Unique publishing feature and network licensing capability are designed to facilitate 3D communications over the Internet and company intranets.
VALENCIA, CA: October 1, 1996 Solid Concepts Inc. announced today that Version 2.0 of their SolidView software is now available. SolidView 2.0 includes many enhancements designed to facilitate the communication of 3D mechanical designs.
Originally developed by Solid Concepts to assist in their rapid prototyping and manufacturing operations, SolidView has quickly become the standard for the communication and high-performance visualization of 3D mechanical designs. Since SolidView uses industry standard STL (stereolithography) files, which are easily generated from all popular CAD systems, SolidView makes it possible to view 3D designs on a Windows PC, regardless of their source.
SolidView’s ability to display and measure designs from a wide range of CAD systems, coupled with a very simple user interface and high performance graphics, has caused many companies to expand its use outside of the rapid prototyping arena. For example, Systems Group of Texas Instruments has purchased over 100 copies of SolidView for use throughout their enterprise and to assist in communicating with their suppliers. "When we use SolidView to communicate with a supplier, they can usually have a quote back to us within two working days, and sometimes it’s back in the same day," said James Phelan of TI’s Integrated Manufacturing Services. "Without SolidView, it typically took about seven working days for us to receive a quote. All the time saved by shortening quoting process translates directly into shorter product development cycles."
SolidView 2.0’s unique 3D publishing capability will expand its use as a communications tool, according to Ray Bradford, vice president of Software Engineering for Solid Concepts. "With SolidView’s publishing capability, anyone can take an existing design from virtually any CAD system, add their own measurements and notes, and then ‘publish’ the file, along with a no-cost player, to anyone with a Windows based PC," said Bradford. "This way, companies can always use SolidView to communicate with suppliers and other outside organizations, even if they are not sure the other party has a copy of SolidView." According to Bradford, SolidView files can be published over the Internet, a private intranet or over any other digital communications media such as floppy disks.
Other new features of SolidView 2.0 include network licensing, smooth shading, customizable colors, red-lining capability, and many other annotations enhancements. In addition to reading STL files, SolidView 2.0 also reads DXF and OBJ files. IGES input is available as an option. The software runs on any 486 or Pentium PC with 8Mb or more RAM and Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or Windows NT. The basic SolidView 2.0 system for viewing, measuring and publishing 3D information is available in North America for $495. Optional IGES input is an additional $495. Other options that provide the ability to modify STL files, prepare STL files for rapid prototyping, and automatically create support structures for rapid prototyping are also available.
SolidView is a trademark of Solid Concepts Inc. Pentium® is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation
