and helps organize your graphic files. ports polylines with an infinite number is available in Windows of sides by automatically tessellating and DOS versions and polygons that go beyond DataCAD's 36 works with over 60 vector and graphic file formats. side limitation. HiJaak is a versatile, reliable, and indispensible tool for working with 3D Plane edits roof planes in graphics. In addition to converting files, the Windows version lets you capture ortho view while maintaining a specifi c DOS and Windows screens of any resolution or color. Once the image is pitch . The smart void option lets you captured, you can edit the image. You can adjust the contrast and perform pseudo-Boolean operations to brightness; resize, rotate and crop the image, use smoothing to avoid literally blow holes of any shape in "jaggies"; convert color images to gray or black and white; reduce color in your roof planes, i.e., stove pipes, sky­ images and more. lights, chimneys, etc. The Windows version has many special features. They include Aldus Triangle addresses DXF compati­ Filter and WordPerfect for Windows APls, OLE image server functionality for bility of DataCAD models with 3rd par­ OLE client applications, and comprehensive scanning support. ty rendering programs. See what your model will look like before you DXF it out of DataCAD. Is there an easy way to work with formulas? Sweep lets you create a section in plan and apply it to any extrusion path defined by 2D lines and arcs, polylines, WordPerfect, 3D lines and contours. Create complex Microsoft Word, and geometric forms such as handrails and Ventura Publisher ramps, moldings, twisted balusters, (among others) have fluted columns and more. excellent equation Snap Shot automatically extracts editors. These editors elevation, isometric and perspective create equations as views from 3D models with the Data­ graphical elements and CAD hide function. embed them in the Kaboom can blow up your Data­ document as graphic files CAD models. Set the intensity of the in the format it created blast, light the fuse and d~o p the bomb. them in. In WordPerfect HIJaak PRO for Windows It is actually useful for creating organic this graphic format is WPG forms such as foliage and can be used (WordPerfect graphic). The to extract individual forms from a com­ Word equation editor creates WMF (Windows Meta File). This process is plex model. fool-proof until you want to move a formula into another program that does Multi-POF automatically gener­ not recognize the file format or work with the equation as a separate graphic ates one or a series of quick shaded file. images from 3D Goto views and batch The easiest way to deal with a MS Word or WordPerfect equation in these process them to .tga, .pcx, or .2rn files circumstances is to copy it to the ClipBoard, paste it into HiJaak, save and with just one command. name it as a file and/or convert it to the format you need. The introductory price is $75. For HiJaak Pro for Windows retails for $169. more information contact Unique Soft­ For more information contact Inset Systems at 800/374-6738 or 203/740-2400. ware at 617/536-5326.

November 1994 • K EVS OLUTIONS • 21 by R obert C. Yule with Robert W Bean, P.E. Illustrations courtesy of Baystale Technologies, Inc., Marlborough, MA.

Since the first drawings on is unavoidable as no standard can to commit resources. Consequently, cave walls and rock faces, human cover every detail relevant to all many CAD systems are used merely beings have been attempting to com­ companies. In ANSI Y14.5M-1982 as electronic drafting boards and municate through pictures. Pictures Dimensioning and Tolerancing exhibit, at best, 1:1 productivity can convey a tremendous amount of Section 1.1.3 it states "the absence of against the drafting board. information, but it is often difficult a figure illustrating the desired If a CAD system is to be produc­ to know for sure what the creator of application is neither reason to tive, management must invest time the picture intended. This is defi­ assume inapplicability nor basis for and money in creating and maintain­ nitely not what we want in the drawing rejection." ing standard part and pattern design and manufacturing world. A What is important is to follow libraries. Libraries can consist of the design drawing should be inter­ the intent of the standard which is following and virtually any common­ pretable in only one way. to establish a common language of ly used item: To ensure that all users of a design. Like any language consisting • Standard product line compo drawing understand the design of thousands of words, you select nents intent, standards have been devel­ those words appropriate for a given oped for the designer and engineer situation. It is critical for companies • Fasteners such as washers, pins, to reference. For example, standards involved in design and manufacture screws, nuts and bolts from organizations such as the to use a common set of standards in • Standard features like drilled American National Standards the complete design cycle. The bene­ holes, tapped holes, counter Institute (ANSI), the America fits are many because everybody in bores, slots, and pockets Society of Mechanical Engineers the design cycle "speaks" the same • Machine components like spur (ASME), the Society of Automotive language: gears, shafts, keys, and sprock­ Engineers (SAE), and American ets Institute of Architects (AIA) provide • Manufacturing can understand the design and produce correct Symbols such as electrical, pip­ information on every facet of design. parts ing, sheet metal Standards for mechanical drawings are generally from ANSI and the • Quality Assurance can verify • ANSI and ISO drawing standard International Standards that the parts conform to the symbols such as weld, surface Organization (ISO). While many original design finish and GDT companies use these standards as • Outside vendors will understand • Drawing border formats and their own, others create a set of the design standard notes standards relevant to their particu­ Using CAD software in the design lar needs. and manufacturing process offers distinct advantages to WHAT Sl'ANDARD IS RIGHrl maintaining standards, but Ultimately, it doesn't matter these are often unfulfilled. As what standards you adopt as long as many CAD users are painfully you know your customers' and ven­ aware, the promise of CAD soti dors' requirements and select ware vendors of a "common accordingly. In North America the database of design information" most widely used standards for is often a pipe dream. Many design documentation are ANSI companies make the mistake of based. Many aspects of ANSI draw­ assuming that once a CAD sys­ ing standards are similar to ISO tem is installed, productivity standards ensuring understanding will soar without any invest­ in European markets. ment of time or money. The Interpretation of standards can actual construction of a common vary from company to company. This database requires managemen Figure 1: Symbol library Manager in CAD KEY 7

22 • KEvSolUTlONS • November 1994 The advantages of a design library viewer shows a database are numerous. The great­ note file stored in the est is design consistency because all company's \STAN­ users access the same data. This DARD \ directory. also eliminates much repetitive Figure 2 shows a por­ design effort. And companies can tion of an electronic enforce design standards and proce­ symbol library dis­ dures that already exist, for exam­ played as icon buttons ple, a set of notes that must be writ­ in the same viewer. ten in a certain way. Suppose a par­ Selection is graphical, ticular note in the company stan­ rather than through dard is written as: cryptic filenames. The CHEMICAL CONVERSION description of the COAT PER MIL-C-5541, CLASS 3. image at the bottom of Among the users, however, the the dialog makes the note is often written as: selection even easier. IRRIDITE PER MIL-C-5541, For common parts CLASS 3 (such as screws, nuts, Both notes mean essentially the bolts and even power tions. This is another way to ensure same thing, but the second refers to transmission components) a para­ your designers are using the compa­ a trade name. This could cause prob­ metric program approach is more ny approved standard components. lems when the part is sent to an out­ efficient. The number of possible ANSI CAD SYMBOLS side vendor who does not use that permutations (all socket head cap Another area that benefits from particular product. If this note is screws, for example) makes storing a parametric pattern library is the readily available in a database the them all impractical. generation of ANSI and ISO drawing designer can select and place it with­ Purchased hardware libraries out typing a long string (see Figure generally require you to piece 1). together a part. For example: to PLACE HEAD PATTERN LlBRARIBS create a .50" long .112-40 UNC-3A After choosing items to include, HEX SOCKET HEAD CAP TO there are two methods you can use SCREW, (see Figure 3) with a pur­ to store and access libraries. They chased pattern library you need to are: place the head portion, place the .112-40 UNC threaded section on • Geometry created once and the head and then stretch the stored in the parent CAD file SDo threaded section to .50". If you then format to be inserted into other want to attach attributes (text 1.000 ~ part files information) to the screw you need Il -----~~ . Geometry created by a paramet­ to group the entities into a collec­ ric program at the time of use tive or block and assign the attrib­ Both methods have advantages utes manually. With the parametria anddisadvantages. Patterns stored approach, you enter all the required J as geometric entities are best for variables (see Figure 4) at once, or even better, select the item from a parts unique to the company or for Pp LACE THREAO symbols such as electrical schematic database listing. The program then ATTERN creates the required geometry and symbols. Figure 3: Pattern Based Screw Entries in your pattern libraries attaches any relevant attributes to should be easy to use and retrieve. the resulting part. Purchased libraries of components With a well-designed (like those from CAD Technologies system you should be Corp., Indialantic, FL) usually come able to add your com­ with a printed manual with a pic­ pany's part number ture beside the file name. system to the data­ Component libraries created inter­ base. Figure 5 is the nally require effort to compile and same dialog box shown publish in printed form. in Figure 4 with the A better approach is to have a database modified (also viewer internal to the CAD software shown) to show only that allows you to browse through the NAS part numbers the libraries and view files before used by a particular selection and insertion into the company. Note that the drawing. Also, where the graphic type of screw descrip­ alone is not obvious, you should be tion has been modified able to add a long description to the to match this compa­ Figure 4: Parametric Based Screw Interface in CADKEY 7 filename. In Figure 1 a symbol ny's naming conven-

November 1994 • KEVSoLUTlONS • 23 .,!!!g~ i modify it. The benefit may ~ not be obvious for the sim­ BOX ple examples in Figures 6 /~e~~UE and 7, but for complex symbols it is a great [Q] ~ advantage. Figure 8 ,-_---" r DA mM 80' ~:!:===~~~~~~,.. ;;::::~====~~ showsal tolerance a complex created position- in a rule-based parametric dia -A- r log box. The dynamic pre­ view allows the user to ASSEMBLED SYMBOL the callout is cor­ rect in content (the rule­ based interface will ensure tfiat it is syntacti­ cally correct to ANSI) before placing the symbol in the drawing. Figure 9 ASSEMBLED EDITED is another example of SYMBOL complex drawing symbols 5: Customized Parametric Screw Interface and Associated being created in a para­ Modified Database metric environment with symbols. With a well-defined inter­ dynamic previewing capability. Creating such symbols manually or face you easily create and preview piecing together patterns would be ibll!!'l""::"'""P."""":"------.....J the symbol before placing it. Many existing products do not offer a pre­ time consuming and awkward. The ...... ------­ view of the symbols created. You goal of any good interface should be mation, materials and finishes as must delete it or a portion of it to to allow the designer to concentrate well as special instructions. To fur­ correct an error often caused by a on the content of a drawing and not ther this concept, CAD software non-WYSIWYG (What You See Is on the mechanics of building sym­ needs to allow you to embed this What You Get) interface. In addition, boIs. information into the 3D model. This products based on stored libraries DRAWDICILDS CAD MODBU will allow the NC programmer or require you to piece together a sym­ One trend in industry today is CMM rogrammer to access the tol­ bol from several different files and the drawingless CAD model or anno­ erance and datum information from then edit the text contents to obtain tated drawing. The idea behind this the model. In addition, rule-based the desired result (see Figure 6). approach is that all design intent feature and symbol generator pro­ With a parametric approach, the information is embedded in the 3D grams can be further enhanced to user enters and selects all the infor­ model of the design. With the wide embed tolerance relationships mation required in a single dialog spread use of Computer Aided between features. box. If the interface features dynam­ Manufacturing (CAM) packages in ic previewing then the user will see even the smallest machine shops, Until recently, the implementa­ the symbol as it is being created (see only the 3D model is required. What tion of drawing standards in CAD Figure 7). would be missing is the datum, tol­ software has been gener-ally poor, A well-designed rule-based inter­ erance and hole information. So a particularly in PC-based GAD. Only face will also only allow you to cre­ drawing is still required to convey the !!high end" systems had ANSI ate correct ANSI and ISO symbology. this design information, but only the and ISO drawing standards as part For example, the dialog box in critical tolerances, any GDT infor- of the core program. For most PC­ Figure 7 showing flatness, does not basea systems like allow the addition of a datum refer­ AutoCAD and CAD­ ence (grayed out or frozen in the dia­ KEY, the ANSIIISO log) which is not relevant to flatness. standards included are Once created and placed, it should only for simple dimen­ be easy to edit the symbols. sioning. Complex With stored pattern symbols, Geometric editing often means deleting and Dimensioning and recreating (unless it is a simple text Tolerancing (GDT), edit) the symbol or a portion of it. weld, and surface fin­ With the programmed parametric ish symbols are gener­ approach, the user should be able to ally constructed from edit the symbol created by the pro­ primitive geometry gram with the program. Figure 7 (lines, polylines, arcs) shows an example of this. The Move and placed as blocks or and Edit buttons allow you to simply patterns. move the symbol or to reload the Figure 7: Ruled-Based Parametric ANSI GOT Symbol Generator in symbol into the dialog box and GADKE¥7

24 • KEvSoLUTIONS • November 1994 Fortunately, third party soft­ • Parametric power transmission Robert Yule is a Senior Mechanical ware packages are available to auto­ components Designer in the Aerospace industry, mate most of these complex dimen­ working since 1982 on commercial, • Automatic hole location table military, and space programs. He has sioning functions. Some key features generation been involved in standards implemen­ to look for in a third party mechani­ tation with respect to CAD for over 10 cal design and drafting package are: • Automatic labeling of features years. • An on-line (inside the parent Robert Bean, President of Baystate Vendors producing software for Technologies, Inc. and a registered ___ ~...... '"--"~_ CAD software) viewer for exist­ the creation and placement of Professional Engineer in ing component libraries ANSIIISO standards symbols Massachusetts, has been working in • A rule-based parametric inter­ include, DRAFT-PAK, from Baystate the mechanical design and software face to generate ANSIIISO sym­ development {reId implementing soft­ Technologies, Marlborough, MA, bology, in particular, Geometric ware tools supporting standardization Toolbox and Toolbox Pro from Dimensioning and 'lblerancing, since 1982. One Baystate product, Softdesk, Inc., Henniker, NH, ANSI ,,~~=:-~ Weld symbols, Surface finish DRAFT-PAX, builds mechanical design r'" Mechanical from Design Pacifica, standards into CADKEY and CADKEY symbols and General ANSI San Luis Obispo, CA, Genius 12 Professional. labels from Auto-Code Mechanical, Dublin, • Parametric fastener OH, Mechslide 4.2 from EMT, Inc., libraries with customizable data­ Bellingham, WA, and AimaFast from bases Aima Soft, Inc., San Rafael, CA. • Parametric feature libraries

Attention CADKEY® 3-D Designers .... THE POWER TOOLS BUNDLETM REL. 2.6 from Paradesign is Here!

• You're not alone if you've found that it's too difficult and time consuming to design drafted, filleted features in CADKEY.

• Now there's a time saving, effective solution from Paradesign. • Feature creation as easy as entering parameters into a dialog box. Custom protrusions and pockets from a simple profile.

• CADKEY Picture ItTM compatible features give you quick renderings as well as a pathway to Stereo Lithography. 30 day money back guarantee. Free demo diskette for CAD KEY 6-7.0. Contact your CADKEY/Paradesign Dealer or ... . m (ffJll(ffJ(iJ(E~fJ~[f[J r 14235 Classique Way San Diego, CA 92129 (619) 484-8396 Voice/Fax

November 1994 • KEvSoi.UTIONs • 25 by Russell L. Thomas

Before attending Architectural School, as a CADD operator for a mechanical engineering firm I was exposed to several CAD software pack­ ages. At college I took many AutoCAD courses, from beginning to customizing and AutoLisp programming. I even did my Thesis Project on AutoCAD. After graduation, I worked in an architectur­ al firm that was completely "AutoCADimated." If I could combine the best features of finished design "Neoclassical Revisionist" with neoclas­ all these programs, I would ...... Well, in the real sical and traditional elements revised for the region's world, I'll take DataCAD. As a designer of custom homes climate. The frontinorth side is somewhat introverted and additions, I find DataCAD an irreplaceable necessi­ and unpretentious while appearing solid and secure. ty. I have also developed some techniques that specifi­ The back/south side is the exact opposite; large areas of cally take advantage of DataCAD and help me work with glazing lighten up its appearance, and terraces and a clients. swimming pool cascade down the sloped site in an The project described here is typical of the way I use extroverted fashion. The house reflects a life style. DataCAD. The clients had searched high and low and As I begin a design, I have the clients fill out a paid dearly for a lot with a Program Questionnaire and Spatial Adjacency Chart. fantastic view of Yakima, With information from the spatial adjacency chart, I Washington and Mount create rooms via "Polygons" with "Walls" ON to the Adams. Obviously, the house client's size and location specifications. At this point I was designed around the view resolve as many design issues as possible and then edit and room relationships that the polygons into a floor plan. I recently purchased Bill the clients wanted. I call the D'Amico's "Blocker" macro which streamlines and sim­ plifies the above technique into a few easy steps. I would recommend it to anyone. While modifying the floor plan, I schedule one meeting where I have the clients sit down with me at the computer and let them direct the modifications. If you have never done this before, I suggest you try it, as they feel that they are an important part of designing their house. The worst case scenario is some clients become addicted. Then I plot a nice inked drawing of "their" modifications to take home, which is something you can't do if you're draft­ ing manually. At this point, if you've set your "z" heights properly, you already have a study model of the structure without a roof. Now I use the "Roofit" macro that Floor plan created using "Walled Polygons" and elevation created using floor plan comes with DataCAD and vary the set- and "Roofit" macro and then adding detailing.

26 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 tain different line colors for different enti- ties,tings yo untilu are I have ready a rooflto use like the. If"Hide" you com­ mand with "3D Views" to get elevationsmain-Ililililliri~:~illl~:ii~,ilill and a nice perspective. I use a variety of ~ colors as well as layers because when you ------use the hide command your view becomes a - 2D single layer entity. Next I use the "Editsets" command with the "Mask" option with "Color" so I can quickly move entities to separate layers and shut them off when needed during editing. Since I use 2D lines for walls this comes in handy in removing wall breaks from window and door insertions. After cleaning up the views, I again use "Editsets" to set up groups ofline types (i.e., ground, profile, etc.) which are easiest Hidden line removal: Isometric view created with HLR. to select at this point. Then I apply hatch­ ing and special effects to the views to make them relate using the elevation created previously. Using those to the clients the essence of the finished product. I then same elevations, you then plot the exterior skin of your change the line weights via the "Editsets" I set up previ­ model on a variety of colored and textured construction ously. I use associated hatching; even though it has some papers with a variety of pen colors. Then just cut them quirks, the advantages outweigh them. Now I can easily out and apply to the substructure. The benefit of this change siding or roofing materials and present several technique is that you use drawings that you already options to the clients at the next meeting. have and you can easily have an intern make the model I find that the procedures above are fast and work true to your "vision." The down side is storing actual well enough to get the "OK" on construction documents models. Clients love them at first, but they eventually get damaged or destroyed. If you have a show room, a~:)Qut .8?% of the time. The other 20% need more help vIsualIzmg the end product. In addition, I think it's cost these models do look real sharp! effective and very beneficial for any project that costs The next three techniques require a computer gen­ $?50,000 ~r more to use some form of the following tech­ erated 3D model. The same model works for all. I use all mques. It IS probably a good idea to use these techniques three methods as appropriate to the situation, but you on smaller projects, but it may depend on how you are set might prefer one. I use all three because I have an HP up as far as billing. The main thing is to verify that the DeskJet 1200C; it can be used as an A-size plotter and end product meets the client's expectations. its color output looks great for Quick Shader TGA output and Photo Realistic renderings. I am not suggesting any The JD Model particular inkjet printer, but I do suggest one that is A 3D model can be a physical or computerized model. HPGL compatible and has 300x300 dpi color capabili­ I prefer a computer generated model because it can be ties. Inkjets and other color printers are now very used three different ways which I will explain later. For affordable and by getting HPGL protocol you eliminate physical models, the following technique can produce gor­ having to use DCPrint (believe me, you don't want to use geous results if you have access to a pen plotter. You start it if you don't have to). by cutting out a substructure of foam core or cardboard Creating a 3D model using slabs or polygons is something you will have to experiment with. It takes some practice. Fortunately, you're a design professional and already have a strong understanding of three dimensional relationships. I sug­ gest you use your existing floor plan and set its Z-height to zero and build your mod­ el from that. The strength of using slabs or polygons is the fact that you can create voids and insert parametric doors and win­ dows that look very realistic and translate into rendering programs via DXF fairly accurately. When somebody finally creates a macro that inserts a void when you insert a window or door and deletes it when you remove the window or door, I will gladly pay a week's wages for a copy. Needless to say, this is a time consum­ ing process, but it produces nice results. There are some macros I think are neces­ sary to efficiently create good models that render well. You can do without them, but they make the process quicker and easier. I prefer "Roof Builder" by ErikA. Zetterberg. My next recommendation is Bill D'Amico's Quick Shader: Image created using "Quick Shader."

November 1994 • KEVSOLUTIONS • 27 "TouchUp." It adds hatching to the sides of three dimen­ detailed. If your model is large or complicated, you sional objects. There are others, but if you add the two should probably start the HIDE command just before discussed to the ones that come with DataCAD, you will you go home and let the computer work on it over night. become a very productive 3D modeler. Better yet, use the ''View Master" macro to set up sev­ 1 - The Quick Shader Technique eral views and batch HIDE them over the weekend. This option is new to DataCAD 5, but is very pow­ 3 - The Photo Realistic Technique erful. Sometimes it is hard to discern exactly what is This option is very computer intensive. I run a going on when viewing a 3D wire frame image. Choose 486DX33 with 20 MEGs of RAM and a very large per­ QS (Quick Shader) and solid entities instantly appear in manent swap file for Windows. I use "Renderize Live" its place. More important is the fact that it is a great instead of Velocity. Whichever software system you use, you will quickly find out that it is a time con­ suming exercise in trial and error. However, the end results can be breathtaking and well worth the effort. Your clients can choose color schemes and view the project on the exact site. The clients know almost exactly what they are getting and foresee any changes they want before con­ struction starts. I can print nice hard copies on my printer, but what I like to do is save the views as high resolution images (i.e., 4000 x 3000) and have a photo service make 35mm negatives and 12 x 8 color photos from the files. Then I frame them and present them to the clients. The clients get all excited and brag about their designer to friends and perhaps line up another job for you. I like these render­ ings over actual models because they are very impressive, easy to store, and look great in the "old portfolio." I hope you found something of use in these ramblings. I look forward to hearing how oth­ ers do things, for I'm sure there are better Photo realistic image of fronts ide view. ways. presentation tool. No matter how big or complex your model, Quick Shader renders the view quickly. Your clients can choose views and see the scene quickly rendered in front oftheir eyes. The images can be saved as POF files and con­ verted to TGA format and then printed or viewed as a slide show using a graphics file viewer. The main factor in creating a good Quick Shader image is the color selection of the objects and materials they represent. It will never rival a photo realistic rendering, but you can quickly create images that represent the final product in color without leaving DataCAD or having to buy expensive rendering programs. Z - Hidden Line Removal Technique This option creates traditional looking line renderings. Some clients like the "human touch" and think computers are too impersonal. Here's an idea. Either use the "TouchUp" macro and add hatching to 3D objects before using HIDE, or add hatching to 2D images after using HIDE. First, select the view that you want and the Photo realistic image of backside view. view type -- isometric or perspective. Then HIDE and you have a 2D image that can be edited to suit your aesthetic bias. You could even change the line Russell L. Thomas, a graduate of Washington State University School of Architecture, owns C.A.H.D. types to a "wiggle" variation so they appear as if drawn (Computer Aided Home Design), a residential design studio freehand. It seems a little hypocritical to preach the in Yakima, WA. benefits of CADD and then suggest you modifY it so it looks hand rendered, but many folks have associated with the old techniques a lot longer than with the new and therefore have certain biases. This technique was discussed earlier but the model used was a lot less

28 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 by Carol Buehrens

DataCAD 6 holds many new surprises! One of them, a Prepare a drawing Walls. We'll do wall framing powerful macro called Creating framing entities increas­ first, so select Walls. es the size of a drawing considerably. Framelt, automates the fram- You may want to create a separate framing drawing. To do this save the Set the Wall Framing options 1. Select the Exterior option. ing of floor plans. The result­ wall layers from the floor plan to layer files, then pull them into your framing 2. Select the Sides option. This lets drawing. The example below uses the you trace the outline of the walls ing 3D drawing has all of the original floor plan file. by object snapping to the outside corners. 1. Load a drawing that contains a framing items as modeled enti- floorplan. 3. Select the WallHgt option and type in the height of wall and 2. Turn off all layers except the ones ties. This program identifies plate together, at the topmost that contain the walls. Use edge of plate. In my example, I Layers, ActvOnly and pick the used 8.10 (8'-10"). Press Enter. each entity as cut and sized layer the walls are on. Your draw 4. Select the Plate option. The ing may look similar to Figure 1. Plate options menu appears for lumber, and with the new add- setting the plate parameters. Pull up an DoTop creates a top plate and existing floor DoBottom creates a bottom on estimating program from plan. plate. Make both active. When Turn off all they are active, additional choic Cadkey, you'll be able to layers except walls. es become available.

Figure 1. Set the plate options you want extract a complete "cut list" (double plate, single plate, or cus 3. Create two new layers for framing tomized number of plates). I set and estimate your material entities; one for walls and one for the Top plate to Double, Bottom flooring, using NewLayer in the plate to Single. costs. Layers menu. 5. Select Color to define the color 4. Give the layers an appropriate for your plate entities. I used Here's a quick tutorial on name, like FrmWall and the default, Yellow. FrmFloor using Name in the 6. Press mouse button 3 to exit the Layers menu. (Plan ahead and Wallplat menu. how to use this macro. I picked later you can use the layer names 7. Select the Stud option. Make with the new "search" option in DoStud active to make the stud a simple residential floor plan Layers, called Filter, using frm*.) options appear. 5. Press [Tab] or use SetActv to Select Size to set up the stud for my first try and had no make the wall layer for framing size you'll use. Pick the size you active. want. I used 2X6 for a 6" exterior wall. This creates entities that problems. I used a modified are actually 11/2" x 51/2", the Start Framelt nominal size for the stud. plan for the example shown 1. Select the Macros option (in the Select Spacing. Type in the cen Edit menu), or press the quick ter to center measure of your here only because the figures key [Shift] M. studs. I used 16". You can type 2. Select the FRAMEIT macro. this in as .16 (16") or 1.4 (1'-4"). Press Enter. needed to be greatly reduced. 3. The two options are: Floors and

November 1994 • KEVSOLUTIONS • 29 8. Select Color and pick the color 6. Make sure the Closed option is Create the framing you want the studs to be. I used active. This is the easy and the fun part. the default Brown. 7. Mter your last corner is snapped 1. Select Build. 9. Press mouse button 3 to Exit the to, press mouse button 3 to close 2. You can select items by the typi Stud menu and return to the the outline. cal select modes. For the initial Frame Walls menu. 8. You can add a garage or other exterior framing, select Area to part of a building as an attached make it active. 3. Box around the entire plan. The Save the settings exterior wall after the main build system will calculate the wall and Once you've defined wall framing ing is outlined. Turn OFF Closed, opening definitions and build the parameters, you'll want to save the then add this area. framing for you. When complete, settings. You can use them again. the program will display the plan 1. Select the FileIlO option from the in an isometric view, similar to Frame Wall menu and select the Add Openings Figure 6. SaveFile option. Once the exterior is outlined, 2. Type a name, such as 810-2x6 (8'- define any openings, primarily doors 10" wall height, 2x6 studs). Press and windows. E nter. 1. Select the Opening option. 3. Press mouse button 3 to Exit the 2. Select Window and set the FileI/O menu and return to the options to your specifications. For Frame Walls menu. my example, I set the SillHght to 3.0 (3'-0"), the HeadHght to 6.8 (6'-8" ) and the Head Styl to Create the wall framing outline Crip ple (you have your Now you're ready to frame! choice of that or Boxed). In this view, you can see 1. Object snap to the first outside 3. Once you've defined window set­ clearly where I goofed up on the corner (step 1 in Figure 2). tings, you simply object snap garage - both by forgetting the 2. Object snap to the second outside (again on the outside edges) to opening and forgetting to include the corner (step 2 in Figure 2). each corner of your window open exterior wall of the building inside the 3. Next, define the "other side of the ings. (See Figure 4.) garage area. But, don't worry. The wall" with a pick. This tells Framelt macro has built-in modifiers mistakes that allow you to dynam­ DataCAD which side of the exteri Object snap to for the outside ically add to your framing. You'll see or outline the framing should fall corners of all on, in this case the inside. Pick on window this as we continue. openings. the inside of the building (step 3 in Figure 2). You only have to do Add the interior walls this step once. Figure 4. (For illustration purposes I didn't 4. Continue with other window show the existing wall framing in ~~~~j~~t ~ f' = 11 openings, adjusting the heights the figures.) outside corner.I lU and style as necessary. 1. Press mouse button 3 to return to . 2.0bject ~ 5. Select Door. Again, set the the main Frame Walls menu. snap to ,~H Your plan will return to the outside corn; r' inside ~ .J. L options to your specifications. I PiCk Orthoviewautomatically. building for "other set the HeadHght to 6.8 (6'-8") Figure 2. side" of wall. and the HeadStyl to Cripple. 2. Pick the Interior option. 6. Object snap to the corners defin­ 3. Pick Stud. Change the Size to 4. Continue tracing the outside of ing your doors (Figure 5). reflect your interior wall framing. the exterior walls by object snap Redefine the settings and pick the I used 2X4. ping to each corner, as shown in garage door opening. I didn't in 4. Change the other options if neces Figure 3. (Notice that I missed my example. But that's okay, I'll sary. Now you're in familiar terri the Exterior wall in the garage fix it later. tory -- exterior walls. space. I'll get it later.) 5. Object snap to the first two cor ners of an interior wall. When Door Continue object asked to indicate the "other side snapping to all Object snap to outside corners the outside of the wall" pick to the side you of "Exterior'" corners of all want the framing to fall on. In walls. Door openings. other words, indicate with your pick the opposite side you're defin

Figure 3. Figure 4. ing with the outline (just like a regular wall with "Sides" on). 5. If you object snap to a wrong cor­ 7. When done, press mouse button 3 ner, simply select Backup and try to return to the Frame Wall menu. As in exteriors, you'll only be again. (Backup appears after the asked to define the other side once. third pick.) So, remember to continue outlining that same side of the wall, as shown 30· K EVS OLUTIONS • November 1994 in Figure 7. Fix missed walluopenings opening, you must first delete the Objects snap to the ~3 ~ f = II Because the program automatical­ original opening line. (Later, this interior walls stayi ng J' U ly reevaluates the existing framing it's may be enhanced with some kind on one side at a t i me~ H 2 4 easy to fix mistakes! of "change" feature.) Pick 3 indicates 5 ~ other side of wall l l. At this point, I went back to the 4. To change the parameters of the Exterior option and outlined the framed wall or floor, like an open Figure 7. missing exterior building walls ing, you must delete the outline that were inside the garage space and start again. (step 1, Figure 8). 5. The outlines and openings are sin gle entity polylines that are attrib Add interior openings uted. You'll add interior openings just You can fi x 6. You MUST have your openings on like the exterior ones. The main differ­ errors easil y by the same layer as your frame wall rebu ilding the ence is that a "window" on the inside outline. of the building is called a "PassThru." framing An example of a PassThru in a resi­ dential building could be a window Figure 8. Add door opening Future Releases coming from the kitchen to the dining Future releases of DataCAD's area, through which you could pass FrameIt macro will evolve to meet dishes. 2. Then I defined the Exterior user needs. For instance, "cavity l. With Interior still active, pick garage door opening and the door walls" and "staggered stud members" Openings. Notice now the two from the garage space leading into are two issues that need to be main choices are Door and the building (step 2, Figure 8). addressed. Some kind of "change" PassThru. 3. If you need to fix an existing open facility will be added to make wall and 2. Pick Door. You may want to double ing, simply pick the Edit option opening modifications a breeze. And, check the settings. For example, I from the main Frame Walls menu. "cross members" along with "roof joist­ found that interior doors hold the From there you can use the Erase ing" are definitely in the future. same setting as the exterior doors, option to delete the line for the so if you defined a garage door opening and redefine it. (Edit also last, you probably will want to allows you to Move, Copy, Rotate, reset the HeadHght to 6.8. Mirror, Stretch, Enlarge and go to 3. Object snap to the edges of your Layers without leaving the interior door openings. You'll also macro.) Press mouse button 3 to use the Doors function to frame return to the main Frame Wall SITTING ON A TAX WRITE OFF? out a wall opening if applicable. menu when you're done editing. 4. If you require a pass thru, pick 4. Once the corrections are made, the PassThru option. I found the Select Build again. The program settings need to be checked first disassembles the existing because PassThru grabs the sill framing, looks for any changes to r and head heights from the the outlines and openings, then Window setting. rebuilds it. (Figure 9) 5. When you're done, press mouse button 3 to Exit back to the main Frame Walls menu.

Build the entire wall framing Now you can create the interior wall framing. l l. Select Build. Turn your excess inventory into 2. Again, you can select your interior a tax break and help outlines individually by Entity or send needy kids to college. Group (they are polylines), or a faster selection would be Fence. I Rules of the Road Call for your free guide chose by Area because my build As with any program, there are to learn how donating your ing was very small so it wouldn't some general rules you'll have to slow moving inventory can mean take up a lot oftime to reinvent adhere to: a generous tax write off the entire thing. l. Openings must lay in-line with for your company. If you do choose by area and sur the frame wall outline. In other round the entire plan, the pro words, an opening must be defined Call (708) 690-0010 gram first disassembles the exist on the outline edge, the same side ing framing, looks for any changes of the wall the outline was defined EillCb to the outline and openings, and on. P. O. Box 3021 , Glen Ellyn, IL 60138 then rebuilds it. 2. There doesn't seem to be a prob FAX (708) 690-0565 3. When complete, your framing will lem with defining the opening in a again automatically appear in the Excess inventory today different direction than the origi .... student opportunity tomorrow isometric view. nal outline. 3. For now, to properly redefine an

November 1994· KEVSOlUTIONS • 31 by Berry Taylor

This month, rather than complex focusing on a particular DataCAD model quick­ command, we'll look at how you can ly is to imag­ creatively combine several com­ ine what mands you already know to con­ your design struct powerful 3D architectural would look models in just a few minutes. like if it was The purpose of the exercise reduced to described below is not to create a its most finished model with every last basic form. beam and bolt in place. Modeling in For example, that kind of detail would take an elongated many hours or days. Instead, our octagonal purpose is to learn how to use arena is a DataCAD as an "electronic nap­ variation of Since the bleachers inside the kin"-- how to create schematic 3D a simple octagonal object, which arena will inevitably be related to models so quickly that DataCAD itself is a particular example of a the shape and location of the roof becomes your primary 3D sketching general multiple-faceted spherical above them, it would be wise to and schematic design tool, in addi­ object. create a basic form for the bleach­ tion to being your primary 2D So, we begin the model of our ers before we start to edit the form drafting tool. sports arena by creating a Sphere, of the roof. That way, whatever For example, how many which is one of the 3D primitives design changes we make to the roof DataCAD entities do you think it found on the 3D Entity menu. The can simultaneously be made to the would take to construct a 3D model sphere will serve as the basis both bleachers. of an elongated octagonal sports for creating the domed roof over the Again, we want to imagine the arena with bleacher-style seating arena, and for defining the shell of simplest basic form which could be and a semi-open canopy roof? excavation underneath the bleach­ used to describe bleachers descend­ Would you believe: two? That's ers. ing from the edge of a domed roof. right -- it took just two entities to Next, we use the Enlarge menu One way to define such bleachers create the entire schematic design to double the size of the sphere in would be to take a section through of the sports arena pictured here. the X and Z directions, so that the the middle of the dome, and then The secret to creating 3D mod­ resulting arena is twice as long (X) draw a profile of the steps of the els as fast as you can sketch a per­ and wide (Z) as it is high (Y). bleachers. spective on the back of a napkin lies in making creative use of DataCAD's 3D Entity and 3D Edit menus. Think of the 3D Entity menu as a sculptor's collec­ tion of variously shaped blocks of stone. The 3D Edit menu is then the sculptor's tool kit of different chisels which are used in combina­ tion to create a beautiful complex form out of a dull hunk of granite. The first step in creating a

32 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 This stair-step profile, swept At this point, we switch to Plan use the Quick Shader to create a about the vertical center-line of the view, and use the Rotate menu to fast "solid" color image of our newly dome, would create the circular spin the building 22 1/2 degrees designed sports facility. Then we form of the bleachers. So, we would about the Z axis, so that the sides call the client into the office to have use the RevSurf command on the of the building are horizontally and a look. 3D Entity menu, which allows us vertically aligned. This will make Incidentally, if the client hates to define a profile to be swept into further editing easier. it, who cares? We can just design a surface. For maximum editing twenty more variations in a matter flexibility, we will put each entity of minutes, and present them all. on its own layer. Then when we finally agree on a conceptual scheme, we can use DataCAD to proceed to the Design Development phase.

Then we use the Stretch menu to elongate the building into a rec­ tangular arena with octagonal cor­ The sphere and the surface of ners, simply by stretching the left revolution we just created are the half of the building in the X direc­ only two entities necessary to cre­ tion, and then stretching the upper ate the schematic model of our half of the building a shorter dis­ arena. Now we need to take these tance in the Y direction. two "hunks of stone" and "chisel" them into the proper shapes using the tools on the 3D Edit menu. There are two basic kinds of changes we will make to the enti­ ties. First, we will modify their overall forms. Second, we will mod­ ify particular pieces of those modi­ fied forms. Working from Elevation view, we begin by using the Change menu to change the number of Our last editing step is to use facets (Primary Divisions) of the the Erase menu to remove the entities from 24 to 8. This produces very center of the roof, giving us a a building which is octagonal in partially open arena. We also erase plan, but curved in elevation. one end of the roof, so that we will be able to peer inside the arena when we create our shaded per­ spective.

Berry Taylor is a DataCAD consul-

tant who lives in Philadelphia.

Trained as an architect, he has been

a DataCAD user since 1985, and With our "global" editing of the entities now complete, we use the was formerly Cadkey's DataCAD Explode menu to break up the entities into their component poly­ Finally, we set up a perspective Product Manager. gons for more detailed modifica­ view from one end of the arena, tions. looking in toward the center, and

November 1994 • KEVSOLUTIONS • 33 PCs for CAD with a difference

These days it seems like anyone The Quannon config­ and everyone's trying to sell high uration we ran through powered PCs to the CAD market -­ its paces was a 90 Mhz even if they don't know CAD from a Pentium Powerstation hole in the ground. Granted, sheer with 16MB RAM, 256k "horse power" is important, but cache, a Diamond without a vendor who really knows Stealth64 PCI video card CAD and understands what's and an Idek 17" monitor. required for heavy-duty engineer­ It came with CADKEY 7 ing, manufacturing and graphic fully installed. apps, many purchasers of so-called With CADKEY and power platforms get hardware my large drawings I that's not really fine-tuned for their standardly use for plat­ needs. That's why I found state­ form benchmarks, the ments in a letter that accompanied system sang. And the the Quannon CAD Systems comput­ DiamondiStealth-Idek er we tested for this issue refresh­ combo was a real winner which is a low cost, entry level sys­ ing and exciting. And I quote: -- fast and clear with super resolu­ tem. It features two VESA local tion. The few technical problems I bus slots for fast graphics and disk ''We have been excited about had on startup were quickly and throughput. Upgrade able to 32 MB bringing a truly customizable and efficiently solved by the obviously RAM, it can be ordered with 33,50, proficient support staff via tele­ or 100 Mhz processors. configurable system to the CAD phone. • The QCS CADstation P60 / 66 and CAM markets. Too many As a true systems integrator, provides excellent performance for 2D/3D wireframe CAD and 21/2 times, we hear stories of customers Quannon is fully staffed for all soft­ ware and hardware support and axis machining applications. who have purchased low-cost sys­ training. They have been represen­ • The QCS POWERstation tems from other sources and end tatives for name-brand software P75 /90 is ideal for 3D solids model­ like CAD KEY, AutoCAD, Cadvance, ing and surfacing applications. up having to add or substitute MasterCAM, Ultra CAM, and For more information contact Quannon components to run their CAD or Novell. They know CAD/CAM thor­ CAD Systems at 800 / 467-3467 or 612 / 935-3367. CAM applications at a reasonable oughly and they know networking. Quannon installs, configures and performance. We do not purport to tests all systems before they go out have the lowest cost solution; how- the door and then provides orienta­ tion with each new system ever, we do understand CAD and installed. CAM applications and what it Quannon's basic configurations CALSVIEW for Windows begin with 16MB RAM, a 515MB takes to run them efficiently. " enhanced IDE hard disk, a CALSVIEW, IDA's workstation viewing software, is now available Diamond Stealth32 graphics accel­ for the PC in a Windows and NT A little further research and I erator with 2MB DRAM, and high discovered these guys really put version. This software provides resolution IDEK VisionMaster 17" graphics viewing, redlining/mark­ their money where their mouth is. flat screen monitor. They also have Jerry Kardell, Quannon's Customer up, geometric measurement and two floppy drives, a high quality format conversion for 2D and 3D Support Manager and Jim Zink, surge protector, a Logitech 3-button Product Manager, spent months CAD, metafile, vector and raster mouse, and high speed serial and formats. researching and testing various sys­ parallel ports that provide reliable CALSVIEW for Windows is an tem boards, graphics accelerators, support for high speed modems and "intelligent viewer" that lets you storage subsystems, and other com­ printers. From there you can add or take advantage of the intelligent ponents to find the best combina­ enhance components. Jerry Kardell graphics from 3D CAD and high­ tion of price and performance. They states, "We can configure a system end technical illustrating systems. came up with three models especial­ virtually any way you want it and It's 3D viewing capability allows ly configured for CAD/CAM applica­ deliver it in less than two weeks." users who are inexperienced in tions. Each can be fully customized blueprint reading to easily under­ The three base systems are: for individual customer needs. stand CAD drawings. • QCS CADstation 466/ VESA

34· KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 Further, users can control the Printlt! also assign the directory for plot display of levelsllayers, entity visi­ Line Widths on Windows Printers files, erase plot files after plotting, bility and style, all without needing etc. an expensive CAD system. Users We recently tried PrintIt!, a PrintIt! is installed in its own can review CAD drawings, measure printer/plotting utility that has sub-directory. The CAD program is distances and mark up the image been popular in Australia for sever­ then configured for one of the with redlines as part of the engi­ al years and is a recent immigrant Hewlett-Packard series of plotters - neering process. to the U.S. This little Windows pro­ - usually the 7545. You then plot Technical illustrators can view gram neatly solved several prob­ the drawing to file and activate CAD drawings with the same view- lems related to using a printer to PrintIt! which translates the HPGL plot drawings. file and rasterizes the image, pro­ Plots sent to most printers ducing very high quality plots. come out with uniformly insipid PrintIt! also lets you view thin lines because line width HPGL files, copy to the Windows setting is rarely provided in Clipboard and save HPGL files as common HPGL drivers. The WMF (Windows MetaFile) files. higher the printer resolution, This provides a good way of getting the thinner the lines. The out­ CAD output into desktop publishers put doesn't photocopy well, or Windows word processors, with looks poor, is difficult to read as user defined line widths. While a drawing, but is fast and many Windows programs can input cheap. PrintIt! lets you ~""'WIfI~ 'fllll"'IIIlIri'IfI«t. t~ 1 1" . · n.ucte_, plot HPGL files on -...,...... I" ", er used for raster images to manip­ any Windows printer ulate the images and convert them with line thicknesses and to technical publishing formats. it can assign color to pens. The intelligent graphics in This lets you produce CALSVIEW for Windows is the high-quality, low-cost out­ basis for a new generation of design put from an existing or "". If. o--c...... review, document control and CALS relatively inexpensive •••••••• CITIS systems. CALSVIEW for printer. ~------; ~,- - Windows and NT supports industry PrintIt! operates on standard formats including 2D and single plot files (or 3D IGES (all subsets), CGM, groups) and has many CCITT G4, CALS tiled and untiled options including scaling HPGL files directly, they rarely raster, monochrome TIFF, TRIFF, and rotating plots. Even if you make provision for line widths. and multi-page TIFF. make the wrong decision in CAD Some common Windows fea­ This support for industry stan­ about the rotation of the plot, tures (i.e., Drag and Drop printing, dards allows CALSVIEW for PrintIt lets you recover the situa­ and background printing) come Windows to be used with almost tion without replotting. You can along as part of the package and any combination of applications the bring a lot of productivity user chooses. Like its workstation to working and printing in counterpart, it provides an CAD. Application Programming Interface Print location on paper o Fit to Paper With all these fea­ (API) to allow integration with data X offset Print Scale II tures, PrintIt! was management systems. Yoffset Prices start at $595 with an 10 lIntetype Scale 1100" I extremely easy to use. It aggressive discount schedule. Free works well on stand alone demos are available. Output size correction Measured Correct PCs or as part of a net­ For more information contact IDA at X direction work. Retail price is $175. 7081344-1815. Y direction For more information call Milton at Galaxie Business Cancel Equipment, 800 / 876-3469 or 316/ 221-3469.

November 1994 • KEVSOLUTIONS • 35 HighRES 3D Modeling Software

HighRESTM, is a sophisticated new system for replicating physical objects. The complete system, which consists of the HighRES software, CADKEY, FastSURF and a 3D digi­ tizing device, can be used to gener­ ate 3D surface models of physical objects. It has applications in a wide variety of industries -- from automo­ tive, aerospace, replication, and industrial design to entertainment, virtual reality, animation, television and motion picture 3D special effects. Other potential applications include architecture and toy manu­ facturing. Using the system is straightfor­ ward enough. A 3D measuring device or digitizer (for example, the SpaceArm or Metrecom from FARO Technologies) is used to capture coordinate data. The captured data is processed in CAD and then passed to the surface modeling program for surface definition. z Finally, the data can be output v ...i ...... x as IGES (128 BSPLINE) or DXF to a variety of digital application prod- of two planes, project captured points into a user-defined plane, and detect maximum and minimum points along an object's surface. Seven user selectable input pro­ grams let the input process be tai­ lored to the specific situation. In addition to all the Shop fea­ tures, Studio includes the following features: World/local/axis views, advanced axis locking and rotation, and Smart Edges/Corners/Sides (lets you locate the edge or corner of sim­ ple or complex objects and construct ucts. For physical prototypes or digital sets from miniatures quickly manufacturing applications it can go and easily.) via IGES to a CNC or stereolithogra­ HighRES, Inc. also offers con­ phy machine. sulting and 3D digital services. HighRES is available in two ver­ For more information contact: sions, the basic HighRES Shop and HighRES, Inc. in La Jolla, CA at HighRES Studio which has many 619/459-9027. advanced features. HighRES Shop features 3D axis planes that let the user define a cutting plane that passes through the physical object and to capture three dimensional coordinates that fall at the intersec­ tion of the cutting plane and the sur­ face of the object. You can also cap­ ture points falling at the intersection

36 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 Color NOVAJET Enhances Plotting

NOVAJET III, ENCAD's latest CAD renderings, maps and includes two new faster modes wide-format color-inkjet plotter, has other color images are difficult for which allow a trade off between some new features. It's easier to use any inkjet. Quality plotting of solid speed (for check plots) and quality and its color printing capabilities color images has been on the slow printing. Images that took 42 min­ are better than ever. side because of ink drying and utes for the NOVAJET II now take Here's what "easy to use" banding issues. NOVAJET III 15 and can take as little as 10. E­ means. There are dedicated "quick size monochrome line drawings can action" buttons for frequently used be plotted in as little as three min­ instructions. Seven buttons and five utes. Speed is also a function of get­ LED indicators give you complete ting the information out of the com­ information about plotting tasks puter and to the plotter. NOVAJET and easily accessible control. An III has an efficient HP-GU2 driver LCD menu lets you access other and a Centronics interface. A stan­ functions. An ink level estimator dard 4MB buffer accommodates alarm (an exclusive feature) warns more plot files, but it can be you when a cartridge's ink supply is upgraded to 32MB with standard low so you can change it before a SIMM. long plot. It has a remote control The NOVAJET III is priced at feature that lets you select plotter $7,495 for D-size and $8,495 for E­ functions from your computer. Roll size. media holders are built into the For more information contact printer so roll paper is easy to ENCAD, Inc. 800/ 356-2808 or install. Drawings are automatically 619 / 452-0882. cut and stacked in the basket.

. . . the patented" computer desk that comes in 8 standard styles or may be custom-assembled from our quality­ engineered family of parts. Rugged steel unistructure design has no front legs to interfere with unlimited move­ ment - yet is strong enough to hold components weigh­ ing hundreds of pounds. All this, and it's affordable, too! WRITE, CALL OR FAX FOR FREE BROCHURE MANUFACTURED BY The CADesk Company 88 COTTAGE STREET. TRUMBULL. CT 06611-2830 TEL 203-268-8083 FAX 203-268-3066 Distributor Inquiries Welcome Shown above. is the model 9696 with an optional storage module and a 21" monitor • Patents Pendi

November 1994 • KEVSOLUTIONS • 37 Program Specifics The program has two main areas of functionality. The beginning of the program reads and interprets the commands from the file. The second

tions to 1DlIPleJneIlt mands. The program begins with the c:filedraw function. (See Listing 2.) This function is started by the user typing filedraw. The function asks the user for the name of the file con­ by Ron llrumbarger and Scott Workman taining the drawing commands, calls the runcmd function to read This continuing series covers and coordinates passed to the func­ and interpret the file contents. If the file does not exist, an error message various aspects of the CADKEY tions that implement these com­ mands. The drawing commands are is displayed and runcmd is not LISP programming language. stored in a file so that each part can called. This month we use the file I/O have a separate command file that The runcmd function begins by turning off the command echo vari­ functions of LISP to create geome­ can be read by the program. The commands implemented in able so that the command prompts try based upon the file contents. the program are COLOR, LINE, ARC are not displayed while the program If you have suggestions or an idea and END. One command appears on is running. It then calls the getcmd function to obtain the next command about what we should cover in each line of the file and the command name is separated from the coordi­ in the file. This continues until the these articles, leave a message via nates needed to draw the part by a END command is read by the Compuserve - Cserve ID: single space. Where a command , getcmd function. Each command is 72730,3154 requires more than one coordinate a examined and the appropriate func­ single space separates each coordi: tion is called to implement the com­ nate from neighboring coordinates. mand. LISP Functions The syntax is: The getcmd function is where the In previous articles we concen­ LINE xl yl z1 x2 y2 z2 actual file input occurs. The function trated on the CAD geometry functions ARC xl yl zl x2 y2 z2 radius reads the next line from the file of CAD KEY LISP. While these are COLOR colornum which should contain the next com­ among the most important functions END mand. If there are no more lines in in a programming language used to The LINE command draws a line the file, the command name is customize a CAD engine, it is when from the (xl yl zl) coordinate to the assumed to be END. Otherwise, the these are combined with the internal (x2 y2 z2) coordinate. The ARC com­ getword function is called to parse off functions inherent to the language mand draws an arc starting at (xl yl the command from the line just read. that useful programs can be built. zl), ending at (x2 y2 z2) with the The getcmd function will return It would not be very efficient to given radius. The COLOR command either the word returned from the getword function or the string END create a new LISP program for every changes the active drawing color to part that needed to be drawn. While the color number specified. The END if the end of the file has been a program offers advantages over command informs the program that reached. manually drawing a part, it is more no more commands follow in the file. The getword function relies heavily upon the LISP internal string effective to write a program that does Note that each command expects the functions to parse the next word from not draw a specific part with the format to be followed exactly. input obtained from the user or in the Changing the format of the command the current line. The substr function is used to examine one character at a case of our example here, from a com­ within the file will cause unexpected time. A loop continues examining mand file. results. each character until a single space is The LISP language has several An example command file is found or the end of the line has been internal functions to open, read, write shown in Listing 1. Remember, each and finally close a text based file. The command parameter is separated by reached. As each character is exam­ ined, it is added to the current word read and write functions allow a sin­ a single space. using the strcat function. This gle character or an entire line to be builds the word one character at a read or written from a file. In this Listing 1 time until the separating space is article we use these functions, com­ COLOR 1 found. Mter the word has been built bine them with the geometry creation LINE 0.25 0.0 0.0 2.75 0.0 0.0 the current input line is adjusted ' functions from the last several arti­ ARC 2.75 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.25 0.0 0.25 LINE 3.0 0.25 0.0 3.0 2.25 0.0 past the current word so that the cles, and draw parts based upon the ARC 3.0 2.25 0.0 2.75 2.5 0.0 0.25 next time the getword function is file contents. LINE 2.75 2.5 0.0 0.25 2.5 0.0 About the Program called, it will parse off the next word. ARC 0.25 2.5 0.0 0.0 2.25 0.0 0.25 The getword function returns the The program in this article, file­ LINE 0.0 2.25 0.0 0.0 0.25 0.0 uppercase string of the word parsed draw.lsp, draws an arbitrary part ARC 0.0 0.25 0.0 0.25 0.0 0.0 0.25 from the line. based upon a limited set of commands END

38 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 The getnum function simply calls combined into a list that represents a The final two lines of the file are the getword function to parse the point in LISP and the two lists are used to display execution instruc­ next word and then converts the passed to the CADKEY LISP line tions at load time. returned string to a floating point command. Conclusion number. This is useful for commands The chgcolor function is used to This is one method of using the that are expecting coordinates or dis­ change the active drawing color to internal language functions of CAD­ tances. the color number specified with the KEY LISP to extend the flexibility of The rest of the functions are the command. The color number is a drawing geometry within CAD KEY. command implementation functions. CADKEY LISP compatible color Try different command files of your Each command calls either the get­ number where l=red, 2=yellow, own to draw assorted parts of inter­ word or getnum functions to obtain 3=green, etc. est to you. Enhancements to the pro­ the parameters to the command. The drawarc function is similar gram can include additional com­ After the parameters have been to the drawline function. The arc is mands to draw other geometry types. ---~o '15tamea , tlie appropriate CADKEY drawn using the two endpoints of the Ron Brumbarger is the President LISP command is called to draw the arc and the radius. The getnum and Scott Workman is the Director of geometry. function is used to obtain each para­ Technology for BitWise Solutions, Inc. The drawline function calls the meter to the command. The CAD­ BitWise Solutions offers software getnum function for each x, y and z KEY LISP arc command is run using products and services specializing in coordinate at the end points of the the start point,fE'nd pointlR'adius the CAD / CAM and Multi-media line. The end point coordinates are method. markets.

listing 2 listing 2 (continued)

; filedraw.lsp i 1 a (substr buf 1 1)) ; Draw a part based upon the commands and coordinates (while (and (/= a " ") (/= a "")) ; stored in a command file . (setq word (strcat word a) i (1+ i) (defun c:filedraw (I fname fp buf) a (substr buf i 1))) (setq fname (getstring "\nEnter command file name: ") (setq but (substr buf (+ (strlen word) 2))) fp (open fname "r")) (strcase word) (if (= fp nil) (princ "\nUnable to open file .") (runcmd fp) ; Get the nex1 word and convert to a number. ) ) (defun getnum ( / ) (atof (getword)) ; Run commands from the file until the END ) ; command has been reached. ; LINE command: LINE xl yl zl x2 y2 z2 (defun runcmd (fp I oecho cmd ) (setq oecho (getvar "cmdecho")) (defun drawline ( I xl yl zl x2, y2 , z2 ) (setvar "cmdecho" 0) (setq xl (getnum) yl (getnum) (while (/= (setq cmd (getcmd fp)) "END") zl (getnum) (cond x2 (getnum) ((= cmd "LINE") (drawline)) y2 (getnum) ((= cmd "COLOR") (chgcolor)) z2 (getnum)) ((= cmd "ARC") (drawarc)) (command "_.line" (list xl yl zl) (list x2 y2 z2) "") ) ) ) ; COLOR command: COLOR colomum (close fp) (setvar "cmdecho" oecho) (defun chgcolor ( I ) (command "_.color" (getnum))

; Get a new line from the file and parse ; off the first word as the command. ; ARC command: ARC xl y1 zl x2 y2 z2 radius

(defun getcmd (fp I) (detun drawarc ( I xl y1 zl x2 y2 z2 rad ) (setq buf (read-line fp)) (setq xl (getnum) (if (= buf nil) yl (getnum) (setq cmd "END") zl (getnum) (getword) x2 (getnum) ) y2 (getnum) ) z2 (getnum) rad (getnum)) ; Parse off the next word from the current line (command "_.arc" (list xl yl zl) "e" (list x2 y2 z2) ; and remove the word from the line. "r" rad) ) (detun getword (/ word a i ) (setq word ,m (princ ''\nType FILEDRAW to execute this program." ) (princ)

November 1994 • KEvSoLunONS • 39 Comparing Results Obtained With Elasticity Calculations And CADKEY ANALYSIS by Ara Kirdi, Mechanical Engineer at Spar Aerospace Ltd., Montreal, Canada

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION A yellow annealed brass bolt of 0.75 in. diameter has ASleeve = 1te (ORSleeve2 - IRSleeve2) = 0.982 in! been placed inside a 10-in.-Iong aluminum (7075-T6) ... Cross-Sectional Area of Sleeve sleeve of 1.0 in. inside diameter and 0.25 in. wall thick­ ness. The bolt and the sleeve are held firmly together THEORETICAL ANALYSIS with a 10 threads per inch nut. Equal and opposite forces are applied to ends of sleeve and bolt where the three-quarter-turn deforma­ tion has the effect oflengthening the bolt and shorten­ ing the sleeve. The sum of the deformations according

'" "- to Hooke's law is "- /'0. = /'0. + /'0. (Eq.1) --- Bolt Sleeve --- ) : -!..:.:) r FLl r FLl ( ( ...... -~ . - --- / t.. I -_ -.... --- ~ -l A EJ + l A EJ - ! ThrendS) La ;':aJ - :0 in. '---"" / Bolt S l eeve "- / ,...... '" r F . 10 l r F. 10 l to. = I I + I I 7 NUT L(0.442)- (1.523XI d) J L(0.982) · ( 1.03XI0 ) J Bolt Sleeve TUBE Simplifying the above equation and solving for the force F yields 30,313 lb. The bolt increases in length under this tensile load (+F). According to Hooke's law r I (30,3 13 I~ . (10.0 in.) 6 Bolt = I I = 0 .0450 in. (Ans.) 2 7 lb BOLT (0.442 in. ). (1.523X I O -:-2) J l m .

Furthermore, the sleeve decreases in length under this compressive load (-F). Once again according to Hooke's GOALS law Determine the stresses and axial deformations in the r bolt and in the sleeve due to a three-quarter turn on the I (-30,313 b) · (lO.Oin. ) bolt. ~ Sleeve = I I = - 0.0300 in. (Ans.) 2 7 Ib DATA l (0.982 in. ). (l .03X IO in2 ) J EBolt = 1.523 X 107 psi ... Modulus of Elasticity of Yellow Brass ESleeve = 1.03 X 107 psi The axial stress found in the bolt is then calculated as ... Modulus of Elasticity of Aluminum L = LSleeve = 10.0 in. F 30,3131b Bolt ---- = 68, 581.45psi (Ans.) ... Length of Bolt / Sleeve Bolt A 2 0.442 in. RBolt = 0.375 in. Bolt ... Radius of Bolt IRsleeve = 0.50 in. Likewise, the axial stress found in the sleeve is ... Inner Radius of Sleeve ORSleeve 0.75 in. = -F -30,313lb ... Outer Radius of Sleeve cr = -30,868.64 psi (Ans.) A = 1t eR 2 = 0.442 in.2 Sleeve A 0.982in2 Bolt Bolt Sleeve ... Cross-Sectional Area of Bolt

40 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 CADKEY ANALYSIS (CKA) V. 7 SOLUTION: OK • Models Creation Save: Bolt1.PTN 1. Bolt • Create a rectangle of 0.375 units wide by 10 units high· Result Type: Deflection • Locate the rectangle's lower left corner at (0,0,0) Component: Z Compo • Save the file as a CADL file (Bolt.CDL) Plot Type: Shaded 2. Sleeve Dimension Mode: 2D_View • Create a rectangle of 0.25 units wide by 10 units high OK • Locate the rectangle's lower left corner at (0.50,0,0) OK • Save the file as a CADL file (Sleeve.CDL) Save: Bolt2.PTN Cancel • Launch CADKEY ANALYSIS 2. Sleeve 1. Bolt Files iles File N a1Jle: Sleeve.CDL File Name: Bolt.CDL File Type: Line Segment File Type: Line Segment Session Output: Sleeve.SES Session Output: Bolt.SES OK OK Con · fig Analysis Type: Elastic Analysis Type: Elastic Dimensionality: Axisymmetric Dimensionality: Axisymmetric Units: EngJ in) Units: EngJ in) Material: Aluminum (7075-T6) Material: Yellow Brass (65% Cu, 35% Zn) OK OK OK OK Segment t Global Global 0.25 (J) 0.1875 (J ) Process Process Done Done Save As: Sleeve-SoC DL ('S' for Segmented) Save A s: Bolt-S.CDL ('S ' for Segmented) OK OK sign ABsigJ'! CONDITION CONDITION • DISPLACE • DISPLACE Displace1Jlent-N: o Displacement-N: o Displacement-T: o Displacement-T: o Selection Type: Element Selection Type: Element Orientation: Local Orientation: Local OK OK Window: Lower Horizontal Edge of S leeve Window: Lower Horizontal Edge of Bolt OK OK Done Done • DIST-LOAD • DIST-LOAD Pressure: F /Asleeve= 30,313 lb / 0.982 in. 2 Pressure: -F / A Bolt = -30,313 lb / 0.442 in! = 30,868.64 psi = -68,581.45 psi Shear: Disable The Check Icon (,/) Shear: Disable The Check Icon (,/) OK OK Window: Top Horizontal Edge of S leeve Window: Top Horizontal Edge of Bolt OK OK Done Done FlO (Back-Up) FlO (Back-Up) Done Done olve OK OK Bults Result Type: Stress Result Type: Stress Component: ZZ Comp. Component: ZZComp. Plot Type: Shaded Plot Type: Shaded Dimension Mode: 2D_View Dimension Mode: 2D_View OK OK OK OK OK

November 1994' K EVSOLUTIONS • 41 Save: Sleevel.PTN Ax isynnetr ic Elas tic Analys is Result Type: Defl ection BOLT SLEEVE Component: ZComp. Ib/in"2 Ib/irv"2 Plot Type: Shaded 1. 0538e+OS -2.0811e+04 Dimension Mode: 2D_View OK 1.01 50e+OS -2 . 2882e+04 OK 9. 7938e+04 -2. 4781e+04 Save: Sleeue2.PTN 9 . 4380e+04 -2 . 6680e+04

Figure 2 and Figure 3 show the results of deflections !:I .0822Q+04 -2. BS7ge+04 and stresses, compiled from the above pattern files 9 . 7264e+04 -3 . 0477e+04 (Boltl.PTN, Bolt2.PTN, Sleeuel .PTN, and Sleeve2.PTN): 8 . 3707e+04 -3 . 2375e+04 8 .014ge+04 -3 . 427Se+04 Comparison The following tables show the comparison between 7 .6S91 e+04 -3 . 61 74e+04 Theoretical results and CADKEY ANALYSIS: 7 . 3033e+04 -3 . B072e+04 6 . 9475e+04 -3. 9971e+04 Table 1 DEFLECTION (iDo) 6 .5917e+04 -4 . 1870e+04 Theory CKA Difference 6 . 235ge+04 -4 . 3769e+04 5 . 8802e+04 -4 . 5667 e+04 BOLT 0.0450 0.0449 0.256 % 5 . 4920e+04 -4 . 773ge+04 SLEEVE -0.0300 -0.0298 0.530 % Stress Conponent ZZ Shaded Plot . CADKEV

F IGURE 1 Table 2 STRESS (psi)

Theory CKA Difference Axisynnetric Elastic Anal ysis BOLT 68,581.45 68,573.38 0.012 % BOLT SLEEVE

SLEEVE -30,868.64 -30,865.83 0.009 % in i n 4 .4885e-02 O.OOOOe+OO 4 . 1432e-02 -2. 2955e-03 Reference 3. 8267e-02 -4.3996e-03 J ohn D. Constance, P. E., Mechanical Engineering For Professional Engineers' Examinations, 4th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill Book 3.5102e-02 -S .5038e-03 Company, 1985), pp. 12-13. 3 . Hl37e-02 -8 .507ge-03 2 . 8772e-Q2 -1 .07 12e-02 2 .5007e-02 -1.2815e-02 2 .2442e-02 - 1 .4920e-02 1.9278e-02 -[ . 7025e-02 1 .6113e-02 -[ .912ge-02 1.2948e-02 -2 . 1233e-02 9 .7826e-03 -2 .3337e-02 6 .6177e-03 -2. 5441 e-02 3 .4527e-03 -2. 7545e-02 o .OOOOe+OO -2 .9841 e-02 Deflection Conponent Z Shaded Plot. CADKEV

F IGURE 2

42 • KEVSOLUTIONS • November 1994 Computer Ergonomics: BACK FACTS EI_L_c:-r.... GI FACT: -rHI!! I=I.CIIH-r C::H~.A By Seth Frielic h Bending forward over your desk in a conventional chair exerts as People are all different sizes. To support in the curved section of the much pressure on your lumbar el iminate some of the confusion you lower back and the spine in a proper "S" discs as bending forward from a encounter when trying to select the shaped curved. Measure from the base standing position to pick up 22 lbs - right chair for you, AIiMed offers some of the spine to the center of the curve in - a sure route to back problems! guidelines for chair selection: the lower back. This corresponds to the FACT: 1. Height of Chair measurements listed for the range of Sitting subjects the spine to With your feet flat on back support travel with the lumbar sup- 50% more stress than standing -- the floor, measure the port - typically 3-1/2" up from the bot- 90% of our seated tasks are per­ height from the floor to your tom. formed in a forward position not knee/inner thigh. This is the 3. Seat Pan Depth accommodated by conventional starting height to the top of The seat pan depth is the length chairs. the seat pan. Most seats from the back of the chair to the front Exercise-Break Software have an adjustment range to edge. Compare to a measurement of Can Help Prevent Injury allow the seated person to the length from the inside of the knee to User-Friendly Exercises soft move up and down to fit I) ~~ the base of the spine. the desk. If the seat is 0 0- z:....J Some chairs fea- ware program is an "injury preven­ tion alarm clock." At selected time raised up to align the t t ~ t ture an adjust- intervals, a model "pops up" on the arms to the desk: Ito I ment of the back to height, and the feet I I I lengthen or short- screen to guide the user through I I I do not rest on the. • t I en this dimension exercises to reduce strain in the floor, a footrest +------I : to fit the user. eyes, wrist, neck and shoulders. should be used for support and to: : 4. Armrests The exercises reduce stress and relieve stress in the thighs. I I The armrest is I I fatigue as well as the likelihood of Some chairs are sized to meet the I I used to support the repetitive motion injuries and needs of tall and short people. For tall ~ ~ arms and shoul­ Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. people the height of the seat pan is ders. Adjustable U ser-Friendly Exercises is a extended to permit leg extension. For height arms can be moved vertically so terminate and stay resident pro­ shorter people, the size of the seat is they contact the elbows or forearms. gram for DOS and Windows. The scaled to a shorter body's proportions. Lateral adjustments are desirable. DOS version requires 2MB of hard 2. Seat Backs Measure the distance from the elbows disk space, and DOS 3.31 or higher. The back support on a chair should be to the seat pan when seated. This is the The Windows version requires 2.7 adjusted vertically to place the lumbar proper height of the armrest. MB hard disk space. The cost is $59.95. Available from AliMed 800-225-2610.

A smart choice for effective, economical

November 1994 • KEVSOLUTIONS • 43 Our books and video tapes have been designed to help everyone from the Tech CALL software. Powerful tools for Prep student to the CAD Professional become a 'Power User' as quickly and STOCK design, drafting, machining, easily as possible. Call. write, or fax us to • GUARANTEED • mechanisms, rendering, request information and prices. (SAVE - 30% - 50% - 70% - & MORE surfaces, training, viewing. Specialized add-ons for Beginning CADKEY 6 A comprehensive g ZETA ~ [.If.) ~!;;,"c!';:6 project-based guide to release 6, AutoCAD, CAD KEY, others RASTERGRAPHICS ~ IUUTOH from $24.95 to $2,495.00 Beginning CADKEY Light A ~ ~~~ <11;@:tF> CADKEY 7~ $395! project-based intro to CADKEY Light. YY!'~~ 0 NUMONICS !!!e.~La.,Q9 CAD/CAM SOURCE An Introduction to DataCAD 5 In-depth =::.!lca/Comp (800) 424-2255 coverage of DataCAD 5 Professional Edition. ~ olgl&olresouroesINo. ~ M-F 8-5 EST· Fax (617) 631-5324 0,- po. Box 23051 , Portland, Oregon 97223 COrti 2 Catherine Lane • Marblehead. MA 01945 Architectural and Mechanical CAD Workbooks for Tech Prep and beginners.

Video tapes available for all books.

DataCAD En Proyecto A spanish edition • Modeling of our DataCAD 5 Workbook.

• Analysis • Documents

• CAD Interface

Improve quality of m_ dod.... with malym on Fast Conversion! your PC, Kinematic, force, dynamic ODd tolennce 1Da!)'Ie11 with animation can show the belt cIinoction for your deoign. Bi-

PALADIN -rOOLS USER DEFINED COORDINATE SYSTEMS!! qUNFOLD LITE • WORKING DEPTH ICON OX\ NEW - SIMPLE - INEXPENSIVE \ DZ · Runs interactively from within CAD KEY HEWLEn·PACKARD PLOnER ) · Part geometry determined automaticallY SPECIALIST • PLACE YOUR COORDINATE SYSTEMS ON YOUR PART · Bend allowance computed or direct entry 4 · Compensated flat part from folded part We Remarket H-P · Bend table displays rad ius. angle. allowance · Folded part with thickness from flat part PRINTERS A BRIEF LIST OF CAPABILITIES: · Design error detection LaserJet • ICON BASED USER INTERFACE · Online help explains all of the options DeskJet • SWEEPS SYSTEMS DOWN 3D SPLI NES · Demo diskette ava ilable Rugged • ROTATES SYSTEMS ABOUT ALL AXES Writer • DYN AMIC SYSTEM MOVES ThinkJet • REVERSES Z AXIS. ALI GNS AXES PaintJet • WORKING SYSTEM IS HIGHLI GHTED • SETS CONSTRUCTI ON PLANE WORKSTATIONS • DEFINES PRECISE VI EWS EASILY 80 Series • MOVES GEOMETRY BETWEEN SYSTEMS 200 Series • GRAPH ICAL DX. DY. DZ FROM ORI GIN r.RIf'AT·ION WI TH PREVI EW QUICK 300 Series ~~., ~ .~ ~. ALL IN USER 400 Series 700 Series PLOTTERS DesignJet DraftPro DraftMaster Electrostatic

Ted Dasher and Associates 4117 2nd Avenue South Blnnlngham, Alabama 35222 1-812-288-9128 or PH : (800) 638-4833. FAX: (205) 591-1108 FAX YOUR ORDER '1'0 1-812-288-8845 MLC CAD SYSTEMS' 7101 fWY 71W • AUSTIN. TX 78735 TAKE [on nand of CADKEY COMPANY PRODUCT/SERVICE POI wi th "MENU COMMANDER" Access Technologies, Inc. Paper to CAD conversion 44 and Fee I the Powe r! Increase Product i vi ty • by as nuch as 200 7. Applied Production, Inc. Dimen-Sheet 44 • Works wi th your standard di g i t i zer . • User Def i nabI e MACRO area . Arcdraft America Fonts for CADKEY 45 Over 200 Pre-wr i tten MACROs • and 9 Inned i at e Mode Connands . Macros are [ 0 I or Grouped for faster The CADesk Company CADesk computer desk 37 • recogn i t i on and or i entat i on. Innovat ive Desi,n Consultants Cadkey, Inc. CADKEY 7 for Windows BC 3S4 E. Brood St ., P.O. Box 878 Tr unbouersvi II e, Po. i 8970 ,~...... _ _ ~~~529;;.;.-747 5 CIMTECH Training Center CADKEY, DataCAD, etc. classes 44

Computer-Aided Products CAD/CAM source, free catalog 44

Consulting Services Intn'l qUNFOLD Lite 45

Consumer Information Center Consumer information catalog 43

Cutting Edge Technologies CAM software with surfaces 2

Digital Resources, Inc. Scanners, Plotters, Digitizers, etc. 44

Educational Assistance Ltd. Educational assistance 31

ENCAD NOVAJET III plotter 3

Ergo Computing, Inc. PowerBrick 11

Far Mountain Corporation pSERVERplus Interactive Plot Server 9

FPLOT Corp. Pen plotter emulator software 44

HLB Technology, Inc. Free Drafting PackagelEZ Fonts 47

Information Technology Int'! Corp. CADView viewing software 45

Innovative Design Consultants MENU COMMANDER 46

MechTech Solutions, Inc. MICRO-MECH (mechanism design) 44

Microcomputer Education Systems CADKEYlDataCAD training materials 44 I ERROR MLC CAD Systems PALADIN TOOLS 45

MESSAGE Numonics Digitizer tablets 9

Parades ign POWER TOOLS BUNDLE 2.6 25

Pocket Software Part File Compression Utilities 45

Quannon CAD Systems POWERstation 90 7

Ted Dasher & Associates HP plotter specialist 45

Unitec, Inc. Dimension Guru CDE utility 4

Used to be you 'd have to spend $3,500 to get a high­ Easy-to-Use Windows Interface. Intuitive, point-and­ end CAD package with powerful 3-D rendering . That click control. Much easier to learn than AutoCAD®. locked out a lot of mechanical engineers. But now there's new CAD KEY 7 for Windows, with everything If you 've been locked out of affordable CAD software, you ever wanted in a professional-strength CAD open the door to new CAD KEY for Windows. It's the program. Except the high price. fastest, easiest, most affordable way to design and draft anything . With CADKEY, you'll turn your ideas into reality in hours, not days. Detail in 2-D, render in 3-0. Create On·line .DWG" and .DXF®translators let you read/write AutoCAD files. wire frame models. Produce SLA models for prototyping , ali without buying expensive add-ons. More Power, Less Money _____-.., Powerful 3-D New CAD KEY 7 for Windows gives you all this: Full 3·0 design and drafting - Complete model-to-drawing associativity _ Assembly Rendering. Think and design _ Soft prototyping - Full drafting standards support sketch on-screen in 3-0. - Automatic hidden line removal _ Shading _ Mass properties and Draw a wire frame stereo- lithography output - Bi-directional on-line DWG", DXF®and IGES translators _ Full CADL" programming language .--_..J....._.., model, remove the - Flexible settings for independent dimension attributes hidden lines. Turn like arrows and witness lines . enhanced detail editing models directly into 2-D -Eight predefined views - True spline creation _ True conic/ellipse creation -Dynamic editing/dimension working drawings with placement - Powerful cross hatch modification - Dozens MICROSOFb no interim steps. Get answers before you prototype. of built-in immediate mode commands _ PICTURE-IT module for clearer visualization _ And much more WINDOWS,. You 'd pay thousands to do this with AutoCAD®. COMPATIBLE CALL 1-800-394-2231 and ask for Sales Dept. to unlock the power of CAD KEY SPECIAL OFFER: Mention this ad and get a FREE issue of KEVSOLUTIONS magazine.

All registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders. KYS11 /94