Using XtrkCad?

in2tech Nov 9, 2021

  1. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    I can't for the life of me figure out how he is laying track so quickly in this video using XtrkCad? I mean it is rally that hard to use, or is it just me? I like FREE as I only have a small layout to tinker with in a CAD program for model railroads.

    Time stamp 21:30! I must be missing something? I found some older threads of people having issues also? And I can't find a really good YouTube video which is strange? When I lay my first 11" radius and try to add the exact same, it turns the track a different direction/radius/direction! Must be something very simple I am missing? My one base is almost exactly what he is doing but I have more switches and some spur's, I think they are called? Also does it have a structure library?

    Any help appreciated!

     
    BNSF FAN likes this.
  2. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Select the piece you want to add to your layout from the bar up top. The end of the piece that you will set down is attached to your cursor. To change which end of the piece you want to set down, shift left click. Then left click sets it down. If you set it down close to an existing track endpoint, it will automatically rotate your new piece to attach to that existing end point.

    Just play with a little simple loop, and then add a switch and siding, etc. until you get familiar with it.

    Yes, there are some structure libraries. Looks like some Walthers stuff, maybe some DPM stuff.

    There's a menu button called Connect Two Tracks that you can use to connect two tracks' end points together if they are laid down close to each other. There are settings for how close (linear and angular) two track endpoints have to match for it to call them connected. This is close enough that the slop in the joints will let you connect them in real track without bending or breaking something. This usually comes in handy when you have completed a loop, etc. but it does not want to close on the last piece. Note that it will not try to move track pieces with more than two endpoints (e.g. switches, crossovers, double-track pieces, etc.) if there is trackage already connected to more than one of the end points. Sometimes I temporarily replace a switch with the equivalent curve or straight piece, get it connected up at both ends, then delete it and add the desired piece back in and connect up the remaining endpoints.

    Hope this helps...
     
  3. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    Man a more up to date video sure would help with better explanation as for the life of me I can not get his to work like he is doing in the video quickly. I can't get the pieces to just snap into place with the correct radius?
     
  4. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Are you using flex track or sectional track? Sectional track radius is defined for each type of piece. If you need a different radius, you select a different track piece. Which way it curves is dependent upon which end you have attached to your cursor. You can also change direction with the ctrl key.

    They have a user group at https://xtrackcad.groups.io/g/main
     
    in2tech likes this.

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