Several external standalone applications are provided with ICMechanical, some are for setting general preferences, others are useful for performing repetitive functions; you can find them in the Window submenu of ICMechanical; here they are in detail:
Batch printing utility, useful for printing multiple 2D drawings (icd, dwg, and dxf files).
You can set various options: printing method, quality, color or black and white printing, zero-width lines, number of copies.
For icd files, you can choose whether to print all sheets or a specific number; for dwg and dxf files, you can choose between model space or paper space.
You can also export a PDF file for each print.
Files to be printed are selected by dragging and dropping them from the file manager or using the Select button.
Please note that if IronCAD is open, it is advisable to close it, as the print utility launches it in the background multiple times to perform all prints.
Utility for viewing DWG and DXF files, you can turn layers on or off, change the background and line colors, and view the file origin.
It can be set as the default view when using the Face to DXF and Export Unfolded tools.
Allows you to change the original 3D file associated with the 2D drawing and reassign it to a new 3D file.
Example:
The Combine Drawings tool allows you to merge multiple 2D drawings into a single drawing. This is particularly useful when working with assemblies or projects that generate separate drawings for individual parts or subassemblies and need to be reviewed, shared, or managed as one coherent document.
By using this command, selected drawings can be combined while preserving their original views, annotations, dimensions, and layout settings.
You can decide on the output file name, format, and composition by specifying the order in rows or columns.
Process all files in the source folder or only selected ones, and choose whether to insert the files as XREFs (links) in the output file.
This tool is especially valuable in workflows that require comprehensive technical documentation, coordinated design reviews, or streamlined export and printing of multiple drawings in a single file.
The Connect to IronCAD command allows you to re-associate the ICMechanical Add-in with IronCAD if problems arise with the installation.
It requires administrator permissions to run.
Using Export 2D, you can export selected drawings to different 2D formats (Dwg, Dxf, Pdf) simultaneously, and for each format you can set options such as line thickness, colors, scale, and output file location.
The exported files can then be used for laser cutting, mechanical processing, document exchange, or collaboration with partners and suppliers.
The files to be exported are selected by dragging them from the file manager or using the Select button.
The Export 2D tool is particularly useful when you need to deliver technical drawings outside of IronCAD, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compatibility across different software platforms and manufacturing processes.
Please note that if IronCAD is open, it is advisable to close it, as the Export 2D utility launches it in the background multiple times to perform all export.
The Export 3D command allows you to batch export IronCAD 3D files to various standard 3D file formats (Acis, Parasolid, Step, Iges, etc.) simultaneously and choose options for each format.
This tool simplifies data exchange and collaboration by converting models to formats compatible with external systems for use in other CAD, CAM, or visualization software.
The files to be exported are selected by dragging them from the file manager or using the Select button.
This command is particularly useful when sharing 3D models with colleagues, suppliers, or clients, or when integrating IronCAD designs into other engineering workflows.
Please note that if IronCAD is open, it is advisable to close it, as the Export 3D utility launches it in the background multiple times to perform all export.
The Import tool allows you to import external 3D files into IronCAD for further modeling, editing, or assembly operations. This tool supports a wide range of standard CAD file formats (Acis, Parasolid, Step, Romulus, Ifc, SolidWorks), enabling seamless integration of components and models created with other software.
Using Import, you can import parts and assemblies into a single new 3D scene or import each file into a new 3D scene, assign a new folder, or place them in the same folder as the source files.
The Import command is particularly useful for incorporating supplier parts, third-party models, or designs into IronCAD projects, simplifying workflows and maintaining data accuracy.
Please note that if IronCAD is open, it is recommended that you close it, as the Import 3D utility launches it multiple times in the background to perform all imports.
Please note that the IronCAD Translators AddOn license is required to import SolidWorks and ICF files.
Is an application to control the values of the ICMech standard components (Fasteners, Steels, etc…) within a easy tool window.
The dialog is launch from Windows menu or by clicking on the StatusBar of the standard component.
Learn more here…
The Live Update command allows you to check whether your version of IronCAD Mechanical is up to date and, if necessary, download the latest version available.
It requires administrator permissions to run.
Numbering allows you to assign an incremental code to an element or selection of elements, by setting a prefix for the project and the increments for the series, you can also assign a category.
Learn more here…
The Set Material tool allows you to assign or modify the material properties can add or delete a material category, edit a material by assigning it a name and a density, and also set the graphic appearance by choosing the transparency, color and or texture, you a code and description, can also assign a Caxa hatch type and assigning.
By using Set Material, you can ensure that every component in your design has the correct material attributes, which are essential for accurate mass calculations, structural analysis, and rendering. The command also helps standardize the use of materials across different projects, improving consistency and efficiency in the design process.
It requires administrator permissions to run.
The list of materials is stored in several files that you find in the folder ..\ICMechanical\Materials
You can also change in which directory you store the files, in DataFiles -> Material
Application for configuring everything related to ICmechanical, general settings, working directories, saving and restoring settings, default settings for catalog management, file management settings, DXF export, etc.
For more information, see here.
