Lynn Allen's Blog

Check out Autodesk Freestyle (free download on Autodesk Labs)

If you want to create some quick and easy drawings in a super simple program then you need to check out Autodesk Freestyle. This new software program is perfect for someone who doesn't know AutoCAD (and maybe doesn't want to take the time to learn) and yet needs to create some type of design.  You can easily create DWG files - to scale even!  Take advantage of this technology preview now.

Check out the video as well!  This is the perfect program for those of you who want a low stress means of drawing.  By the way - this program was originally called Cooper - so you'll hear Freestyle referred to as Cooper in the video.

 

I am looking forward to seeing what any of you create with this great new design program - feel free to share! 

The New Community Commands Tool!

Let the AutoCAD User Community make suggestions to you based on the commands you are already using!  This new technology spends a few weeks analyzing the commands you use on a regular basis and based on the user community makes alternative suggestions that might just save you some time!  I think this technology sounds pretty interesting - especially since we often get in a rut and use the same commands over and over - even when there might be a faster route to get from A to B.

Check out this new tool in the Autodesk Labs!  I also think this tool would be great for CAD Managers to understand the commands being used the most by members on the team.  Perhaps the CAD Manager would decide to do some auxiliary training based on the results - who knows!

The CustomerCommands video is very helpful and explains qutie a bit about how it works - I highly recommend watching it for more info.

Check it out!

Dealing with those Pesky Gaps in Hatch Boundaries

I had one remaining Twitter Shirt which I sent to the person who told me I'd passed the 1000 followers mark on Twitter - John Evans (thanks for pointing that out John!).  Below is the final pic to complete my Twitter Tshirt collection (I'm afraid they are all gone now - even I don't have one!)

 
  
Cadalyst posted another of my Tips and Tricks Tuesdayvideos today.  This tip is going to help you deal with those boundaries that AutoCAD won't let you hatch because there is a gap somewhere.  You end up zooming all over trying to find that pesky gap - sometimes to no avail.  No worries - AutoCAD does have a remedy - you just have to know where to find it!

You'll find a little arrow in the lower right corner of the Hatch dialog box that sends you over to many top secret Hatch options!   You're going to notice a fabulous option called Gap Tolerance that is going to make your life 100% better! 

Now more than likely there is a small hole in your hatch boundary.  You just need to set the Gap Tolerance value to a size larger than that hole and you'll find that AutoCAD will just pretend that pesky little gap doesn't exist - Voila!  All the stress just disappears (wouldn't it be nice if it was just that easy?)

Be sure to watch the video as it takes you through all of the steps...

Check out New Sketching Capabilities in AutoCAD

Now AutoCAD can help you create the perfect date! Watch this super cool video and you’ll see what I mean - http://bit.ly/bXdjMu . This incredible sketch was created in AutoCAD. It references an AutoCAD solid model of a martini glass and uses the new free sketching add-in for AutoCAD based on the alias sketching technology.

 

 

 

Remember when you were in grade school and your favorite thing in the world was drawing? Of course you do, that’s why you use AutoCAD today. Chances are though you may have some creative juices which are not quite making their way to the page(at least not before happy hour!) Well, with this awesome new tool you can now create sketches inside AutoCAD. There is a lot of incredible power in the tool, but just think how many creative twists and variations you could impress your friends, family, and bosses with if you could start to sketch inside AutoCAD.

 

I guarantee this is going to be huge, check it out here and please send me any of the sketches you create, I’d love to post the wonderful things you all come up with - http://bit.ly/6pbEaF