This Week's Software Tips Enter to Win an Amazon.com Gift Certificate
Do you know a better way to work — in AutoCAD or any other CAD software tool? Take a few minutes to share your tips with your fellow CAD users, and benefit yourself at the same time: If we publish your tip, you can earn an Amazon gift card and be entered in the quarterly prize drawing. Learn all about CAD Tips prizes here.  | Video Tip: Three Ways to Put a Frame around Your Text in AutoCAD
If you've ever needed to put a frame around your AutoCAD text objects, then you'll appreciate this quick tip from Autodesk Evangelist Lynn Allen who shows you three very different ways to accomplish that very goal — all with different advantages! Watch the video |
AutoCAD Tip: Keep an Eye on Autosave
Sometimes, for some reason, the AutoCAD Savetime variable is reset to 0, and you might not know about it until you lose your work. To ensure you never experience this problem, Andrea Andreetti shares a LISP routine to add to your ACADDOC.LSP file, which checks it every time you open a document. View the complete tip and post your feedback. Inventor Tip: Create an Isometric Section View
This tip from Alex Kaplan will show you how to create an isometric section view in Autodesk Inventor. In just a few steps, you can show your part or product in an isometric position for easy visualization. View the complete tip and post your feedback. Inventor Tip: Technical Notes Workaround
Producing technical notes on Autodesk Inventor drawings is often a tedious job that includes placing similar text over and over. This tip from Huib Eggen describes a workaround to easily create technical notes and save you some time. View the complete tip and post your feedback.
Review Cadalyst's Tip Submission Guidelines, then Submit Your Tip for your favorite CAD software. Be sure to tell us which software version you use. If we publish your original, previously unpublished tip, you can earn a gift card (learn more about prizes here). Please submit only tips or code that are your original work. By submitting code, you grant Cadalyst the right to print and distribute your tip in print, digitally, and by other means. Cadalyst and individual authors retain all rights to submitted tips. By submitting code, you agree that your code can be reused as-is or modified by other users in conjunction with AutoCAD or other software programs to gain efficiencies in that software for professional or personal use, and that your code can be shared freely among users. Users do not have the right to republish code in any manner or format (such as on a blog web site or in a printed document) for personal or commercial gain without written permission from Cadalyst and the original author. Got Feedback? To share feedback about one of today's tips, navigate to the tip using the link provided above, then click Comment. The Comment tool is available to registered users of Cadalyst'sCAD Tips site. Tips & Tools Weekly software tips for AutoCAD are reviewed in the latest version of AutoCAD by Contributing Editor R.K. McSwain. Use all tips at your own discretion, please. We're sorry, but Cadalyst staff cannot provide assistance with technical problems. Please refer to Cadalyst's LinkedIn and Facebook communities for assistance with AutoLISP and other AutoCAD customization questions. Back to Top 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resources Report: AEC Market to Spend $5.4 Billion on CAD, Other Technical Software
Cambashi, an industry analyst and market-consulting firm, released the 2015 second-quarter update to its market data resource, the Cambashi Market Observatories. The company forecasts that architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms will be the largest market for technical software (including CAD, product lifecycle management [PLM], and GIS applications) in 2015, with spending at $5.4 billion worldwide and a four-year compound annual growth rate of 6.1%. Back to Top
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deals & Freebies Autodesk Adds Simulation Capabilities to Fusion 360
Autodesk's Fusion 360 cloud-based product development software — which is free to students, educators, hobbyists, and start-up companies that qualify — now includes simulation capabilities at no additional cost. For other users, Fusion 360 costs $25 per month for an annual subscription. DesignSpark 3D CAD Parts Library Available for Free Download
RS Components announced free access to more than 100 million 3D models, available via the TraceParts 3D library, including more than 45,000 3D models tagged with RS part numbers. The models of products from more than 90 manufacturers are available in more than 20 different CAD formats. The 3D models are available for free download in the RS 3D catalog, available via DesignSpark PCB. Back to Top
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Products General Software: Autodesk SketchBook for Sprout
Autodesk SketchBook for Sprout is a free digital drawing and painting application designed to use the dual screen and touch/stylus-supported interface of Sprout, a 3D-scanning computer from HP. Autodesk SketchBook is available from the Sprout Marketplace. Back to Top
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Your Calendar Reverse Engineering with RapidWorks
September 29, 2015
11 a.m. PT
This NextEngine webinar will discuss the process of turning NextEngine mesh models into fully parametric solid models using RapidWorks 3.5. Read more e-SPECS for Revit Live Webinar
September 30, 2015
2 p.m. ET
This InterSpec webinar will cover the company's e-SPECS for Revit for automated and coordinated specifications with Autodesk Revit. Read more ISW: Revit Model Management with Ideate BIMLink
October 1, 2015
11:30 a.m. PT
This Ideate webinar will discuss ways in which Ideate BIMLink can help with managing a Revit model, maintaining its quality, and saving time. Read more Mastering Procedural Textures in KeyShot
October 1, 2015
10 a.m. PT
This webinar will explain how to extend the appearance of materials using the procedural textures available inside KeyShot software. Read more Strata 3D CX ProSkills Class
October 14–16, 2015
Chicago, Illinois
This three-day course will provide an introduction to Strata 3D CX software for subdivision surface modeling and animation as well as practical application and hands-on projects. Read more BIMForum: VDC for Design Phase Management and Preconstruction
October 20–21, 2015
Orlando, Florida
This conference will focus on how the utilization of virtual design and construction (VDC) techniques in the design and planning phase are ultimately impacting project outcomes. Read more Ideation2015
October 29–30, 2015
Las Vegas, Nevada
This user conference is intended for fashion and retail professionals who rely on CAD and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions from Gerber Technology. Read more For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com. Are you hosting an event that you would like to include in our calendar? Submit details at least two weeks in advance to news@cadalyst.com. Back to Top
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What’s New at Cadalyst.com Prevent Workload Overload with Project Prioritization Strategies
Make sure your priorities are structured around project completion. Read more CAD Manager's Toolbox: Task Management Spreadsheet
Sample spreadsheet helps you track your management tasks and create priority lists. Read more To Catch More Design Ideas, Siemens PLM Software Crafts a Tool Anyone Can Use
The new Catchbook app makes dimensionally accurate sketching accessible — and affordable — for CAD users and nonprofessionals alike. Read more Back to Top
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For Mold Designers! Cadalyst has an area of our site focused on technologies and resources specific to the mold design professional. Sponsored by Siemens NX. Visit the Equipped Mold Designer here!
For Architects! Cadalyst has an area of our site focused on technologies and resources specific to the building design professional. Sponsored by HP. Visit the Equipped Architect here!
