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CALC4CAD Features

Utilities:
  • Calculator - with 10 memory registers and 7 equations
  • Graphing - given equation, start X, stop X and steps
  • Hole Charts - preselect circles and a chart is created
  • Isometrics - preselect objects and the isometric is made
  • Transforms - copy, rotate and scale all at the same time

    • Parts:
  • Ball Bearings - standard bearings in English and Metric
  • Circular Clips - internal, external and E-clips in English and Metric
  • Fasteners - standard fasteners in English and Metric
  • Springs - given the dimensions of a desired spring
  • Sprockets - standard sprockets in English units
  • Spur Gears - standard spur gears in English and Metric
  • Steel Shapes - standard steel shapes in English units

    • Analysis:
  • Beam Analysis - many beam, load and sections combinations
  • Belt Length - calculates the distance around 3 pulleys
  • Curve Fitting - fits a line or curve through data points
  • Reference - a list of information about units, elements...

    • CALC4CAD Overview

    As time has gone on, PC based CAD systems have become more powerful and more complex. AutoCAD LT was introduced to provide an entry level product for basic 2D drafting. Many of the features that were removed from AutoCAD involve solid modelling which may not be important to a new CAD user but other features are needed by all users. A major item that was removed is the calculator which CALC4CAD replaces. There are ten memory registers that can be accessed by typing a single letter (A-J) in the input box or selected from a pull down list box. These memories are saved to the hard drive so that you can use the same numbers with many different drawings.

    When an assembly of mechanical parts is drawn, there are many fasteners that can be used to hold the parts together. Drawing every nut and bolt can be very time consuming so many users have a library of standard fasteners from which to choose. Of course, if the bolt is not the right length, it will have to be modified which also takes time. CALC4CAD includes a utility for adding standard fasteners of different lengths to an AutoCAD drawing.

    There may be times when the user may need to draw the graph of an equation into an AutoCAD drawing. Many points on the curve must be calculated and then entered at the keyboard which makes it easy for errors to enter the process. CALC4CAD has a graphing utility that does all the calculations and draws a polyline through the data points which will save time and eliminate errors.

    Sometimes there are too many holes on a part to dimension the usual way. The hole chart utility of CALC4CAD numbers the holes in order by size and creates a hole chart which can be inserted into the drawing. CALC4CAD also creates a text file that contains the same X, Y and diameter information as the hole chart for external use.

    Making an isometric drawing can take time but CALC4CAD has a utility that takes preselected lines, circles, arcs and simple polylines and creates an isometric. The user selects objects that are all in the same plane and CALC4CAD creates a top, left or right isometric view.

    When a longer fastener is needed, a shorter one can be stretched to the length but adding a few more teeth to a gear will take a bit more effort. Drawing a new spur gear from scratch can take a lot of time but CALC4CAD has a utility that draws an approximation of the gear given the number of teeth, diametral pitch or module and pressure angle. Sprockets can also be drawn by the number of teeth and pitch. Bearings and steel shapes can be chosen from a list or values can be entered manually.

    Analysis is a growing concern in engineering and CALC4CAD has three utilities to offer. The beam analysis uses classical equations to find the stress and deflection of a beam with a simple load. The belt utility is used to find the length of a belt around three pulleys. The system can be back-solved for any of the variables which include the X and Y locations of the pulleys and pulley diameters. The curve fitting utility takes X and Y data that may be collected from an experiment or other source, and fits a straight line or curve through the points.