The 2018 VisualCAD Exercise Guide!

Add Your Heading Text Here

Many of you have asked for more training materials on VisualCAD, MecSoft’s free CAD drawing and modeling program! In response, we are very excited to announce the release of The 2018 VisualCAD Exercise Guide, a FREE 200-page guide to using VisualCAD, MecSoft’s free CAD program! VisualCAD can be downloaded as part of VisualCAD/CAM 2018. This guide includes 8 detailed exercises with over 300 detailed graphical illustrations that will get you up and running with VisualCAD in no time at all!

Here is just some of what you can expect from this exercise guide:

VisualCAD Preferences

You will learn about many of the most commonly used system options in VisualCAD including how to access the online help, set display options, tolerances and units, system options, viewports and other VisualCAD display functionality.

2D Drawing & Dimensioning

You will learn about the Layer Manager and how to create and work with layers. You will also learn how to draw quickly in VisualCAD using the menus and command line shortcuts. You will also learn how to take advantage of the Visual Aids feature to speed up your drawing creating tasks including lines, arcs curves, fillets, chamfers, trimming, dimensioning and more

3D Modeling

D modeling exercises take you deeper into modeling in 3D with VisualCAD. You will learn how to draw complex profiles and then extrude and revolve them to build complex 3D features from multiple viewports. How to use VisualCAD’s Graphic Manipulator to build and position components and features. You will also learn how to create cross sections at any point in the 3D model.

Construction Planes

You will learn how to use Construction Planes (C-Planes) to navigate and add features and text to your 3D models. C-Planes are also critical in learning how to orient imported parts for machining. Thus learning how to orient C-Planes and how to orient parts with the use of C-planes is critical knowledge for all VisualCAD users.

Illustration Examples

Here are just a few of the over 300 detailed graphic illustrations you will find in The VisualCAD Exercise Guide.

What’s Inside

The VisualCAD Exercise Guide is packed full of information that will help you become more proficient with VisualCAD, MecSoft’s free CAD drawing and modeling program. Here is the complete list of topics included in this must-have companion guide.

Preferences
Access the online help.
Set the Display Style.
Set the Units to Inches.
Set System Options.
Set to Quad Viewports.
Viewing the Command Prompts.
The Status Bar.

2D Drawing & Dimensioning
Create Layers.
Curve Drawing.
Using Visual Aids.
Dimensioning.

3D Modeling a Spanner
Set to the Top View.
Create Reference Points.
Create Inner Cutouts.
Trim Curves.
Offset, Extend & Trim Curves.
Fillet Curves.
Mirror Curves.
Merge Curves.
Extrude Curves.

3D Model a Base Plate
Set to the Top View.
Create Reference Points.
Create Inner Cutouts.
Trim Curves.
Offset, Extend & Trim Curves.

3D Model a Mold Insert
Extrude the Body.
Extrude the Flange.
Extrude the Upper Pocket.
Extrude the Lower Pocket.
Revolve the Center Bosses.
Extrude the Connection Bar.
Extrude the Connection Wall.
Extrude Ejector Pin Holes.
Change Geometry Layer.
Create Section Curves.

3D Model a Connector Block
Model the Main Body.
Model the Front Access.
Model the Top Access.
Model the Mounting Holes.
Modify the Top Access.
Create Section Curves.

3D Model a Daisy Decor
Create new Layers.
Model & Scale the Body.
Model & Scale the Pedal.
Ghosted Display Mode.
Polar Array the Pedal.
Additional Spheres Accents.
Create & Trim Section Curves.
Create Offset Curves.
Create the Stock Boundary.

Using Construction Planes
Orient the C-Plane.
Draw on a Face.
Other C-Plane Options.
Orient the Part.

How to Download this Guide

The VisualCAD Exercise Guide is available as a FREE download to ALL MecSoft users! To download this guide, just select the link below:

The 2018 VisualCAD Exercise Guide

More Information

For more information about each of MecSoft’s CAM Module products, including data sheets, videos and other resources we invite you to visit the following product pages:

Don LaCourse

Don LaCourse is an Application Engineer with MecSoft Corporation. Don brings over 20 years of experience in CAD/CAM operations in both automotive and mold design applications. Don also has extensive experience in documenting CAD/CAM products and is actively involved with writing the on-line help as well as creating training tutorials for MecSoft's products.