We just released our latest interiorcad 2011 patch release. It is strongly recommended to update to interiorcad 2011 F4 due to the many improvements we applied. Currently there is no plan to release further patches of interiorcad 2011.
Go get interiorcad 2011 here or check out interiorcad 2011's features if you haven't upgraded already.
We just released our latest interiorcad 2012 patch release, including fixes for tool selection and custom parts. In order to circumvent Windows/Vectorworks system limitations, we had to consolidate all NC plugin objects into one DLL.
Go get interiorcad 2012 here or check out interiorcad 2012's features if you haven't upgraded already.
Vectorworks interiorcad and interior xs 2012 finally are available. Regardless whether you plan to update from a prior version of interiorcad or you are new to interiorcad, do not hesitate to contact Sven Biermann via phone or +49 251-39089-30 or e-mail at sven.biermann@extragroup.de.
Overview
It is rather painful to draw each Drilling separately on a couple of given Custom Parts each time a user starts a new project. Using Vectorworks symbols can help users to keep some of their stock drillings at hand. Please note the following limitations, though:
- Vectorworks 2012 SP2 is required to work with drillings in symbols.
- Creating such symbols and to cope with their 3D orientation requires strong 3D skills.
- Of course you can also add functional hardware components to the symbols. However, this is not officially supported, as such symbols will not appear in cutting lists or costings.
The Presenter
In the following example, we will show how users can create a symbol representing a castor and a wooden pin for later reuse.
Here's the situation where we want to apply some symbols:
In wireframe mode, some wooden pins are visible:
Symbol Options
The following symbol options are used. Note the option »Convert to group« which will ensure the Drilling PIOs in the symbol are inserted as such:
Castor
The Castor symbol contains four drillings. When inserting the castor, the drillings will automatically connect to the bottom of the presenter:
Wooden Pin
The wooden pin symbol contains a pin and two drillings:
Note that the symbol
- was placed »upright« so that the user can make use of the automatic working plane feature of Vectorworks 2012 when inserting the symbol.
- was created excentrically.
Here's a top view in wireframe mode, which shows the excentric drillings:
Conclusion
Users can create red and blue symbols to keep their stock Drillings available right at their fingertips. Adding 3D components for functional hardware is possible, but is unsopported concerning cutting lists or costings.
Overview
As the Custom Part tool, the Drilling tool supports the magic »Create from Selection« button in the method bar. The created Drillings will connect automatically with adjacent Custom Parts in case the insertion points hit one of its surfaces.
Supported 2D Objects
The Drilling tool supports two types of objects, circles and lines. The firstly created point of a line will become the insertion point of the Drilling after the conversion. Converted circles will lead to drillings where the insertion point is "on top" of the Drilling.
Example
Here's a simple example. Three lines and nine circles are placed on the surfaces of a Custom Part. Then those are converted to drillings. interiorcad automatically glues them together, even creating the required holes in the Custom Part:
Conclusion
Lines and circles are objects interiorcad can convert to 3D Drillings. The resulting Drillings are connected automatically to adjacent Custom Parts in case the insertion points hit the surface of a Custom Part.
Overview
One further Vectorworks command supported by interiorcad's object connection mechanism is Duplicate Array. For example, it can be used to create grid drillings.
Creation of grid Drillings
Create a Custom Part with two Drillings and create a working plane on the surface of the Custom Part:
Choose the Duplicate Array command and enter the shown settings:
Confirm the dialog to create the desired duplicates:
The resulting Drillings are connected with the Custom Part and can be edited via their object info palette:
Conclusion
The object connections introduced in interiorcad 2012 support Vectorworks commands such as »Duplicate Array«.
Overview
The object connection mechanism also supports the distribution of Drillings along a path. Below you find an example of a back which gets some drillings applied along its edges in order to place some screws.
Custom Part and path
First create a Custom Part:
Using the autoplane feature of Vectorworks 2012, draw a rectangle on its surface and inset it by 20 millimeters:
Split the rectangle so that the bottom line is removed:
Move the polygon to the center of the board, as Vectorworks will duplicate the Drillings along the path according to their 3D centers. This way it is ensured that the insertion points of the duplicated Drillings will touch the surface of the Custom Part:
Creating the Drillings
Choose a view perpendicular to the top of the Custom Part's surface. Place a Drilling outside the Custom Part. Choose a diameter of 5mm and a depth of 20mm. Select the Drilling and the path:
Choose the command »Duplicate along Path«. Enter the shown settings:
Press enter to create the Drillings. Vectorworks will automatically place the Drillings as desired, while interiorcad ensures they are automatically connected to the Custom Part:
Conclusion
To create a couple of Drillings along the edges of a Custom Part, interiorcad 2012 supports known Vectorworks techniques. Drillings duplicated along a path are automatically connected with the adjacent Custom Part in case the insertion points of the Drillings touch one of its surfaces.
