RobiNZ CAD Blog

The synergy of pen & touch

I first saw this video on Long Zheng’s blog a few days ago. Microsoft Research show how pen & touch can combine to be more than touch alone. While touch gestures like pinch, tap & drag can be good for changing view, tapping links or moving objects it’s far from what is needed for natural interaction. This hints at what a combination of the active digitiser stylus and touch can achieve. Lets hope we see it outside the lab and (hello Autodesk?) in our design applications.... Microsoft Research’s “Manual Deskterity” explores the synergy of pen & touch – istartedsomething Then... Read more →

AutoCAD 2011 justified in click and a tick: Ignore Missing SHX Files

Kate has blogged about a new AutoCAD feature that I’ve been waiting to see for years: LT Unlimited: Ignore Missing SHX Files How many times have you tried to open a drawing, only to be stopped short by a missing dialog… Most of the SHX infected files we have were not created by Autodesk products. Often survey data will have embedded SHX in points or linetypes that are nearly impossible to eradicate. The universal answer was “get the SHX” but often it’s not available, especially old projects. Even worse, if you did have the file it didn’t really help with... Read more →

Nothing to do with CAD, just WOW! - Boeing 787 Wing Load Test

Maybe living a long haul flight from just about everywhere results in an lifelong interest in aircraft design? Whatever the motivation, it’s worth clicking through to this post from Boeing to see the 787 Dreamliner wing/fuselage load test video. Just amazing technology and it can fly! Boeing Confirms Success on Ultimate Load Test [Click for Video] | 787 Dreamliner Flight Test April 7, 2010 - The wings were flexed upward by approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) during the test and the fuselage was pressurized to 150 percent of its maximum normal operating condition. Read more →

Autodesk 2011 Events: Virtual and closer to home

I guess if it’s on Twitter…! Below is our, rather lovely, view of the Auckland CBD from work. Next week I have the opportunity to go there and hear about the Autodesk 2011 releases. It couldn’t be much closer, for me, but if there isn’t an Autodesk 2011 event near you try this virtual one. There are sessions for an array of Autodesk Platforms (AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor & Entertainment) and AEC, Engineering and Entertainment client sessions in a virtually packed day: Join Me for the Autodesk Seize the Opportunity Virtual Event! - Lynn Allen's Blog Join me [Lynn Allen] for... Read more →

Revit User Group Manawatu - Notice of April Meeting

5.30pm, Wednesday 7th April 2010 @ Square edge fx2 theatre, Ground Floor to the rear of Square Edge Gallery, The Square, Palmerston North Thanks to Kiwicodes you could WIN a one year subscription for a single license of NZS3604 Calculator, Bracing calculator and element renumber worth over $600 as the door prize on the night! Be sure to bring a business card with you to be in the draw. Meeting feature Presenter: Kiwicodes Format for the evening will be; 5:30pm - Drinks, nibbles and chit chat session. 6:00pm - Welcome and introductions PRESENTATIONS: 6:10pm A look into Revit Structure &... Read more →

Back to the CAD Blog, the old dog, new tricks?

Ok, that post did go live on April 1 and I admit thought there might have been more reaction to RobiNZ Revit Blog. It wasn’t really an April Fool as it wasn’t all false. I do now own AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite but firmly subscribe to picking the best Computer Aided DESIGN tool that gets the job done. I can’t imagine not having access to the AutoCAD (actually AutoCAD Architecture) box of tricks but likewise wouldn’t want to be without Revit. However with both (and 3ds Max Design) life is Suite, I mean sweet!* So the blog name has reverted... Read more →

Revit 2011 UI: Ribbon renovation and some AutoCAD’isation?

Revit 2011 brings a mixture of platform and, yes again, User Interface changes. Some are small while others bring major, and welcome, changes to modelling and workflow when sharing files. I'll deal with the UI first as it think its the first change users will notice when switching to 2011. It's the Ribbon, but not as you know it The ribbon is still there but has had a major overhaul. In response to “user feedback”, to be polite, the layout has been revised. Once editing objects you’ll find Select, Properties, Clipboard, Geometry and Modify commands have a static location at... Read more →

New ways to search RRB

A new TypePad feature has prompted me to update the search panels which live in the right hand column of my blog. “Search” uses a new TypePad engine and will return results from the blog. It can be sorted for “Best Match” or “Most Recent” and generates a RSS Feed for future results of the search term. “Web Search” uses Google or Bing with web or site options. Read more →

From RobiNZ CAD Blog to RobiNZ Revit Blog

Occasionally I change the banner on this blog. Usually it’s just an excuse to show some photography but this month is different. The banner is completely new, the photo carefully chosen to mark the end of a long an winding road. It’s been, but doesn’t seem, a long time since April 2001 when I first met Phil Read in NZ and he showed me some remarkable software. Seeing the registration dialog below, for the first time on my own PC rather than a work one, means it’s time to acknowledge the change. Although I’m not an Architect I’m now a... Read more →