Ironclad Codeworks / Fabrication software
Inside IronCAD v2.1IronCAD
Start with the part.
Build the profile.
Turn a part photo into a traced 2D profile. Set the scale, define the geometry and export a DXF for the next stage of your fabrication workflow. Built by Ironclad, with the work in mind.
Built from the work
A physical part.
A practical starting point.
Sometimes the part is right in front of you, but the drawing is missing. Rebuilding its outline means translating what you can see into geometry you can work with.
IronCAD is for fabricators, metalworking shops and people recreating flat part profiles from photos. It brings manual tracing, reference-based scaling and DXF output into one focused workspace, with a separate calculator for estimating cutting and piercing costs from an existing DXF.
This is Ironclad Codeworks' own IronCAD project, built by Ironclad Metalworks.
Implemented in the current v2.1 build
From visible detail
to editable geometry.
Give the image a reference.
Load a part photo and calibrate against a 3-, 6- or 10-inch square reference. Four corner selections establish a planar perspective transform and scale. A calibration indicator helps assess the reference selection; it is not a measurement certification.
Follow the shape yourself.
Place line points, define circles and create arcs from three points. Adjust a selected circle's diameter or an arc's radius, flip an arc and remove selected geometry. Click the starting point to close a traced profile.
Get closer to the edge.
Zoom at the cursor, pan across the photo and use an adjustable magnifier for point placement. Keyboard shortcuts and undo support the tracing process. Free Trace lets you begin without calibration and set the final scale later in CAD.
Keep separate profiles together.
Create and switch between multiple parts on the same image. Review the active profile while other traced parts remain visible, then include usable parts together in one DXF export.
Carry the geometry forward.
Export 2D profiles, true circles and arcs in DXF format, with the photo's top orientation preserved. Connected arcs can form part of a polyline. Name and save the file, or copy the DXF text when needed.
See the cutting costs.
Load a supported ASCII DXF to estimate cut length and contour starts. Enter quantity and choose independent rates per inch and per pierce. The calculator shows cutting cost, piercing cost and their combined total.
These features are implemented in the supplied v2.1 application. Check scale, dimensions, geometry and downstream compatibility before fabrication. Photo quality, reference placement and manual point selection affect the result.
A straightforward workflow
Reference. Trace. Export.
Load and calibrate.
Start with a clear photo of the flat part and a square reference in the same plane. Choose its size and mark the four corners. Or use Free Trace when you intend to scale the result later.
Build the profile.
Trace the edges, add circles and arcs, and refine known diameters or radii. Close the outline where appropriate and create additional parts as needed.
Review and move forward.
Generate the DXF and verify it in your CAD/CAM workflow. For a cutting estimate, open the DXF Quote workspace, load a supported file and set your quantity and rates.
Know what the numbers mean
A useful estimate.
With a clear scope.
The quote calculator totals cut length multiplied by your cutting rate, plus estimated pierces multiplied by your piercing rate, adjusted for quantity. Contour starts are an estimate, not a machine toolpath simulation.
Material, setup, labor, finishing and other job costs are outside that total. Plate thickness is displayed for reference; it does not automatically change the rates. DXF geometry and units should be reviewed, especially for files containing splines or block inserts.
What's coming next
The next chapter
starts with the work.
Have a part, a tracing challenge or a quoting workflow to discuss? Tell us where IronCAD could make the next job easier.
Future improvements and their timing are not specified here. Contact Ironclad for the latest project direction.
The capabilities above describe the current v2.1 build. This page does not announce pricing, a release date or public availability.
A few practical questions
Before you ask.
Does IronCAD automatically trace the photo?
No. The current workflow uses manual point placement for lines, circles and arcs. Calibration, zoom and the magnifier support that process; automatic edge tracing is not a current feature.
Do I need a square reference?
For calibrated tracing, use a supported 3-, 6- or 10-inch square reference in the same plane as the part. Free Trace works without that step, but the output must be scaled and checked in CAD.
Is the DXF ready to send straight to a cutting machine?
The export contains 2D geometry. Verify dimensions, scale and contour quality, then prepare and check the job in your CAD/CAM software. IronCAD does not generate machine-specific cutting programs.
Is the quote calculator a complete job estimate?
No. It estimates cutting and piercing charges using the rates and quantity you enter. Material and other fabrication costs must be accounted for separately. Supported DXF entities are measured directly; splines are approximated and block inserts are not expanded.
Is this the same as another company's IronCAD product?
No. This page describes Ironclad Metalworks' own photo-tracing and DXF project under Ironclad Codeworks. It is not a description of another vendor's CAD software.
How do I find out about access or future updates?
Contact Ironclad to discuss the project and your workflow. Pricing, release timing and access arrangements are not announced on this page.
Let's talk fabrication
What part are you
working from?
Tell us what you need to trace, how you use DXF files and where estimating takes too much effort. Bring the real workflow to the conversation.
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