May Reviews

• Workstation Performance: Tomorrow's Possibilities - Ever since digitization became commercially viable in the 1970s, one thing has remained constant: Hardware performance never seems to match our growing need to maximize productivity by working faster with less effort. This is true whether your first CAD system was MEDUSA on a Prime 2250 or Inventor 2008 on a Dell PC.

• 3D Without Glasses - The first time I used a 3D monitor was at the end of the nineties. The problem was that to see the 3D image clearly I had to sit directly in front of the screen and even then it gave me an absolutely massive headache. With Philips' new WOWvx 3D display you don't have to sit directly in front of the screen and it doesn't give you a massive headache.

May Articles

• Advanced solid modeling: LOFT - With AutoCAD 2008, 3 dimensional drawing capabilities have increased dramatically. From now on, it is possible to draw helix and spiral. Moreover, it is also possible to use these entities as PATH, so that you can drag different profiles along them and create new 3 dimensional entities. By this way, main disadvantage of AutoCAD against Microstation™ has been overcome, thus now it is possible to draw screws or similar 3 dimensional entities. Besides, LOFTING has been added to the program as of the 2007 version, which was possible in 3D Studio for years but not possible in AutoCAD. In this article, I will try to explain LOFT command to you by giving two examples.

• 3D Modeling 5: POLYSOLID POLYSOLID is probably one of the most useful tools for creating 3D solid entities. It is available since AutoCAD 2007. By using this command, you can draw solid entities that are in forms of polylines that have constant width and height very fast, just like using the POLYLINE command. The most useful way of using POLYSOLID command is drawing a 3D wall.

• Creating Standards, Part 1 - What is a Standard?
A standard is really just a way to use software to get a desired result.

• Setting Text Height in Dimensions - Where to set the text height for a dimension style. This has long been a source of confusion for AutoCAD users.

• Introduction to AutoCAD 3D - You actually draw in 3D in AutoCAD without being aware of it.

• 3DROTATE - Those who make drawing in 3D by AutoCAD may want to rotate objects also out of Z axis.

3D Models

There are millions of 3D models available in AutoCAD and LD Assistant DWG format. We have picked a few of the best websites for you to choose your models.

• 3D Lighting Design Models by Design & Drafting - Lighting Fixtures, Truss, Tents, Furniture and Sound Cabinets.

• 3D Models - 3D CAD Browser is the online 3D CAD model exchange system. On their web site you can download high-quality 3D models and upload yours for exchange.

• 3D CAFE 3D Models - 3D Cafe is the World's Largest Provider of Free 3D Models.

• 3D Content Central - 3D ContentCentral® is a free service for locating, configuring, downloading, and requesting 3D parts and assemblies.

• Mr. Furniture - Large collection of 3D furniture and furnishing 3D models including free 3D models for download.

• ARCAT - Over 14,000 building product CAD drawings that can be freely downloaded in DWG and DXF formats that can be used in AutoCAD.

• MAX4OBJECTS - Free 2D and 3D architecture Detail Models and objects.

• CADOPOLIS -Huge collection of AutoCAD Details for CAD construction details, both residential and commercial.

On the Mississippi River for a week of well deserved R&R

This year our programmers and office staff will be on the Mississippi River for a week of well deserved R&R.

* Please note that the Design & Drafting offices will be closed from June 1 through June 8th*.

Design & Drafting NEWS

• LIVE over the internet demos - Our unique technology allows for YOU to view a live-action demo or tutorial on YOUR monitor in your office environment. Get answers to YOUR questions quickly and completely! Click here to sign up for a live demo.

• Download a Free Copy of Design Review by Autodesk - Autodesk® Design Review software streamlines your design review process with simple tools to review, mark up, and track changes to 2D and 3D designs.

• DWG TrueView™ - Download the free DWG TrueView™ AutoCAD design viewer to view, plot, and publish DWG and DWF files--now with TrueConvert functionality to convert any AutoCAD-based file for compatibility.

• Most of Autodesk software is Free to Students. - The Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Communityprovides free* Autodesk design software and resources to help students get started in their careers and become leaders in the next generation of design. Check out student profiles, and see how students in the community are taking advantage of Autodesk’s educational resources. • Design & Drafting offers a student version of LD assistant for registered students enrolled in Universities. Review our policies on student licensed software at LD Assistant EDU