Mike Twining

Lets not forget that 8.0 PU1 was coming out before Christmas, and PU2 (is/was) coming out on Feb 3rd (and that was from a reliable source; no offence to your little bird there). I'd take every future release date with a grain of salt...until its here there is no point anticipating any release dates...

I'm no expert, but it looks like you may have some hardware conflicts... (mainly that PC conflicting with the BFH that was used on it).

Well, if you were smart enough to give ol' Mr. Gates the finger, then your variables could be automatically set using the autoexec.bat file, or you could type it into the C:\> prompt (if you are still using DOS, my guess is that you do a lot of typing at the prompt), but you would likely also need to modify your config.sys file to make a custom entry for running IronCAD, such that you could meet the memory requirements (ahhh...the days of Himem.sys...)....but my guess is that your problems would not end there... ...now if you can get IronCAD to run on DOS, you could probably get it to run in Linux! C:\> format c: /s

....errr... for those of you who have upgraded beyond Win 95/98, those enviornment variables can be set on a per-user or per system (Win 2K/XP) basis by the following: -Right Click on "My Computer" -Select "Properties" -Goto the "Advanced" Tab -Select "Enviornment Variables" (at the bottom of that tab) Users can set their own variables, but only Administrators can set system variables.

What is the default kernel of your part, and what is the precision on your drawing view (i.e. Draft mode, or Precise mode)? If they aren't already set to 'em, change the default model kernel to Parasolid, and make sure the drawing is set to "Precise Mode" and give her another try. In my experience, this is the best combination of model and drawing settings such that all the lines come out right and all the geometry that *SHOULD* be dimensionable is...

Yikes! I guess its time to upgrade back to 8.0.

I am having a little trouble trying to set some line properties. I have a view which I would like to add to (using "Edit View" and drawing directly onto the view). I would like to have some lines hidden, some lines phantom, and some lines solid. It seems that no matter which line I pick to set the properties for, all the lines which have been added using the "Edit View" command end up using the same property (whatever I set it to last...either by changing the "Style" or the "Linetype"). Is it possible anymore to have different linetypes in this manner, and if so, what simple thing am I not doing in order to get them? Thanks!

...and if you want the circle on your fake item bubble, take the Text with Leader, delete the text, and drop in an item bubble from your handy-dandy (self created) drawing catalog (something like what you would find here).

Just out of curiosity, what do 'yall keep in your drawing catalog? I feel like I need some more tricks in my bag. Heres what I got: 1. "Fake" Detail Circle (when you want to use an AUX view instead of a true Detail) 2. Drawing Tree Box 3. Flag Note w/ Text 4. "Fake" Item Bubble w/Text 5. Cut Pipe Ends (can be dropped directly INTO a view and scale to 1 in.) 6. "Fake" Section Aarows (used to take non-cutting side views of large models...) 8.1_Drawing.icc

I can't decide if the 2D just plain sucks, or if the 3D is sooo good (easy) in comparison that it totally shadows the 2D and warps people opinion of it. Its like a swiss army knife with 200 different cutting tools, but no phillips screwdriver (an incredible tool, with pretty obvious limitations). In IC's defense, there have been some really good 2D improvements over the last couple of releases (in performance and functionality). Sure, there might be a few really usefull items that have been overlooked (and overlooked.... and overlooked), but we are getting new toys in 3D (i.e. mechanism mode...has anyone used that for something work related yet, or is it just a marketing tool?). Now, if I were the IronChief, I would take the IC 9x release and ONLY work on 3D bug fixes, and 2D enhancements. Someone needs to bring balance to IronCAD, and that needs to be done through the 2D. I guess the paperless society has gone the way of Y2K, so you IronDudes need to just get used to it... your not going to be able to ditch the 2D anytime soon. In the end, no matter how many little tricks I need to do in order to complete a design (i.e. produce a 2D drawing package), I think at least Dave will agree with me, "at least I don't have to use Solid Works".

...well... it looks as if BOM Templates that appear in drawing templates have "issues". When a new drawing file is opened from a template which contains a BOM template, they Styles information for the BOM headder row gets hosed (I'm pretty sure that is the technical term for it).

I like to keep a nice clean drawing template. The upgrade to 8.1 threw some swill into the templates I use, and required some cleanining and polishing (linetypes & styles). Are there any changes to the BOM items that may persuade me to re-create or clean the BOM templates that I was using for 8.0, or can I go on being my lazy self and do nothing?

Sure. First you need to make a template. Open a new blank drawing, set the size to A (and set any other proerties in the drawing that you will want every time), and save the file in your ...\IronCAD8\Template\Drawing\[ANSI/ISO...] folder. All the files in that folder will appear when you choose to open a new file. You can set your new drawing default to be any template (i.e. any existing .icd file) you want. Simply choose File->New->Drawing (you need to use the file menu...not the new drawing icon) and search through the available templates till you find the file you just saved. Before you hit OK, make sure you press the button "Use this as my default template" button at the bottom. Next time you open a new file, it will use your new blank A for the default. ...now that I think about it, you could always open up the blank drawing template (located in the folder above), change the size to A and save the file again... but that just seems too easy.

1. In 2D, the new styles & layers... what the heck is a "Carline"?

...uh... my .tbc file was deleted. I could have kept it, but with "reduced functionality". Edit: Wait... wait... somehow all my keyboard shortcuts are still there... NICE!

I think that is a great tip.... that thing has been dangerous since its inception. Even without external links, back in the IC6,7 days I attributed plenty of crashes/unexpected exits/memory errors/failed to save errors... to the section tool. Beware!

You can create/modify any of the existing sheetmetal parameters by editing the "tooltbl.txt" file located in the ...\IronCAD\IronCAD8\ApplicationData folder. The instructions are written within the file at the top. I would HIGHLY recommend making a backup copy of the file before you go and edit it, just in case. Enjoy.

What year? ... just kidding... someone had to ask.

Can I get one that can do Engineering and still has the ability to talk to the ladies?

IK- Go back into the CAD cave there and throw a couple candy canes their way... I want happy elves programming my PU1, not disgruntal near-postal elves. Once you see some smiles, you can close & lock the door again.

Tom- I think you want the first option.... the second one will have the "stitch" in the wrong plane. Go Polar, Go "Degrees", set your radius (first expression) to the stitch radius, and set the second expression (height) to something like: [stitch height]*sin([# of stitches]*t) With that being said, there is something extremely wacky going on with the interpritation of trig equations...I think a bug report is in order here.

Not sure if I understand your geometry correctly or not tom (something like a wavy washer?), but it sounds like you need to switch to polar coordinates, change the first available "expression" to a constant (the radius) and set the Z (height) to some trig function (i.e. sin([# "bumps"]*t) (see the sin washer attachment). Of corse, if you are trying to get the line on a sphere (not a cylinder), then your Radius equation will need some more thought.... And the more times I read you post, the more I think I gave you bum info. If you want the thing to be planar, but have a "sine wave following a circle" type geometry, do something like the second attachment (flat sin washer)....the radius equation becomes: "[radius]+[bump amplitude]*sin([# of bumps]*t)"

There goes the neighborhood! Bring in your kids. J/k! Nice work on the comeback!

Don't know if you also saw it, but you can make your own "Custom" Properties on the "IronCAD Custom" tab and link to those as well. You will have to manually enter in the "$PRPDrawing:IC-"[Property Name] mumbo-jumbo into the drawing textbox though. Additionally, any additional sheets you insert can link to those custom properties as well. You might have noticed a "Sheets" custom property (set to 2). I have this called out on a different "continuation sheet" template so I only need to change the number of total sheets 1 place for all sheets to update correctly ( i.e. the "Y" in "Sheet X of Y")... now if I could only get the sheets to figure out the "X" part....

For Revisions, you might try using a BOM template (something like the one in the file attached). Only annoyance I have with it is that new lines are inserted ABOVE the last line (on a top-down BOM) as opposed to below (requiring a little cut/paste action). As for the title block info, we stick everything in the "file Properties" of the drawing. To edit various items (Author, Title, Drawing #, etc...) we go to the File-> Properties menu and go from there. It seems to work pretty well. Just something to consider if nobody bites on the macro. Some_Template.icd