Coffee Break News: DraftSight Stops Free Offering, The Demand for CNC Grows & Eco-Building Treehouses

Updated Oct 5, 2020
Draftsight icon, sign not free

The month of June has come and gone. Can you believe we are already halfway through the year? It seems like it was only yesterday when we were ushering in 2019. Time really flies by so fast, and so do the innovations in the fields of design, engineering, CAD, and architecture. 

In this edition of Coffee Break News, we will talk about popular AutoCAD alternative DraftSight no longer being free, forecasts ahead for the CNC market as a whole, and tiny-home treehouses designed by Studio Precht for Baumbau. Also included are stories on innovations of outdoor workspaces in an office block in Nice, how demolition waste is being repurposed into chandeliers and candelabra, and airless tires which would be available to consumers by 2024.

There’s a lot to cover in this edition, so let’s get right down to it!


DraftSight 2019 is no longer free

Dassault Systemes has announced that Draftsight 2019 for Windows will only be offered in paid versions. As discussed on our sister site, CAD Answers, this means if you are using a free version of DraftSight (2018 or earlier), it will no longer run after December 31, 2019.

Meanwhile, users who download and install the free 30-day trial or the purchased version of DraftSight 2019 will no longer be able to download or access previous free versions of DraftSight.

According to Dassault Systemes, DraftSight 2019 is a major software upgrade showcasing user-requested capabilities and functions, with powerful new features and flexibility. 

For the DraftSight Standard, there will now be an annual charge of $99. The purchase can be made directly from the DraftSight Online store. DraftSight Professional is available at an annual subscription price of $199, while DraftSight premium clocks in at $499 per year. 


The CNC market is expected to continue growing

According to industry forecasts, the CNC market will continue to grow from 2019-2024 at a projected rate of 7.3%. This is according to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s report entitled “The Computer Numerical Controls (CNC) Market – Worldwide Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019-2024). According to the report, the market growth will be driven by the continued increase in demand for productions efficiency.

Engineers controlling CNC machine

Production efficiency refers to the ability of CNC machines to streamline various operational processes through reduced production time and minimal operator error. In addition, the increased competition in the market has made rivals more focused on enhancing the efficiency of their manufacturing and production techniques, through redesigned facilities and equipment.

One area of interest is Asia-Pacific, where the rapid establishment of manufacturing facilities has driven up the usage of CNC in various sectors. Developing economies in the region, including China and India, have seen rapid industrialization growth, thus contributing to the increased demand for CNC. According to the report, automated manufacturing in the industrial sector is another reason for the growing demand for CNC machines, as well as power generation.


Modular treehouses are coming to Baumbau

Design firm Studio Precht has created truncated timber treehouses for eco-building start-up company Baumbau, with the concepts created by Chris Precht and his spouse Fei Tang Precht. The modular houses are inspired by a mood of playfulness and shaped by the actual forest, with the perspective of children looking at nature and architecture. 

Baumbau Treehouse Concept

This is the first time that Precht and Baumbau have collaborated on a project. Baumbau is a start-up that focuses on building tiny homes, treehouses, and buildings mainly for alternative tourism. According to Precht, “We took a playful look at this project and wanted to create a rather unique character than a conventional building. A quirky looking character that becomes part of the wildlife of a forest. I think this quirkiness can create feelings and emotions. And maybe these are attributes in architecture that are missing these days.”

The truncated treehouse design is called Bert, and the modular building system consists of prefabricated factory parts which are then assembled on-site. The houses have solar panels, a composting toilet, and a water treatment facility located on the ground floor. The first structures are expected to be completed by spring of 2020.


Other stories you should check out this month:

 

scan2cad advert for free trial

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