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MagiCAD 2020 includes all of the new features and improvements from previous MagiCAD releases. Please see also the feature highlights from the latest MagiCAD 2019 UR-1 and UR-2 releases.
MagiCAD 2020
1. Support for Autodesk AutoCAD 2020
MagiCAD 2020 is compatible with the new Autodesk AutoCAD 2020, as well as with the previous four AutoCAD versions 2016-2019, including the verticals AutoCAD MEP and AutoCAD Architecture.
2. Use constant pressure valves in domestic water systems
[Piping]
When designing domestic water systems, designers must account for the pressure level of the network. If the pressure is too high, it must be reduced to a suitable level for the network so that pipes and devices do not break or rupture.
Previously, designers needed to cut the network into parts and simulate the correct pressure levels from each point onwards, marking the correct locations for valves. This approach made it impossible to run calculations on the entire network and the individual parts had to be calculated separately.
Using constant pressure valves allows users to simply place the valves and define the correct outlet pressure from them. This ensures that the system downstream has correct service pressure. Using constant pressure valves also enables calculations to be performed for the entire system.
3. Summarize power of extra low voltage systems
[Electrical]
You can now define power for all communication, data and building automation devices in a project. The extra low voltage system power can be summarized to circuits directly from the circuit properties dialogue or by using the Update Drawing Data function.
Connection reports have also been enhanced to summarize the power from circuits and connected devices to panels. You can then save the results, including power and number of elements, from the report to the panel information with the new Update to drawing(s) button.
4. Calculate heat losses for heating systems
[Piping]
It is now possible to calculate the heat losses and fluid temperatures of supply pipes. These calculations allow users to verify that radiator power calculations employ the correct temperature difference and to evaluate the need for insulation.
The ambient temperature behind the pipes is defined either in the sizing dialog or in the balancing dialog.
5. Support for Russian domestic water calculation standard
[Piping]
MagiCAD supports domestic flow calculation and pipe sizing according to the Russian standard 30.13330.2016. The feature allows for device selection, device grouping and definitions for the device groups.
6. Use n50 and q50 values for building air tightness
[Room]
Building air tightness is usually defined using the n50 (1/h) or q50 (m3/h m2) value. The national building code usually provides the standard values to be used in design. The amount of leakage air is then calculated for each room based on these values and taken into account in heat loss calculations. Using n50 and q50 values eliminates the need to calculate and enter air exchange rates manually for each room.
7. Organize frames in Schematics for better overview of information
[Schematics]
Frames in Schematics can now be placed into arrays, whereas previously they could only be placed into a single column. This means that instead of having a single column with different items, such as drawings, reports, device lists and descriptions, users can now place each category into their own row for a more structured overview of the information.
8. MagiCAD Schematics template drawings
[Schematics]
Template drawings are now provided as part of the MagiCAD Schematics installation package. Getting started with MagiCAD is easy with the help of template drawings as there is no need to redraw existing AutoCAD based drawings. The template drawings can also be easily edited to better match individual needs.
Template drawings include basic control schemes for different types of air handling units and a pipe diagram for a district heating connection. In addition to diagrams, the templates also include readymade reports and functional descriptions.
9. Centralized switchboard and panel management
[Electrical]
There are now two new similar functions that allow users to manage the data of switchboards and extra low voltage panels in a single dialogue. In the dialogue you can see a list of all objects in the current drawing or in all model drawings. You can then select either one or multiple objects on the list and edit their data.
Data that can be directly input into a field, for example description, dimensions, elevation, object variables etc., is directly accessible with a right-click. Other data that requires a selection or checking checkboxes, for example installation code, IP class, earthing etc., can be changed with a separate Set Properties button. Object names can also be changed with a right-click, but this must be done one-by-one. The final two columns in the list display the storey and the drawing where the object is located.
10. Access MagiCAD Create through MagiCAD
[Ventilation & Piping]
The new version of MagiCAD allows users to start MagiCAD Create directly from inside project management or product selection. This makes it easy to, for example, quickly add a missing size based on an existing product.
11. Manage object properties in Circuit Designer
[Circuit Designer]
A new Change Properties tool in Circuit Designer enables easy management of object properties. Users can view a list of object properties and edit their parameters or even select multiple parameters from different object types and insert a new value for all of them. The Change Properties tool is similar to what has previously been available in MagiCAD Electrical, with some additions made for Circuit Designer. The tool includes new Circuit ID and Device ID parameters, as well as the possibility to change the name of the revision cloud and arrow.
12. Assign Device areas in circuit drawings
[Circuit Designer]
It is now possible to identify devices in a drawing that are inside the same switchboard but in a different circuit by assigning them a Device area. Device areas are indicated with dashed lines.
Both the Device area and the previously available Outside switchboard area functions operate as ‘mother parts’ when setting circuit IDs and device IDs. Any unlinked devices that are installed inside the area will inherit a circuit ID and device ID from the area information.
13. Check drawings for errors and free devices
[Circuit Designer]
A new Check drawing tool allows users to automatically check their drawing for errors and free devices. The function will identify unconnected or broken conductors or if an object has too many connections. It also locates unlinked child parts and free mother part components. The tool generates a report listing all findings, which can be used to zoom directly to objects or to mark findings.
14. Expanded product information functions
[Ventilation & Piping, Electrical]
New product information improvements and enhancements expand the possibilities of communicating information via products.
The number of characters available for product variables has been increased to 499. This allows users to add more precise descriptions to products or even long links to external product documentation when needed.
The new version increases the number of variables from four to fifteen for the instance variables “Uservars” in Ventilation and Piping and “Object variables” in Electrical. These enable more instance-specific information to be added to individual objects in a drawing. The variables have also been added to Provision for Builderswork Openings objects, making it easier to work with and identify individual provisions.
Finally, the “Set MagiCAD Data to AutoCAD Object” function in Ventilation and Piping has been improved with an additional hyperlink field, similarly to other MagiCAD objects. The functionality itself has been added to the Electrical module making it possible to, for example, convert project-specific luminaires that have been modelled as AutoCAD blocks into MagiCAD objects. These objects are then included in quantity take-off reports from the models.
