See the full Copilot Professional FAQ for detailed answers, example prompts, and tips for each Copilot assistant.

TurboCAD’s Copilot is an innovative AI-powered tool that transforms the design journey. This advanced feature is a three-in-one assistant, offering expert advice, data-based insights, and vast knowledge base support to boost CAD projects. With Copilot, users benefit from a smoother navigation experience, faster project progress, and improved design outcomes through expert analysis.

Key Aspects of Copilot

1. Software Inquiry Response: Copilot offers expert responses to questions about TurboCAD, ensuring optimal use of the software.
2. Data-Driven Insights: Copilot analyzes CAD projects, providing valuable information for design decisions.
3. Extensive AI Knowledge Base: Copilot taps into a vast AI-powered knowledge base to address various questions, from design principles to industry trends.
4. Visual Content Generation: Copilot leverages advanced Text-to-Image AI technology to generate high-quality textures and backgrounds, enhancing photo rendering and elevating design visualizations. With this capability, users can easily create realistic and detailed environments, further enriching their CAD projects and presentations

How Copilot works

Copilot’s intelligent framework comprises multiple functions, each powered by a specialized team of AI Agents and Assistants. When a question is asked, the AI system intelligently routes the query to the relevant assistants based on the specific topic or keyword.

**Copilot Activation
** The first time the user submits a request, he is asked to activate Copilot. Where he enters the registration information and Copilot key into the registration dialog to activate Copilot, also see Copilot Registration.

Copilot variants

There are two Copilot variants available:

• Copilot Help
• Copilot Professional

Copilot Help

Copilot Help is limited to DOC and GKB models and utilizes Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to search for relevant content within TurboCAD documentation. This includes resources such as the User Guide, FAQs, YouTube channel videos, New Features documents, press releases, blogs, and selected categories from the user forum. By providing supplemental information to the AI along with the user’s question, this feature is ideal for users seeking assistance with TurboCAD documentation and general knowledge.

Copilot Professional

Copilot Professional enables all models, including DOC (Document Assistant), CAD (Computer-Aided Design Assistant), GKB (General Knowledge Base Assistant), IMG (Image Assistant), and IMGHD (High-Definition Image Assistant). It provides full-fledged functionality for advanced users, incorporating all the features of Copilot Help. Additionally, it offers CAD data analysis and calculations, image generation for textures, backgrounds, and prototype inspirations, as well as high-resolution image creation for detailed visualizations and presentations. This makes it ideal for power users, professionals, and organizations that require advanced CAD capabilities and high-quality visual content.

Types of Models supported for queries

Copilot operates through multiple specialized tabs, with each tab designed for a specific workflow, AI model, or functionality. Queries are processed according to the currently active Copilot tab, allowing requests to be directed automatically to the appropriate AI-assisted workflow without requiring command prefixes.

Depending on the selected tab, Copilot can provide functionality related to CAD guidance, rendering, image generation, documentation assistance, part search, knowledge base queries, presentation workflows, and additional AI-assisted operations.

When a query is entered, the active Copilot tab determines how the request is interpreted and which AI agents, tools, or assistants are used to process the operation. This tab-based workflow provides a more organized and streamlined interaction experience across different Copilot capabilities.

DOC (Document Assistant)

• Retrieves information from TurboCAD documentation, including the User Guide, FAQ, and more
• Provides answers to questions about TurboCAD features, tools, and functionality
• Helps users understand how to use TurboCAD and its various components

Example questions:

• DOC: What is the purpose of the Copilot feature in TurboCAD?
• DOC: How do I access the User Guide for TurboCAD?
• DOC: What are the new features in the latest TurboCAD update?

CAD (Computer-Aided Design Assistant)

• Analyzes mathematical properties and attributes from your CAD data
• Allows for data-driven insights and calculations
• Helps users understand and work with their CAD data

Example questions:

• CAD: What is the volume of the selected object?
• CAD: How many entities are in my file?
• CAD: What is the surface area of the selected face?

GKB (General Knowledge Base Assistant)

• Processes general knowledge questions, providing information on various topics and concepts
• Covers a wide range of subjects, including CAD design principles, software, and more
• Helps users expand their knowledge and understanding of CAD and related topics

Example questions:

• GKB: What are the different types of CAD software?
• GKB: What is the difference between 2D and 3D modeling?
• GKB: What are some common CAD design principles?

IMAGE (Image Assistant)

• Generates images for textures, backgrounds, and prototype inspirations
• Creates visual content to aid in design and creativity
• Helps users explore and express their ideas through images

Example questions:

• IMG: Generate a texture for a wooden surface
• IMG: Create a background image of a city skyline
• IMG: Design a futuristic car prototype

IMGHD (High-Definition Image Assistant)

• Creates high-resolution images for detailed visualizations and presentations
• Generates photorealistic images for various purposes
• Helps users create high-quality visual content

Example questions:

• IMGHD: Generate a high-definition image of a modern skyscraper
• IMGHD: Create a detailed visualization of a luxury yacht
• IMGHD: Design a high-resolution image of a futuristic cityscape

Image as Material Texture

Copilot IMAGE workflows support updating material textures directly from generated Copilot images without opening the Material Editor. This workflow allows generated AI images and textures to be applied quickly to existing render materials, helping simplify texture experimentation and render preparation.

Instead of manually editing material parameters and replacing texture maps through the Material Editor, Copilot can save the generated image directly over an existing texture file and automatically update render scenes that use the material. This helps reduce repetitive texture replacement operations and provides a faster workflow for testing multiple texture variations within a scene.

This functionality is available in the Save Copy and Render Scene Update section of the IMAGE task panel.

Below are the steps to update a material texture using a Copilot-generated image:

1. Open the Copilot Palette.
2. Select the IMAGE tab.
3. Generate or open an image to be used as a texture.
4. Expand the Toggle Panel View section.

1. Specify the target texture file path using one of the following methods:
2. Click the … browse button and select the texture file.
3. Drag and drop a texture file into the Drag-Drop area.
4. Click Apply

1. Copilot saves the generated image over the selected texture file.
2. If required, the image format is automatically converted to match the destination texture format.
3. All render scenes using the updated texture are refreshed automatically.

PPT (Text‑to‑CAD Assistant)

• Converts simple text prompts directly into CAD models.
• Enables quick creation of 2D drawings and 3D objects without manual modeling.
• Helps users generate complex shapes and scenes using clear, descriptive instructions.

Example questions:

• PPT: Draw a mechanical gear with 40 teeth, 100 mm pitch diameter, and 20° pressure angle.
• PPT: Create a 3D cylinder 50 mm in diameter and 150 mm tall, aligned vertically.
• PPT: Draw a landscape plan with a rectangular patio (5×3 m) and a circular pond (2 m radius).
• PPT: Draw a 3D cube with 100 mm edges centered at the origin.
• PPT: Model a staircase with 12 steps, each 200 mm high and 300 mm deep.
• PPT: Create a car wheel with alloy rim design and realistic tire tread.

RENDER

Copilot Render creates AI-assisted conceptual and photorealistic renderings directly from existing CAD drawings and models using natural language prompts. By describing the desired visual appearance, materials, lighting, colors, environment, or rendering style, enhanced visual representations can be generated and displayed directly within the drawing workspace.

The rendering workflow uses the currently open drawing and active viewport as a visual reference and generates an enhanced render image based on the entered prompt. The resulting render image is displayed on top of the active drawing viewport while preserving the original CAD geometry and camera orientation.

A drawing or model must be open in the workspace before using Copilot Render.

Copilot Render supports workflows for architecture, product visualization, conceptual design, vehicles, industrial components, gaming products, and presentation imagery. Render prompts can also be used to explore alternative visual concepts by modifying materials, colors, lighting styles, or environmental appearance.

Generated render images are stored locally and associated with automatically created Copilot Named Views. Each render creates a named view using the prefix Copilot_ followed by a numeric index (for example: Copilot_1, Copilot_2, etc.). These named views preserve the camera position and associated render image, allowing render views to be restored later without regenerating the image.

These views are available in Named View Palette.

Copilot Render supports:

• Model Space
• Paper Space
• GDI Smart Draw
• Wireframe mode
• All rendering display types
• ePack support
• Viewports in Paper Space

Steps to create a render using Copilot Render:

1. Open or create a drawing or 3D model in TurboCAD.
2. Open the Copilot Palette.
3. Select the RENDER tab.
4. Enter a natural language rendering prompt describing the desired visual result.

Example:

• “Create a photorealistic architectural render with realistic glass and sunset lighting.”
• “Render a luxury gaming mouse with RGB lighting and reflective surfaces.”
• “Generate a premium sports car render with metallic red paint and studio reflections.”
• Click Submit.
• Copilot processes the request and generates a render image based on the active drawing view.
• The generated render image is displayed directly in the active drawing window.
• A corresponding Copilot Named View is automatically created and stored in the drawing.

Copilot Named Views

After each render operation, TurboCAD automatically creates a Copilot Named View associated with the generated render image.

A Copilot Named View stores:

• Camera position
• Camera orientation
• Associated render image path

Activating a Copilot Named View restores both the original camera view and the corresponding render overlay within the active drawing window.

Switching between Copilot Named Views allows multiple render variations to be previewed and compared quickly within the same drawing environment.

To remove a render overlay from the active window:

• Activate a non-Copilot Named View
• Or slightly rotate the camera view

PART (Copilot Part Finder)

The PART tab allows CAD parts to be searched, previewed, and inserted directly into the drawing workspace using natural language queries. By entering descriptive part requests, Copilot searches for matching components and displays interactive preview results directly inside the Copilot Palette.

This workflow helps simplify part discovery and reduces time spent manually searching through catalogs or external libraries. Matching results include visual previews and related part information, allowing components to be identified quickly before insertion into the drawing.

Parts can be inserted directly into the active drawing by clicking a preview image or by using drag-and-drop operations from the Copilot Palette into Model Space or Paper Space.

Below are the steps to search for and insert parts using the PART tab:

1. Open the Copilot Palette.
2. Select the PART tab.
3. Enter a natural language part query.

Example:

• “Find 10 slotted ISO bolts threaded simple”
• “Find hex nuts”
• “Find socket head screws”
• “Find mechanical bearings”
• Click Submit.
• Copilot processes the request and displays matching parts with preview images and related information.
• Insert a part using one of the following methods:
• Click a part preview image to insert the part directly into the drawing.
• Drag and drop the part preview from the Copilot Palette into Model Space or Paper Space.
• The selected part is inserted into the active drawing workspace.