This latest update of QCAD comes with a new tool to perform arbitrary matrix transformations (shown at the right) and adds support for non-uniform scaling of arcs, circles and ellipses.

Further, the info tools can now optionally add the measured results to the drawing and block attributes are now also supported in part library items.

Andrew

QCAD 3.3 has been released with a focus on block attributes. Block attributes can be used to define variable, dynamic text entities in blocks. Watch this screencast for a brief introduction on creating and using block attributes with QCAD.

Andrew

QCAD 3.2.1 is now available with two new tools and the usual bug fixes.

First, a new construction tool for inscribing ellipses into quadrilaterals has been added. This can for example be useful when creating isometric projections with angled sections through round parts as shown at the right. The auxiliary construction in blue is used as quadrilateral for drawing the inscribed ellipses in the front view and in the isometric view.

Ellipse inscribed in a quadrilateral.

The other new tool is a convenience tool for clipping or clearing rectangular areas for example to create a detail view as shown below. Especially for complex drawings, this tool can be a lot more efficient than exploding and trimming each entity to the rectangular area.

Clip selection to rectangular area.

As you might have noticed, QCAD is now also on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter for those QCAD users who like to hear the latest developments about QCAD through social media.

Andrew

QCAD 3.2 has been released this week with four new circle tools:

	Circle tangential to an entity and through two points.		Circle tangential to two entities and through a point.
	Circle tangential to two entities with given radius.		Circle tangential to three entities.

Perhaps surprisingly, most of these solutions are not at all straight-forward to find without the use of a CAD system. The problem to create circles that are tangential to three given circles, lines or points is sometimes referred to as the 'Problem of Apollonius' and has been solved by various mathematicians over the centuries.

Depending on the exact geometry of the tangential entities, there can be multiple (not always obvious) solutions to the problem. QCAD lets you pick the desired solution in the final step of the appropriate tool.

In the example at the right, the three dark blue circles were chosen as tangential circles. QCAD previews all eight possible solutions so that the desired solution can be chosen by simply clicking next to it. In this example, the innermost circle is chosen, shown in green.

I hope these tools will further boost your productivity!

Andrew

QCAD 3.1 is now available in Japanese, complete with user reference manual. Thanks to TANAKA Hidemune for this valuable contribution!

If you would also like to contribute to QCAD, please have a look at the type of contributions that are currently needed or post to our contributors forum to tell us what you are interested in.

Andrew