Tuesday, March 19, 2024

VariCAD 2022-2.0 Released for Windows, Linux

LIBEREC, Czech Republic, Jul 15, 2022 – VariCAD announces the release of a new version of its flagship product, VariCAD 2022-2.0. The new version contains mainly smart dimensioning. This feature allows you to make dimensions of entire 2D drawing practically within one command, without a necessity to click any icons. Apart from this, there are numerous changes inside the system. These changes are made in regard to increasing stability.

The new version contains:

Creating of Various Types of Dimensions

Running smart dimensioning, you have to select a first location or a 2D object. If you select an end-point, mid-point or circular quadrant, then the system presumes that you are about to create a horizontal, vertical or aligned dimension. In the next step, you have to select the second location and dimension is created.

If you select a line in the first step (without detection of an end-point or mid-point), and a second line, then you create an angular dimension. If the selected lines are parallel, you create an aligned dimension perpendicular to the lines – a distance between them is dimensioned.

If you select an arc (without detection of any points), a radius dimension is created. Similarly, selecting a full circle creates a diameter dimension.

After the dimension is located, you can select the first location or object again, until you interrupt the dimensioning by ESC, step back or by calling any other command. Smart dimensioning is conveniently inserted into a pop-up menu which appears, if you click outside any 2D object.

Angle of Created Linear Dimensions

If two locations are selected, the system creates a horizontal, vertical or aligned dimension. If both locations are on a horizontal or vertical line, a horizontal or vertical dimension is obviously created. Otherwise, the dimension is switched between horizontal and vertical, according to the cursor location. If you need to create a dimension under angle, there are multiple methods how the angle can be determined.

The most convenient method is to press and hold the Ctrl key and move the cursor over a line, axis or other dimension. When an object is detected, then the angle of the created dimension is changed according to the object. If the angle is already defined, you can turn it off by Ctrl key again. Press and release the Ctrl key outside any 2D object and the fixed angle is turned off.

The angle can be defined also by right-clicking any line. You can select from the pop-up menu whether the angle is aligned along the line or perpendicularly to it. Also, you can click a corresponding icon in the temporary tool-bar and select alignment from the menu.

Sometimes, the system can automatically determine the angle of the dimension. It is, if you create a dimension of a section of hole (the dimension is aligned according to hole axis), or if you select an axis or a point of it. Then, it is presumed that the dimension should be perpendicular to the axis (something else does not make sense in 2D drawing).

Selecting Arcs, Circles or Lines

To prevent detection of end-points, press and hold Shift key while selecting a first location (or object). End-points, mid-points or circle quadrants are not detected, so you can always create radius dimensions, diameter dimensions, angular dimensions or chamfer dimensions.

Dimensioning of Chamfers

Chamfer is detected, if you hold Shift key and select a line corresponding to a chamfer. Then, selection of a second location is skipped and the dimension text contains predefined distance x 45 degrees. Chamfer created under angle different than 45 degrees is not detected, you have to change the dimension text manually.

Predefined Dimension Texts

If you select two locations corresponding to a cylindrical surface, the dimension is automatically aligned perpendicular to the cylinder axis and the text contains a prefix of diameter. The same happens if the locations correspond to threaded surfaces. The dimension text contains predefined thread description – diameter, pitch and thread type.

Predefined thread text is inserted, if the 2D objects are created by exporting of a 3D view and the 3D object is a threaded surface. Predefined diameter is inserted, if the 2D objects are exported from a 3D cylindrical surface, or if they are created by 2D command “shaft”. Predefined diameter is detected only, if 2D was created in version 2022-2.0 or later. Diameter dimensions contain predefined diameter prefixes, unless the circle is a 3D axial view of a thread. Then, the dimension contains the thread description.

Aligning Dimensions According Each Other

Locating a dimension, you can align it according to any other dimension. Then, the dimension can be in the same line, or parallel to the selected dimension. All you have to do is to move the cursor over the insertion point of the selected dimension. For horizontal, vertical or aligned dimensions, it is the lower left point of the dimension text. For angular dimension, it is the lower center point. After detection of the text level, transient construction lines are created. Any of them is activated (highlighted), if the cursor is moved to the same level of the selected dimension, or above or under the level, at a distance of defined pitch between parallel dimensions. Clicking while the transient line is highlighted, you insert the new dimension exactly aligned according to another one.

By default, the transient lines are created automatically when a new dimension is inserted – they are at the same level of it, and parallel at a distance between dimensions. Consequently, you can locate dimensions immediately as chain dimensions or parallel dimensions.

The transient lines are created under the angle of the created dimension. Obviously, you can align the dimension according to another one, if they are under the same angle. For angular dimensions, there are transient circles created instead of lines.

Behavior of these transient lines is exactly the same, as transient lines created at a first point of poly-line, multi-line or transient lines created at the center of 2D coordinates. You can align the dimension according to another one, if they have the same style – distance between a dimension line and the text, and as mentioned above, the same angle (for angular dimensions, the same center).

Selecting Previous Locations – Dimensions in Chain and Parallel Dimensions

To create chain dimensions or parallel dimensions easily, you have to use transient lines left by the previously inserted dimension. But you should select the first location again. For dimensions in a chain, the first location is the second location of the previous dimension. For parallel dimensions, the first location is shared by all such dimensions. To prevent exact selection of the location again, you can press and hold Ctrl key and move the cursor toward one or another side, till the arrow mark points where you need. Then release the Ctrl key and the desired location is selected.

Aligning Dimensions According to Existing 2D Objects

Sometimes, you may need to create dimensions in convenient distance from existing 2D objects. Especially, if you create dimensions in a chain. If you right-click a 2D object, preferably at a highlighted location, select insertion of transient lines from the pop-up menu – the lines are created above and under the location, at a distance defined between dimensions (in case of horizontal dimension, in this example).

To evaluate a free 30-day license, download it here.

About VariCAD

Founded in 1994, VariCAD today has long-time experience in developing CAD systems. Since its inception, the company has focused on solutions tailored to meet the needs of mechanical engineers. Today, our team provides software and services to customers from over 70 countries around the world. Our employees share VariCAD’s commitment to helping mechanical engineers design easier and faster. The software VariCAD is a powerful, yet inexpensive 3D/2D CAD system for mechanical engineering. For more information, visit http://www.varicad.com/en.

Nitin Patil
Nitin Patil
Editor and Director of Content, DailyCADCAM.com. Nitin completed his Master's in Mass Communication & Journalism and having 13 years of work experience as an editor, content writer with renowned international technical magazines and media companies. He is associated with CAD,CAM industry since 2008.
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