.... the Professional's Choice for Ductwork Software
CADMaster
An AutoCAD bolt-on system, CADMaster is a comprehensive ductwork drawing and detailing package. It incorporates rectangular, circular and flat oval ductwork, each with a large range of fittings and sizes - this gives a vastly improved rate of drawing production, automatic scheduling and a very high standard of drawing presentation. If linked to QuoteMaster it will automatically cost any produced drawings.
 
The program itself has been designed with the user interface very much in mind. We have assumed that the users of CADMaster already have a reasonable working knowledge of AutoCAD and are familiar with air conditioning ductwork.
 

The whole design criteria of the program have been geared around two ideals:

  1. CADMaster should be written in such a way as to make its use obvious and logical so that anyone with a working knowledge of AutoCAD can benefit from it immediately.
  2. The finished drawing should be to a high standard such as you would expect from a meticulous hand draughtsman - but unbelievably quick to produce.
 
 
   
  1. Draw the center line of the ductwork using the construction layer.
  2. Set the default size and insert the fittings - bends, tapers etc.
  3. Connect the fittings with straight lengths.
  4. Note up and dimension
    
1

CADMaster creates all the layers needed automatically. One of these is a layer specifically for drawing all the construction lines.

2

CADMaster is run from a drop down menu, select the required size, and then select the fitting.

Example
Draw a circular bend.

You pick the lines where the bend is to be placed and the bend is drawn.

Note: CADMaster draws all its fittings parametrically and whatever the angle is (90°, 30° 45° or even 63.3°)

CADMaster will draw the bend to suit from this one command.

All the fittings are drawn on the main run in a similar manner.
3

All of the fittings are now joined together using the straight command from the icon menu.

All that is left to do after this is to cut in the shoes and link them up to the branches with the straight command once more.
4

With the ductwork drawn, all that remains is to note up the drawing and add dimensions.

 
 
Assemblies
1

As always you need a center line to build the system around. You then pick each of the bend points along the line.
2

When you have picked the final point on the run press "ENTER" and you are presented with the "Start-Finish" dialogue box.


This dialogue box gives you options for the beginning of the run, the end of the run and whether you require flex, dampers etc.
3

Once the fittings have been selected, click "OK" and CADMaster will draw the complete run for you in one operation as shown below.


It is easy to imagine the colossal timesaving with a system that includes many VAV boxes.
 
A similar command works with rectangular ductwork
   
Composite Fittings Part Numbering
Another case where savings can be made is where there are composite fittings to make up a set.

Each of the sets shown opposite is the result of one command.
Part numbers can be easily added, if required, with a choice of two different part-numbering routines.
 
Scheduling Rectangular Configurations
CADMaster produces a file of all the fittings, straights, fire dampers, VCD's etc. used in the drawing which can be written to a schedule or imported into QuoteMaster for costing.
Rectangular ductwork can be configured to suit your requirements. Straight Lengths, bend radii, flanged or spigot joints and throat lengths are some of the available options. There is a configuration built into CADMaster for consultants, which does not show the flange positions on rectangular ductwork apart from the fittings.
 

 

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