TouchCAD 3.5 is available for Mac OSX 10.1-10.5 (including Leopard
and Universal Binary 
) .
TouchCAD 3.5 is available for Windows 2000, XP and Vista. The Mac and Windows versions have identical features and are file compatible across the platforms.
The TouchCAD 3.5 modeling engine provides advanced free form 3D modeling based on 3D-math curves. The toolbox includes many basic shapes such as lines, polygons, curves, rectangles, double lines, points, cubes, surfaces, tubes, T-tubes, spheres, rectangle to circle extrusions, and tools for extrusion, lofting, path extrudes, sweep/revolve, etc.
Most of these tools are all highly parametric in themselves and they can be used as a base for further development of more refined shapes. The picture above shows the same surface object at various resolutions, and the four basic skinning types: no smoothing, smooth along the control curves, smooth perpendicular to the control rulers and smooth both along and perpendicular to the control rulers.
TouchCAD 3.5 makes it easy to add and delete control points anywhere on the surface and all control points are located on the surface and not vaguely beside it. The combination of an adjustable mesh resolution and skin type, the ability to snap not only on control points but also on mesh points gives a superb control over both shape and dimensions. It also makes it easy to join and trim objects to one another.
TouchCAD 3.5 provides a wide range of display modes ranging from ordinary meshes, dynamic cross sectioning. Line drawings such as used for marine design can be generated automatically and are dynamically updated if the surface shape is changed. The sectioning distances and labels can be defined individually in the X-, Y-, and Z-, directions.
TouchCAD 3.5 provides a built in OpenGL based rendering engine where it is possible to rotate and walk into the model in realtime. It's also possible to generate simple animations, adjust the light, and insert cut-through (top left picture) in realtime, and these features are very useful for evaluating the shape of the model.
TouchCAD 3.5 allows you to interact between the 3D model and unfolded
pattern, which acts like an additional view with a dynamic link to the 3D
model. The advantage thereof is that any changes made in the 3D model can
instantly be seen in the Unfold view.
TouchCAD 3.5 even allows you to nudge controls in 3D while being in the Unfold view and dynamically see the changes. This is very useful when optimizing the use of material for individual components in the unfolded model, for example if you start with an unfolded panel being 2010 mm and where the sheet material has a limited width of 2000 mm.
TouchCAD 3.5 allows you to edit the surface type and resolution settings, unfold settings while being in the Unfold view. It also allows you to drag and rotate the unfolded patterns in the Unfold view, and those are valuable features when testing and making sure that each sub component fits into the given material widths.
The TouchCAD 3.5 unfolding engine contains many parametric features such as individually adjustable overlap widths, double or single-sided overlaps, alignment/strike-up marks, object and vertex ID's, cutting and plotting coordinates, adjustable unfolding resolution and direction, adjustable merging points between sub-panels, direct export to DXF for use with most CAD-programs, AAMA-DXF a standard format used by many plotter / cutter drivers, VectorWorks (VectorScript), Adobe Illustrator (and compatible programs), HPGL used by many plotter drivers, etc.
TouchCAD 3.5 supports direct export to Sail Science Plotmaker (a sail cutting program) and this means that the Plotmaker users can utilize their hardware for production of a wide range of objects besides sails based on other materials than fabrics as well. TouchCAD also reads ASC 3D files from Sails Science Sailmaker and unfolds the panels, including in surface images.
TouchCAD 3.5 supports in-scale image unfolding based on background images. These images can be mapped on given parts of the 3D model and exported in scale as a set of image files. TouchCAD can handle very large files for use in full scale objects, up to about 75 Megapixels per image. These features can in other words be used for producing very large and highly complex full scale objects based on pre-painted panels, for example exhibition stands, inflatable objects, blimps, tents, sails, architectural elements, etc. The sail below, a 59 square meter spinnaker, consisting of 40 sub-panels took 2-1/2 minutes to render and same as separate images at 12 DPI, and on a Mac G5
Above are some more examples of the image unfolding features.
The stretch unfold features are a new family of unfolding options. It allows you to calculate shapes that need to be stretched when unfolded due to a double curvature in the shape. In the older settings (1) you essentially used the mesh resolution to control the unfold. The stretch unfold mode (2) combines it into a single surface that needs stretching to fit. TouchCAD calculates where and when tensions occur and plots it by value or as points(4). You can even move the starting point parametrically over the surface (3). It is also possible to parametrically combine strips into groups of strips (5 and 6) to generate a setting somewhere in between the ordinary and stretch unfold modes. The tensions are dynamically analyzed and plotted as the model is changed and you can even edit the 3D model and instantly see the updated tensions while being in the Unfold view.
TouchCAD 3.5 provides a range of specialized tools for marine design such as the ability to design lines drawings using dynamic cross sectioning. Weight, 3D surface area and weight, center of gravity, wetted surface, displacement, prismatic and block coefficients, etc can also be calculated. Section area curves can be calculated and plotted. Offset tables can be generated automatically. Other useful features include the ability to build surfaces with a thickness, which can be either uniform or variable. Even the edges can either be straight, curved, or trimmed at an angle.
TouchCAD 3.5 provides excellent tools for trimming, joining, aligning to surfaces as well as to curves. The ability to project both points and surfaces to a surface can be useful when fitting frames, bulkheads, stripes, cushions, etc to for example the skin of a hull.
The TouchCAD 3.5 user interface also contains many new features
and improvements. The Intersection Point symbol now allows constrained dragging
from any view as seen above. You can even drag away / towards you in the
fixed front, top and side views without actually seeing the motion. A small
lead text does however occur showing where you are and how much you have
moved. This constrained dragging also provides reference snapping by simply
holding the cursor over another control point or surface mesh point. The
dynamic sectioning now works in any 3D view so it is now possible to do
intricate shaping from any view. Directional view axes in any 3D view helps
to indicate the view direction.
Shrinking the model in one or several directions.
A new set of tools where a temporary stretching / shrinking can be applied
in one or several directions. The feature helps to detect small errors in
the smoothness of a pane.
Analyze Smoothness palette
The new Analyze Smoothness palette adds a new set of tools for graphically
analyzing the smoothness of a surface in the X-Y, X-Z and Z-Y directions.
Rapid changes in the change are displayed as highlighted areas within a
given selected surface (1-2 below). Note that highlights defined as smooth
transformations may not necessarily be a bad thing, but rapid changes up
and down in color may suggest an unsmooth shape (3 below). The analyzing
process is dynamically updated as the shape is updated, when you change
direction or when you change the setting of the sensitivity slider.
TouchCAD 3.5 is well suited for designing both basic objects such as T-tubes, cones, tubes, etc as well as more complex shapes. The built in modeling abilities make it easy to start with a basic shape and then enhance it into a customized version. The ability to unfold just about anything in a controllable way may inspire you to experiment with more complex shapes, without risking higher costs or assembly problems.
TouchCAD 3.5 can be used for recreating already produced objects by using a few measuring points. Above is an example wherein a few 3D reference points (1) were merged into two curves (2) and then lofted into a surface (3) to recreate the flat unfolded pattern for the windscreen on a boat. Once you have the control points, it is a matter of minutes to generate the surface and to unfold it.
TouchCAD 3.5 can be used for calculating the true unfolded shape of 2D graphics projected on complex 3D shape. Above is an example showing a waterline stripe on a sailboat. The goal is to get a straight looking line seen from the side. In reality though, the stripe will vary in width and it will be curved when unfolded. The curved shape of the hull of course causes this distortion. Once you have a 3D surface to work with, you simply draw a flat surface (1), project it on the curved surface (2), and then unfold it (3). The unfolded pattern can be exported to Adobe Illustrator or compatibles, which are the most common programs to use with vinyl cutters.
The unfolded pattern can also be used as a distortion template for more complex graphics, for example texts and images. In such a case you simply place the unfolded pattern under the graphics and use the deformation tools to align it to the template.
TouchCAD 3.5 can generate walk-through and fly-over animations in QuickTime format. The animation procedures are demonstrated in the News in the 3.5.1 movie.
New features in
TouchCAD 3.5.1 ( 
QuickTime - 10.2 Mb)
New features in
TouchCAD 3.5.1 (
Windows Media Player - 12.3 Mb)
Some output examples can be seen here:
TouchCAD 3.5.1 generated
movies (Windows Media Player - 9 Mb)
TouchCAD 3.5.1 generated
movies (QuickTime - 8 Mb)
TouchCAD 3.5 imports DXF (text based), VectorWorks (VectorScript), 3D coordinates (can also be used for importing sails from ProSail), Sails Science Sailmaker ASC 3D, STL, WaveFront, VRML text based 3DMF (QuickDraw3D) files, GHS, and high resolution background images in many common image formats such as BMP, PICT, JPEG, TARGA, PDF, etc. TouchCAD now also supports a generic transfer format called TouchScript, which can be used for generating custom shapes externally and import it into TouchCAD for further processing.
TouchCAD 3.5 exports to 2D and 3D DXF, AAMA-DXF (unfolded only), 2D and 3D VectorWorks as polygons, NURBS surfaces or as solid NURBS surfaces, STL, VRML, GHS, Points, HPGL, 3DMF (QuickDraw3D), Sail Science Plotmaker (unfolded parts only), EPSF (Adobe Illustrator and compatible), Artlantis 3.5 - 4 and 4.5, Strata, image files, and as unfolded images. Will TouchCAD 3.5 work with your other programs? The demo allows you to test import files. Download an output sample file package for the relevant formats:
3DMF (Apples QuickDraw3D)
Artlantis 3-4 (In .Opt/.DB format)
Artlantis 4.5 (In .Art format)
DXF (2D and 3D examples in various formats such as lines, polygon meshes, 3DFACES, etc., and optimized for further modeling as well as for rendering purposes)
AAMA-DXF, which is a commonly used file format used by plotting / cutting machines.
HPGL, including custom object delimiters to allow grouping of objects.
EPSF (Adobe Illustrator and compatible).
VectorWorks (VectorScript, both in 2D and 3D)
STL
VRML
Sail Science PlotMaker (various panels including seam allowances, alignment /strike-up marks, panel and vertex numbering, etc.).
QuickTime movies. TouchCAD can quickly and easily generate QuickTime presentation movies in sizes suitable for showing in mobile phones, and up to high definition TV resolutions.
TouchScript.
TouchCAD 3.5 now also supports a generic transfer format called TouchScript,
which can be used for generating custom shapes externally and import it
into TouchCAD for further processing. The format is text based and TAB formatted
and is designed to be easy to implement and use. Files can be generated
in a wide range of programming languages, in spreadsheet programs like Excel,
in database programs and even in any word processing program.
TouchCAD 3.5 introduces a wide range of exciting new features. More info here.
TouchCAD 3.5.1 also adds new features such as the ability to generate animations. More info here
Move the folder called TouchCAD to a suitable location on the
hard disk. Double-click on the symbol to decompress the files. On MacOS
Classic you need to have QuickDraw3D installed. This is included in QuickTime,
which you can find on your System CD.
TouchCAD will work on any PowerPC or Intel based Mac equipped with System 8.6 or later (MacOS X included). A G3 processor or better is highly recommended. At least 35 Mb or RAM available for the program is recommended. The OSX version is Universal Binary.
TouchCAD is available for Windows 32 based systems, such as Windows
2000 , XP and Vista. A minimum of a 300 MHz Pentium or better is recommended.
At least 250 Mb or RAM available for the program is recommended. Windows
also requires OpenGL and Quesa to work. On all versions we highly recommend
an accelerated video card to get access to all rendering effects.
It may be a good idea to test the speed of the video card to find the best possible performance. Computers with no video acceleration typically works best using 256 colors. Older video cards typically work best using thousands of colors, whereas newer video cards work best using millions of colors. Note that you need to restart the program after having changed color depth in order to get correct results.
Lundström Design, Ekhagsvägen 7, 104 05 Stockholm,
Sweden
Phone int-46-8-15 46 63, Fax int+46-15 82 85, E-mail: info@touchcad.com
IP Phone numbers: Skype: touchcad, - iChat: touchcad, - AIM: touchcad