gCAD3D basics
Features
Principles of operation
What gCAD3D can and cannot do
Main modes VWR (viewer) / MAN
(manual text entry) / CAD (interactive graphic modelling)
Codes - Formats
Multi-model support
Interactions
Supplementary Programmes
Functions for documentation
Development History of gCAD3D
gCAD3D uninstall
RemoteControl
tutorial-videos
Basics
What gCAD3D can and cannot do
- It can
-
Import and display data from Iges, Step, wire frame and solid
objects
-
Create and modify wire frame elements
-
Create surfaces
-
Create simple solid bodies
-
Assemble user-created ancillary programmes
-
Export wire frame elements as Dxf and Iges
-
Export surfaces as Vrml-1, Vrml-2, obj, tw Iges
-
-
It cannot yet
-
Create or modify complex solid bodies
Main modes VWR /MAN / CAD
- There are three main modes:
-
-
Vwr Viewer
-
The objects are displayed and cannot be modified or deleted
-
-
Man Manual
-
The object codes are displayed in an editing window, and can be
created, modified or deleted using a text editor. The changes are
reflected in the graphic window
-
-
Cad Interactive creation and modification of objects using the
graphic window
Multi-model support
A model can consist of multiple models
(sub-models). A sub-model can be stored within a model (an internal
sub-model) or be imported from external data (an external sub-model)
Internal models
The model name must
not include a path (and no '/' or '\'). During the processing of
sub-models the sub-model name is cached in /tmp/Mode_ . All internal
sub-models are saved inside the model file
Creation of sub-models
- sub-models/move main → new sub-model
-
Copies all objects of the active main model to a sub-model
-
sub-models/create new sub-model
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Construct and activate a new sub-model
-
sub-models/load sub-model from file
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Load a native model from data into a new sub-model
-
Using internal sub-models in Cad mode:
- with the function 'M-int.Modell'
-
Select sub-models from a list (using MM middle mouse button) or by
selecting a prepared sub-model; Define the model instance position.
-
Using internal sub-models in Manual mode:
- by keying in as
-
M20=”subModell” P(0 0 0) DZ DIY
External sub-models
- For these models an
external model file must be given. The model name must be a symbolic
path. The model file must be in a directory that can be referenced
by a symbol; See symbolic file names.
-
External models can only = mock-up models (ie Wrl), but cannot
include internal or external sub-models.
-
External sub-models are internally cached.
Use of external sub-models in Cad mode:
- Use function 'M-ext.Modell'
-
Selecting sub-models from a list (middle mouse button in the
graphics window) or by selecting existing sub-models;
-
Define the instance position
-
Use of external models in Man mode:
- By keying In as
-
M28=”Data/Mod1.gcad” P (0 0 0) DZ DIY
Functions for documentation
- Representation of 2D drawings, 3D models and
photos (bitmaps) in the same display space.
-
All images can be generated dynamically
-
All display objects can be combined with interactions
-
-
Development History of gCAD3D
1995 The first version named xcad only for Linux and AIX.
Graphics and User Interface with X11.
1998 First version with the name gcad.
Graphics with OpenGL (Mesa), with GTK user interface.
The name corresponds to the abbreviated version of GTK CAD.
1999 gcad was renamed gCAD3D (since approximately 1998 there also
a gcad by Inigo Serna Robledo did exist)
2003 New CAD engine. Ported to MS-Windows.
2005 Step-import.
2006 Textures.
2007 Standard Parts (catalogue).
2008 Script progams.
2010 64-bit-Version Linux.
2011 neutral GUI-Interface, Gtk3-Interface
2012 Debian-packages
2013 RemoteControl, Processes.
2015 License changed to GPL-3.
Uninstalling gCAD3D
Linux:
if gCAD3D was installed with a packetmanager (eg a debian-package)
you should use this packetmanager for removing the program.
Manually:
rm -rf ~/gCAD3D
All files are located in the directory ~/gCAD3D/
See also InstNonDeb_en.htm
MS-Windows:
Use ControlPanel / Software / Remove
or
Use the program UnInstall from the gCAD3D - Main Menu
or manually:
Delete folder (installation-directory)\gCAD3D
gCAD3D does not use the Windows Registry
all files are located in path (installation-directory)\gCAD3D.
(Installation-directory is usually C:\Program).