Most CAD packages have add in programs for specific disciplines. It
makes a big difference if you are working in 2D or 3D. The things you
are looking for are called "symbols" or "blocks" or "cells" and are
usually group in "libraries".

Most CAD systems let you make your own symbols and since you want wood
shapes it should be pretty easy.

There are many CAD concepts that you need to grasp to make use of the
virtual design world. First parametrics, a parameter (value) that
drives the size of an entity. Second Polylines, a single line with
multiple segments. So a rectangle is one line not four lines that need
to be moved together. A closed polyline, like a rectangle is a third
concept called a profile. And a forth concept is proflies can be
extruded, viola 3D.

So one rectangle with parameters controlling it's sides and another
controlling the extruded height gives you a infinite rack of wood from
a sheet of plywood to a 2x4.Just copy and change the parameters

Final concept of assembly constraints allows you to mate one face to
another to assembly projects. Constraints can contain rules like
centered between to points or offset x from an edge.

Lots to learn. Not sure if TurboCAD uses this exact language but the
concepts should be there.


panic wrote in message .. .
Hello,
I am trying the demo of TurboCad, because I want to build some projects,
and would like to draw it out on a computer first. After using it for
a little while I see how powerful it is, but I don't really understand
how to fit it into the realm of woodworking. Mainly, how do I make
2x4's besides manually drawing little rectangles that are the size of
2x4's, I guess I am thinking there should be something like a wood stock
pallette where I can choose a 2x4, and drag it to the screen. Maybe
TurboCad isn't the right tool for woodworking, but I would like to be
able to visualize the projects in 3d, so if anyone has any suggestions
thanks.
P