D-CALC^® FACADE 4000  is a comprehensive CAD Based Enterprise Configuration Solution for fabricators, manufacturers and dealers of storefronts, curtain walls, panel systems, windows, doors, and for contract glaziers. From order entry and estimating to shop and fabrication drawings to driving automated CNC fabrication and manufacturing, FACADE 4000 ties it all together. What makes D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 so unique is the systems ability to maintain bi-directional data integrity between the quote and shop and fabrication drawings. When an item is changed within the quote, the drawings are updated. For example, if a customer calls and changes the doors to wide stile from narrow stile and adds bottom rail weather stripping, and the customer service representative enters the change, the change will be carried throughout the entire system. If drawings were prepared the system will also update the elevation on the shop drawings as well as the detail of the door bottom rail, the fabrication drawings and CNC data. If the draftsman changes the door bottom rail from the options menu on the shop drawing, the system will update the quote, pricing, bill of materials, etc.

CAD / CAM Functionality:

D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 contains all of the functionality of a standard CAD system including blocks, variable line types, colors, layers, dimensioning, text, scale, dimensions, and more to produce a complete set of drawings. Other tools include copy, mirror, stretch, fillet, and erase, trim to name a few.

 

 

 

D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 allows the user to create custom “Thumbnail Boards” which are custom menus containing frequently used blocks, frame models, fills, commands, etc. Thumbnail Boards allow the system to be highly customized to particular user or manufacture requirements. D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 allows the user to quickly and easily cut sections either through an individual member or a cross section through several members and place the generated cross section directly onto a drawing. A set of drawings can contain as many drawing sheets as required. Libraries of surrounding conditions can be generated and automatically applied to the drawing. These surrounding conditions can either be drawn within D-CALC^® FACADE^TM 4000 or imported from AutoCAD™ or other CAD drawing programs capable of exporting a DXF file. Drawings can also contain the 3-D view model of the product.

Fabrication data can be set up within D-CALC^® FACADE 4000, which will allow the user to print fabrication reports showing the extrusion, the operation and location of the operation. The information can also be formatted and sent to CNC cut off saws and machining and fabrication centers.

D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 contains several tools for drawing simple to complex shaped frames. The system allows the user to create elevations of any size, width or height and also unlimited number of columns and rows. As an elevation is created for a job, it can be saved into a library and recalled for use in other quotes. The concept is to “draw it once”. After a while, the system will contain a library of typical frames. When recalling a saved frame, the system allows the user to change the properties of the frame to meet the new projects specifications.

Estimating and Pricing:

 D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 contains all of the necessary functionality of an estimating program specifically designed for the fenestration and contract glazing industries. Tools include the ability to optimize lineal material based on standard or custom stock lengths, build elevations of any size or configuration. Insert doors, windows or any other item set up within the database. Generate proposals, bills of materials, glass takeoffs, optimized cut lists along with other standard and custom reports. The system can add labor to any operation as well as for field erection. Miscellaneous items can be added to cover items such as equipment rental, engineering fees or any other cost. These items can read attributes of the quote or an item of the quote and adjust the price accordingly.

 Reports:

D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 contains standard reports that are fully customizable by use of D-CALC^® FACADE 4000’s embedded report generator. In addition, new reports can be defined and saved. The report generator allows for the creation of labels that can be formatted to standard AVERY™ labels and can include drawings from the system. A group of reports can be batched together and printed by simply choosing the name of the print batch making generation of weekly, monthly or quarterly reports simple.

The program also supports external report generation programs including Crystal Reports as well as the MS Access report generator.

 Database:

D-CALC^® FACADE 4000D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 allows the user to populate the database with their data by themselves. They can also employ the services of D-CALC America or subscribe to data catalogs already available. The requirement for database population includes DXF files of each individual extrusion as well as drawings for gaskets and accessories. If desired, drawings of items such as door handles, hinges and hardware can be utilized in the database resulting in very detailed cross sectional cuts and drawings. In addition, the physical data of each extrusion and accessory, weight or weight per foot, dimensional properties, costing etc. is required. Data can be formatted to drive automated machinery including saw stops and machine work centers via CNC code.

 Extruders’ catalogs are available for several major manufacturers. The user also has full control of the database and can set up their own metal systems as well as customize the system to meet their specific preferences. 

Data Import and Export:

The drawings generated by D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 can be exported to a DXF file if desired. The drawings can also be inserted into e-mails or text processing programs. D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 can also import DXF files and add them to the library for insertion into drawings. The bill of materials can be exported to Microsoft Excel™, Microsoft Access™ or any other program capable of importing ASCII or comma delimitated files.

3-Dimensional Drawings:

D-CALC^® FACADE 4000's 3-Dimensional capabilities allows the user to create elevations in 3 dimensions and generate a VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) of the project. This feature makes the D-CALC^® FACADE 4000 program a powerful program for laying out large complex curtain walls, interior partitions, interior frames, shower doors and enclosures as well as skylights and other 3 dimensional framed products.