ARMCAD 6 THE EXPERIENCE OF THOUSANDS OF USERS Radimpex Software announces release of ArmCAD 6, the new ArmCAD version. It is eight years since the release of ArmCAD 2005. What we are definitely sure of is that, at that moment, we created an excellent software that responded to current demands and challenges. Its quality and possibilities set high standards and became irreplaceable tool for thousands of users from many countries. ArmCAD 6 is the result of our dedicated, year and a half long work on implementing experience and requests of many users accumulated over years. Comparing to ArmCAD 2005, ArmCAD 6 brings all-around improvements and enables faster, easier and more precise drawing of reinforcement details. It enables better reinforcement optimization and decreases construction expenses. ArmCAD 6 offers even greater level of adaptability to different styles and conventions of structure drawing. It has clearer, more usable and more comfortable user interface. ArmCAD 6 is compatible with ArmCAD 2005 both ways. That means it can load ArmCAD 2005 drawings, but it can also save its drawings so they can be opened by ArmCAD 2005. Besides Autodesk AutoCAD (version 2010 and later), ArmCAD 6 will also have an edition for Bricsys BricsCAD 14. Both editions will be completely functionally equal. Among numerous new features that ArmCAD 6 brings, we have chosen the most important ones to briefly present to you here.
WORKING WITH LIMITED LENGTH BARS A U TO M A T ED US A G E O F L I M I TE D LENG T H B A R S ArmCAD 6 has automatic and all-around support for using bars of limited, predefined length (purchased, transport length). It enables automatic division and extension of bars and series of bars (constant and variable) in several predefined ways, including generating series with alternate extension positions. Synchronizing bar lengths with a given limit can be done in several predefined ways. They differ from each other by position of bars shorter than the purchased length: 1. At start 2. At end 3. At center 4. Outside Synchronizing bar lengths, which means breaking them, can be applied to single bars as well as series of bars in plane view, and also trough command for covering random area by series of bars, and trough command for importing slab reinforcement from Tower. Bars with limited length are easily distinguished from bars without a limit. Also, bars with exceeded length are especially marked in order to prevent possible errors. A U TO M A T I C G E NE RA T IO N O F O P T I M A L MES H CU T T I NG D E S IG N F OR L IM I T E D L E NG TH B A R S ArmCAD 6 enables making the most optimal mesh cutting design in order to minimize waste. Optimal mesh cutting design also calculates the lowest number of complete bars that should be ordered. One way of synchronizing lengths of bars of constant series is simple division to multiple constant series with common bar spacing. Another way is by making two times more series with two times bigger bar spacing, with alternate extension positions. Both these ways can be used for synchronizing lengths of bars of variable series by division to multiple constant and variable series, as well as by making two times more series with two times bigger bar spacing and alternate extension positions. dvostrukog razmaka sa naizmenično postavljenim mestima nastavljanja.
BETTER USAGE AND GREATER SAVINGS OF CROSS-SECTION REINFORCEMENT C O V E R I NG IN S T A G E S ArmCAD 6 brings new functionality covering with mesh series in stages. This allows pieces of the mesh remaining from previous stages to be used for covering in one of the following ones. Procedure for defining covering stages is very simple. Estimated savings of reinforcement achieved this way can be several tens of percent. E X A C TL Y F I T T I NG CU T S L I CES Another new feature is performing cross-section reinforcement cutting design with new procedure exactly fitting cut slices of arbitrary shaped mesh (until now, fitting has been done with rectangular pieces that included arbitrary geometry of cut pieces of the mesh). Estimated savings of reinforcement achieved this way can be around 10 percent. Covering without using stages. Six full mesh boards are needed. Waste percent (ordered but unused reinforcement) is 48.76% Covering in two stages. Remnants from the first stage are used for covering in the second stage, so 4 full mesh boards are needed. Waste percent (ordered but unused reinforcement) is 16.95% Old procedure of mesh cutting design. 3 full mesh boards are needed. Waste percent (ordered but unused reinforcement) is 45.24% New procedure of mesh cutting design. 2 full mesh boards are needed. Waste percent (ordered but unused reinforcement) is 17.89%
NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR DRAWING AND LABELING C L E A RER DRAW I NGS ArmCAD 6 introduced many new features that enhance clarity of reinforcement drawings. There is a new type of end tag; the possibility of marking the end tag; and drawing selected reinforcement with selected color. There is an additional flexibility in displaying series. The new type of end tag and marking the end tag with item number. Label position can be adjusted by gripping. Chosen colors for selected entities. User defined sparse layout of series in longitudinal and cross section. Few predefined common layouts are available. User defined sparse layout of series in longitudinal and cross section. Few predefined common layouts are available.
NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR DRAWING AND LABELING U S A B L E D RAW I NGS For users who print via layouts, there is a new possibility of single label scaling in order to draw them in scaled viewport in appropriate size. There is also a possibility of easier usage of series in plan view for reinforcing area with bars bent in a plane. New type of displaying series in plan view with bar symbol displayed in the beginning and the end. Setting a different scaling factor for a selected label. Using series in plan view for reinforcing with bars bent in the covering plane.
IMPROVEMENTS IN DEFINING AND EDITING BARS E A S IE R A ND F A S TE R Inserting new bar segments to its beginning or the end. There are many new features for speeding up the process of defining and editing bars. Users can now easily insert new bar segments to its beginning or the end, quickly convert simple stirrup to seismic (with overlapping segments) and vice versa. Among standard bars there is a new special kind of bars with 3D geometry for easier defining of so-called spacers. User can directly instantiate the represent (instead of a real bar instance) while defining a new bar item. Within the user interface, numerous dialogs were thoroughly redesigned for greater clarity and for providing more information. Another type of improvement is the introduction of direct links to dialogs for editing forms, labeling styles and entity layout. The mechanism for quick change of stirrup overlap mode. Overlap can be placed on any stirrup segment. As a two-way command, the existing overlap and can be removed by placing a breaking in the end point of a stirrup segment. Easy creation of 3D spacer without a need to define 3D geometry.
IMPROVEMENTS IN DEFINING AND EDITING BARS N E W POSSIB I L I T IES I N E D I T NG In databases of bar and mesh items there are new kinds of sorting, and simultaneous sorting by multiple criteria with the possibility for defining their priority. There is also a possibility for unique renumbering within several forms. There was an internal separation of labeling styles for bars and stirrups in order to allow easier selection of desired labeling style. Also, it is now possible to lock and protect from changing by gripping entire forms or individual items - locking can be performed separately for the geometry of the bar and the label. Criteria for sorting bars in bar items database. B E T TER CO N TRO L There is also a possibility to alert users when using the geometry with enormous coordinate values, as well as warn them when forming a non-planar bar, that is bar with 3D geometry, as a measure of protection against errors caused by drawing on 3D surfaces. Locking entity geometry and locking label geometry to prevent changing them by gripping. "Locked" entities do not show grip points during selection.
IMPROVEMENTS IN DEFINING SERIES OF BARS C O M P LEM E N T E D F U N C T IO N A L I T Y There is a possibility of fixing one of parameters of bar density their number or spacing, so they can remain unchanged during gripping of the series. With variable series in plan view user can assign new area to selected segment of the bar and not to an entire bar. It is now possible to place a represent of variable item with the exact geometry of the specific bar. Another new feature is placing a workshop drawing so-called specificator with a table. Series of stirrups before gripping. Series of stirrups after gripping with fixed bar spacing. Series of stirrups after gripping with fixed number of bars. Defined area of variable series can be assigned to selected segment or selected array of bar segments. Defined area Dialog has a slider for choosing a bar from the series whose geometry will be assigned to the represent. Specificator with a table is placed for a variable series in plan view.
IMPROVEMENTS IN DEFINING CROSS- SECTIONS S HO R TER PA T H TO TH E D E S I RE D R E S UL T When removing the section, it is possible to easily manually adjust the "depth" sequence of cross-section bars. In the sequential extraction of crosssections from the same carrier, given order is remembered so positions of the same bar item can be kept in the same place. It is possible to place bars in crosssection without labels, as well as labeling them later. When removing the section it is possible to set an arbitrary sequence of cross-section bars by depth, but also an intelligent usage of a sequence specified that way, for new sections of the same carrier. Omitting label display, with the possibility of later labeling.
IMPROVEMENTS OF APPLICATION TOOLS G REA T E R F LEX I B IL I T Y A N D EA S IER SE T T I NG It is possible to archive and easily transfer all configuration files (labeling styles, regulations, report settings...) from one computer to another. User can do multiple automatic change of labeling styles in an existing drawing. It is possible to generate a bending plan in a drawing of any format. Places of bending are marked in the margins of the drawing frame, and there are more standard ways of bending. Export and import of configuration files. The exported archive of configuration files can be transferred to another computer or archived. When importing it is possible to retrieve all or only selected configuration files. Drawing frame with bending points for reduction to A4 format.
NEW REPORT FEATURES N E W R E P O R TS A N D O V E R A L L I M P RO V E M E N TS It is possible to generate several new report types - recapitulation of bars for each form, cutting bars plan, recapitulation of bars in a way that is fully compatible to GOST (Russian) regulations. It is possible to display several new types of data such as the net amount of embedded meshes, the total length and weight of embedded bars, the number of entire bars, length and weight of bars while cutting etc. It is possible to simultaneously generate two bar specification reports with different content. An example of the bar recapitulation report formatted according to GOST (Russian) regulations. An example of the cutting bar plan report. It is possible to make each form report start on a new page, and to turn off any selected report. Formatting reports is made clearer and easier despite having five new reports.
NEW REPORT FEATURES M O RE I N FO R M A T IO N FO R F E W E R E R RORS Another new feature is automatic labeling of obsolete reports on the drawing after changes that affect specification, in order to inform user that there is a need to re-generate reports. After changing the geometry of a bar, the report that was previously exported to the drawing is no longer in compliance with the drawing itself, so the program automatically labeled it. F O RM A ND CO N TE N T It is possible to the display an arbitrary note in the comments field as well as in the field of the bar drawing inside specification. Rendering of bar symbols in the specification is improved by allowing different labeling of arc, slashed and variable segments. It is possible to refine the appearance of tables. There is a number of new options that can be used to adjust a report so it meets the demands and needs in form and content.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Supported AutoCAD versions (32-bit and 64-bit): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 i 2015. - Supported BricsCAD versions (32-bit and 64-bit): 14. - Current users of ArmCAD 2000 and ArmCAD 2005 have the option to upgrade their licenses at privileged terms. - Users of ArmCAD 6 have a choice between next licenses: "AC" (for AutoCAD), "BC" (for BricsCAD) and "AC + BC" (for AutoCAD and BricsCAD). - Users that purchased ArmCAD 2005 after January 1 st 2014. will receive a free license for ArmCAD 6 (AC). - Expected release time for ArmCAD 6 is the end of March 2014.