Read the description of each A>V>C> plugin command that you plan to use. Write me questions only if the description did not find the answer. It will take a long time to master all the features and correctly configure all the commands. Do not rush to master them all at once. The A>V>C> commands can work almost independently of each other. Master the commands one at a time. To get started, use the default settings and available "styles" for each command.

Create a dwt drawing template with the sheets (layouts), layers, materials, blocks, text styles, leader styles, dimension and table styles you need. Write this template in the AutoCAD settings in the template for the _QNew command or in the AvcOptions settings in the main template so that the plugins find the necessary layers and materials.

Check that the drawing units are set correctly - millimeters or inches (InsUnits system variable = 4 or 1).

Add custom drawing properties to the template to store information about the design item. This is usually a drawing identifier, the names of the participants in the design, the name of the customer and the product. For the convenience of creating custom drawing properties, use the A>V>C> Properties Palette (AvcPalette) on the Drawing tab.

Use blocks with visible non-constant attributes as title blocks on sheets. Fields must be inserted in the attributes that refer to the properties of the given drawing. Then you can fill in the drawing properties once (for example, in the A>V>C> Properties Palette), and this data will appear automatically on all sheets.

It is better to store large collections of blocks with which you will designate purchased products or standard assemblies in separate dwg files. When updating such a collection, you can easily update the blocks in the drawings with the Block Update (BUpdate) command.

Design a model of your product using 3D-solids.

1. It is better to design from the dimensional box, peeling the parts with the AVC Slice (ASL), Multi-Slice (MSL) commands.

2. You can split the overall box into sections using one of the Chop and Chop Edge commands (Ch, ChE).

3. We also arrange the ribs using the Chop commands with the Ribs option enabled.

4. The grooves and dadoes are made with the Dado Joint command (DDJ).

5. The cruciform joints are made with the command Cross-Piece (CRS).

6. To subtract solids with clearance use the Gap (GAP) command.

Prepare blocks for all purchased items. For fasteners, you need to prepare blocks suitable for the Fixture command. Blocks can be measured with the BlockMetric command, then in the A>V>C> Properties Palette (AvcPalette) lock the measurement and specify the correct weight and price for all these items. Add the invisible constatn attributes you need to the blocks - catalog, article, identificator and the like. Attributes can be added and removed directly in the Properties Palette.

Arrange fittings and fasteners. For fasteners, use the Fixture command with your blocks (not the ones included with the program). Remove excess fasteners where there are too many of them. Move where they hit the cutouts and on top of each other.

Drill all mounting holes (additive) with the Drill (DRI) command.

If it turns out that the mounting holes need to be changed, then all holes can be removed with the command Remove Holes (RemHoles).

If you have nothing to do, then you can assign each part a text name such as "Shelf", "Rib" and the like. Write it down in the Kind field. But remember, this is a waste of time.

Record supporting information about the parts in the Info field. For example, write down what dodoes you need to make in the ends of the part.

Assign material to the solids. Use the assignment of the render material via the Material Browser (_Materials). This will allow you to add textured materials from the AutoCAD package. Or write the names of materials into the Material property in the A>V>C> Properties Palette (AvcPalette). It is desirable that the basic, constantly used, materials are already in your template.

Immediately after assigning a material to a solid, open the Material tab on the A>V>C> Properties Palette and specify in the USE field = Sheet. Indicate the correct dimensions of the sheet of material, density per cubic meter|inch, price per square meter|inch. You can correct the name, index, article, so that later it would be easier for you to work with specifications, place orders for materials.

Measure all parts with the SolSize command or from the A>V>C> Properties Palette (AvcPalette). Try to mark the details of curved part as Sweep and measure them with the SolSize command. There is a non-rectangular sweep of the part, then measurement as a sweep will not work. Then lock the solid metric and write down the real dimensions, weight, price of the part.

Some of the same parts can be measured as Mirror, so that the program will lay them out on the reverse side.

For the correct layout and correct measurement of some parts, it may be necessary to indicate the front side - use the surface marking in color No. 30. This is required if the program lays out the parts on the wrong side as you want.

It may also be useful to press on one or several surfaces of the micro-grooves in the form of various marks or arrows. This will affect which side of the part the program considers the front. And such marks will be visible on all drawings and flatshots.

Set up the Numbering command (AvcNum): grouping and sorting of parts. And give all the parts names as numbers in order. It is advisable to first set up tables of parts in the SAW command, and then copy these settings to the Numbering command. If you want to assign some special order to parts or assemblies, you can use the Manual Numbering (MNum) command.

Assign cover materials and edgebandings to the solid. Better to use the A>V>C> Properties Palette. You can select individual solid surfaces and the Selected Surface palette tab. And you can assign covers on the Measured Solid tab - there are always fields for coverings of the front and rear and 4 edges.

Edit the materials of the coatings on the Cover tab of the A>V>C> Properties Palette. The USE property of material must be Cover or Banding. To calculate the dimensions of rectangular parts, the thickness of the edge bandings will be used - do not forget to specify it. Density is not needed. The price of the bandings is indicated per running meter|inch.

In Common Options of plugins configure once and for always correct stocks for all types of materials. They will be included in the price of the parts.

Re-measure the parts (SolSize) to include the cost of edge bandings and covers in the price of parts.

After assigning bandings and covers, no editing of solids is allowed - AutoCAD erases the materials of the faces with any manipulation.

Optionally, you can assemble parts into blocks-assemblies. Use the New Assembly (AsmNew) command. After that, you will have to reconfigure all of the following A>V>C> commands to look for parts within blocks.

Make copies of the assemblies in a separate location in the model. Exploded views of assemblies can be made using the TNT.

Create layouts for assembly views and viewports on them.

1. Use Smart Leader (ALD) to add balloons through the viewport.

2. Use the Sawing Table (SAW) to create lists of parts on each sheets or to create one eneral Sawing Table.

3. Use the Mark command to mark parts and assemblies in the model or on assembly view sheets.

4. Minimize the number of ModelDoc (= ViewBase) views - use them only for sections and detail views.

Lay out the parts in the XY plane using the Lay command. You can move laid out parts to place multiple parts on one viewport.

Create sheets with viewports for detailing. Use the NC Prepare (NCP) command to part detailing such as dimensioning, hole marking, edge marking, and coverage.

Use a DataTable to compile lists of purchased items (blocks).

Use the Material Table (MatTable) for a rough estimate of the consumption of materials, coatings and edge bandings, the total cost of the project.

Use Page Numbering (PNo) to number caption block attributes on sheets and to compose a table of contents.

Reconfigure the LAY, NC-Prepare, Dimensions for detailing commands to get DXF files suitable for your CAM program, for your equipment. Use the DXF Export command to create outline files for all parts.

1. Use third-party nesting software (such as OptiNest) to nest part contours into sheets of material. This program should be able to lay out parts on sheets of material using flat contours of parts from Dxf files.

2. Import part contours into your CAM program to generate CNC part programs. In Biesse bSolid, be sure to use the "Technological" dxf import to automatically assign machining techniques to all contours.

Remember to keep a backup of your plugin settings. The settings are stored in the Windows registry and are not copied along with the AutoCAD user profile. Instead of the standard AutoCAD tools, you need to use the Options Palette (AvcOptions) - there are special buttons for exporting and importing settings.