1801 Arctic Avenue
Bohemia, NY 11716-2413
Phone: (631) 563-7263
Fax: (631) 563-7239
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InteliCAD Sales 1801 Arctic Avenue Bohemia, NY 11716-2413 Phone: (631) 563-7263 Fax: (631) 563-7239 |
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For most of us, there are still many questions before we can make a commitment to purchase a program such as this. Hopefully this will help.
Do you track elevations and check for collisions?
Can you offset fittings such as ogee offsets in two directions at once?
How easy is it to roll round fittings?
Do you automatically route ductwork?
Can I mix 2-D and 3-D in the same drawing?
Can you draw 3-D fittings such as a top or bottom flat round reducer?
Do you place piece numbers on ductwork?
Do you download ductwork to a plasma cutter?
Does a database come with the basic drawing package?
What kind of technical support do you offer?
Does your program follow SMACNA standards?
Do you draw architectural things such as walls and steel?
How do you handle fitting-to-fitting connections in round?
Can I fabricate from more than one drawing in a single batch?
Can I use AutoCAD® functions such as "xref" and "paper space" with your program?
Is it possible to create my own reports from the information in your database?
Is it easy to move or edit duct runs after they are drawn?
Do you provide tools to make AutoCAD® easier to use?
Does your program draw in metric?
Why should I buy your program instead of someone else's?
Does InteliCAD come with everything I need to start drawing?
What kind of computer do you recommend?
How much more time is required to learn the database?
Yes, we support AutoCAD® 2010 through 2012.
Do you track elevations and check for collisions?
Yes, we track elevation on both our 2-D and 3-D drawings. In fact, our 2-D & 3-D detect one another. We have a few different methods for collision checking. First we have on-line collision checking which continuously checks as you draw. It checks only against other items in your immediate area so it can work fast. It also checks against items on frozen layers so it can detect collisions with steel, for example, which may not even be visible on the screen. As you pass over or under objects, it reads out clearances. If you collide with an object, the program will beep to get your attention. Then it marks the point of collision and tells you how much the items overlap so you can correct. We also have an object check which allows users to select two items to compare their elevations to measure clearances or warn you if elevations overlap. This works not only with our ductwork drawn in both 2-D and 3-D, but also with piping created using many of the popular piping programs available for use with AutoCAD®. It also works to compare our 2-D and 3-D items with solids drawn using standard AutoCAD® 3-D solids. We include a utility which allows you to add elevation intelligence to objects drawn by others. This information can then be accessed by other programs such as our object check and our elevation flag. So we can say with confidence that we have the most sophisticated elevation tracking and collision checking in the world.
Can you offset fittings such as ogee offsets in two directions at once?
Of course we can in either 2-D or 3-D. As shown here, we also let you change size in both width and height while offsetting in two directions on your ogee.
How easy is it to roll round fittings?
We allow you to roll all of our round fittings in 3-D and most of them in 2-D. For example, if you wish to roll a gored elbow up 23° while making a 45° turn, you simply tell the program what you want. It applies logic to your problem and gives you the results you need to do the job. By logic, we mean that we actually point an elbow (without drawing it) and make adjustments to roll and angle until we are within 0.0005° in both desired slope and desired angle. Then we draw it and tell you what angle and roll were used to achieve your results. The process is usually almost instantaneous on modern computers. You can also fix the angle of your elbow and tell the program to roll to a desired slope. That is to say rolling and flexing are handled independently. A similar process comes into play when you roll angled taps around your round or oval duct. This ability in itself can save you many hours trying to solve real world problems.
Do you automatically route ductwork?
We have put a lot of work into our AutoRouting. We currently have hundreds of variations possible in AutoRouting ductwork. We even have programs which allow you to roll 2 round elbows toward each other 3-dimensionally until they line up. This permits you to hook up practically anything. We have other routines designed to work in tight areas which tighten throat dimensions until they fit. Our AutoRouting optimizes to eliminate short joints, allowing the user to specify whether short sections are to be added to elbow throats, for example. It allows users to set limits on allowable slope for reducers, ideal and maximum lengths. Then it works within those parameters to do away with short joints wherever possible. We believe this is by far the most sophisticated AutoRouting in the world.
Can I mix 2-D and 3-D in the same drawing?
Yes, this has become very popular among our users. We allow you to jump back and forth between 2-D and 3-D. As you can see from the duct shown below, our 3-D looks very similar to our 2-D. These combination drawings look fine. You can draw items in 3-D which you want to show isometric views of, create as many views as you wish with our clip view utility, and lay them right on your drawing. Our 2-D and 3-D also recognize one another for collision checking and elevation tracking.
Can you draw 3-D fittings such as a top or bottom flat round reducer?
This sounds like such a simple request. One of our users recently related a story to us of a 3-D instructor who came to their shop from a local AutoCAD® school. They asked him to draw them a bottom flat round reducer with AutoCAD®. The instructor told our user it was impossible. Our user laughed and then quickly drew him one with our program. After looking dumbfounded at the screen, the instructor called the head instructor at his school who concurred with him that it simply could not be done with AutoCAD®. The head instructor's explanation of what the instructor saw was that InteliCAD must have created the image somehow outside of AutoCAD® and brought the results to the screen by some trickery. We don't use magic or trickery. Our programmers know how to do many things which are supposed to be impossible with AutoCAD®.
Do you place piece numbers on ductwork?
This is also an area which has evolved to be quite sophisticated. Our central premise for tag numbering came from one of the nations largest sheet metal contractors. They asked for a cataloging system which would place the same number on identical fittings. They also wanted items they stock to have their internal part number in place of the tag number. Through the years, our numbering system has evolved to further meet the needs of our users. That is a point in itself. We never stop evolving. We also let you coordinate numbering between several different drawings if you wish.
Do you download ductwork to a plasma cutter?
Yes, and as a matter of fact, our InteliCAD users tell us we have the most dependable CAD to CAM transfer on the market. InteliCAD is capable of downloading to most manufacturers' plasma systems and an interface program is required for the download to take place. The InteliCAD interface has been perfected, and we are successfully downloading to most plasma systems across the country. Please contact your cutting software supplier for more information and availability of their interface program.
I understand that your Advanced Database gives me the download capability. But what else do I get with it?
The Advanced Database allows users to setup their construction standards based upon width, height, and length. This lets them set it so that a 4" fitting won't necessarily be the same gauge as a 48" one, for example. They can define very complex sets of standards for their shop to follow controlling not just gauge, but connectors, seams, vanes, liner, and reinforcement as well. Then apply these standards in mass to ductwork passed from the drawing. The information then goes not just to the download, but also to a vast array of reports and fabrication lists which have evolved from years of listening to our users. These include weight estimates, connector cut lists, spiral pipe lists, lists of purchased items such as grilles & registers, spin-in taps,etc.,and many many more. The result is a streamlined operation designed to make money for our users. Many of our users have recouped the entire investment in our program in a single good sized job.
Does a database come with the basic drawing package?
Yes, but without the construction information provided in the pressure classes, only limited reports are possible. We provide general information about fittings. But it does not provide such information as connectors, seams, gauges and reinforcement.
What kind of technical support do you offer?
When you call for support, you talk with our support staff. This interaction has greatly improved our program through the years. Many times our support staff can talk you through your problem. We also have a support site that can be accessed to download any updates or patches for the program. We even email some fixes directly to the customer. We don't know of anyone else in this business who does this. It is one of the reasons our program is so user friendly. We care about our users. This support is free for the first 6 months after a new (first time) purchase of our program and through a renewable subscription thereafter. Periodic updates of the program are included with a paid support subscription.
Does your program follow SMACNA standards?
Yes, in fact we are an associate member of SMACNA. We allow users to specify such things as maximum allowable slope angles, etc. and then work within those restrictions.
Yes, we let you setup a table of allowable sizes so that you only draw using sizes your shop can make.
Do you draw architectural things such as walls and steel?
Yes, we try to give our users every tool they need to complete their drawings. For example, when drawing steel, we look up the actual dimensions in either the American or British (metric) steel manuals so that our users can draw steel quickly and accurately. We also have programs for such things as walls,doors, ceiling grid, column lines, joists, and precast concrete.
How do you handle fitting-to-fitting connections in round?
We have a setup which allows you to specify for fitting-to-fitting connections whether you wish to adjust the first fitting, second fitting, neither fitting or both fittings. The connections of one or both involved fittings are then flagged so that, when it goes out to the Advanced Database, adjustments in size can be automatically made to your specifications. Whether you set it to undersize or oversize the connection so they will slide one into the other is up to you.
How do you handle special connector types on one end of a fitting tying to existing duct, for example?
We allow you to over-ride your pressure class settings by specifying a special connector in your drawing. This information, when passed to the database program, over-rides your normal fabrication settings.
Can I fabricate from more than one drawing in a single batch?
Yes, we let you name the file you are sending out to the database. If the name you choose already exists, you are asked whether you wish to erase this file and make a new one or append more data to the file. We also allow you to send information out in several formats such as by fitting type or air system, etc. You can send out any or all of your drawing for fabrication. These tools allow you to customize your output to meet your needs.
Can I use AutoCAD® functions such as "xref" and "paper space" with your program?
Yes, our program adds functionality to AutoCAD®. You are free to use almost all of their functions as normal.
Is it possible to create my own reports from the information in your database?
Yes, we store our data in standard "dBase" format. There are several programs available which allow you to manipulate information stored in this structure. But virtually all of our users seem satisfied with the reports we provide in our Advanced Database. Only a couple of users have created their own reports.
Is it easy to move or edit duct runs after they are drawn?
We have a wide array of tools which allow you to move and edit duct after it is drawn. We allow you to access the entities (lines, arcs, text, etc.) which make up your ductwork either as separate items or in groups which make up the fitting. You can select an area containing many other things such as walls, steel, etc. and have the program ignore all that and just move, erase, or otherwise manipulate your ductwork. We provide our users with tools to manipulate, text, outline thickness, tag numbers, etc. You can also add such things as liner, special connectors or special instructions after your duct is drawn. We have several programs designed to fill in gaps automatically after you have shifted a portion of a duct run. These include ogee offsets, square offsets, transitions and many AutoRouting functions. We also allow you to manipulate things drawn by others including adding elevation intelligence and adding elevation and thickness to things such as walls for a 3-D appearance. We also allow users to group fittings into assemblies to be assembled in their shop. There is a special assembly report in the database to facilitate this.
Do you provide tools to make AutoCAD® easier to use?
We provide several. One very popular tool allows users to store AutoCAD®'s "setvar" system variables to a file and then recall them into another drawing. This allows our users to apply their drawing standards such as dimensioning settings to drawings they receive from others. There are many other tools we've created for our users. Because we listen to our users we try to provide them with every tool they need (within reason) to do their work.
Does your program draw in metric?
Yes, you can switch back and forth between drawing in English & metric very easily. The program stores your drawing configurations in hundreds of files which learn how you like to draw. You are allowed to keep as many sets of these files as you wish. By keeping one set of format files for drawing in English in one subdirectory and another for metric in a different location, you can jump back and forth.
Why should I buy your program instead of someone else's?
Our program is written to work within AutoCAD®, the industry standard for CAD. There are other duct programs which work in AutoCAD®. As far as we know, they are much smaller programs. Our users who have tried them tell us they are mere toys compared to our program. Our closest competitor does not work within AutoCAD®. A large percentage of our users have tried other HVAC CAD program as well as the toy programs. They have unplugged them and re-invested in our program. In this industry, there is only one wise choice for a CAD program. And, we're happy to say, it's InteliCAD. No one else even comes close. As you see new programs come onto the market, ask yourself whether you want an untried program or one that has been evolving to meet the needs of its users since 1988.
Does InteliCAD come with everything I need to start drawing?
No, you still need AutoCAD® for our program to work. Check with your local AutoCAD® dealer for that. And, of course, you will need a computer.
What kind of computer do you recommend?
Please use AutoCAD®'s minimum requirements
Our program provides you with quite a bit of data as you draw. This information covers a wide range of topics such as clearances between objects your duct passes over or under, slope angles of fittings, current program configurations, etc. We also have a rather large number of toolbar menus available to our users. Because you want as large a screen area as possible to view your drawing it is beneficial to have a second monitor to place these items on. Our program does not require 2 monitors to work. But it helps keep operators working at peak efficiency. Additionally, AutoCAD® adds toolbar menus and aerial views which can further restrict the drawing area. These can also be placed on the second monitor.
How much more time is required to learn the database?
The basic database which comes with the drawing program can be understood in about an hour. The Advanced Database training takes one day. By the end of the day, you have a clear understanding of how to setup the standards for your company.
If your question was not answered here, please contact our sales office at 631-563-7263
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