ICON System AutoCAD Integration

Autodesk produces some of the most widely used CAD software such as AutoCAD, Revit and 3ds Max. Many companies use these applications as key parts of their design process.

With all of these applications it is possible to create libraries of standard details and CAD models. These are often stored on shared network drives which makes it difficult to share them with remote offices or other companies. Consistent drafting standards can also be difficult to manage, as can creating accurate cost schedules from proposed layouts.

Using its Autodesk Registered Developer status, ICON has closely integrated AutoCAD into the ICON System. With the system's web-based AutoCAD Library it is possible to easily share standard drawings and models with many remote users ensuring that there is only one master set information.

The solution also allows scheduling from an AutoCAD drawing to a web-based specification.

CAD Library Creation & Management

When creating or importing an existing library into the ICON System, ICON can help you agree and introduce industry recognised CAD drafting standards such as:

• Rationalising item naming and layering

• Setting consistent text and dimension styles

• Rationalising item insertion points & rotation angles

• Purging unneeded information

• Adding hyperlinks to equipment specifications

• Automating the process of updating existing drawings with the new library and standards

• Easily build-up ideal room, department or complete property layouts.

Once imported into the ICON System, those responsible for managing the library can:

• Add new equipment

• Supersede old items, keeping a full version history

• Easily build-up 'ideal' room, department or complete property layouts.

CAD Drafting

Users can drag and drop equipment and layouts directly into an AutoCAD drawing (Revit project or 3ds Max model) using Autodesk's i-drop® technology.

Hyperlinks can be set to link back from an AutoCAD block to the corresponding equipment specification on the ICON System allowing users to see an item’s photograph, cost, specification, supplier, etc.

With Revit, the specification information held in the ICON System can be linked into the Revit project for scheduling and reporting.

Additional functionality can be provided, such as:

• Specific customisation to assign the likes of:

  • Department names

  • Area allocations

  • Commodity assignments

• Specification of shelving profiles (planograms)

• Automated gondola bay and run numbering

• Work with standard layers, text sizes, dimension styles, title sheets etc.

• Cost scheduling (see below).

Equipment Scheduling

Using ICON's AutoCAD scheduling functionality it is possible to match a list of equipment found in a CAD drawing or model with the corresponding items on the website. This can then be used to check a proposed layout against the brief, comparing quantities and costs as required.

Scheduling features:

• Automatically schedule from AutoCAD to Excel or back to the ICON System

• Group schedules as needed, buy supplier, manufacturer for example

• Generate accurate cost estimates

• Create project specific cost schedules and directly compare to the specification 'ideal'.

Project Collaboration

Once a drawing is ready to issue to the other members of the project team ICON’s ‘Project Collaboration’ solution comes into play.

System Requirements

ICON’s CAD integration is compatible with all versions of AutoCAD from 2000i to 2011. All versions of AutoCAD LT are also supported, but with limited functionality.

I-drop® functionality requires Internet Explorer.

Drag and drop straight into AutoCAD.

Apply shelving profiles and commodities.

Schedule from CAD to the corresponding web-based specification.