Microvellum Community

2008 Product Design Competition

administrator — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:56:00 GMT

Do you build more than straight boxes? Do you design and manufacture complex one-of-a-kind or parametric products? Do you create detailed renderings to impress your clients? Why not show them off? Microvellum’s second annual Product Design Competition allows you the opportunity to show off, and get recognized for your outstanding work.

Categories:

One-of-a-kind Product Design – Entries in this category will be judged on overall design, application.
Rendering – Entries in this category will be judged on overall room design, material choices, lighting and use of Microvellum products.
Parametric Product Design– Entries in this category will be judged on primarily on parametric flexibility, formula structure, and proper use of Microvellum functions.

How to Submit Your Entries

Upload your entries to the 2008 Product Design Competition folder in the downloads area of the Community. Please note, items uploaded to the contest folder can only be downloaded by Microvellum personnel. You may also mail entries on CD to 451 west 6th Street, Medford, Oregon 97501 – Attn: 2008 Product Design Competition.

Prizes:

Prizes will be awarded as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for each category. Winners will be announced at the “Microvellum Day Before Event” in Atlanta, GA. - August 19, 2008 - One day prior to IWF.

1st Place = Microvellum MVP Award, $750.00 cash
2nd Place = Microvellum MVP Award, $500.00 cash
3rd Place = Microvellum MVP Award, $250.00 cash

Contest Rules in Detail:

This contest is open to Microvellum customers only.
All entries must be received no later than July 1st, 2008
All entries must be uploaded to the Microvellum Community – Product Design Competition folder/category folder. (While all registered users have the ability to upload, this folder is only accessible to select Microvellum personnel for download.)
All entries must include a “ReadMe” file that explains what the product is, its application and any other useful information that might convince a judge to select your product. (Sell your entry’s high points)
All contestants must fill out the 2008 Product Design Competition entry form. This form will help Microvellum learn more about you and your company.
All entries must include the entire job folder including your Microvellum tool file.
You may enter as many products as you like into each category
Renderings must be created within AutoCAD
The 2008 Product Design Competition entries may be used for marketing purposes in Microvellum brochures, website, and other promotional materials.

To get started, fill out the contest entry form - View Form

Object Publishing

administrator — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:16:00 GMT

In this month’s tip, we will examine the SOL viewing family of commands which include: SOLVIEW, SOLDRAW, and SOLPROF. We will also take a quick look at a familiar command called FLATSHOT. Additional references for these commands can be found in AutoCAD Help.

Object Publishing is defined as the process of creating 2D profiles from an object in modelspace into paperspace to give you maximum viewing control for drawing layouts.

The advantage to creating profiles of an object is that you have control from paperspace on how these profiles are generated. These tools are efficient when producing accurate detailed drawing views for production, and it’s the way to go if you are looking to speed up drawing times.

The SOLVIEW family of commands should be used in order. The documentation that creates the profile for this command is run by an Internal .ARX file (SOLIDS.ARX). If, for some reason, they are not working correctly, make sure you check to see if that file is loaded correctly.

SOLVIEW

This is the command that starts the process of creating the specified viewport profiles. Once a viewport is created with this command and named, it will add four layers that will be associated with it. This allows you to put specified information on this layer to control what the viewports views.

The layers that are related are:

VIEWPORTNAME-VIS
VIEWPORTNAME-HID
VIEWPORTNAME-DIM
VIEWPORTNAME-HAT

Under the SOLVIEW command, you have the viewing control in which you will create the profile viewport. Those options are: UCS, ORTHO, AUXILIARY, and SECTION. These command controls allow the user to select the desired views of the object.

Since this command is run off the.ARX file, it is very efficient and will allow profile drawings to update according to the object. If you make changes to the referenced object, the profile in the viewport will update and apply those changes made.(AutoCAD Objects)

SOLDRAW

The SOLDRAW command is used to clean up the profiles drawn with the SOLVIEW command. The command takes those profiles and projects them on to a plane for viewing purposes.

SOLPROF

The SOLPROF command is similar to the SOLDRAW. It gives you the option to display hidden profiles and display the edges and silhouettes of curved objects.

Example Exercise:

Insert an object into modelspace. Go into paperspace and make sure there is no viewports active. If there are active view ports, delete them.
In the command line type SOLVIEW to activate the command.
To create the initial viewport select the control UCS.
For the next control select world. Then select the world coordinate system.
Specify the scaling you want to draw the viewport.
Select the view center. This is going to be the anchor point on which you will place your view of the object.
Select a point to place the view. Hit enter.
Select your corners to place the viewpoint box around the view.
Insert the view name. This is the name that will appear in the layer manager with the temporary lays for that view.

You will now have a single viewport we can work off to create other viewports. Now, we will create four additional viewports to complete a full drawing layout.

In the command line, type in SOLVIEW. Select ORTHO. Then, select the side of the existing viewport to project.
Select the view center and pick a point to place the view. Then, pick the corners for the viewport box.
For the next view the SOLVIEW command will stay active. Select the AUXILIARY. Select points through the object to create the AUXILIARY plane. Then select the side to view from. Then select the view center and pick a point to place the view.
For the last view select the section control. Specify the cutting plane points. Select the side to view from. Enter the viewing scale. Then select the view center and pick a point to place the view. Then create the viewport box around the view.

That will complete a full drawing layout for this object. Now, you can start adding additional information such as Dimensions, Drawing Block etc. You can also place that information on the temporary layers that are created for each viewport and access those layers from the layers manager.

Another command that is use for the same purpose is the FLATSHOT command. It is the same principal as SOLVIEW and SOLDRAW commands but instead of just projecting the profile onto a plane, it creates a block that can be inserted or substituted into a drawing.

Author: Brannon Pumphrey, Microvellum Technical Support

Frameless Library Ideas and Information Exchange

administrator — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:42:00 GMT

This blog is designed for users of the new Frameless Library to offer new enhancment ideas, feedback on current formats, suggestions and general input to future development of the Frameless Library. As this is an ongoing project, we really want to know the things that will make your jobs easier, even if it makes ours harder.

We have many goals set for future releases, but what you need now is our priority. Some things we want to know are

A. Ease of navigation to find what you want.

B. Variety of selections for quick setup and change

C. Quality of help text and pictures

D. Ideas for the future.

E. Identify new trends in techniques and hardware.

I will monitor this Blog for your feedback and will provide information on status and results of idea considerations as best I can. I am looking forward to many peoples participation. No question or idea is a stupd one, so fire away. What can we help you build tomorrow?

Microvellum Custom Functions

Daniel — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:15:00 GMT

As we are in the process of finishing the documentation for version 6.6, I wanted to show you a quick video that was created by our support technician Andrew. He was getting ready to do some training for a company, and since the company wants to use version 6.6, he wanted to show them how to easily create parametric formulas using the custom functions. One of the hardest concepts in Microvellum is to write a parametric polyline machining token that uses hard locked and formula driven values. It can get very confusing trying to get the syntax correct and have it work the way you want it to. In this video he creates this parametric formula using almost no, formula creation. In fact, almost everything done is based on the part name. Seeing these functions being used in this way has really got me excited about the possibilities that are opening up with Version 6.6.

The video is about 10 minutes long and he is narrating what he is doing so be sure to watch it with sound. This was created very quickly so there isn’t the level of production that we normally try to put in our videos and presentations, but I'm sure that everyone will really enjoy this video. Thanks again to Andrew for creating this video.Video Link: http://www.microvellum.com/download/blog/workbook%20functions.html

P.S. Every thing done here was done with build 19 of version 6.6 that is avialable in the download section now.

AutoCAD Combination Commands

administrator — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:39:00 GMT

Creating combination commands using Macros allows you to develop AutoCAD commands that speed up drawing ability without having to edit the Lisp routines. All though you have more control over commands by editing Lisp routines, using Macro elements is a good starting point for anyone looking to increase efficiency, but also get their feet wet in some programming.

The easiest way to understand Macro Strings is to think of them as a language, where each character or sets of characters has a meaning, and controls how the command acts through its entry process.

Adding commands is accomplished through CUI interface with AutoCAD 2007 and above. You may want to have a basic understanding of the CUI interface before getting into this section.

Getting Started:

Open the CUI Dialog Box; make sure you are working in the main AutoCAD CUI file (acad.cui). The AutoCAD commands are stored under the command list section.
From there, select “New”, this is going to open a new command with the name “Command1”. On the right side of the dialog box, there is an information selection that displays the properties of the new command.

The Copy Rotate Command:
This command will allow you to copy and rotate a Profile, Solid, or Surface; all in one command.

Under general (for name enter something along the lines of Copy Rotate) under that description is a help text that will pop up when you highlight the command.
The next category is macro. Here is where the macro string is written that controls how the command operates. Within that field insert: ^c^c_rotate;_copy;_base;

Explanation:

The ^c is the cancel command. So it does a double cancel command in the beginning to ensure that no other commands are active (this is optional).
"_rotate" activates the rotate command.
";" is the character that stimulates the enter key which activates the next command in the string.
"_copy" activates the copy command within the rotate command. It is now a selection, during the command you will select copy.
";" another stimulation of enter to move on to the next command
"_base" activates the base command. Which is the base point selection to copy and rotate is made.
; this is the final enter stimulation to end the active command after the copy rotate is made.

The Copy Scale Command:
This command allows you to scale a Profile, Solid, or Surface while having the option to copy coincidently. The macro for this command will be: ^c^c_scale;_copy;_base;

Try both of these combination commands, they should increase drawing efficiency. You can combine most of AutoCAD’s commands in macro string to develop useful customized tools.

After these commands have been developed they can be applied to any CUI Menus, Toolbars, Toolpalettes, or Grips. They are run as everyday command operations. They can also have hot keys assigned to them for quick keyboard entry.

Text Commands
If you are looking to take it one step further here is a more complex Macro string that creates a command that is always based on the aehalf.shx font and a specific text layer. The command will tell the text to always stay at a certain height and rotation direction when entering it. For this example we will use the font style aehalf.shx.

The Macro string will read like this: ^C^C-style;aehalf;aehalf.shx;0;1;0;;;;-layer;m;fixedtext;;dtext;\.1875;0;layer0;
Here is the same macro string with the definitions inserted for the meaning of what each macro character does:

^Cancel command^Cancel command;-style command;name of text;font file;font height;font width;font angle;;;;-layer command;m;the new layer;;dtext command;\height of text;rotation;restores the layer that was current.

Author: Brannon Pumphrey, Microvellum Technical Support

Microvellum Australia Joins the Australian Shop & Office Fitting Industry Association (ASOFIA)

administrator — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:16:00 GMT

Bualkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia - February 18, 2008 – Microvellum, Inc. today announced that it has signed a new national sponsorship deal with the Australian Shop & Office Fitting Industry Association (ASOFIA).

Microvellum joins two other companies Biesse Australia and Polyflor Australia as National Corporate Partners of ASOFIA.

Microvellum USA was founded in 1991. Microvellum was introduced into the Australian market by Trevor Moxon in 2003. In 2007, Microvellum was awarded No 1 Independent Software Vendor from Autodesk, Inc. WORLDWIDE.

Microvellum aims to provide the highest quality design and manufacturing software available to the Australian market. Microvellum has spent considerable time developing the software to cater specifically to the shopfitting industry.

"We are pleased and excited to be giving back and supporting the industry that has helped to grow our company into what it is today." says Microvellum Australia's General Manager, Samantha Sartgi.

We have a highly qualified team of consultants around Australia ready to respond to the needs of shopfitters, joiners and cabinetmakers.

The sponsorship incorporates ongoing exposure at both state and national events including the ASOFIA National Conference, meetings, state division golf days and other social and networking events as well as recognition and coverage in association publications such as Interior Fitout magazine, the ASOFIA web site and newsletters.

ASOFIA National President, Rosie Reeman says, "It's fantastic to see a company specializing in manufacturing software eager to form a stronger relationship with the Association and the industry in general. I feel sure it will be a mutually rewarding relationship for all concerned"

Microvellum Previews New MicroManager ERP Software

administrator — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:30:00 GMT

Microvellum Previews New MicroManager ERP Software - Front to back production management tools for the woodworking industry....(read more)

Microvellum Receives Top ISV Award from Autodesk

administrator — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:52:00 GMT

Medford, Oregon – November 27, 2007 – Microvellum receives top ISV (Independent Software Vendor) award from Autodesk 3 quarters running and looks to round off the year as the top AutoCAD independent reseller for 2007, anchoring Microvellum’s position as the Worlds #1 AutoCAD based manufacturing and design software for the wood working industry. Recent meetings with top ISV managers at Autodesk have uncovered new ways these two companies can work together, bringing world class software solutions that are desperately needed to a worldwide audience.

Microvellum Announces Availability of the Version 6.5 Closet Library

administrator — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:51:00 GMT

Medford, Oregon – September 5, 2007 – Microvellum, Inc. today announced the immediate availability of the Version 6.5 Closet Library, a major upgrade to the existing Version 6 Closet Library.

This new closet library includes over 40 different pre-configured parametric bay inserts for shelves, shoe shelves, baskets, hampers, hanging rods, vanities, all with the ability to include different backs, drawer and door styles, doors and door styles. It also incorporates different bay depths and "hutch" style configurations. Also included is the hardware for hinges, pulls, closet rod cups, drawer slides, baskets, hampers, and more.

Pricing and Availability

The Version 6.5 Closet Library is available immediately in imperial format. Metric format will be released in the coming weeks. It's available in four different pre-defined construction methods – Nail, Camlock, Confirmat, and dowels. Users who have purchased the Version 6 Closet Library can upgrade to the Version 6.5 Closet Library for free. To download the latest copy visit: http://forums.microvellum.com/files/. If you do not current own a copy of the Closet Library, contact your Microvellum sales person for pricing information.

Microvellum Appoints New Director of Technical Services

administrator — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:53:00 GMT

Medford, Oregon – August 10, 2007 – Microvellum, Inc. today announced the addition of Jesse Lucero to the staff at Microvellum’s headquarters. Jesse will serve as Director of Technical Services and oversee and coordinate all Microvellum technical support, services, and training. BiographyAt the age of 18, Jesse founded JTW Woodworks, completing custom jobs in his spare time and weekends. Three years later, he decided to take a job offer that would spur his career in a new direction and would allow him to experience the woodworking industry at a new level. His job entailed commercial drafting and engineering with Pattern Systems and 20/20 software. At the age of 24, he started a new company – Absolute Drafting – where he focused primarily on freelance drafting using Microvellum software. In 2000, Jesse decided to take a job offer in Phoenix, Arizona for a residential casework company to broaden his knowledge of the industry. In 2001, Jesse began his third business, Casework Drafting Services. This company performed drafting and engineering services specifically for Microvellum customers as well as subcontract work for Microvellum’s corporate office. Earlier this year, he accepted an offer from Microvellum corporate as Director of Technical Services ………………………

Drawing in 2D or 3D

Daniel — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:45:00 GMT

Lately in support I have been asked the question “What is the best style to draw your drawings in, 2D or 3D?” So I thought I would post my thoughts here and see what everyone else’s opinion is as well.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer for this question and really comes down to personal preference. For me, I would work in 3D. It is what I first starting using when working with AutoCAD and Microvellum and in support we troubleshooting machining operations and need to see what machining operations are showing in the product. Drawing in 3D allows us to see exactly where machining operations are being done on the parts and where the parts relate to one another in space.

The problem with 3D drawings is the complexity added to the drawing. When working with new AutoCAD and Microvellum users, you can really tell that the concept of “3D Space” is much harder to understand then a flat 2D drawing. Then having to move parts from one point to another point can be tricky without a little practice.

Then there is the problem with getting clean looking submittals. If you haven’t already, get AutoCAD 2007 or above. AutoCAD has created really cool commands that can help you get the view that you need. Using “3DCLIPS” and “SECTIONPLANE” can help you hide the objects that are preventing you from getting an elevation view or plan view of your room.

So 3D will work wonderfully if you need to see you’re machining and really understand “3D Space”, but if you know that your library has machining that works on your cabinets and you need a quick, clean looking submittal then 2D is going to be great.

Drawing in 2D really shines when you have a drawing template setup with your dimensions styles, colors, and other variables already setup. 2D really allows you to quickly draw a plan view and elevation view of a room. If you want to take it one step further you can setup each library product with “Prompts Drawing Tokens” so when they are added to the drawing they draw exactly the way you want.

It all comes down to personal preference and what you are comfortable with.

So what do you use? Feel free to add your comments and experiences with drawing in 2D or 3D for other Microvellum users.

Creating a Custom Drawing Template

Daniel — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:38:00 GMT

This question comes up pretty often so I decided to create a video and document that goes through setting up a custom AutoCAD drawing template. There is no sound with the video but it will quickly demonstrate how to go about modiying a drawing template. The document follows the video and describes the commands used to get to the different potions of AutoCAD.

Video Link: http://www.microvellum.com/download/blog/Drawing%20Template.html (7 minutes)

Document Download: http://www.microvellum.com/download/blog/Setting%20up%20a%20Drawing%20Template.doc

Daniel's Blog

Daniel — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:00:00 GMT

Hey everyone,My name is Daniel and I manage the technical support department in Microvellum. In order to provide everyone with more knowledge about Microvellum I am thinking of posting lessons, thoughts, ideas and other topics here in my blog. I will try to post a new topic every couple of days if I can. If anyone has any recommendations please let me know. I am pretty sure you can post comments to the blog so if you start making a list I will do my best to provide what I can.My first topic that I want to do is the new perfect graining feature that is available in Microvellum version 65.7.515 or later. This new perfect grain feature gives you control over how parts will be placed in a pattern. The link below will provide you with a document that you can download to see how to use the new feature. Let me know what you think.

http://www.microvellum.com/download/blog/New%20Perfect%20Graining%20Feature.doc

Daniel's Blog - Test

administrator — Tue, 22 May 2007 23:32:00 GMT

Testing 123

Who am I and what can I do for you today?

Florida MV Craig — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:56:00 GMT

I have been in the cabinet industry since I graduated from a Vocational High School in Tampa Florida in 1982. From there I spent 15 years working for a major cabinet company in Tampa where I worked in every aspect of cabinet making. After that I began working as a software technician doing field work helping companies get the most from their software.

Since I have been working with Microvellum, we have made numerous changes to the libraries that customers purchase so that they can have more capability at their fingertips from day one. While we cannot promise everything out of the box, for every company, we can provide a substantial amount of what they need in a shorter time. Our goal is to get you going faster, easier and spend extra time getting you more information.

The best part of my job is helping customers get the most bang for their buck. It makes me feel good when I can show a company new ideas and guide them to more profitability. We don’t just install software, we try to show you the best ways to make your day easier. My goal is to get your jobs processed in less time to the floor in a manner that allows the floor to produce the products even faster, and increase the product quality at the same time. Do all this with more control and the return on investments rolls on.

The number one enemy of a software purchase is trying to make new software and equipment do things using old methods. You have to rethink your process with every new addition to the process. Lean Thinking is also something we always have in the back of our mind when we help customers.

Here at Microvellum we try to help our customers by using and teaching the best techniques for each facility. Our on site training is customized to each customer by addressing their special needs.

What do you want to build today?

M. Craig Snee