For all you lot fed up paying increasingly high prices and annual top up fees for AutoCAD why not give another package a chance?
 
The professional version of TurboCAD supports 29 different file formats, including four DWG and DXF so you can still save your drawing as a DWG in any flavor and send it to your client or colleague in whatever version of AutoCAD they are running. I can’t see one advantage that LT has over it, unless you count all your mates paying their fees to run a piece of software that takes twice as long to draw simple 2D plans and can not deal with 3D realizations. For many surveyors working on simple 2D planning applications and the like, they can even use the Deluxe version that can be picked up from the likes of PC World for about £80.
 
Some companies are now selecting to cherry pick software applications to maximize tool applications. Years ago when I was in publishing I used Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro for images and both Illustrator and Freehand when drawing. The ‘sister’ packages all had advantages and disadvantages over each other and it was easy to jump between the two while working on the same image. While it’s not quite so simple with CAD, there is certainly no need to use expensive packages to perform operations where a far less expensive one will do perfectly well and often faster. As long as there are no compatibility issues, using a range of packages can only benefit the designer.
 
Ongoing hidden expenses such as subscription fees often add little value and are simply intended to keep you locked in and paying up. There really is no need for the vast majority of designers to keep shelling out for a pricy annual upgrade. Thousands of designers in all fields are out there using ten year old TurboCAD systems for their work – and they still get support when they need it.
 
So, all you AutoCAD users, broaden your horizons and see what is out there, you just might save yourself a lot of time and money.
 
 
Paul The CAD

• The Variable Constraint System provides variational sketching functionality within AutoCAD. It enables geometric or dimensional constraints to be applied that control relationships between drawn objects. Those relationships may be parametrically driven and include values, variables, or mathematical formulas in relation to other variables.

IDX Variable Constraint System incorporates the D-Cubed™ 2D Dimensional Constraint Manager from Siemens PLM Software. This is the same core engine typically available in much more expensive parametric modeling programs including Autodesk® Inventor®; CATIA and SolidWorks® by Dassault Systems; or Solid Edge by Siemens PLM Software.

• Control Your Drawing.  Parametrically-driven and geometrically constrained drawings create a truly precise environment. Provides real precision design, not simply drawing tools.
   
• Parametrically-driven dimensions — Use variable dimensions to drive geometries, or change geometries and see all associated dimensions recalculated automatically.
   
• Calculator palette — Manage all key dimensions in a simple table.  These dimension variables can be values such as length, radius, or angle. Also, they may be expressed formulaically.
   
• Formulaic variables — Manage variables in the calculator palette with powerful relationships, whether A1 = 2*A2, or complex equations including algebraic, trigonometric, and even integral equations.  For example, dimension B2 = B1* ((1+sqrt(5))/2) and your variables B1 and B2 will be in the golden ratio, scaling automatically based on the value of B1. This could continue with B2 representing another side of a golden rectangle, or could be used as a driving dimension of an arc radius.  Use expressive names for variables such as Radius, GadgetHeight, and GadgetWidth.
   
• Associative geometric positioning — Ensure that all geometries are in precise relation to one another so that a spline is tangent to an elliptical arc, or the radius of a fillet is in direct proportion to an arm length, and is concentric to a punched hole… 
   
• Be More Creative. Variational sketching allows for quick revisions and what-if changes.  You save enough time drafting changes that you will have more time for design creativity.
   
• Variational sketching — Conceptually, a constrained object has bi-directional associations between the dimensions, geometries, and positional relationships.  Drawings can be completely modified simply by changing one or two values or relationships.
   
• Constrained relationships — Just as a spreadsheet allows for what-if analysis by changing an assumption, a fully constrained drawing provides what-if design analysis driven by a parameter.
   
• Auto-constraints accelerates learning —  Draw with this feature turned on and the application applies basic geometric constraints, quickly showing the power of associative geometric relationships.
   
• Works with the AutoCAD user interface —  The Variable Constraint System toolbar and variable dimension palette are integrated naturally within AutoCAD allowing you to get up to speed right away, and focus on design.
   
• Great Value.  Enjoy a rapid ROI through immediate productivity gains.  No new platform licenses, expensive training, or porting files and causing a risk from major platform changes.
   
• Uses the D-Cubed™ 2D Dimensional Constraint Manager (2D DCM) from Siemens PLM Software — This is the same trusted engine used by far more expensive design platforms such as Autodesk® Inventor®, AutoCAD Mechanical®, and AutoCAD Architecture; by Dassault Systems for CATIA and SolidWorks®; by Siemens PLM Software for Solid Edge; by think3® for thinkdesign; and by IMSI/Design for TurboCAD® Pro.
   
• The fastest ROI — Because it is an addition to the AutoCAD you already know, there is much less to learn and you will be productive immediately in your chosen CAD platform.
   
• Like a selective upgrade — If you don’t need all the features of more expensive platforms, this is like purchasing only the features you need.

Create entire part families from a single sketch — Design the first part fully-constrained, then create the rest of the part family by changing driving dimensions to automatically draw new parts.

Paul The CAD

There are a few extras that IMSI have produced of late that either help out specific TurboCAD users, such as furniture makers, or greatly improve other products with IMSI technology.

One of these is the IDX Renditioner. It is a plug-in for Google SketchUp that provides high-quality photorealistic rendering – fast and easily. Renditioner works directly within SketchUp and lets you control the materials, advanced lighting components, environments, background images. Renditioner is “one button” easy with 3 render options of Preview, Standard and Presentation. It is simple enough for novices and yet powerful enough for professionals. Powerful features are optimized in a jargon free interface. Simplicity paired with speed and working directly in SketchUp, means you can achieve design visualization objectives more quickly. Renditioner offers 16 megapixel renderings for large-scale printing and powerful presentation of your designs.

It’s available for Windows XP or Vista on the PC, and OS/X 10.4 or 10.5 on the Mac and runs on either PowerPC or Intel-based Mac computers.  As an extra it obviously requires you to already have SketchUp, but will be fine on the free version as well as the Pro version 6.4x or later.  Like all photorealistic rendering, IDX Renditioner uses a system’s RAM and CPU power extensively, and is not recommended on systems with less than 1 GB RAM, with 2 GB recommended.  Being fully multithreading, dual core, quad core, or dual quad core machines will each improve system performance dramatically.

SketchUp is a nice piece of kit, but with the edition of Renditioner it jumps from good to professional, equally of use to.

A couple of useful, cheap CAD extras.

There’s a couple of extras that IMSI have produced of late. The first adds a useful tool for AutoCAD users and the second greatly improves the quality of Google SketchUp images.

IDX Variable Constraint System incorporates the D-CubedTM 2D Dimensional Constraint Manager from Siemens PLM Software. This is the same core engine typically available in much more expensive parametric modeling programs including Autodesk® Inventor®; CATIA and SolidWorks® by Dassault Systems; or Solid Edge by Siemens PLM Software.

The Variable Constraint System provides variational sketching functionality within AutoCAD. It enables geometric or dimensional constraints to be applied that control relationships between drawn objects. Those relationships may be parametrically driven and include values, variables, or mathematical formulas in relation to other variables.

The IDX Variable Constraint System enables:
• Sketching and drafting productivity – quickly draw an object, automatically apply constraints, and then adjust the constraints to force dimensions and geometries.
• Variational sketching, revision productivity – rapidly modify constrained objects, maintaining all design rules for proportionality, centering, etc.
• Capturing design intent, creating intelligent behavior – consistently

IDX Renditioner.
 
There are a few extras that IMSI have produced of late that either help out specific TurboCAD users, such as furniture makers, or greatly improve other products with IMSI technology.

One of these is the IDX Renditioner. It is a plug-in for Google SketchUp that provides high-quality photorealistic rendering – fast and easily. Renditioner works directly within SketchUp and lets you control the materials, advanced lighting components, environments, background images. Renditioner is “one button” easy with 3 render options of Preview, Standard and Presentation. It is simple enough for novices and yet powerful enough for professionals. Powerful features are optimized in a jargon free interface. Simplicity paired with speed and working directly in SketchUp, means you can achieve design visualization objectives more quickly. Renditioner offers 16 megapixel renderings for large-scale printing and powerful presentation of your designs.

It’s available for Windows XP or Vista on the PC, and OS/X 10.4 or 10.5 on the Mac and runs on either PowerPC or Intel-based Mac computers.  As an extra it obviously requires you to already have SketchUp, but will be fine on the free version as well as the Pro version 6.4x or later.  Like all photorealistic rendering, IDX Renditioner uses a system’s RAM and CPU power extensively, and is not recommended on systems with less than 1 GB RAM, with 2 GB recommended.  Being fully multithreading, dual core, quad core, or dual quad core machines will each improve system performance dramatically.

SketchUp is a nice piece of kit, but with the edition of Renditioner it jumps from good to professional, equally of use to.

Paul The CAD

I’ve always thought that the secret with CAD was to find a package that is relatively easy to get started with, but with use reveals depth not obvious at the start. File compatibility is also a big issue. The more formats that it reads and supports, the greater its usefulness.

Planning Permission

Clearly the housing market has seen better times and unless you really have to, now is a risky time to move home. Despite what any estate agent says, things are not going to change for some time, so for those needing more space the safe option is to extend, which probably means that you are going to have to get Planning Permission from your local council.

Whether or not you need to apply for planning permission, you should think about two things before you start work. Firstly let your neighbors know about work you intend to carry out to your property, no point in upsetting the people that you live next door to. Secondly, consider the design. Everyone’s taste differs and your idea of good design might not be the same as others, it does not matter too much if you are not going to move, but some improvements could actually bring down the value of your house.

Once you know what you want, you need to get drawing. While most people at this stage get in contact with an architect or surveyor most of you would be able to put plans for the first stage together yourself. In most cases you are able to submit to the council a full application at the beginning stages. However, initially, you may want to make an outline application to see what the council thinks of the building work you intend to carry out before you go to the trouble of making detailed drawings, although you will still need to submit details at a later stage. Details of the procedure can be found on your council’s site.

You send the completed application forms to your council, together with the fee. Each form must be accompanied by a plan of the site and a copy of the drawings showing the work you propose to carry out. Planning applications can now be carried out on-line using the Planning Portal, just google it and follow the instructions.

Once you have the outline planning permission approved you can either complete the drawings yourself of hand over what you have already done to a professional. As long as your drawings can be read as DWG and DXF formats, then no professional will have a problem reading and editing them. TurboCAD Deluxe v15 would be perfectly adequate for the job. Doing it this way ensures that you get exactly what you want and will save a great deal of money, architects do not come cheap.

TurboCAD has free training notes to get you going and there are several training videos on you tube. As you will only need to use the 2D aspects of the package, it should not be too difficult to learn.