MCSC COMPANY AND SOLID CONCEPTS ANNOUNCE JAPANESE LANGUAGE VERSION OF SOLIDVIEW

SolidView 3.3 release features full support for Kanji character set

Tokyo, Japan and Valencia, CA – June 16, 1999— MCSC Company and Solid Concepts announced today the availability of a Japanese language version of SolidView. Developed jointly by MCSC Company (MCSC) in Tokyo, and Solid Concepts in Valencia, this version of SolidView supports the Kanji character set for all menus, messages, and user dialogs. This version of SolidView will be marketing exclusively by MCSC Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CADAM Systems Company, Inc. (CSC) in Tokyo. MCSC Company will be demonstrating the Japanese version of SolidView at the 10th Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo/Conference in Tokyo.

According to Mr. Nobuo Imura, Senior Managing Director of MCSC, native language support is critical for view and markup applications. "Unlike CAD systems, view and markup software is used by a very broad range of personnel", said Imura. "The ultimate goal of a view and markup application is to reduce or eliminate the need for paper drawings. This means that everyone from management to machine tool operators must be able to use the software with little or no training."

SolidView is the only integrated 2D and 3D view and markup system that lets users create and distribute free SolidPlayer software that allows anyone with a Windows PC to view 2D and 3D data and, if authorized, measure the 3D data. This unique ability has enabled SolidView to save thousands of dollars and countless weeks in development time by reducing or eliminating the need to use 2D drawings to communicate design changes to partners, customers, and suppliers.

SolidView reads STL, VRML, 3D DXF, and a wide range of 2D raster and vector formats. Optional modules for IGES and VDA import are also available.

The specialized rapid prototyping versions of SolidView, called SolidView/RP and SolidView/RP Master, have also been converted to Japanese. These specialized rapid prototyping versions of SolidView enable rapid prototyping machine users to maximize the throughput of their equipment through the use of sophisticated repair, layout, and support generation algorithms.

CSC/MICROCADAM, Inc., a leading vendor of desktop mechanical CAD/CAM systems, offers a full range of cost effective, production proven mid-range CAD/CAM products under the name Helix Design System, available on Wintel hardware and software platforms. There are 90,000 Helix licenses in use worldwide. CSC was founded in 1984 and is now a joint venture between IBM and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. MICROCADAM, Inc was founded in 1993 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CADAM Systems Company, Inc. (CSC) of Tokyo, Japan. CSC is the leading supplier of desktop mechanical CAD/CAM systems in Japan and among the top five CAD suppliers in terms of worldwide revenue.

About Solid Concepts Inc.

Solid Concepts Inc. is a supplier of rapid prototyping and direct digital manufacturing services. Founded in 1991, Solid Concepts is a five-facility, multiple technology company known to be a solutions provider with project management and engineering expertise. Capabilities in Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Advanced Cast Urethanes, CNC and FRP rapid prototypes and custom manufactured parts allows for low-volume production of plastic, urethane, and metal components directly from design data, resulting in significant time and cost savings. Tooling and Molding capabilities bring customer projects through to completion. ISO 9001 and AS9100 certifications.

SolidView® is a registered trademark of Solid Concepts Inc.

• SolidView
  SolidView® software allows you to view, rotate, measure and communicate design intent with non-CAD users—starting with our free 3D CAD viewer—SolidView/Lite.
• SLA & PolyJet
  SLA® & PolyJet™ provide accurate concept models and master patterns in record time. Complete in-house finishing capability for production-like prototypes.
• SLS
  SLS® (selective laser sintering) produces rugged Nylon 11 and Nylon 12 prototype and production parts and is ideally suited for Direct Digital Manufacturing.
• FDM
  FDM (fused deposition modeling) produces both prototype and production parts from ABS plastic, polycarbonate, and Ultem materials.
• CNC
  CNC prototypes, parts and master patterns are ideal in applications where the material property or size requirements make other prototyping techniques unsuitable.
• Cast Urethane
  Cast Urethane (a proprietary advanced casting technology and advanced formula polymers) produce strong pre-production and short-run production components.
• Composites
  Composites (fiber reinforced plastic) technology produces large, rigid, accurate panels with excellent strength-to-weight ratio and surface finish. Chose between CompositeCast™, Hand Lay-up FPR and VARTM.
• Tooling
  Tooling from Solid Concepts provides quick-turn tooling options for Chinese tooling & production, export tooling from China, and domestic tooling, all with domestic project management.
• Molding
  Injection Molding from Solid Concepts brings you the best of both worlds by providing Chinese pricing and lead times along with Solid Concepts quality and domestic project management.