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Grid-Based CAD

MacDraft could be called a "grid-based" CAD system. Although the program features intelligent snapping between objects, MacDraft doesn't utilize an intelligent cursor technology that puts all types of vertices and their logical adjacencies and connections directly at your disposal under the cursor. Instead, the program demands that you set the "grid snap to the smallest interval any object you might consider drawing is based on. For example, if you have the need to draw objects in imperial units to lengths such as 7 3/4 inches long, you should set the grid snap to one-quarter (1/4) inch.

MacDraft 5.5.7 facilitates the changing of the grid snap intervals via a menu item. Most important is that the intervals of the grid snap are determined by the units for the drawing itself (see image 004).

004 - Grid Snap Menu Options

Besides the grid settings and snap to grid features of MacDraft 5.5.7 there are several aids which help you draw items precisely. The program features a Show Size palette which continuously reveals the 'x' and 'y' coordinate dimensions of drawing objects. To type in a precise dimension one must revert to the Resize palette -- which contains both absolute and relative x-y data fields.

A Sample Mechanical Drawing

In the example mechanical drawing show in the previous view and below I will now add a rectangular section to the metal connector I'm drawing. To do this is trivial. Select the rectangular drawing tool and drag from the first point at the lower left vertex down towards the lower right of the intended rectangle. As I drag the Show Size paletter reveals the dimensions of the item I'm creating. If I make a mistake I simply select the Resize palette -- which is good to always keep open in the drawing -- and tab into the absolute values for the object itself. Typing a different value, say 5 mm, into the 'x' field and hitting the return key is equivalent to the Apply button. The object is now changed.

Drafting in MacDraft has several nicities that many more expensive CAD programs lack. For instance, the program supports up to eleven (11) different line thicknesses simultaneously. Other programs often support far less and force you to input custom sizes via preferrence or settings palettes. MacDraft spares you this frustration and time loss. Additionally, the program supports 16 different dashed lines and 16 different line type terminations such as arrow heads, circle heads and slash marks.

The program features a popup menu for zooming in and out of the drawing at the bottom left of the drawing window. Next to that is the line thicknesses and a popup menu that allows you to flip back and forth between zoom tool and arrow select tool, and to open and close various palettes. (see images 105a and 105b). Unfortunately, a similar layers popup palette is positioned at the upper right hand corner of the drawing window all by its lonesome. It would be better to position it along the vertical edge of the window at the lower left, so that the cursor can "frequent" the same spot on the screen for all tasks.

005a - popup line menu	005b - popup menu to quick items

In my metal connector drawing I have located a circle for a bolt hole. In order to do this I have two options. One is to draw the circle in the lower corner and then move it to its required location using a move command or the other is to use other objects as guides. In this case I have drawn a square quickly of required size. Selecting the circle tool with the R in the center gets me started drawing a circle by a radius. Drawing out from that point and stopping at the required 3 mm radius is what I have done.

Now I want to replicate the bolt hole three times in offset fashion. To do this I select the circle with the selection arrow and use the Move command from the Edit menu. Typing in a relative distance of 12 mm produces this result (see image 006). To complete I keeping hitting the Apply button a few more times and then hit Done.

What I need to do now is finish the connector. I want to show the flanges at the bottom and right in section. First I need to drag and drop move the colored flange up a bit. Objects will snap together at end points because they are on the grid. If they were off the grid they would still snap together because the Snap to Object setting is turned on. Using the Attribute palette I can assign a cross-hatch to the steel flanges. Since the top flange doesn't match the lower right I will use the eye-dropper tool to grab-copy those attributes over to the other flange (see 007). I will also quickly use the eye-dropper tool to change the bolt holes to black.

006 - move relative command	007 - copy hatch with eyedropper tool

MacDraft 5.5.7 has a fine set of dimensioning tools. You have full control over arrow types, units, decimal places and radial dimension variables. I was particularly impressed with the associative dimensioning capabilities of the program. If you change an object the dimensions on that object update themselves automatically. And if you change the dimension itself the object grows or shrinks automatically. This sort of hints at parametrics but clearly this program is not a true parametric-based CAD program. The one annoying feature of the dimensioning tools is that you have a different dimension tool button for vertical and horizontal dimensions. Many CAD programs just have one for both and the program figures out which type you are trying to create. It doesn't take long to get used to using both however.

MacDraft's text tools are solid but by no means exhaustive in nature. However they have one cool feature, and that is you can assign Word Services. Doing so would then enable spelling and grammar checking from that application. However, I found that I was unable to add programs such as Apple's new iWork Pages word processor. I was surprised because I thought such newer applications would automatically work. Users must check with Microspot for a list of compatible "word services" applications.

Next Page: "Tiger" Spotlight Capability and Autocad File Support

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