[[Image:Splash-cad.jpg|right|800px720px]]<strong><font color="#655234" size="4">An Intuitive 3D Parametric CAD Modeler Shared By All [[EM.Cube]] Computational Modules</font></strong>
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<td> [[image:Cube-icon.png | link=Getting_Started_with_EM.CUBECube]] [[image:fdtd-ico.png | link=EM.Tempo]] [[image:prop-ico.png | link=EM.Terrano]] [[image:postatic-ico.png | link=EM.IlluminaFerma]] [[image:staticplanar-ico.png | link=EM.FermaPicasso]] [[image:planarmetal-ico.png | link=EM.PicassoLibera]] [[image:metalpo-ico.png | link=EM.LiberaIllumina]] </td>
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== CubeCAD in a Nutshell ==
CubeCAD is a comprehensive, parametric, 3D CAD modeler along modeling environment equipped with integrated mesh generation, data processing and visualization capabilities and a powerful Python scripting environmentinterpreter. A highly streamlined visual interface literally puts all of CubeCAD's features at your fingertips. With the click of buttons, you can build complex 3D models and structures in seconds using a large variety of intuitive mouse-based object creation and transformation tools. Import and export of standard CAD formats allow for native construction of complex geometries along with the ability to fly in external CAD models with utmost ease. CubeCAD also features an extensive library of mathematical functions that can be used for construction of new geometries and data or post-processing of existing data. CubeCAD allows you to visualize simulated, measured or imported 3D data in a variety of formats and overlay them on your CAD structures.
All of [[EM.Cube]]'s computational modules use CubeCAD together with individually customized navigation trees as their graphical user interface and geometry definition utility. Learning CubeCAD is therefore the stepping stone for learning all the other modules. Once you have mastered the basics of CubeCAD, using the other modules will be very straightforward.
Extensive graphing capability (Cartesian, polar, Smith chart, bar chart, polar stem chart, etc.) with dynamic editing</li>
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[[Image:Apache1.png|thumb|left|360px|An Apache helicopter.]]
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[[Image:CAD_Apache_new.png|thumb|left|360px|The imported model of the Apache helicopter.]]
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== Constructing Physical Structures Using Standard Geometric Objects ==
*[[EM.Cube]] currently offers two special object types: point and fractal tree. A Point is a dimensionless object that is represented by a set of coordinates (X,Y,Z). A fractal tree is a group of recursively scaled self-similar objects.
In addition to the standard geometric object types, there are generic curve objects, generic surface objects and generic solid objects. Most external CAD objects are imported as objects of the generic type. In view of the drawing process and geometrical properties, objects can also be divided into two groups: dimensional objects and nodal objects. A dimensional object is characterized by a local coordinate system (a center and local X-, Y- and Z-axes) and a number of dimensional parameters such as length, width, height, radius, etc. Examples of dimensional objects are box, sphere, rectangular strip, line, helix, etc. In addition to the standard geometric object types, there are generic curve objects, generic surface objects and generic solid objects. Most external CAD objects are imported as objects of generic type. You can translate or rotate an object of generic type, but you cannot changes its size properties. A nodal object is characterized by a set of points (nodes). [[EM.Cube]]'s nodal objects include polystrip, polyline, NURBS strip, NURBS curve and polymesh objects.
CubeCAD provides a diverse set of standard geometric objects that are fully parameterized. In addition to the center coordinates and rotation angles, these objects have a variety of dimensional parameters that are used to set and control their size and geometrical shape. More complex objects can be created by editing and combining these basic shapes. Objects can be created by clicking on one of the object buttons on the '''Object Toolbar''' or from the '''Object → Solid''', '''Object → Surface''', or '''Object → Curve''' menus. Once an object tool is selected, left click anywhere on the work plane to draw the object.
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[[Image:moveobject_new.png|thumb|left|720px640px|Moving objects from their current color group to another color group or to another [[EM.Cube]] module.]]
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Many of CubeCAD operations and transformations result in the creation of either native objects like polylines and polystrips or in generic curve, surface or solid objects. Each of the following tools, however, creates a special "Transform Object":
# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Group_Tool | Group Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Array_Tool | Array Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Subtract_Tool | Subtract Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Union_Tool | Union Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Intersect_Tool | Intersect Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Extrude_Tool | Extrude Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Loft_Tool | Loft Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Revolve_Tool | Revolve Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Polymesh_Tool | Polymesh Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Random_Group_Tool | Random Group Tool]]# [[Glossary_of_EM.Cube%27s_CAD_Tools#Roughen_Tool | Roughen Tool ]]
Each transform object has a special property dialog. The Group tool and the three Boolean operation tools, Subtract, Union and Intersect, have similar property dialogs and allow you to access their constituent objects. The property dialog of composite or Boolean objects has a '''Member List''' containing the names of all constituent objects. You can highlight and select any member from this list and click the '''Edit''' button of the dialog to open up its property dialog, where you can edit its properties.
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[[Image:cadmesh1_tn_new.png|thumb|left|550px480px|The geometry of two spheres.]]
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[[Image:cadmesh2_tn_new.png|thumb|left|550px480px|The triangular surface mesh of the two spheres generated by CubeCAD.]]
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[[Image:cadmesh3_tn_new.png|thumb|left|550px480px|The tessellated version of the two spheres.]]
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