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424 lines
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"Linux Gazette...<I>making Linux just a little more fun!</I>"
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<H1><font color="maroon">CAD Programs for Linux</font></H1>
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<H4>By <a href="mailto:pfrostie@yahoo.com">Keith Frost</a></H4>
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<p>
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A discussion on Slashdot in October would have you believe that
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there aren't any good CAD programs for Linux. In fact, nothing
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could be farther from the truth.
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This discussion started with the GPL release of a 2-D CAD
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package called Qcad. From there it evolved into what is a
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``<tt><I>GOOD</tt></I>
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CAD'' and who wanted what commercial package on Linux someday.
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<p>
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Once and for all I would like to set the record straight. There
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are options out there today.
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Several different packages are available, each with a different
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level of power and capability. Each package fits a different
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budget.
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<p>
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<H3>Qcad</H3>
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<p>
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Qcad is the first (to my knowledge) working GPL CAD package for
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Linux. There are several projects currently listed as
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work-in-progress, but Qcad is here now. Qcad has a simple 2-D
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editor and uses DXF as it's native format. Qcad gets its name
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from the Qt tool kit. For those who do not use KDE, relax; it is
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not desktop-dependent. I have used it with both Xfce and
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AfterStep and have not seen any problems. With a simple icon menu
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it is functional and easy to learn. After a few minutes, I was
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working on my daughters new bed design. All the basic functions
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are at your finger tips.
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<p>
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Lines can be drawn by coordinates,
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clicking or offsetting an existing line. Circles and arcs can be
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created just as easily. Construction geometry can then be trimmed
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or extended to clean up the drawing and ready it for detailing.
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The font selection did seem to be a little limited. If you are
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willing, however, there is a means to create new fonts by
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copying an existing font file to a new name and modifying it.
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I imported one of my ``OLD'' title blocks and found that it required
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very little fixing or tweaking. Again a better selection of fonts
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would have helped with this problem.
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<p>
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I also pulled up several
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NACA wing sections none of which were corrupted in any way.
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For a final test I edited one of the sections, saved it and then
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pulled it up and extruded it with AC3D. For those who use AC3D,
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Qcad makes a very nice flat-pattern editor.
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<p>
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<p>
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<center>
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<img alt="figure" src="gx/frost/qcad.jpg">
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<h4>Figure 1. Qcad</h4></center>
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<p>
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To find more information or download, the Qcad home page is
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at <A HREF="http://www.qcad.org/index.php3">http://www.qcad.org/index.php3</A>.
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<p>
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<H3>CAM Expert</H3>
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<p>
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CAM Expert is the commercial big brother to Qcad. It has a
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similar interface to Qcad, but with extended features leaning
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more towards the creation of NC-programs. These features include
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but are not limited to: NC Import, NC Creation, Optimizing way,
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Optimization for Cutting Machines, (Cutting Contours From Inside
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To Outside), Individual Configuration of the NC Output Format,
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CAM Simulation, Regulating Simulation Speed, Smooth Simulation and
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Show Rapid Move. I would be interested in hearing from those who
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have put this software to use as I do not have the proper
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equipment.
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<p>
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For more information or a trial download, the CAM Expert
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home page is at <A HREF="http://www.ribbonsoft.com/">http://www.ribbonsoft.com/</A>.
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<p>
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<p>
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<center>
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<img alt="figure" src="gx/frost/expert.jpg">
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<h4>Figure 2. CAM Expert</h4></center>
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<p>
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<H3>SISCAD-P</H3>
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<p>
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SISCAD-P is a 2-D parametric CAD system from Staedtler.
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Installation was a little more complex than for some of the
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others (especially for non-SUSE users), but it is well worth the
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effort. For those familiar with Sketcher (2-D editor for CATIA), SISCAD-P
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reminds me of it only with many more features and a bit
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easier to use. The features include: parametrics, variational
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geometry, inference sketching, a fully customizable user
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interface, constraint-based modeling and feature-based modeling.
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Also if all of the smart geometry becomes too overwhelming you
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can turn it off and just treat it like a simple 2-D CAD Package
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with all the standard line, arc, circle, and text commands that
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you'd expect to have at your disposal.
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<p>
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The downloadable version
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is a demo that is limited in the size of a file it will
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save. From the menu, I selected the LOAD/DXF and imported the same
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bed design I had started in Qcad. After adding some more detail,
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I inserted the same title block as I had with Qcad only to
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receive a message stating that I had exceeded the limit (of the
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DEMO). I would have liked a little more room to play, but it did
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give me enough time to see that I should have taken the time to
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get this one going sooner.
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<p>
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My earlier attempts had been on a
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Mandrake and various Red Hats. This was my first try with SuSE and
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that seemed to make the difference. To download the demo go to:
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<A HREF="ftp://tsx-11.mit.edu/pub/linux/packages/cad/">ftp://tsx-11.mit.edu/pub/linux/packages/cad/</A>. There are
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instructions on how to register and get a full license in the
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documentation, but I've been told that Staedtler is no longer in
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the software business and will not support it.
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<center>
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<img alt="figure" src="gx/frost/SISCAD-P.jpg">
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<h4>Figure 3. SISCAD-P</h4></center>
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<p>
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<H3>ME10</H3>
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<p>
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ME10 is a 2-D parametric CAD by CoCreate, a subsidiary of
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Hewlett-Packard. If an award is given for the fastest learning
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curve then this is the winner. I've always preferred a text-based
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menu over icons. I think icons only make sense to the person who
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creates them. The oversized menu section takes up a lot of the
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screen but it makes up for it with the ease you can move
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through the commands. Whatever you need, it's right there.
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<p>
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According to the web page, it features parametrics with a ``parts
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concept'': an assembly may contain multiple copies or instances of
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a part. When the part is modified all the instances would update
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as well. By the same concept, sub assemblies may be inserted as
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an instance in other assemblies. This can be repeated creating an
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intelligent tree for your part structure.
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<p>
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ME10 has it's own
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internal browser for previewing drawings and symbols. Also
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included is a parts library and engineering symbols. Although it
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does have an IGES translator, DXF would have been nice. I would
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have liked to bring in some of my older geometry, but it's all
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DXF. There is a demo available that is well-worth the time to
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download. Again, the demo is limited in the size of the file
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that it will save. For more information and the demo check out
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the home page at
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<A HREF="http://www.cocreate.com/english/products/2d/index.htm">http://www.cocreate.com/english/products/2d/index.htm</A>.
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<p>
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<p>
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<center>
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<img alt="figure" src="gx/frost/me10.jpg">
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<h4>Figure 4. ME10</h4></center>
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<p>
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<H3>CADDA</H3>
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<p>
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The CADDA is from DAVEG. I did not find any kind of demo to try
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out on the home page, but it appears very nice. In response to my
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e-mails I was given the following to share:
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<p>
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<blockquote>
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The CADDA software is a true CAD/CAM solution that offers CAD and
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CAM functionality within one user interface. CAD-data can be
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imported as 3-D or 2-D models. The CADDA user selects, verifies
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and corrects the data during the preparation process. A postprocessor
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generates a ready to use CNC-machine program.
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<p>
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CADDA supports following technologies: 2 1/2-D milling/drilling, 3-D
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free form milling, turning, erosion cutting, sink erosion and
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grinding. The newest branch of CADDA is the CAD/CAQ-module. It is
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working like CADDA CAD/CAM, but the preparation and post-processor
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system produces a ready-to-use program for a
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CNC-measurement machine. The CADDA application extends 3D-CAD
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produced data to become directly processable by the CNC-machine-equipped
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factory. If necessary, a direct connection between CADDA
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and the CNC-controls is deliverable. As an option, CADDA-CAD/CAM
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can include a full 2-D drawing capability to enable the staff with
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limited-modelling capabilities.
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<p>
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CADDA has been under continuous development by DAVEG for 15 years.
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HP-UX was the system basis up to 1998. In 1998, DAVEG offered a
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first version of a LINUX-based CADDA with PENTIUM II Hardware.
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Today DAVEG has installed 300 seats with LINUX: the results
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are extremely good. Customers are impressed with performance and
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stability.
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<p>
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</blockquote>
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For more information visit their web page at
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<A HREF="http://www.daveg.com/index_e.html">http://www.daveg.com/index_e.html</A>
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<p>
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<H3>Varicad</H3>
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<p>
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Varicad offers 3-D solids and 2-D drafting at a very nice price.
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The user has the options of the icon panels or the pull-down
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menus. Although I like the text-based menu (pull down), I did
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find the ``Commands'' nested a bit too deep. This makes the
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pull-down menus slow. The icon panels work much faster, but the icons
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are not always obvious as to their meaning. Also, you can enter
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commands at a command prompt.
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<p>
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Varicad is another one that has
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been around for Linux for many years. More people are probably
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familiar with Varicad than any of the others. Part of this is
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because of a very good article about it in <I>LJ</I> last year.
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<p>
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Varicad can import and export both DXF and IGS. You can extrude or
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revolve 2-D geometry. Other types of solids include: prisms,
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cylinders, filled elbows, truncated pyramids, truncated cones,
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cone pipe, helix and square to round transitions. In addition to
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the standard boolean add (union) and cut (subtraction), you also
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have cut save tool, save part, cut save part and tool, and
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add cut part. Other additional functions include fillet, chamfer,
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hole, milling and groove. A simple intersection would have been
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nice. One thing I do appreciate very much was a good undo/redo
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that was easy to find. in fact it's hard to miss. Once the
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solids have been created they can be analyzed for anything from
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distance between objects to center of mass and moment of inertia.
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<p>
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<p>
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<center>
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<img alt="figure" src="gx/frost/varicad.jpg">
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<h4>Figure 5. Varicad</h4></center>
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<p>
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There is a non-saving demo which can be downloaded for free. In
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addition there is a 30-day trial key which you can obtain to
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allow you to save for those 30 days. Varicad has announced that they are
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now a member of opendwg. What this means is that varicad will import and
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export (read and write) the AutoCAD DWG format. For the demo and more information go to the Varicad home page at <A HREF="http://www.varicad.com/">http://www.varicad.com/</A>.
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<p>
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<H3>Microstation</H3>
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<p>
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Bentley is well known for it's Microstation line of cad products.
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Although there is not a commercial version for Linux there is an academic
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version. If you venture to the home page
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there is also a page where you can ``petition'' for a full
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commercial version. Word is they will not go commercial
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unless there is more interest. The academic version seems to have
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most of the functionality of the regular UNIX version except
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there are no Parasolid libraries. Modeler, TriForma and MS/J all
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use the Parasolid libraries. So if you're working 3-D, it will be
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wireframe and surfaces. Once again, if there is enough interest
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to justify the port this may change. All of the 2-D tools to
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create, edit and detail geometry are present.
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<p>
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One of the things
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that I have always like about Microstation is that it creates a
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very nice RIB file for rendering, with BMRT or other Renderman-compliant
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renderers. It also has the ability to render within the
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application itself. Try some of the sample files included to get
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a better idea of what can be done. There are no demo's or
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downloads to my knowledge, but there is a wealth of information on
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the Bentley home page at
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<A HREF="http://www.bentley.com/academic/products/linux2.htm">http://www.bentley.com/academic/products/linux2.htm</A>.
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<p>
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<p>
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<center>
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<img alt="figure" src="gx/frost/mstat.jpg">
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<h4>Figure 6. Microstation</h4></center>
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<p>
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<H3>Varimetrix</H3>
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<p>
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Varimetrix has been in the Linux CAD market for over three years.
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Their previous generation product was renamed VX Classic.
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The newest product line from Varimetrix is called Vision. Both
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Vision and VX Classic are Commercial applications whose prices
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are probably beyond what most people could afford for personal
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use. For this reason, the information I have given is based on
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their home page, and an article in <I>Cadence</I> magazine.
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There is a demo disk for Vision, but don't get your hopes up. I
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sent off for it to help me with this article--what I received
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was not what I consider a demo. It was a presentation program
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that duplicated the information from the web page. If you do
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order a copy, don't panic when it says Windows 95 or better, it
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works well with Linux/Wine.
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<p>
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VX Classic is broken down into modules. The first module for VX
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Classic is VX modeling. Using their own in-house modeling engine
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called Unified Parametric Geometry (UPG), they did not have to
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wait for some one else to port it to the platforms they wish
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to support. VX Classic offers the choice of 3-D wireframe,
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surfaces and solids. In
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addition to having the choice of modeling methods, you also have
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the ability to transform geometry between types. Solids can be
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created by constrained/dimensioned geometry created from its
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intelligent sketcher. In addition to the traditional boolean
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operations, you can also sculpt the solids with a collection of
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spatula functions. For the Perl buffs out there, guess what they
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use for user scripting? Hint, it starts with ``P'' and has four
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letters. There is also a C interface called OpenVX.
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<p>
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The Second Module, VX Assembly, allows intelligent positioning of
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the details both in relation to other geometry and also with the
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bill of materials. Concurrent control of the assemblies is
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provided so that multiple designers can work within the same
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project without splintering the design. BOMs can be created
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automatically. A schematic representation of the BOM tree is also
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available. Parts can be analyzed to show CG, overall mass,
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moments of inertia, and collision between parts.
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The third module, VX Drafting, takes the details and assemblies
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created and gives the user all the tools needed to turn these
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into engineering drawings. The Drafting module can also work
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independently of the other modules. You may use layout templets,
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arrays, blocks or multiple instancing of geometry. VX Drafting
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provides automatic hidden line removal, and both automatic and
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interactive dimensioning. There is also a complete list of 2-D
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drafting utilities, all using constraint-based geometry. The list
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of features goes on and on and on.
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<p>
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The final module for VX Classic, VX Manufacturing, is a complete
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suite of CAM tools. VX Manufacturing uses the dataset from the
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modeling module. All forms of geometry can be used by this module
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wireframe, surfaces, and solids. Up to five axes are supported.
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Once again the list of features go on and on.
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<p>
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Vision for Linux should have been commercially available already.
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You would never have known this from the web page. The web pages
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on Vision never even mention Linux. I had mailed Varimetrix last
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year and received a replay saying ``Our new product line called VX
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Vision will also be running under Linux soon (mid-summer).
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Actually, it runs now but we are still testing.'' There was an
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article on Vision in the July/99 issue of <I>Cadence</I> magazine.
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Although the article was based on the NT version it does mention
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that there is a Linux version. For those who wish to migrate from
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NT to Linux this might be a good starting point.
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<p>
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You can find out
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more on VX Classic and VX Vision by going to their home page at
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<A HREF="http://www.vx.com/">http://www.vx.com/</A> and clicking on products.
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<p>
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<H3>Conclusion</H3>
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<p>
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As I have stated, there are options available ranging from free
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GPL to high-dollar commercial products. What may prove even more
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interesting are the other projects and products still in the
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works. Matra Datavision has released
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their Cascade libraries as open source. Keep your eyes on this
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one. Check out their web page at <A HREF="http://opencascade.org/">http://opencascade.org/</A>.
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<p>
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I think it is time we started to recognize and support both the
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GPL projects and the Commercial CAD companies that are here and
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willing to support us today.
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<p>
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<h3>Glossary</h3>
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<p>
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AC3D: 3-D object/scene modeler for Linux
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<p>
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CAD: computer-aided design
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<p>
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CAM: computer-aided manufacturing
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<p>
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CATIA: family of 2-D and 3-D CAD programs from IBM
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<p>
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CNC: computerized numerical control
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<p>
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DXF: format for autoCAD
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<p>
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IGES: initial graphics exchange specification
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<p>
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NACA: National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
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<p>
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NC: numerical control
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<p>
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<!-- *** BEGIN copyright *** -->
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<P> <hr> <!-- P -->
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<H5 ALIGN=center>
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Copyright © 2000, Keith Frost<BR>
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Published in Issue 54 of <i>Linux Gazette</i>, June 2000</H5>
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<!-- *** END copyright *** -->
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