The Mad Cadder

Are Blueprints Really Dead

Very interesting article from Shaan Hurley about the current state of blueprints in the office, shop floor and in the field.

Are Blueprints Really Dead

Add-ons for AutoCAD, Revit and other Autodesk software

Autodesk is the workd leader of 2D and 3D design software. Their most popular programs are AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor and 3DS Max. 

Many people are unaware that Autodesk has created the "Autodesk Exchange Store" which provides free and paid add-ons (apps).

So before you program your own tool or hire a programmer to create an add-on/plug-in goto: http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/.

 

 

Stop Staff from Modifying the acad.cui

Here is a great article from AUGI - Matt Worland.

It talks about not customizing the acad.cui but creaing a partial .cui file. Also, take the standard acad.cui file, place it on the server and map it as the Enterprise CUI.

On top of all this, use a profile to push these settings to the rest of the staff in your office.

Link: AUGI - Enterprice CUI

Which version of AutoCAD should you load?

Every year Autodesk releases a new version of AutoCAD but, should you install it right away?

Through my experiences as a CAD Manager and now as a Application Specialist my suggestion is to wait for the 3rd release of the current file format. What does this mean? Since the 2004 version there has been 3 file format relased which include 2004, 2007 and 2010. 

AutoCAD 2004, 2005 and 2006 are all release 2004 format.

AutoCAD 2007, 2008 and 2009 are all release 2007 format.

AutoCAD 2010, 2011 and 2012 are all release 2010 format.

The version with the least amount of bugs and fastest is always the 3rd release. Therefore, in the past I have always suggest loading either 2004, 2007 and now I suggest 2012.

For a CAD Manager this means that a complete overhaul of AutoCAD will happen every 3 years. This also allows for better budgeting of software.

It is always best if every user in the office is working on the same version.

And above all, create a customized company CUI file that can be carried forward through to the new releases. If you are still living in the world of MNU, MNS, MNC it time to learn CUI.

 

Displaying the current profile in the status bar

When using AutoCAD MEP or AutoCAD Architecture it is always important to open a version that preloads the correct profile. For example, when AutoCAD MEP is installed it automatically loads an imperial and metric profile with 2 preset desktop icons.

The challenge for a user is to make sure they have the correct version open when working on a DWG. If you are working on an imperial dwg you should open the imperial version of MEP.

To help users understand which version (current profile) is currently open without resorting to checking the profile in the OPTIONS, the following steps can be used to display the version in the status bar like this:

 

Instructions:

 

You will need to modify the acad2012doc.lsp file in AutoCAD MEP. Look for a similar .lsp file in AutoCAD and AutoCAD Architecture

 

1.       Locate and open the acad2012doc.lsp file in Notepad. In my computer the file is located at: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD MEP 2012\Support

2.       Scroll to the end.

3.       Add this variable as the last line item:  (setvar "modemacro" (getvar "cprofile"))

 

 4. Save the file 

Convert a drawing from STB to CTB

When starting a new drawing in AutoCAD, the user can choose from a variety of templates (DWT) that are loaded with the program. Most users are taught to start with the ACAD.DWT file which is a color-dependent plot style template(CTB). It contains not preloaded layers or styles. There are also a number of named plot style templates (STB) to choose from. A drawing can use either named or color-dependent plot styles, but not both.

The difference....a CTB is based on colors. A color = pen wieight. This is the most common type of plot style and very popular in the architectural and building engineering industries. A STB  based drawing uses words that are assigned to layers or objects instead of colors. For example, THICK = 0.02mm. In other words, the color of objects in a STB drawing does not control pen weight for plotting. It is controlled by the "name" assigned to it.

Here's the big issue. When plotting a STB drawing you will not be able to select your company's traditional CTB pen weight in the drop-down list. The plot dialog box will only display CTB or STB plot styles.

To convert a STB to a CTB:

1. Open the STB based drawing

2. On the command line type the variable: CONVERTPSTYLES

3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

To convert a CTB to a STB:

1. Open the CTB based drawing.

2. On the command line type the variable: CONVERTCTB

3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

 

Tool Palettes

If I can give some a word of advice to aspiring and existing CAD managers....TOOL PALETTES. Learn, create, maintain and enforce them. By moving your existing block library to a shared tool palette it will help enforce CAD standards and assimilate new employees into the company's CAD world. You can also create objects that are preset to specific layers, linetypes.....etc.

The sky is the limit for what can be added to palettes. Start using them now and migrate to every new release of AutoCAD.

AutoCAD 2011 New Feature - Isolate or Hide Object

This function has been available in AutoCAD Architecture and MEP for many years but it has now found its way into regular AutoCAD. It allows the user to control the display of objects by isolating or hiding a selection set.

This has nothing to do with layers. You can either individually select or window select objects to be isolated or hidden.

Learn how to use Isolate Object or Hide Object: Isolate or Hide Object Video

Does AutoCAD take advantage of a Multi-Core Processor ?

When it comes to AutoCAD, it does not take too much advantage of multi-core processors like a Dual Core or Quad Core. AutoCAD uses the power of a single core but there is a system variable called WHIPTHREAD that can be adjusted to use multi-core for specific functions. WHIPTHREAD lets AutoCAD use the other processors  to improve the performance of regeneration and redraws for commands such as ZOOM.

The default value for WHIPTHREAD is 1. See image below for a description of each value.

 

Excellent MEP Blog

Credit goes out to William "Billy" Wright for starting a much needed AutoCAD and Revit MEP (Mechanical Electrical Plumbing) blog. I encourage people that are not familiar with AutoCAD and Revit MEP to take a look.

In my opinion, BIM (Building Information Modelling) is the future of design and drafting for the MEP industry and Revit MEP is a great application to do so.

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