Mechanical engineers have an improved industry-specific 2D and 3D CAD design application available.

Although a relatively new company, Nanosoft has a strong background in developing and distributing DWG-compatible CAD software products that fit many professions. It takes into account the end users’ needs and bases its cost-effective solutions on that premise. Like the previous version, nanoCAD Mechanica 20 is based on nanoCAD Plus 20.1, the company’s updated platform.
The enhanced capabilities in this recent release are:

New Dimension Type: There were noticeable limitations in the previous versions of nanoCAD Mechanica that have been worked out here with the implementation of a new dimension type called “Offset Dimension.” With this command, users can measure along curved entities, such as splines, ellipses or polygons.
Extended Library of Parametrical Designs: The key feature of this renewed solution includes the original 2D elements and 3D solid modeling added to the previous version. To the list of existing popular export/import 3D files, such as STEP, ACIS and JT files, which read and write polygonal models, new exchange formats have been added.
The library has been boosted with new symbols for hydraulics and piping related designs to conform to other countries’ standards—for example, NF, GOST, GB and IS from France, Russia, Great Britain and India, respectively—3D assemblies of gearboxes and re-written behavior of fasteners in assemblies. Therefore, the resulting library is a combination of standard and user-defined items.
Improved Editing Tools: When editing technical specifications and characteristics, users are now able to generate dotted or dashed lists, as well as numbered ones that have been available since the previous version. Also, the new “Font size for fractions” setting allows users to choose between two display options: showing indices with a font size slightly smaller than the one assigned to the main value or indices with the same font size of the main size.
Revamped 3D Modeling Features: Now, it is possible to draw a 3D spiral and transform it with the 3D Sweep command to be used as the path of a solid model. The 3D Thread Tool allows manipulation of thread representations of parts and assemblies in different ways, such as changing their direction between left and right, adjusting their pitch, or displaying chamfered and/or filleted edges. 3D solid cross hatching can be adjusted automatically to look alike or appear differently in all the parts that display sectional views, either by enabling the “Set hatching of sections” button on the “3D Tools” ribbon or by entering “DRAWINGVIEWAUTOHATCH” in the command line.

Another upgrade in nanoCAD Mechanica is the ability to update detail views for any change the 3D model undergoes. First, the designer needs to create a series of 2D views of the model, then set the desired scale to the fragment view where the change will take place and label it. Finally, the user modifies the 3D model that is mirrored in the 2D views.
Consistent with Nanosoft’s Vision of providing a professional CAD platform to CAD users that is affordable and delivers quality, consistency and reliability, nanoCAD Mechanica 20 offers a $300 annual subscription for either the workstation or the network versions and a three-year perpetual license registration at $900 each.
If interested in learning more about nanoCAD Mechanica 20 system requirements, other reworked features or licensing details, check the What’s New in nanoCAD Mechanica document on the company’s website.