LT Architect - Architectural Add-on for AutoCAD LT 2000 - Review

Geoff Harrod

Walls are drawn in plan by first drawing a single-line outline with one of the ‘Wall Outline’ tools. Then one of the ‘Build Wall’ tools is used to convert that to the detailed form in accordance with the Wall Settings that had been defined. There are separate ‘Internal Wall’ tools.

Drawing of objects such as doors and windows is done parametrically via dialog boxes. This shows the Doors dialog.

Door dialog 'Settings' button pops up this dialog panel to adjust door details.

The Symbols tools provide a library of typical bought-in items for kitchens, bathrooms, etc and furniture items. Many of these are in both plan and elevation form. Some are parametric blocks similar to the windows and doors. These are drawn according to dimensions and options specified in dialog boxes, such as numbers of repeating elements.

Stairs are drawn parametrically via this dialog box which provides for a wide range of forms of stairways.

The Steelwork tools make it easy to draw steelwork fabrication and assembly details, including all common connection details. CADlogic also make an LT add-on system called LT Engineer, for mechanical, electrical, and tooling design and schematic drawing for hydraulic, electrical and pneumatic work.

LT Architect's "Building Sections" dialog box generates detail sections of various structure items.

CADlogic also make a Windows program called VR Architect, which is designed to work concurrently with LT Architect or their Architect 2000 product (an add-on to AutoCAD 2000). VR Architect quickly develops 2D plans into 3D VRML models for interactive ‘walk-through’ viewing in a web browser.

3D VRML results from VR Architect.

LT Architect will be of interest to anyone wanting a low cost 2D CAD solution for small building work. This product was developed for AutoCAD LT 2000. It has been updated for LT 2000i and LT 2002. Highly recommended.

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