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Since interiorcad 2009, it is possible to define the amount of connectors depending on the unit's size. The main control to achieve this is the connector distance edit.
If you want to apply two additional dowels in case a unit becomes deeper than 508mm, you can write a simple formula like this one into the distance edit:

37 69(508) 0 -69(508) -37

Of course this will also work for feet and inches*:

1 1/2"; 2 1/2"(20"); 0; -2 1/2"(20"); -1 1/2"

Changes will be visible in the part layouts and (of course) the NC export.

* You will need the SP2 update to get it working

Complementary to interiorCAD, extragroup provides a post processor called VectorWOP to interface with NC machines. VectorWOP allows users to output workpieces (e.g. as seen in the part layout) directly into native WOP code. While the traditional way to export DXF files is a bit fiddly, the VectorWOP export works much more straightforward, thus increasing your productivity. VectorWOP provides postprocessors for quite a few of WOP software systems on the market, e.g.:

• WoodWOP
• Xilog 3
• Xilog Plus
• ImaWOP
• NC-Hops
• NC Studio

We are constantly adding further postprocessors on demand. So if you are interested in a machine link, please don't hesitate to ask. VectorWOP of course is available for both Macintosh and Windows platforms:

In order to have a more transparent custom NC tools configuration, interiorCAD 3.5 requires that every NC template refers to its own, unique NC tools file instead of supplying a default NC tools file - the latter causing quite some grief for both customer & support figuring out what tools file was used.

VectorWOP customers are asked to port their CAM template file as follows:

• Copy your template file from interiorCAD 3.0 to 3.5 (as found in the folder »XG Resources/NC Export/«)
  
• Open the file in a text editor. If it does not yet contain a reference to a tools file (WERKZEUGE:...), copy over the file »XG Resourcen/NC WerkzeugNr.txt« from interiorCAD 3.0 to »XG Resourcen/NC Export/Tools/MyTools.txt« of your interiorCAD 3.5 installation.
• Now referring to this tools file is simple. Just add the line WERKZEUGE:MyTools.txt at the beginning of your template file.
  
• MyTools.txt needs to be located in the folder »XG Resources/NC Export/Tools/«. Other paths are not supported.
  
• If you have any problems, please ask interiorCAD support to help you out with upgrading the template.
  

As the interiorCAD NC output always is based on workpieces, it will fail if there are no workpieces at all. There are two ways to get workpieces:

• Creating a workpiece manually, applying borings and grouping them together
• Creating an automated part layout based on a unit

To make the latter one more straightforward, we will move the part layout command from the menu »interiorCAD« to the menu »Shop« in interiorCAD 3.5.

interiorCAD is able to output NC programs for various different systems & machinery.

Each system or machine is described by a template file (a text file located in the folder Plug-Ins/XG Resources/NC-Export), which specifies how the different machinings are carried out on the machine. Though interiorCAD comes with some well preconfigured template files, it needs tweaking them to get the best output results.

Additionally, there is a tools file (a text file located in the folder Plug-Ins/XG Resources/NC-Export/Tools) for each template file. With the standard interiorCAD installation, the tools file has the same name as the template file. While the template file describes the syntax of a particular machine, the tools file contains information about the tools available.

If interiorCAD doesn't find a matching tool for a drilling, it automatically converts the drilling to a pocket.

Further documentation on tools files can be found in our Wiki. If you don't know the password, just click on the "interiorCAD manual" link on your desktop. It will open a web page where you can find the needed login information.

As interiorCAD is able to drive NC machines (VectorWOP - sold separately) and a lot of customers are interested in how it works from a VectorWorks perspective, here is a general overview how it works.

If you do a part layout of a unit, new layers will be created containing all parts of the unit as workpieces. If you select one, you will notice that each workpiece simply is a group. The group contains a rectangular or polygonal Board and the machinings like borings etc.

To create your own workpieces, select the dedicated tools from the palette CAM. Draw a board, add the machinings and group them together. This group now can be output for using it on the machine just like any other workpiece created by the automated part layout.

If you want to create parts with arbitrary shapes, the steps are the same. Draw a part and use the tool Polyline XG to create the desired shape. Enter the name of the moulder to use via the palette Object Info, where you will find a field Tool Info. The actual name to enter here depends on your machine configuration. Ask the guy who configured your NC output for the name. Add further machinings and group it all. The workpiece now is ready to be exported.

Most often, it is difficult to create arbitrary shapes using the tool Polyline XG. Instead, you may wish to use common VectorWorks techniques to create your polyline and convert it to a Polyline XG afterwards. Unsurprisingly, interiorCAD 3 offers exactly this feature. Use VectorWorks tools to create your shape. While it is selected, click on the menu Shop and choose the command Create NC-Polyline. Your shape will be converted and can now be added to an existing workpiece group or grouped together with a part as mentioned above.

Some important notes about converting arbitrary shapes to a Polyline XG:

• NC machines only can work on polylines which consist of lines and circular arcs. NC machines are even not able to create true ellipses but a approximation based on circular arcs. That is a commonly known limitation of the machines.
  
• Thus it is obvious what Create NC-Polyline is for: It analyses your shape and will then try to convert it to a polyline which the machine will accept.
  
• This means that any elements like beziers or elliptic shapes will be transformed to circular arcs.
  
• This can lead to shapes that slightly differ from your originally drawn shape. To avoid this, it is strongly recommended that you use lines and circular arcs to create your shape whenever possible. This way you can reduce the probability that your shape will change its form. A slightly changed form is not a problem if it is something like a table or counter top, but as soon as you have a matching counterpiece it can cause trouble.
  

Equipped with the above knowledge, interiorCAD makes it very easy to create arbitrary shaped workpieces. It can save you a lot of time: Instead of programming the shape step-by-step in the WOP software, use VectorWorks to create the shape, convert it to a Polyline XG, group it with a part and export it to your WOP software.

Starting with interiorCAD 3, it is possible to adjust the filenames of exported NC programs in various ways. NC filenames can include the Project ID (as specified in the �Project Details�), the item ID (as created in the �Project Details� and then assigned to the unit) and the part name.

Additionally, interiorCAD 3 supports machines which need specialized filenames (maybe a certain prefix followed by a consecutive number or even old-fashioned 8.3 DOS file names).

If you have special requirements concerning NC file naming please contact your local dealer or the interiorCAD support directly: interiorcad@extragroup.de.

This is the first post in a series of postings on new interiorCAD 3.0 features. interiorCAD 3.0 is currently in early beta-testing. If you are an interiorCAD 2.x customer and you love to live on the bleeding edge, please contact us at interiorcad@extragroup.de for participation in the interiorCAD 3 beta cycle.

When doing a part layout (e.g. in preparation of an NC export) there are some rules which define how interiorCAD 3.0 handles the dependency of mounting plates and the 32mm grid. The behaviour is as follows:

• If the boring depth for the mounting plates is less (or equal) than the depth for the 32mm grid, no separate borings for the mounting plates will be created. Instead, the 32mm grid will continue so the machine doesn't need to change its tool (see the leftmost part in the image)
• If the boring depth for the mounting plates is more than the depth for the 32mm grid, the 32mm grid will be discontinued and additional separate borings for the mounting plates will be created (see the middle part in the image)
• If the 32mm grid is placed deeper on the unit side than the borings for the mounting plates (in practice: more than 37mm), the 32mm grid doesn't get discontinued, so it is still possible to place boards behind a mounting plate (see the rightmost part in the image)

interiorCAD 2.0 features an set of 2D plug-in objects to assist with detailed 2D planning. Additionally those objects are used to prepare NC output. Check out the interiorCAD Borings palette:

It features boring details for drilling patterns, line borings, connectors, pins, screws, european-style concealed hinges etc. All these objects come with "built-in" dimensioning and lots of options for customizing their appearance.

As an added bonus, some objects are available in a (Distance) flavour, which comes in handy if you want to place a boring relative to a panel corner and have the boring object display dimensions relative to the panel corner.

Check it out!