An alternative way of using Chinese CAD for pattern filling

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The hatch command is one of the commonly used drawing commands in CAD software; it is employed frequently when using CAD software in fields such as mechanics, architecture, and especially in decorative design. Today, taking Zhongwang CAD as an example, I will share with you some alternative uses of pattern filling in decorative design. In the offices where we work, or in our homes, it is easy to see structures similar to those shown in the following images: If you look closely at these two pictures, you can identify their common feature – both are constructed from square pieces of material that all have the same shape and size. So, is there a way to quickly design the arrangement for a particular room or ceiling that uses the least amount of material? Yes, using the hatch command in Zhongwang CAD allows us to obtain the desired results quickly. Let’s first take a look at the hatch dialog box in Zhongwang CAD software, so as to understand each parameter that needs to be used. Then we will use the most common floor tile laying method to understand how to use this command. A. Pattern filling type. Here, select the smallest display unit for the filling effect you wish to achieve. Zhongwang CAD provides nearly 100 filling pattern examples for users to choose from, and we can also download PAT files from the Internet as needed to add more pattern filling options. Since what we need to achieve now is a regular square pattern filling, with specific size requirements for the smallest display unit of the pattern, we select “User Defined” from the “Type” dropdown list. Here, “user-defined” can be understood as horizontal or vertical straight-line filling (horizontal or vertical, depending on the setting of the filling angle). B. In the “Angle and Scale” group, we set the “Angle” to 0 and check the “Bidirectional” checkbox. At this point, you can see in the “Examples” section that the smallest display unit for the pattern has been set to square grids. C. Check \"Dynamic Preview\" to see the filling effect in real time. D. This is where the key settings are made. Assuming that each tile has dimensions of 30×30, the value to be entered here for the spacing is 30 (similarly, if the tile dimensions are 60×60, then the value to be entered here is 60). For now, we will not calculate the gap that needs to be left between each brick when it is actually laid. E. Specify different calculation origins during filling to achieve various effects. Okay, all the relevant parameters have been introduced. Set the relevant values as shown in the diagram above, and let’s take a look at the actual results. Perform the filling calculation for the following diagram: As can be seen in the right diagram, the area to be filled has already been filled out according to a 30×30 grid. However, since no filling origin was specified, many floor tiles that could have been laid completely were divided. This is not allowed in actual construction (although we can reuse the separated materials, it remains uncertain when they will be able to be utilized). Roughly speaking, a total of 42 floor tiles need to be cut in order to complete the installation. Take a look at the image below; I have designated point B as the origin for filling, to see how the computer performs the automatic calculations. As shown in the figure above, by specifying the filling origin, at least the floor tiles along sides AB and BC need not be divided, which saves approximately half of the number of floor tiles required, and the resulting layout also looks more aesthetically pleasing. This is one of the professional application areas for the fill command, such as in decoration. As a general-purpose drawing platform, Zhongwang CAD is suitable for various industries. By applying it in actual work, we can identify many different ways to use it in order to improve our work and design efficiency. Download address for Zhongwang CAD 2011: http://www.zwcad.com/product/zwcad/8.html