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Digital. Experienced. Powerful. - 100% Tool Management

Uncategorised CAD Discussion > Anyone Here Using ViaCAD?
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  1. #1
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    Feb 2006
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    Anyone Here Using ViaCAD?

    I recently downloaded the trial version of ViaCAD. While there are things I like about it, there are things that are really infuriating as well. There appear to be some very basic functions that simply don't exist, and many others that are, to be kind, very squirrelly. Is it just me?

    Here are some examples:

    I import a DXF created in another CAD program, and try to create a 3D model from it. First, everything needs to be converted to polylines, before they can be extruded. OK, no problem. But now, when I try to extrude them, I get one of several errors: "Gaps detected in profile", or "Attempt to sweep zero length vector", or "Curves not planar". None of these is particularly informative, and which one I get depends on *where* I click on the profile.

    I've tried editing 3D objects, and the behavior seems really bizarre. For example, I have a solid object with a hole through it. I want to move the hole slightly. But, as soon as I select it, it's teleported to a completely different place within the object. If I try to move it along the X axis, it moves along the Z axis instead. It seems impossible to precisely place objects.

    If I create a complex object by subtracting one 3D object from another, it appears there is no way to edit that object again, without completely re-constructing it. Is this really true?

    There appears to be no way to quickly draw lines parallel to existing lines. There is a parallel line tool, but it seems to require you to click on the existing line, drag away from it, and the parallel line will then be placed wherever you stop dragging, which is not necessarily where you want it. You then have to edit the line to put it exactly where you want it. There appears to be no parallel drawing capability for curved lines at all.

    I've lost count of how many times one or more features have simply stopped working, requiring me to exit and re-start the program to get it back. In one case, I created a 3D object for which I could no longer display anything but a wire-frame, even after re-starting the program.

    The "documentation", as with most software these days, absolutely sucks, and even the menus and dialogs in the application often bear no resemblence to what's shown in the manual and tutorials! For example, is there really a way to make a section view? If so, I can't figure out how to make it work. I just get more gibberish error messages that give me no clue what the actual problem is. The menu option for creating a 2D drawing from a 2D object doesn't even exist!

    So far, it appears to be *almost* a nice package, but with so many quirks and missing, broken, or just badly implemented features as to render it almost unusable. I mostly like what they've done with select modes and snaps, but even those seem to have a random element to them.

    Regards,
    Ray L.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
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    1865

    Viacad

    Hi Ray,
    use Viacad 3d and absolutely love it.

    The gaps detected in profile comes from some programs not connecting the lines properly. When you try to extrude, you will see markers on the drawings showing where the problems are but they disappear in a few seconds. If you zoom in you can usually see what the problem is. I usually find the the line intesect but that there is a tail haning and you can't extrude something that has a loose end

    Curves not planar means that what you have selected is not a closed polygon or all of the curves are not in the same plane.

    Attempt to sweep zero length vector means that the line you have chosen as a direction and length is on the same plane as the vectors you are trying to extrude. This can be very trying as they do not explain very well how to actully pick a direction to extrude in.

    When using the parallel line tool, you just drag a line off of the existing line and then in the nice offset box that is there you just type in the distance from the first line that you want it to be, couldn't be easier.

    As far as I can tell there is not a parallel to a curve function but I have never noticed that and you can very easily do that by using selecting the arc tool of you choice, putting in the new arc radius?? and using the smart curser pick up the center of the arc and draw another curve. Use the trim tool to get the ends exactly where you want them.

    I don't do a ton with the 3d stuff, but I have not had any of the features stop working on me that I can remember.

    I am assuming that you want to go from 3d to 2d even though you typed 2d to 2d. There is a model to sheet function that may do what you want.


    The logic curser has settings that can change the distance at which they select. It is under preferences I believe.

    If the objects are too close together, I just use the mouse wheel to zoom in, it makes it easier to pick the right object. You should also be getting an ambiguity dialog box to ask which item you want to select if they are close together. ctrl-f will zoom all to fit the screen after you are done zooming in.


    The program is associative so you should be able to edit complex objects to your hearts content. The undo and redo buttons work here so you shouldn't be locked out of reediting a complex object that you have made.

    If you PM me a drawing that is giving you trouble, I would be glad to test it out here.

    I hope all of this helps.

    Mike.
    Warning: DIY CNC may cause extreme hair loss due to you pulling your hair out.

  3. #3
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    Dec 2004
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    I am sorry for all the typos in the last message but it is bed time and I really shouldn't type when I am sleepy.

    Mike
    Warning: DIY CNC may cause extreme hair loss due to you pulling your hair out.

  4. #4
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    Feb 2006
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    Mike,

    See below....

    Quote Originally Posted by TOTALLYRC View Post
    Hi Ray,
    use Viacad 3d and absolutely love it.

    The gaps detected in profile comes from some programs not connecting the lines properly. When you try to extrude, you will see markers on the drawings showing where the problems are but they disappear in a few seconds. If you zoom in you can usually see what the problem is. I usually find the the line intesect but that there is a tail haning and you can't extrude something that has a loose end

    Problem is, the path I'm trying to extrude is almost entirely obscured by other objects, so I see nothing indicating where the problem is. I then go in and trim all the segments, and it still doesn't work. I find if I select the entire path, do a "Convert Type" to polyline, I can then, usually, extrude *once*, then it goes back to complaining.

    Curves not planar means that what you have selected is not a closed polygon or all of the curves are not in the same plane.

    How can they not be co-planar when they're created in a 2D view? And why do I get a different error depending on which segment of the path I select?

    Attempt to sweep zero length vector means that the line you have chosen as a direction and length is on the same plane as the vectors you are trying to extrude. This can be very trying as they do not explain very well how to actully pick a direction to extrude in.

    I'm not entering a vector, I'm using distance mode....

    When using the parallel line tool, you just drag a line off of the existing line and then in the nice offset box that is there you just type in the distance from the first line that you want it to be, couldn't be easier.

    Actually, it could.... Other CAD programs all you have to do is click on the line you want to be parallel to. The distance is preset, so you can do many parallel lines by just doing click, click, click. Here it appears you MUST re-enter the dimension every single time.

    As far as I can tell there is not a parallel to a curve function but I have never noticed that and you can very easily do that by using selecting the arc tool of you choice, putting in the new arc radius?? and using the smart curser pick up the center of the arc and draw another curve. Use the trim tool to get the ends exactly where you want them.

    Again, this requires you to *know* the correct radius, and to manually type it in every time. Seems very cumbersome.

    I don't do a ton with the 3d stuff, but I have not had any of the features stop working on me that I can remember.

    I am assuming that you want to go from 3d to 2d even though you typed 2d to 2d. There is a model to sheet function that may do what you want.

    Model to Sheet is exactly the function I was looking for, but it was NOT located where the tutorial said. It seems to be accessible only through the toolbar, while the tutorial said it was on a non-existant menu.... I just tried it, and it created a mostly blank sheet with a few scattered lines on it, and seems to have disappeared my 3D object.....

    The logic curser has settings that can change the distance at which they select. It is under preferences I believe.

    If the objects are too close together, I just use the mouse wheel to zoom in, it makes it easier to pick the right object. You should also be getting an ambiguity dialog box to ask which item you want to select if they are close together. ctrl-f will zoom all to fit the screen after you are done zooming in.


    The program is associative so you should be able to edit complex objects to your hearts content. The undo and redo buttons work here so you shouldn't be locked out of reediting a complex object that you have made.

    How do I "undo" a 3D subtract? After the subtract, the part that was subtracted disappears, so how can I "put it back" or change the subtract after the fact?

    If you PM me a drawing that is giving you trouble, I would be glad to test it out here.

    I'll try to put together a few simple files to show the problems...

    I hope all of this helps.

    Mike.

  5. #5
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    Feb 2006
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    7063
    Mike,

    Making some progress. I'm getting better at extruding. Part of the problem is how I was selecting the paths to extrude. I was selecting all the segments one by one, which doesn't seem to work. If I turn off all other layers, then select all on the one I want, it works MUCH better.

    I was not seeing the "error" markers when there was a problem in a path. Turns out you need to be zoomed in pretty far for those to show up.

    Next problem: I'm trying to do an assembly. How do you flip/rotate a part to get it in the correct position to mate up to other parts?

    Regards,
    Ray L.

  6. #6
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    Dec 2004
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    Quote Originally Posted by HimyKabibble View Post
    Mike,

    Making some progress. I'm getting better at extruding. Part of the problem is how I was selecting the paths to extrude. I was selecting all the segments one by one, which doesn't seem to work. If I turn off all other layers, then select all on the one I want, it works MUCH better.

    I was not seeing the "error" markers when there was a problem in a path. Turns out you need to be zoomed in pretty far for those to show up.

    Next problem: I'm trying to do an assembly. How do you flip/rotate a part to get it in the correct position to mate up to other parts?

    Regards,
    Ray L.
    I have never actually done that before but it looks like you can use the rotate function on 3d objects. I just drew a quick cube and you can use the rotate function on it. I just used view menu to pick which side I wanted to start from and then rotated it to where I needed it.

    It would have been great to figure this out last month as I was given a drawing to quote but it kept coming to me drawn showing the side as the top and my cam program kept truing to do it like it came. If I have the drawing I will see if it works because I drew a part that way once and had to redraw it to get it to work.

    You are probably a much more advanced CAD user than I am since I never draw in layers, I just make different file for each "layer" and then put them all together in a different file if I need to see how it all looks.
    Right, adding layers to the list of things that I need to do.

    I don't use the parallel line function much and now that you mention it a sticky settable distance would be nice.

    As far as the curves go, it could be better but for $99 dollars I can let some of the smaller things slide.

    I tested Ashlar Vellum's Cobalt, but at $7k I think I can put up with having some of the things be a little cumbersome. Cobalt has an almost identical user interface since it is based on the same technology. I still have my version of Drawingboard light from the days when it was shareware. It was the early predecessor of Graphite and Cobalt. It is one of the reasons that I like Viacad as I am familiar with the user interface.

    I think that the pro version may have some of the more advanced things that you are looking for.
    Since you have pointed out some of the things that will be useful to me in the future, I am downloading the pro trial to see if it has the features you and I are looking for. At $250 the price is still in line with what I can afford and if it has better/more features that I need, then it is worth a look.

    When selecting items to extrude you have to select it all at once, either by dragging a window around the item you wish to extrude or by using the shift key and clicking on all the lines in an item. I find if you group a figure you can then just click on any part of it and it will be selected when extruding. Makes it much easier when working in close proximity to other objects.

    Today is the first time I did an extrusion by distance, much easier than by vector.

    It is true, you can teach an old dummy new tricks. LMAO, and it is a lot of
    a$$ to laugh off.

    Mike
    Warning: DIY CNC may cause extreme hair loss due to you pulling your hair out.

  7. #7
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    Feb 2006
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    Mike,

    I've made a lot of progress tonight, and got most of the assembly done. Some of the operations are kinda tricky - you really have to THINK about what you use as reference points, or things really go wonky. But, I'm starting to get the hang of it.

    Below is a "rough draft" of the assembly drawing for the BP quill drive I'm building.

    Regards,
    Ray L.
    Attached Files Attached Files

  8. #8
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    Dec 2004
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    1865
    Quote Originally Posted by HimyKabibble View Post
    Mike,

    I've made a lot of progress tonight, and got most of the assembly done. Some of the operations are kinda tricky - you really have to THINK about what you use as reference points, or things really go wonky. But, I'm starting to get the hang of it.

    Below is a "rough draft" of the assembly drawing for the BP quill drive I'm building.

    Regards,
    Ray L.
    I will take a look at it later today.
    I found the parallel to curve function. It is part of the trim sub menu and is called offset curve by distance. Silly place to put it but at least it is there.

    I am studying the pro trial and there is more option is the menus but I will reserve judgment until I actually do something in pro that I can't do in the regular 3d version.

    Mike
    Warning: DIY CNC may cause extreme hair loss due to you pulling your hair out.

  9. #9
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    Dec 2004
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    Hi Ray,
    I looked at the drawing of the spindle drive.
    Nice job on the drawing.

    I have been playing with the model to sheet and it works if you use the bet fit option when it asks for what scale. It also will puke if the drawing is beyond a certain point of complicated. I drew 6 different solids and it modeled them to sheet in about 15 secs.
    I have a drawing of a r/c car body and it just locks the program when I try to model it to sheet.

    As an aside, I have finally been able to get back into the shop and get some work done.
    At some point I will need the tool length offset macro using the knee. We talked about this briefly before and I am getting very close to having the knee drive done.
    Warning: DIY CNC may cause extreme hair loss due to you pulling your hair out.

  10. #10
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    Feb 2006
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    7063
    Quote Originally Posted by TOTALLYRC View Post
    Hi Ray,
    I looked at the drawing of the spindle drive.
    Nice job on the drawing.

    I have been playing with the model to sheet and it works if you use the bet fit option when it asks for what scale. It also will puke if the drawing is beyond a certain point of complicated. I drew 6 different solids and it modeled them to sheet in about 15 secs.
    I have a drawing of a r/c car body and it just locks the program when I try to model it to sheet.

    As an aside, I have finally been able to get back into the shop and get some work done.
    At some point I will need the tool length offset macro using the knee. We talked about this briefly before and I am getting very close to having the knee drive done.
    Well, we both need to wait on the macro. Believe it or not, it's not possible to do that with Mach3 right now. I'm working with Brian on defininf the new V4 VB functions, and we will probably re-vamp the whole toolchange process to make it more flexible, and definitely to support using the knee.

    Regards,
    Ray L.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by HimyKabibble View Post
    Well, we both need to wait on the macro. Believe it or not, it's not possible to do that with Mach3 right now. I'm working with Brian on defininf the new V4 VB functions, and we will probably re-vamp the whole toolchange process to make it more flexible, and definitely to support using the knee.

    Regards,
    Ray L.
    No real problem waiting on the macro.
    I am assuming that it will be part of the rev 4 rewrite.

    Mike
    Warning: DIY CNC may cause extreme hair loss due to you pulling your hair out.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by TOTALLYRC View Post
    No real problem waiting on the macro.
    I am assuming that it will be part of the rev 4 rewrite.

    Mike
    Mike,

    Correct. I expect to have a quill drive on my machine, hopefully in the next week. I *think* I'll be able to mickey-mouse something, by using a custom macro in place of G43. Ping me when you get your quill drive going, and I'll send you whatever I have at that time. Brian is working on the new VB code right now, so hopefully it won't be too long before we have at least a beta release of V4.

    Regards,
    Ray L.

  13. #13
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    Here's the completed model

    Regards,
    Ray L.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails untitled.PNG  

  14. #14
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    Nov 2012
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    Cool New to ViaCAD

    Hi,

    I am totally new to this wonderful software. I am a practitioner and educator of architecture and interior design, and have used other CADD softwares previously. I must say I am very impressed by ViaCAD. I have recently downloaded a trial version and contemplating to purchase the full version. However, I have a couple questions and would like someone to help me out. Can I teach this software to teach my ID students. Are there any interior design library of material and furniture? I also would like to know how and where can I access to set up layers? I thank you in advance

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