Wasn’t it some high up chap at AutoCAD who said a few years ago that BIM was a solution looking for a project, I’m sure I’ve got the quote a little wrong, but I think I’ve captured the essence. I agreed with him, any professional worth his salt would be implementing BIM in their projects years before it was given a name.
Now, of course, the name is all over the construction industry and with a name, comes a price. Every piece of software to do with the industry has now got to be BIMed. I’ve read some really daft claims by software publishers trying to out-BIM other software and some new made up words – just what we need. Continue Reading →

New Owners for SketchUp

To many people’s surprise, myself included, Google recently announced that the SketchUp business has been acquired by Trimble. I have spoken to Tom Wyman of SketchUp and he is very excited that this is a move in the right direction for SketchUp. Trimble have taken on the whole SketchUp team and they will still be based in Boulder, Colorado. So there is to be no huge overnight change in direction, rather, I’d guess, a slow refining and developing of tools to make them more focused towards certain disciplines.

The SketchUp community has been growing steadily over the years and picking up speed. It’s a package that looks on the face of it quite simple and is therefore easy to get going with, but reveals hidden abilities the more you use it. For builders and interior designers needing to pitch for work or needing to make presentations, it’s a must have package.

Trimble has committed to investing in the growth of SketchUp Pro and I’m sure will continue to develop new and innovative products for its’ users. Trimble is a huge business with ongoing projects all over the world, I can see them taking a very pragmatic approach to the development of SketchUp and the professional product being greatly enhanced, which will be good news for all users.

So, in conclusion, I see this as a positive move for SketchUp. Trimble’s involvement will bring a wealth of solid practical experience that will help develop SketchUp into a tool even more in demand than it is at present.

Paul

The TurboCAD manuals have just come in, they are bigger than ever, but the text is more spaced out, allowing room for notes. They can be ordered from the shop (click here), priced £33.60, most of the cost is postage.

Paul

Just a quick introduction on how the new SMesh Tool works in v19

Paul

TurboCAD LTE
For those of you out there that have been using AutoCAD for years and are questioning why you need to pay such a high price for such a simple CAD package, you now have the option of going over to TurboCAD LTE. This comes as TurboCAD LTE and a Professional version. The standard LTE, with very few exceptions, does everything that AutoCAD LT does, plus is rather more useful in areas such as file compatibility. It opens nine file formats as opposed to AutoCAD’s four and saves in twelve as opposed to AutoCAD’s six. So it’s more than an AutoCAD LT® work-alike. It’s the perfect inexpensive stand-alone solution, replacement product, or companion seat to AutoCAD and SketchUp with a seamless and integrated workflow, for those who want their CAD system to look like AutoCAD, but behave rather better.
Cost £95 + vat = £114
Then there is TurboCAD LTE Pro Continue Reading →

Order TurboCAD Pro Platinum v19
IMSI are keeping their upgrade pricing structure, so the upgrade pricing is:
To TurboCAD Pro Platinum:
From v18 to v19         £166.50
From v17 to v19         £220
From v16 or before   £300

Upgrade from any Deluxe will be £500.

It’s now on the shop – click here.

TurboViewer is a free application and the first and only native DWG™ viewer that supports both 2D and 3D CAD DWG files for the iOS Mac platform. It has smooth multi-touch navigation as you pan, zoom, and 3D orbit around your DWG and DXF™ files.

TurboViewer Pro is a professional drawing viewer with powerful capabilities. In addition to the TurboViewer features, TurboViewer Pro extends the capability by providing hidden line, x-ray, shaded, layer management and more… all while maintaining its lightning fast 2D and 3D performance.
Specifically designed for mobile devices — The TurboViewer product line will be expanded over this year to include a variety of capabilities and therefore price levels, from free up to about £800. In terms of its speed and functionality it’s by far the most advanced in the field. Continue Reading →

I recently spent a couple of days in Oslo with Bob Mayer, the Chief Operating Officer at IMSI, talking through the developments in TurboCAD Pro Platinum v19.

My overall impression is that it is a significant move forward and not just a consolidation version. So here, as I see it, are the main developments. Continue Reading →

More Free CAD Software
I have a few TurboCAD CDs of 3D Sofas and Chairs, plus CDs for DesignCAD Sofas and Chairs and Bathroon Fixtures.
Same deal as before, call me, 01962 835 081 with a credit card details to cover postage, say £10 and they’ll go out the same day.
Paul

Animation Lab
I have ten copies of TurboCAD Animation Lab to give away for the cost of postage, say £10. These will work with either TurboCAD versions 15 or 16. Just give me a call and I’ll stick one in the post for you.
Paul
01962 835 081