After a six week open beta phase, ASPire3D offiecially released its 2Dto3DCAD.com portal. 2Dto3DCAD.com is the first ASP service offered on the ASPire3D portal to allow users to automatically convert their legacy 2D CAD drawings to parametric 3D models over the Internet.

2Dto3DCAD.com currently supports the following output 3D formats . Mechanical Desktop, Inventor, AutoCAD, STEP AP203, IGES and SAT. Other formats including SolidWorks are in the pipeline for future releases. The user has two options to convert their drawings: the Self Serve and Full Serve. Both options make use of the an internet-enabled version of Imagecom.s powerful FlexiDesign technology. When the conversions are complete, the user is automatically e-mailed to login to a page called 'My Conversions'. The user can then preview a VRML version of the 3D model without the need to download any special software or plug-ins. They also have the option of accepting the model and paying for it or rejecting the model if they are not completely satisfied with the output.

Commenting on the release, Dr. Raj Ganesan, vice president of development said, "ASPire3D provides users with strong encryption and SSL protection for their data file transfer and storage, customer registration information and payment processing. Additionally, the site is protected by a SonicWALL firewall against Internet security threats and viruses."

2Dto3DCAD.com was in open beta testing phase for six weeks before being released. Several satisfied users commented positively on the ASP. Among them was Rodney D. Raub of the Boeing Service Company who said "I was very impressed with the FlexiDesign technology that powers Imagecom's ASPire3D portal." Tim Roesch of Minnesota Medical Inc. commented, "I am highly satisfied with the 2D AutoCAD to 3D Mechanical Desktop 4 converted models I received from ASPire3D. The turnaround time was fast, technical support was very helpful and the models were excellent."

The ASP was also well received by the CAD vendors. Charles Evans of Intergraph Corporation said "I was impressed with the resulting 3D models generated from my multi-view drawings. Our mechanical users will find this ASP helpful when they need to take a design from 2D conceptual phase into 3D detailed design or want to move their legacy data forward."

The conversions are priced at an average of about $50 per piece part drawing. Users can purchase the models using either a Mastercard or Visa credit card. ASPire3D is also working on an effective subscription plan for companies with large collections of drawings. Even though 2Dto3DCAD.com is no longer in an open beta phase, all new customers to the site will get their first two conversions for free to understand how the ASP works and evaluate the quality of the output.