Certain applications, such as CAD healing and engineering analysis, seem like a natural match for ASPs. Imagecom now has added to this list of specialty applications taking advantage of the Web. Known for its advanced 2D to 3D conversion software called FlexiDesign, Imagecom has created an e-FlexiDesign version and is bringing it to a new ASP called ASPire3D.com.

The company plans to offer users the ability to upload 2D drawings and after a short period receive feature-based solid models in a variety of MCAD application formats. As with most ASPs, this will be available on a pay-per-use basis via the portal.

According to the company, they are currently adding more components to ASPire3D.com as well as the ability to host third party applications. "We are in the process of making several cross-linking marketing arrangements with several high impact web sites," stated Dr. Venkat Devarajan, President and CEO of Imagecom. Dr. Raj Ganesan, Vice President of Development at Imagecom, described the setup as a "very well load-balanced server farm that is capable of performing several thousands of conversions a day."

ASPs like ASPire3D fit perfectly into an engineerīs workflow and save them load of time from all aspects. Instead of putting in a request to buy an expensive engineering application, they waiting to have it set up, installed and then having to worrying about upgrades, licenses, etc., ASPs deliver what the engineer needs when they need it, at a low cost.

I have seen Imagecomīs technology as well as the early stages of their site. In testing several complex 2D files, I was surprised how automated most of the conversions were. Successfully delivering this technology to an ASP may be the breakthrough many engineers have been waiting for in order for them to make the move to solid modeling. Meanwhile, users of solid modelers can employ this technology to convert 2D legacy data that they have been modeling manually.