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Varitronics E-Newsletter - Issue 4

Welcome to Issue 4 of our new e-newsletter. Please write us with any ideas on what other info you would find helpful and call if we can help you in any way. The changes that Autodesk has made with their new 3D focused products are very powerful, but represent a significant shift in how work is done. Changes are always hard. In this issue we wanted to provide resources for each stage individuals and organizations will need to go through on this major transition which over time will affect many if not all of our customers. Don't miss out on the chance to win a 1GB USB Memory stick by answering the puzzle below.

AutoCAD and Visualization - or "I got it, how do I use it?"

Phase 1 - Laying the Groundwork

What "visualization" means depends on your field of specialty, but there are some common elements that cut across disciplines.
The first important (and perhaps overlooked) factor is the importance of squeaky clean drawings on which to begin the visualization process. This means setting and really following company standards for layers, entities, materials and attributes. It is quite common for many drawings to have arrays of entities piled on top of each other with poor layering practices and sloppy line work.
These tend to cause all kinds of problems on their own, but make visualization and 3D impossible.
Phase 1 Resources:
Overview of CAD Standards, an Article on Styles, an Article on the Importance of Standards, a Webcast on Best Practices in Visualization and a a PDF on the competitive advantages of going to 3D.

Phase 2 - Foster Understanding

Next there is a need to familiarize yourself with the new tools, their requirements and their impact on your workflow. At this stage it is wise to read targeted white papers, gather useful libraries and review new standards. By gathering and reviewing resources you will be better prepared, both mentally for the process changes, as well as with the materials needed for actual implementation.
Phase 2 Resources:
Introductory Web-cast on Civil 3D, some introductory web-casts on Revit, and a series of videos on Inventor.
An ongoing set of blog entries by Heidi Hewett on transitioning from 2D to 3D series: 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106.
The official Autodesk libraries for Revit, Inventor Parts and Civil 3D.
And last some free and paid 3D Models, a few more free 3D models, some free textures, and some high quality paid models and textures.

Phase 3 - In Depth Training and Implementation

Obviously, this is the most difficult and variable portion of this progression of change. In terms of rolling out the new tools the best approach frequently is to pick a smaller project, and make the jump to 3D only within that small project and only after all team members have had training. Even in this case however, it is important not to do so as an absolute. Sometimes there will be a need to explode a Civil 3D or other object type. Just make sure it is only done with full understanding under an "ask before you explode" policy if at all possible. Also make sure new additions to the library get folded back in to your standard library so it evolves rather than becomes different for every project.
If you are part of a larger organization you will be dependant on many other resources for implementing the change, but this does not mean you should neglect your preparations. Better to make yourself a real agent of change.
No matter whether you are big or small, remember to measure progress with any metric you can find. The first project or two might not show drastic improvement but over time the metrics will show how well the new tool (and your team) is really performing and you will have the numbers to back it up.
Phase 3 Resources:
Varitronics Classes in 3D (currently available for January 16,23,30 or February 5,12,19)
General Visualization Tutorials, and some tutorials on VIZ.

Recent AutoDesk Patches and Updates

AutoCAD 2007 Hotfix - OLE Error :Posted 11/20/06
AutoCAD 2007 Hotfix - Closing Drawings :Posted 10/19/06
Autodesk Map 3D 2007 Service Pack 3 :Posted 10/12/06

Cool Tool - OGLE - 3D Capture with OpenGL

Beyond the free 3D resources mentioned above, there is another open source method of gathering your own. It is a software tool called OGLE and it can help you capture nearly any 3D model that your graphics card is currently rendering. It works by observing the data flowing between 3D applications and the system's OpenGL library, and recording that data in a standard 3D file format. In other words, a 'screen grab' or 'view source' operation for 3D data.
You can check out what applications it has been tested with and other information here.









AutoCAD Command Puzzle Contest

We are going to be mailing out three SanDisk Micro 1GB USB memory sticks to the first three people that can solve the following puzzle and email the correct answer to Jack. It's a bit obscure so you may have to dig a little.

How do you directly measure the angle between two intersecting lines with one command, WITHOUT using a Dimension command?

Quick Tips

Rather than an onslaught of traditional tips, we like to start with the problem. That way you can quickly target solutions that are relevant to your problems.

Receive drawings from an external source, however the layering methods and drafting standards used in the drawings do not match your own?
Use the Layer Translator tool to transform the color, linetype, and the layer name itself from one drawing to match the layer settings of a template or model drawing.
Wrestling with the options when modifying a 3D solid?
Press CTRL while you drag to toggle through move, rotate or scale of subobjects (faces,edges and verticies).

If you have a question on the above or a tip you are willing to share, please email it to Jack as he is always on the lookout for the best way to do things.