CAD Solutions for Fabric Design Professionals
MP ANEL N EWS
April 2006
Form-finding and patterning software for AutoCAD
MPanel v11.7 releasing May 1st
MPanel v 11.7 will be released May 1st. “Thank you” to all of our customers who continue to contribute suggestions
for making MPanel the ‘product of choice’ for tensile fabric design specialists. Some of the new features are high-
lighted below. Remember, if you are an MPanel user with a current Support Contract, then you will receive this new
update automatically.
MPanel enhancements will include:
Improvements to Polyline Conversion Tools
The Polyline conversion tools have been reworked, so that all conversion tools will work on multiple entities. Also
ellipses and elliptical arcs can now be converted to 3D polys. This adds to the range of drawings that can easily be
converted to 3D polys, used by MPanel to define fixed points.
Addition to Model Builder
The Model Builder can now add fixed edges to Cable Edge or Joined Edge models. This makes model building easier
for structures such as tents with fixed eaves.
Improvements and Additions to Paneling from Cross Section Tools
Panelling between cross sections has an improved interface for the additional cross sections used for panel end definition.
Also MPanel can now adjust the seam line to get one side of the panel exactly straight.
Extended Data
Extended data use has been simplified by introducing default values and over-rides. Now you can custom modify parts of
a design easier than before.
Paneling and Shear Strain Reporting
The shear error is now recorded in the panel data, and when merging panels the cumulative shear strain is calculated.
This allows easier checking of the shear strain, the main indicator of the ease with which the panel will fit the curved
surface.
MPanel May 2006 Refresher Course
In February we held our first ‘MPanel Refresher Course’ and had a great response from our current customers. We will
be conducting the next course in May. The topic for this course is ‘Using New Features in MPanel v11.7’ , and is open
to all customers with a current MPanel Support Contract. We will be sending out invitations to this course as soon as
we have the dates and times fixed.
MPanel at the ACASPA in Australia
MPanel will be represented at the ACASPA convention, Australian Canvas and Synthetic Products Association, on
May 27-30 in Penrith, Sydney. If you plan to attend, please do stop in at Stand #30 and visit with Alan Stewart and
his team from Structureflex, the Australian distributors of MPanel. Alan will be glad to demonstrate to you how
MPanel can best be used in your tensile fabric design department.
Web Conference Training Facility
If you have an evaluation copy of MPanel and need a ‘jump start’, our web conferencing facility is a great way to
learn the basics. On the other hand, if you are an experienced MPanel user and would like some help with our newest
features, again web conferencing is the way to go. If you would like to set up an interactive web conference, then we
would be pleased to arrange a convenient time for you and your staff to sit in on a live demonstration session that can
be tailored to your own individual projects. Contact us at support@mpanel.com with your requested date and time, as
well as any specific questions that you might have about MPanel. We will set everything up and send you an email
with all of the connection details.
US and Americas contact:
Australia contact:
UK, Europe and Asia contact:
Timothy Akes
Alan Stewart
Andrew Askwith
CAD Effects, LLC
Structureflex
Meliar Design
10805 Sunset Office Drive, Ste 300
280 Bay Road
Lower Cwm Barns
St. Louis, Missouri 63127 USA
Cheltenham, 3192 Victoria, AU
Llanafan Fawr, Builth Wells,
(314) 631-6300 voice
(03)9581 6150 voice
Powys, Wales, UK LD2 3SG
(314) 754-9388 fax
(03) 9581 6177 fax
+44 (0)1597 860291
takes@cadeffects.com
alan@structureflex.com.au
andrew@meliar.com
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