Design & Drafting Services

 

 

After 41 years, on Dec. 15, 2025 Design-Drafting stoped development and support of LD Assistant.

Chicago Stage Equipment Co. DESIGN & DRAFTING Services (DDS) was incorporated in 1985. The company's main focus was creating advanced solutions.
 


DDS is on develop, manage, and execute the long term strategic vision of the company. A strong technical background allows him to effectively combine technical and business requirements to help drive strategic business development initiatives with partners.

Milestones!

2022

• Release of 3D STL Files

• Free STL Files Download

 

2021

• Sig P365 - Magazine Base Plate.

• Create New Sprinkler System

 

2020

• Project Water Drop Pot

• New Sprinkler System Design

 

2019

• C-172 Lower For Flight Simulators

• 3D Stage Models

 

2018

• Project Truckee CA. Ice Palace

• Flight Simulators Knobs Design

 

2017

• CSE3D New Website

Cease Development Of LD Assistant™ Software

• LDA Members Area Added

 

2016

• 3D Printing

• 3D Model for Lighting designers

 

2015

• Starts CAD Training

• Adding How To Design Videos for LD Assistant
 

2014

• Special Real-Time FX Added to LD Assistant
• Relase of LD Assistant 2014
• FX Wind
• FX Walter

2013

• Special FX added to LD Assistant

• Release of LD Assistant Ac 2013

• DMX Patch Editer
• Smoke/Noise in the beam of light


2012

• CAD-N-Lighting News Launched for fifth year
• New block library delivered


2011

• Release of LD Assistant Ac 2012
• Pyrotechnic Effects added

• Wire & Cable added

2010

• Release of LD Assistant Ac 2010

• 3D Audio added• New block library delivered

 

2009

• Adds sACN To LD Assistant Ac 08
• Lighting Console remote viewing
• Support added for ETC's  sACN
• Support for Pathway's Pathport added
• New block library delivered
• Audio & video playbackin real time

 

2008

• Adds Real-Time Video and Total Show Simulation© to LD Assistant 08
• First to offer VIDEO anywhere and Real-time Show Simulation
• Becomes NVIDIA developers
• Real-time LIVE over the internet support offered to LD Assistant users

 

2007

• Release of LD Assistant Ac 08 

• Photometric Lights,

• IES support Files

• Advanced FX rendering

2006

• Release of AutoBLOCK 2007
• Release of CADcontent
• 7,000 online blocks and textures

• Release of MyBLOCKS 

2005

• LD Assistant 04.5 With 64 Universes Visualizer Launched
• Design & Drafting acquires AutoBLOCK200 from MSZDesign

2004

• LD Assistant 04 w/FX Rendering (Volume Light) Launched
• LD Assistant 04.2 w/FX Rendering (Lens Effects) launched

2003

• AutoCAD® plug-in ACAD Lighting Launched
• Design & Drafting becomes HP Developer

2002

• LD Assistant AC & PL 02 Launched
• LD Assistant Wins Product of the Year at LDI

2001 LD Assistant AC & PL 01 Launched
• i-Drop Website opened with hundreds of blocks

2000

• Code Ported From VectorWorks® plug into LD Assistant Ac Standalone CAD Program
• Multiple products delivered for vertical market segments

 

1999

• Receives Lighting Control System International Patent 2,010,313


1998

• Launches LD Assistant Studio
• Plug-in for VectorWorks®

1997

• Receives US Patent 5,600,233
• Inventor Dimmer Power Control Circuit

1995

• Launches LD Assistant Pro Plug-in for VectorWorks®

1994

• Receives International Patent 2,241,393
• Inventor Dimmer Power Phase Control

1994

• 3,000 Symbols Licensed to Diehl Graphsoft (now Nemetschek)

1993

•  Dimmer Power Phase Control US Patent 5,268,631

• Nominated for Illinois High-Tech Award
• launches Symbols Blocks Library in Mac Magazine

1992

• Nominated for Illinois High-Tech Award
• launches LD Assistant Plug-in for VectorWorks®

1991

• Faces Chicago, lighting design and installation
• 59 West Chicago, Lighting design and installation

1990

• Launches Symbol library plug-in For MiniCAD VectorWorks®
• Inventor and Designer of Product of the Year 1990

1990

• Receives US Patent 4,949,020
• Inventor of MOSFET Dimming

1990

• Excalibur Chicago lighting design and Installation

1989

• Whitey Herzog's Night Club (Power Station) lighting design and Installation

1988

• Ditka's Arlington Park off track lighting design and Installation

1987

• Ditka's Maryville lighting design and Installation

1986

• Warren Draws and Copyrights 8,000 symbols/blocks
• Ditka's Night Club, lighting design and Installation