September 2006 Archives
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We just have opened all entries of the support blog for comments. You can now easily add your thoughts. A hint was useful for you? The description was hard to understand? It didn't work for you? Don't hesitate to drop some lines!
You can assign connectors as well as wooden dowels to a unit. To do so, choose the case dialog, click on the connectors tab and choose the button of the corner to edit. In the selection dialog, choose the popup on the top left corner to switch back and forth between connectors and dowels:
Of course it is also possible to assign connectors and dowels to each individual partition and fixed shelf.
interiorCAD 3.0.2 is not compatible with VW 12.5. In order to use in interiorCAD 3.0.2, you will need to keep a separate copy of VectorWorks 12.0.1.
We are already busy working on interiorCAD 3.5, which will be fully compatible with VectorWorks 12.5 (and take advantage of the features in VW 12.5).
Beta-Testing interiorCAD 3.5 will start soon, if you are interested in joining the beta program, please contact us at interiorcad@extragroup.de.
Shop-Section
Customizable report layouts
User now can customize the layout and what data is displayed for parts lists, material lists etc. Using special template datasheets users can modify the layout using the standard VectorWorks formatting tools for datasheets. They also have access to a range of variables that determine the printed content for reports.
Support for functional hardware
interiorCAD 3.0 ships with functional hardware databases for sliders, hinges, connectors and more.
Parametric cabinet creation
Extended back functions
- New type of back with grooves in the sides and a rebated back, used for greater stability.
- More options for double backs
Case
- Stretchers can be designed horizontally and vertically
- Connectors can now be attached to the inside or the outside of the case. The same goes for dividers where connectors can be attached to the left or the right side.
- Grid boring now can be centered to allow for symmetric parts.
Cappings
- New cappings on top of the case
- Cappings now can be attached using a definable bead
- Front-flush cappings now can be moved more to the front to be in line with doors
Extended 2D-view
- The cabinet's 2D view is extended by a configurable position and size of the cabinet's name
Front Design
Faceframes
- You can define face frames both in the case and the division dialog. The main face frame is defined in the case dialog, additional elements can be added segment-wise in the division.
Division by front dimensions
- Users now can specifiy the front's dimensions when dividing a segment allowing for precise door and drawer dizes. Gaps are defined only once per segment in this case.
Disable grid borings on a segment basis
- Grid borings can be disabled in any segment allowing for a more elegant design in parts of the cabinet where no grid borings are needed.
More extensions
- Horizontal segments can be defined as stretchers with a front and a back stretcher.
- The "Dimensions" tab is replaced by a "Segment" tab that combines both the dimensions and the properties of a given segment.
- The new tab "Frame" allows for the definition of a face frame element, if face frames were defined in the case dialog.
- Door and drawer front panels now can be mitred at the back side as well allowing for handle-less fronts.
- The width of vertical and horizontal frame elements can be adjusted separately.
- Material properties of any element can be adjusted directly from the division. Now nearly any element in the division with exception of the back can have its own unit group allowing for a greater flexibility in material schedules.
Data structures
Material groups
In order to allow for a more sophisticated rendering and parts list definition the existing unit groups were extended. There are more different groups for cappings, plinth, stretchers, back and faceframes. Additionally, users can add more groups to their material schedule as they see fit to define a greater variety of boards or front elements with different rendering materials etc. These custom groups can be used globally in the cabinet module.
New material dialog
The new material dialogs simplifies the handling of materials the cabinet is build of. It handles the grown size of unit groups more easily and allows for a more precise modification of only certain aspects in a cabinet. The new material dialog combines assignment of
- Material
- Texture and color
- Hatches for viewport-based cross-sections (usable in VW architect only)
in one go. The "copy material" function is rendered obsolete and thus removed. By selecting more than one unit group users can easily assign different properties to the unit groups in the material, texture and hatch section. By selecting a group of unit groups users can assign certain properties the areas like case, front, back or other areas. Selecting a stored default assigns all properties the the cabinet's unit groups. Equally useful is the fact that users can change material thicknesses in dialogs like case or division and the material is automatically adapted if there is a matching material for the new board thickness.
Resources and libraries
Improved resource handling
In order to facilitate easy access to the interiorCAD libraries, we added a new resource assistant that gives users access to the complete library of content that is supplied with interiorCAD. Users can search for content by attribute or any entered text. All content supplied by extragroup is indexed in order to achieve maximum accessibility. Users can create their own indexed content. The resource assistent contains a preview pane for any kind of content that is currently selected.
VectorWOP
Improved process support
Export to CNC was drastically improved over previous versions allowing for more cabinet types to be machined and providing a better process integration in a multi-vendor environment.
- Export multiple cabinets in one go
- Export all properties of exported cabinets in additional info files
- Customizable output using
- Specification of sort order for tool operations
- Automatic program numbering
- Automatic launch of converters to further modify output nc programs like xiso to convert xxl files to pgm
- Evaluation of formulas in the template to improve support for older machinery
- Support of polylines in the CAM module
- Support of non-rectangular workpieces
- Support of rotated borings and cuts
- Extended tool information file with more information about available tools
- Tool name abstraction layer allowing for tool names that are automatically translated to machine specific tool names
- Extended workpiece definition for workpieces that are formatted, unformatted, backs of workpieces etc.
- Cutlist file that exports all parts to be cut on a cutting saw. Used to interface with cutting optimizers
When doing an NC export actually 4 types of files can be created:
- NC programs
- Jobinfo file that contains one line of information for every cnc program created, useable for production lists and further postprocessing (like in MACIS or for production lists in Biesse or Weeke machinery)
- Cutlist info file that contains one line of information for every different part. May be used for cutting optmizer and subsequent print of labels
- Export log file containing detailed information about any errors occured during the export process.
If you're new to interiorCAD 3 and you just have installed the demo or full version, the following points are worth your attention:
- InteriorCAD provides a separate installer which converts your installation from metric default values to imperial values (feet & inches). This installer can be used on top of a full version as well as on top of the demo version.
- As soon as VectorWorks starts, it loads a workspace which contains the user interface of VectorWorks. In order to access the interiorCAD features, you should choose the interiorCAD workspace. This only needs to be done once as VectorWorks will remember your selection persistently. The menu location of the workspaces differs depending on your VectorWorks installation. You'll find the workspaces in the menu »File« or »Extras«. Simply choose the interiorCAD workspace and wait a second until VectorWorks has updated its user interface:
- As soon as VectorWorks starts, it loads a default drawing. To start with interiorCAD, we recommend to use the interiorCAD template drawing instead. After VectorWorks has started, close the automatically loaded drawing, then click on the menu »File« and choose »New«. Now choose the template drawing »interiorCAD.sta« (respectively »interiorCAD Imperial.sta« if you have installed the imperial defaults):
- The installer has placed a shortcut to the tutorial on your desktop. Reading it is highly recommended. Though the screenshots are a bit dated it will give you a good overview how to use interiorCAD to get more out of your business.
- If questions remain, don't hesitate to ask them using interiorCAD@extragroup.de. InteriorCAD is designed with the user in mind, and any feedback will help us improving the product. Thus, any feedback is much appreciated.
