Complete 3D Modeling Solution in the Cloud
For designers, engineers and digital artists, who need to create and detail designs, the combined solutions of 3D Creator, 3D Sculptor and Drafter provide easy to use parametric and subdivision modeling capabilities along with associative 2D drawing creation; these cloud-based solutions are tailored to the specific work at hand.
3D Creator includes the xDesign app, which is a 3D parametric modeler that complements SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD with flexible design workflows and a seamless interchange of design data. 3D Sculptor includes the xShape app, which offers dramatically fast modeling of complex, organically-shaped, highly stylized surfaces in a subdivision (Sub-D) modeling environment. Drafter rounds the process off with 2D drawing capabilities.
A New Way to Work
The xShape and xDesign apps have consistent user interfaces; they have the same layout and you can work with them both interchangeably. For example, if you are doing Sub-D modeling and need to switch apps, the data stays where it is and the app changes around it. You don’t need to close one app, open another app, open the 3D model, and then do the work. The data always stays open and the apps revolve around the open data.
This is where that little Dassault Systèmes compass comes into play. If you were doing Sub-D modeling in xShape and now wanted to add prismatic shapes, you’d click or tap on the compass and choose xDesign. This transitions the workspace from xShape to xDesign. Now you can add parametric features. Ideal for the more prismatic shapes like mounting bosses, split lines, etc.
Design Flexibility
The apps offer a single modeling environment for parts and assemblies that allow you to focus on design and not how you organize your files. When you start a design, you don’t have to determine whether it’s a part or assembly; you can change that decision at any time.
For example, when creating features, you can determine when it makes sense for all the features to be a part. Then, create another group of features, decide when it is a part, and group the two parts into a subassembly.
And, if you change your mind, you can dissolve that sub-assembly and go back to having just the parts and add more features if you wish.
Faster Changes
What we call “Super Features” allows you to change design intent without the rework required using traditional style parametric modeling so that significant design changes can be implemented faster and easier.
Let’s say you do an extrude feature but then decide that to curve a little bit. Simply draw in a new sketch and change that original extrude into a sweep that follows the new path. If you have built anything off that original extrude, it’s going to rebuild all those features.
In the same scenario with a traditional solid modeler, you would have to delete the extrude and then rebuild all the features underneath. The cloud apps, however, are built with interchangeable features so that you can change between a revolve, a sweep, and an extrude at any point in the process.
Artificial Intelligence
We have machine learning algorithms built into 3D Creator, and they’ll soon be in 3D Sculptor; this adds a new level of productivity to your daily CAD projects.
Essentially, when you make selections, the AI software suggests or predicts what should be selected next based on the work completed to this point. If we were to pick an edge to fillet or a chamfer, the artificial intelligence looks at other edges that are similar or symmetrical or a comparable length or nearby, and it recommends, “Do you want to select these as well?” If you give the go-ahead, the software automatically picks all similar edges.
Cloud-based apps allow AI to more easily “learn” from designs. The more design you do in the system, the smarter your recommendations from AI become, since it is continually evolving and learning from what you’ve done on previous models.
We are extremely excited to offer you these cloud-based products where they have appropriate application within your current product development environment. Please contact your local reseller for more information and feel free to share what you think below.
If you are interested in trying cloud-based design, sign up for a seven-day trial by clicking on the banner below.
