Plug-ins for Sketch-up and AutoCAD
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