It has been many years since we last reviewed IMSI/Design’s well regarded TurboCAD product line. As always, we want to clarify and explain how easy or not easy a product is to learn and master. In our last review, which was of TurboCAD 2D Mac version 1.0–admittedly, it lacked features in some basic areas. One area we are happy to see IMSI addressed is the addition of guided QuickTime tutorials. We are not sure when these came into the picture, but we did bring that up in our latest review.
Learning TurboCAD Mac Pro
We always emphasize here at Architosh the importance of ease-of-use. As we have noted in the past, this is because we feel dramatic ease-of-use and scalable ease-of-learning (something we are going to coin here as SEOL) are essential features of Apple’s ethos…even before the legendary Mac. Apple was always good from the beginning at helping users into computing and providing learning that scaled gracefully. If you owned or used any Apple computers from the Apple II onward and into the 80’s you will know doubt know what we are referring to.
Let’s be more specific. Scalable ease-of-learning (SEOL) involves things that are analogous to “training wheels” on a bike. The software provides the user with aids which can either be ignored later or turned off entirely. Some popular examples we see in many tools include things like help bubbles which can be turned on or off. IMSI’s TurboCAD Mac Pro includes audible prompts, which are actually helpful if you’d rather focus your eye on what you are doing (under cursor) than look at the property bar for next-step guidance. (see image 01)
01 – Audio prompts in TurboCAD Pro Mac 7 are not new but a useful learning option. We also like that in this program we can decide which background color we utilize (white is the default) for our model space. Other preference options include reverse mouse wheel zoom, use small palette icons, dialog collapse delay for expand and collapse timing, resolutions for display of object line thickness by element type, aerospace standard for view definitions, etc.
We also are happy to see a complete series of QuickTime instruction and guide videos all accessible from the Help menu. There are actually thirteen videos built into the app that cover various topics and at least one complete tutorial video (the Goblet tutorial). We draw our own goblet below as part of our review testing.
02 – The Tip of the Day is another learning aid in TurboCAD Mac Pro 7 that allows a scalable learning option.
There is a complete electronic user guide, which is fairly complete and well written. There is also a “tip of the day” feature that is very nice, which can be shown at startup. You can quickly toggle through these quick tips or close the Tip of the Day palette with one button, as well as not make it show up at startup again. (see image 02) Lastly, one final new feature in the area of learning and help is the new Context Sensitive help system. Hit F-1 after putting the cursor over any tool and the guide section for that tool opens right up.
New Drawing Wizard and DWG Paper Space and Model Space
Version 7 includes a New Drawing Wizard from the File menu that helps you setup your drawings. You can select Custom Drawing or 2D Templates. When you choose the former you proceed to setup items like units, print paper size, orientation, drawing scale, annotation settings, dimension formats (eg: ANSI), etc. If you choose from 2D templates you get a pre-formatted title block. If you choose the latter you must finish your title block or bring in another from a different file. (see image 03 below).
03 – The New File Wizard helps users setup drawing files easier.
04 – Another major change in version 7 is the new DWG Paper Space and Modeling Space capabilities.
One of the biggest changes in TurboCAD Mac Pro 7 is the new DWG Paper Space and Model Space capabilities. All major leading CAD and MCAD systems that are not owned by Autodesk, have largely already implemented this ability in their own programs to better support the import and export (but more so the former) of native AutoCAD files. In addition, this paper-space/model-space paradigm forces the use of what is commonly known in the industry as a “Viewport.” And a “Viewport” is a vital concept behind BIM (Building Information Modeling).
One of the unique features of this program is that you can open a DWG (AutoCAD file) that is a 3D file and it will automatically create a 2D paperspace setup complete with side and top views. Or you can optionally open it up directly into model space as a 3D object. (see image 04)
This feature doesn’t just apply to the importation of AutoCAD files. Native TurboCAD Mac Pro 7 files have this feature too. This means you can model away in 3D and then auto-generate drawing sheets using the new Model to Sheet tool. This tool works very well and with experience and practice one can quickly setup drawing sheets.
next page: Modeling – What’s New
Modeling
Version 7 is partly a major update because it greatly benefitted from the updated Dassault owned Spatial ACIS geometry kernel (R22 is incorporated), which powers the application. New in this version is a new Push-Pull tool feature. We thought we’d take a look and see how this works.
The Push/Pull tool works similarly to other modeling tools, the famous comparison being SketchUp, which made such a tool popular. Draw a collection of lines or a circle or rectangle on a surface and then simply pull that profile up into space. You can also numerically alter the distance of the pull or push. Though we would prefer it if that numerical control was able to be tabbed into a box directly at the cursor. (see image 05).
05 – The new Push/Pull tool great simplifies basic modeling. With it we quickly began to create an urban type model generating sculpted schematic building blocks quite easily.
Once an object has been created you can easily draw a line or other shape on its surface and then using the Push/Pull tool create an additional shape. Complex forms can quickly be created using just the Push/Pull tool as long as they are essentially rectilinear. This isn’t to say you can’t modify objects like circles and ellipses using the tool, you can.
One of the cool features we discovered when testing the Push/Pull tool was how one is able to choose surfaces in the back or other parts of a model. When the cursor has several competing parts which are valid to choose from a pop-up window emerges and mousing over the options highlights which part of the model it belongs to. We felt this was handled nicely. (see image 06).
06 – A popup menu allows the user to toggle through valid selected parts of a model under the cursor quiet easily with highlighting on the face associated with the under-cursor pre-selection.
The Push/Pull tool is a new direct solids modeling tool. In version 7 there is also another direct solids modeling tool in the new Move Face tool. It took us a few minutes to figure this one out but once mastered it is quite easy to dimensionally move a particular “face” of a solid by a set distance. Neighboring faces are then extended or re-limited (shortened) to account for the new position of the affected face.
New Part Tree – Advanced Model Parametrics
TurboCAD Mac Pro 7 is not what you would call an advanced parametric-based modeling tool like SolidWorks, even though it is built on the same underlying modeling kernel (ACIS). But in this version 7 release the program gains some of the power of far more expensive MCAD systems like SolidWorks and others. It gains a heirarchial parts tree.
This means you can examine all the multiple steps that were undertaken to make up a complex part. For example, for our goblet shape we started with a Lathe operation which itself was proceeded by a series of lines and a spline for the curve. After the lathe operation the next operation was the Shell operation. (see image 07)
07 – The new Parts Tree shows a step-by-step sequential history of all modeling and other operations on a model.
When you create a Lathe solid operation like the one we created, the TurboCAD explorer palette shows the entire part tree of that element. You can choose a step in the modeling process and from the Edit menu modify, move or redo that section of the modeling operation. Not all items in the part tree lend themselves to parametric editing nor do they even lend themselves to true further manipulation at this stage.
In our example above (see image 07) we were easily able to modify the spline shown highlighted in red to the right and it would update the model. Interestingly, the lines and spline on the right were the original items from which we did a full rotation to produce the model. After completion of this process the model and the original lines were stacked and aligned over each other. We used the new Gripper tool to move the model to the left so we could see the original spline separately.
next page: Viewports and Other Key New Features
Viewports
Many CAD programs provide multi-screen or viewport viewing within the main program window. But not all of them allow you to start drawing in one view (say the top view) and finish the drawing in another view (say the axon view). New in version 7 is the ability to display multiple views of your drawing at one time, with different orientations. You can even add a floating viewport. (see image 08)
08 – You can add a floating viewport which can become a nice option for doing renders in.
09 – Flexible viewports enable different types of views at the same time. This is a great feature addition to version 7.
This is one of those features we have wished existed for many years in many of the other leading CAD programs on the Mac. It is nice to see IMSI/Design implement such a feature. The truth is this is very useful to the intuitive design process. Getting back to our direct manipulation of the spline curve in the glass stemware example above, having a side view and multiple iso views at the same time allows the designer to more easily adjust the curvature. Moreover, once the manipulation is accomplished the designer gets more views to review the feedback of the change. The whole design process is sped up. (see image 09).
Other Key New Features
New in TurboCAD Mac Pro v7 is a brand new Redlining Markup toolset. The tools include lines, circles, text, text in boxes and cloud. The user can set the line thickness and color (e.g.: bright red!) and all such markups go by default onto a new “markup” layer automatically. (see image 10)
10 – The new Markup tools allow the user to select a pen color, thickness and place an attached note using an array of markup items.
Also new is a new Gripper tool. The Gripper tool is accessed from the Inspector palette and comes with several settings. One key setting is the location of the gripper itself–object center or user-defined. The latter is key for when you may wish to rotate the object around a particular point, as rotation happens at the intersection of all three axis. (see image 11)
The Gripper tool operates similarly to other such tools in many programs, and includes three axis color coded handles, arrows and rotation ribbons. You can scale, translate move or translate rotate an object by clicking, holding and moving the appropriate item on the gripper itself. Dimensional input is enabled at the top of the user interface in the status bar–definitely not where we would prefer it to be. (see image 12)
11 – The new Gripper tool is accessed from the Inspector palette and offers the user easier object manipulations such as translations.
12 – The Gripper Tool is on the Inspector palette, a good location, and includes several settings options.
The Gripper tool can be customized to your needs at the Inspector palette level. There are visibility options for scale, move and rotation, as well as a planar option for the rotation planes, visibility and so forth. (see image 12) We would also like to point out that transparency (not a new feature) is set at the object level on the Inspector palette. (see image 12 for transparent object)
While we will not cover every single new feature in this update we definitely want to mention some remaining modeling updates. Users now have a new Conic tools set which allows them the ability to obtain the curve generated by the intersection of a cone with a plane. This tool works in two, three and four point modes. Another new feature is the ability to project a curve to a plane. And there are new improved surface utilities that calculate intersections of an infinite plane and a curve, surface or solid.
Architecturally TurboCAD Mac Pro v7 gains a new Roof tool and new Slab tool for automating the 3D production of hip and flat roofs over walls and for generating slabs with offsets and controlled thickness.
Final Details
TurboCAD Mac Pro v7 now works with AutoCAD 2013 files (DWG) as well as AutoCAD LT files of the same vintage. It also has some great new import and export options. New are EPSP, Facet, PDF, Photoshop and SketchUp. And you can now export to OBJ and VRML.
There are nearly 2000 new materials added to the material library for photorealistic rendering and over 3700 new decals and over 25,000 new symbols. That constitutes a giant update in the area of objects and utility for existing TurboCAD users.
And while we are on the subject, TurboCAD Mac Pro v7’s photorealistic rendering abilities are solid. We ran several test renders on the sample files and explored the UI for settings and results and speed. On our test machine (circa 2010 Mac Pro) we noticed that TurboCAD Mac Pro v7 does indeed support multi-threading for its rendering. Our quad-core Xeon based machine sped through quick render tests. (see image 13)
13 – A Fence Render scene shown here with the Material library showing background options.
The Render Library palette shows foregrounds, backgrounds, materials and decals in a grid array. You simply drag these items to your object or scene to apply. Options include things like Apply Normal, Apply Body and Apply Similar.
Closing Comments and Recommendations
As we said in the beginning, it has been a very long time since we reviewed the TurboCAD Mac product line in any version. This is the first time we have reviewed the Pro version and our general feeling is that the product is a strong 3D CAD application very suitable to mechanical, industrial, product design and other similar markets. It’s ACIS R22 modeling geometry kernel technology gives is quite a range of capability and future possibilities. From what we know of modeling kernels there are likely near or over 1000 functions under the hood and its up to the application developer to expose these through a UI/UX for the user.
In this version 7 release we were impressed with the solid range of advanced modeling options. The program shipped with sample files and we saw things like MP3 players, phones, compasses, furniture and other advanced curved form industrial items–all modeled beautifully in TurboCAD Mac Pro v7.
What we like in this product is the direction it seems to have taken with the Parts Tree. While it is not as advanced as other similar history or parts trees in other programs, it is a very good start. As an architectural CAD program we do not feel that this program is a competitor to the range of tools on the market that include ArchiCAD, Vectorworks and Revit. But those tools are much more expensive. This is a good option for the person who needs to produce AEC industry shop drawings or the builder or general contractor. In short, we think on the Mac side of the market in particular TurboCAD Mac Pro v7 is stronger on the MCAD side of the CAD equation rather than the AEC side. TurboCAD Mac Pro v7 is a worthy upgrade with tons of new features, a great new editable Parts Tree, nice new push/pull and other modeling features and you get solid rendering and animation capabilities built directly in. Lastly, the way in which viewports work and the automatic ability to bring in a 3D model and auto-generate a sheet of 2D and axo views on that model, which you can then annotate and dimension, is really quite cool. —- ANTHONY FRAUSTO-ROBLEDO, AIA, LEED AP.
Pros: Excellent viewport auto-generation of 3D models from AutoCAD files; superb viewport and screen layout options, including viewport overlays; nice UI with customization and tear-out palettes; solid learning tools and built in video instruction; robust ACIS-based 3D CAD modeling; new Parts Tree with editable features; new Gripper tool; built-in rendering and animation; built-in markup tools, print by layer command, value-pricing and very good import/export options
Cons: Not a very strong architectural 3D CAD tool, anemic 3D feature set in this area, no BIM interoperability, no IFC (industry foundation classes) support; Parts Tree could benefit from more robust editing options; program could also benefit from batch rendering, GPU-bound rendering, et cetera. No Microstation import/export option.
Advice: For the price TurboCAD Mac Pro 7 is likely not the best choice if your primary work need is 2D drafting. For that TurboCAD Mac Deluxe is a much better choice. For users who need primarily 3D MCAD abilities for parts, assemblies, product design, mechanical design, et cetera, TurboCAD Mac Pro 7 is a very good value especially given its good photo-realistic rendering options and animation. It is also an excellent option for users who need to import in many DWG 3D files to further work on or produce annotated drawing sheets.
Cost: 499.95.USD (new license)
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