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StairDesigner and Quick Design Libraries: New Feature Updates|Page 3|Forum|WOOD DESIGNER
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November 8, 2013
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Hi everyone, StairDesigner 7.11a is now available on our website. This includes a new handrail tubing feature. With the handrail selected, go to the Properties menu > Filling section and choose ‘Tube Rails’ as shown below.
You also have the flexibility to add tube rail posts, and to add intermediate posts to support the railing.
November 8, 2013
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Hi, StairDesigner is now available in Japanese, version 7.10f (with a partial translation released in version 7.10e).
As usual, you can download the latest version with this new development from our website.
November 8, 2013
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Hi, we have a new version of StairDesigner, firstly 7.10c and now 7.10d. This addresses false positives the software was experiencing with selected anti-virus software packages. To confirm again, the software is completely virus free. Thanks for your patience as we’ve been addressing this issue.
November 8, 2013
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We’re pleased to announce the release of StairDesigner 7.10 which is available for download on our website. Here’s a list of the main new features:
1. New save and restore function
It’s now very easy to backup and restore your own StairDesigner settings. This covers the libraries, units of measure, post processor set up, and image files that are included in the textures directory.
2. Changes to the landings feature
It’s now possible to design with successive landings in a single stair project. If you want to start your stair with a landing, first create a flight, add the landing, then go back and delete the flight.
Models with landings (currently models #7 and #8) have also been adjusted. Previously these models used flight length parameters. This has now been changed to use length of side parameters to reflect more closely the on site stairwell dimensions you would typically take.
3. Line thickness of 1:1 templates
A configurable line thickness is now available in the template print outs.
4. The Biesse CID/CIX post processor now includes machining on the edges for 4 axis CNCs
The previous post processor only allowed face machining, so drilling from above, and was therefore limited to 3 axis CNC machines. The new Biesse PP allows side machining.
5. New activation system
New and improved activation process with enhanced security features.
Activating the free/demo version of StairDesigner is still just as easy and fast. Export and send us the user code and we’ll send back the activation code to import via the dialogue box shown above.
As soon as you’ve done that, all manufacturing output features will be unlocked.
November 8, 2013
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Hi everyone, StairDesigner 7.05d has been released today. Here are the key new features:
1. Wedges management
Assembling a stair with wedges has a number of advantages.
If the stair is between 2 walls, you can assemble the stair in full in the stairwell. Attach the stringboards to the walls, and slide into place the steps and risers from behind, then wedge them in place.
Also with driven in wedges, glued in place, the result is a very tight assembly. Even over time as the wood shrinks and the play increases, you’ll get very little or no movement, so no squeaking of the steps and risers.
Of course, wedges are not elegant to look at, so they’re only useful if the back of the stair is not visible.
In technical terms, when both the steps and the risers have a positive penetration in the stringboard, the wedging option can be activated, with 2 distinct angles.
StairDesigner Pro will export the exact modified shape as illustrated above, while StairDesigner Pro PP will apply the post processor settings to the machining.
2. Step tenons can now be exported in DXF
In previous versions only the step outline was exported in DXF.
3. Curved part management with Arc Control
There is now extra flexibility in how you can define curved parts with Arc Control.
The circular sections of the stairwell may now be fully controlled by the angle, the radius, the arc sagitta, or the position of the arc centre.
Thanks for reading…
November 8, 2013
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Announcing StairDesigner 7.05c. This latest release is now available on our website: StairDesigner download
The new features relate to post processor functions and are:
1. Parts selection – available in StairDesigner Pro and Pro PP
You can now select which parts to export to suit your particular manufacturing process and simplify the post processor file output.
2. Profiling tool maximum depth / multiple passes – Pro PP
The tool operation can now be divided into several passes. When the material thickness is larger than the tool maximum depth value, StairDesigner will generate multiple passes to achieve increasing depths.
3. Rough cut then finish cut – Pro PP (all post processors excluding DXF – this is to follow)
This option enables to add a second profiling outline, with an optional offset from the main outline. Typically this is used to achieve a rough cut before the finish cut.
When the second outline option is activated, each outline will have its own tool and maximum depth parameters.
4. MPR / woodWOP / Homag pockets – Pro PP
This features now allows you to create step and rise housings in the stringboards, spindle mortises in the strings, and handrails, and mortises in the newel posts.
Previously these housings and mortises appeared in the DXF output but you needed to apply the tool paths in woodWOP. The process is now automatic and much faster.
5. Biesse and TpaCAD pockets – Pro PP
These post processors also have a new pocket feature enabled, with an initial outline followed by an inner pocketing to allow improved fine tuning of the machining.
6. Stringboard export accuracy – both Pro and Pro PP
This new parameter defines the maximum difference between the theoretical spline shape and the exported polyline.
The main purpose of this parameter is to reduce the number of exported arcs.
November 8, 2013
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More news on StairDesigner 7 updates…
StairDesigner 7.05b has also just been released.
New features include:
1. Displaying step dimensions
This option may be turned on and off in the View menu.
2. The ability to group step and riser housings
This option is available only in the DXF post processor (StairDesigner 7 Pro PP only).
If all housings have the same depth, this option groups them in a single polyline.
3. Highlight StairDesigner Pro PP only features of the DXF post processor
Point 2 above confirms that now some new features of the DXF post processor will be reserved for StairDesigner Pro PP.
Over time, StairDesigner Pro PP will develop along the lines of Polyboard Pro PP, offering a much more comprehensive stair design software solution specifically for CNCs.
To see which DXF post processor export options are available, in StairDesigner Pro PP you will see these Pro PP only parameters highlighted in orange.
You can activate this orange view in StairDesigner Pro as well, but these features will show in orange but greyed out.
4. Dividing Stringboards, Cut Strings and Handrails
This option is available in all of StairDesigner Pro PP’s post processors, and splits the stair component into several parts with an overlapping area, so that it fits on the CNC router.
Please note, although this is a Pro PP only feature, StairDesigner Pro enables the division of a stringboard or a handrail in several parts, simply by adding manually one or more points along the stairwell outline.
November 8, 2013
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Hi everyone,
We’ve got major news about a new version of StairDesigner 7.
Available now on our website is StairDesigner Pro PP.
This includes additional post processors for the output of native CAM software files.
You can now output MPR files to run woodWOP and Homag/Weeke CNC machines, TCN files for TpaCAD and Felder, Brema and Vitap machines, and CIX and CID files for bSolid and BiesseWorks for Biesse CNCs.
The post processors currently available are shown below:
We have more information here on the integration of StairDesigner with a CNC machine.
StairDesigner Pro PP will continue to be developed along similar lines to Polyboard Pro PP, allowing truly comprehensive CNC manufacturing of stairs with StairDesigner.
November 8, 2013
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Hi everyone, welcome to this StairDesigner new features thread, which we’ll keep at the top of the StairDesigner forum.
You can bookmark this page, or ideally subscribe to this topic so you’ll receive an email when we update it.
This first update is to highlight StairDesigner 7’s new string editing function. Up until now, if you wanted to fine tune the shape of your stringers, you had to export the drawing and do this in a CAD application.
Now it’s possible to add edit the shape of your strings, all directly within StairDesigner. There is an advanced curve editing tool available to help you do this, to create elegant curves to suit your preferences.
Here’s a new video to show you this feature (there’s an icon at the bottom of the video to expand it to full screen):
Thanks for reading, and please let us know if you have any comments.
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