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
Construct and activate a new sub-model
sub-models/load sub-model from file
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).