[Equest-users] CAD draws handling

Nick Caton ncaton at smithboucher.com
Tue May 1 07:48:52 PDT 2012


Hi Tiejun,

CAD is an entirely separate skillset ¨Cif you haven¡¯t touched it before I can see it being daunting.

I also typically define my simplified zone layout in CAD prior to importing to eQuest.

Here is a brief list of keystrokes to write down specific to tracing out simple outlines for eQuest.  Play with these until their function/purpose is intuitive:
L ¨C LINE
REC ¨C RECTANGLE
TR ¨C TRIM
EX  - EXTEND
CHA ¨C CHAMFER (extends two lines to the point they¡¯d intersect if extended ¨C combines a multistep process into one)

OSNAP ¨C lets you choose what to snap to, or not (your preference...  I personally select everything.)
F3 ¨C toggles those chosen snap settings on/off in one keypress

F8 - toggles ortho mode ¨C note snapped points will override

LAYISO ¨C select one or more things before/after this command to ¡°lock¡± all other layers ¨C handy to ensure your work is isolated to the layer(s) you want to work on
LAYUNISO ¨C undoes the previous locking

One thing I didn¡¯t realize early on is that the eQuest interface does let you isolate layers while defining zones ¨C so an extensive amount of CAD file cleanup isn¡¯t necessary provided you do your zone tracing on a fresh layer, as Bruce is saying.  I also agree and emphasize to not get too hung up on ¡°where in your walls¡± you draw your partition lines ¨C ¡°exactly right¡± for internal partitions is normally in the dimensional center, but this is normally not critical.  The general rule for exterior walls is to follow the outermost surface.

~Nick


[cid:489575314 at 22072009-0ABB]

NICK CATON, P.E.
SENIOR ENGINEER

Smith & Boucher Engineers
25501 west valley parkway, suite 200
olathe, ks 66061
direct 913.344.0036
fax 913.345.0617
www.smithboucher.com

From: equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Bruce Easterbrook
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 5:27 PM
To: tiejun hu
Cc: equest-users
Subject: Re: [Equest-users] CAD draws handling

Technically eQuest uses centre of the wall, but a couple of inches one way or the other normally doesn't make much difference.  Before I import a drawing I simplify it in Cad.  If the drawing is nicely layered so an exterior or interior wall is available I will isolate it on a new equest layer.  You could use the offset command to get very close.  Also isolate your interior walls you are going to define your zones with on this layer.  Check and figure out what to do with any roof which is a partial.  Keep a few file saves as you go through the process in the case you change your mind.  Depending on the CAD file size you can delete most of it once you have all you need on the single line layer.  I also drag the lower left corner of the building to the 0,0 point.  Then import it.  I also normally print this file and identify all the point coordinates for the walls and intersections.  That way you can check your input in eQuest and correct any points it doesn't get exactly as you trace the layers.  A point out by .01 will mess up eQuest and may not run.
I haven't heard of any simpler ways.  But compared to other programs just being able to load a CAD drawing and trace it was/is a huge time saver.
Bruce Easterbrook P.Eng.
Abode Engineering

On 30/04/2012 10:55 AM, tiejun hu wrote:
Hi: guys
     Does anybody has good expirience in handling CAD draws, Generlly, the draws are complicated, for example all the walls are comprised of double line or more,however during creating simple draws for equest, we just need walls only include one line. but if we use "line" order in cad tools to draws walls one by one, i think this is time-consuming. and i doubt whether exist some plug-in of CAD tools which can automatcally transform all multi-line walls to single-line wall? if any, or any good methords, please guide!  thanks in advance!
 BEST REGARDS
                                                                                                         Tiejun



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