CADMAI adds component placement actions

Version 4.1 also allows models to be saved to a compressed file along with all external references.

Zoom [+]

Adding advanced 3D geometry with CADMAI.

CADMAI is a CAD framework which can either be used as a standalone CAD application or as an integration module for 3rd party applications and SOA environments. CADMAI is a relational CAD system, which has its main focus in the parametric 2D and 3D design. CADMAI is associative, which means that not only are crosshatching / dimensions related to defined geometry but any other entities can be linked to each other. CADMAI is distributed as a stand alone CAD application including client server components for SOA environments. These end user applications have been created with the included API modules, which can also be used for creating individual applications with CAD functionality. CADMAI provides four API's which are each available in native C++ and .NET versions. In addition to that a CADMAI ActiveX and a .NET Control are available to enrich dialog based applications with CAD functionality.

Updates in 4.1

• New actions for component placement
  Components can be positioned additionally to 3D points and to user coordinate systems. The target points / coordinate systems can be categorized to restrict the placement of components to specific positions. After positioning, the components can be translated or rotated by additional actions. The origin, the orientation and the category can be defined for a CADMAI model, which steers the component placement of this model. Additionally a solid can be defined, which is used for collision detection when the model is placed in an assembly. The collision with other collision solids is dynamically calculated during user interaction.
• Creation of assembly containers
  Models can be saved inclusive all external references to a compressed file. Hereby complete assembly structures can be collected into one file which can be loaded e.g. through the Internet
• New assemble mode
  A new slider "Loaded components" is available in the structure editor which shows all sub components for an assembly. Using the right mouse button the following mouse actions are available:
  • Load components into memory
  • Position component interactively
  • Position component freely
  • Position component to point
  • Position component to UCS

  By selecting one of the last four entries the assemble mode is activated. When the user interface is switched to the new assemble mode the behavior during mouse input is changed. In the assemble mode, loaded components can be positioned, copied and deleted dynamically by the user (for more information please refer to the online help).

• Enhancements for the controls
  All relevant settings of the CADMAI environment have been made available for the controls (ActiveX and DotNet). Since the settings can steer the appearance of the CAD windows (e.g. view settings) the CAD windows have to be created explicitly with the method CreateCadWindows().
• API
  The following additional mouse events are fired from the CmiWindowsApi or the controls to the host application.
• Mouse over a CADMAI object
• Left mouse button pressed
• Left mouse button released
• Drag operation with a pressed mouse button

To point out the possibilities of these additional events the following five examples have been created as local applications and as web browser implementations:

• 4 Wins 3D
  This sample shows in form of the well known game "4 Wins" how CADMAI components can be positioned dynamically with the mouse from the host application. The game is realized in 3D
• Parametric changes
  Shows how parametric changes of a model can be performed by mouse and dialog input
• Poke Game (similar to LEGO)
  Shows how the new assemble mode can be used to design models by assembling simple pokes.
  Dynamic collision checking can be used to avoid impossible poke placement.
• Switch Plate
  Shows how a 3D user interface can be designed.
  A switch panel with rulers, sliders and buttons can be operated by mouse input and steers related controls of the host application (and vice versa).
• Tic Tac Toe 3D
  This sample shows in form of the well known game "Tic Tac Toe" how mouse feedback can be used to steer user defined CADMAI objects.
  The game is realized in 3D (but player 1 always wins ;-) ) All samples are available with source code (C#/HTML+JScript).
• Miscellaneous
  • An update possibility at the push of a button is established by using a new installer.
  • The licensing has been transferred from the CAD into a new application
  • CADMAI 4.1 supports a per user licensing.

  There is no need to license hardware components (MAC-IDs) anymore. The existing licenses are valid for version 4.1 and must be re entered after the installation.

About CADMAI Software

CADMAI Software GmbH is a long established company based in Nuernberg, Germany specialized in the development of CAD software. Its main product, CADMAI, is a CAD framework which can either be used as a standalone CAD application or as an integration module for 3rd party applications and SOA environments.