Artioscad Tutorial -

When you first open ArtiosCAD, you will see a grey workspace and several floating palettes:

The Builder tool automates standard designs.

ArtiosCAD, developed by Esko, bridges the gap between structural design and manufacturing. Unlike general-purpose CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD), ArtiosCAD includes a library of standard packaging styles (e.g., straight-line boxes, crash-lock bottoms), specialized tools for crease and cut lines, and integrated 3D visualization. This tutorial assumes basic computer literacy but no prior CAD experience.

ArtiosCAD transforms a packaging idea into a production-ready die line with 3D verification. This tutorial covered the essential workflow: using the Design Center for rapid box generation, manual drawing with geometry tools, assigning correct line types, converting to 3D, and exporting for manufacturing. Mastery of these steps allows a designer to reduce prototyping costs and time to market. For further learning, refer to Esko’s built-in tutorials (Help > Tutorials) and practice by recreating common packages – a pizza box, a mailer envelope, or a display stand.

References

Appendix: Keyboard Shortcuts

End of Tutorial

To master Esko , the industry standard for packaging structural design, you should follow a structured learning path ranging from basic 2D drafting to advanced 3D prototyping. 1. Getting Started: The Interface and Setup

Before drawing, you must configure your project environment to ensure technical accuracy for manufacturing. Mimaki Global Project Initialization

: Create a new project and input client data (name, order number) to ensure all designs are indexed in the central database. Unit and Board Selection : Set your units to millimeters or inches and select a Board Type

(e.g., corrugated, folding carton). The software uses these specs to calculate material thickness and fold allowances. Layer Management

: Organize your workspace using layers. Standard layers include "Main Design" for cut lines and "Dimensions" for technical annotations. 2. Core 2D Drafting Techniques Design starts with a flat layout, often called a dieline.

Preparing "paper" (often called "boards" or "papers" in ArtiosCAD) is a critical setup step because it defines the material's thickness (caliper), which the software uses to calculate fold allowances and 3D visualizations. 1. Configure Paper Properties artioscad tutorial

To create or modify a paper substrate, use the DataCenter Admin tool:

Access the Browser: Open DataCenter Admin, double-click Boards, and expand the Artios catalog.

Create New Paper: Click Papers > Insert New Record (or right-click and select New > Board). Define Core Details: Board Code: Assign a unique ID for the database. Caliper: Set the physical thickness of the paper.

Inside Loss / Outside Gain: These handle fold allowances; typically set these to half the caliper.

Basis Weight/Cost: Enter the weight and cost per unit for accurate production reporting. 2. Set Visuals for 3D

For realistic 3D previews, configure the material's appearance: When you first open ArtiosCAD, you will see

Material Properties Tab: Set the Shininess%, Transparency%, and Diffuse Color (base color).

Texture Tab: If you want a specific look (like recycled texture), browse for a graphic file (e.g., in \Esko\Artios\Common) to apply as the surface texture. 3. Apply Paper to a Design

Once defined, you apply the paper when starting or rebuilding a design:

Run a Standard: Go to File > Run a Standard, select your box style, and when prompted, click the Board button to choose your newly created paper from the list.

Rebuild: If the design is already open, use File > Rebuild to change the board/paper type; ArtiosCAD will automatically adjust the dimensions to account for the new thickness. 4. Production Preparation

Grain Direction: Ensure your design orientation aligns with the paper's grain or flute direction (usually indicated by a vertical arrow in the design window). The Builder tool automates standard designs

Sheet Layout: Use the Manufacturing tools to nest multiple designs on a standard paper sheet size (e.g., 1200x2400 mm) to minimize waste. Artios CAD Quick Reference Guide - Mimaki