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IMET Expo
Last week saw another conference, IMET Expo. Although attendance was low, there was still a lot to see including:
  • Imagecom Corporation--This Arlington, Texas-based company has just announced a new web portal called ASPire3D.com. The first ASP that runs inside this portal, called 2Dto3DCAD.com, was on display at IMET. Announced just a few weeks ago, this ASP turns 2D DXF and DWG files into 3D feature-based models that can be read into Mechanical Desktop and Inventor (and soon SolidWorks), as they demonstrated at the show. It uses advanced technology to clean up the drawing, removing items such as duplicate lines, and fixing endpoints that don't touch. This ASP, along with the announcement of similar technology by a major company like Unigraphics (Xpand3D, see above) is a clear indication that the industry is finally getting serious about addressing this issue.
  • SolidWorks Corporation--In addition to 3D Instant Website, which I discussed above and in more detail in the last issue, this company was also showing 3DPartStream.Net. This software allows companies that currently sell small mechanical components such as actuators, valves, and fasteners to build 3D catalogs. Once the catalog is set up, SolidWorks runs in the background to create a model as a user enters its values on the site. The model can then be downloaded in a variety of formats beside SolidWorks, including CATIA and Pro/E and all the standard neutral formats. See www.3dpartstream.net
  • Actify--This company was showing SpinFire, new technology that it is hoping will become a "3D Acrobat." The idea is that no matter which MCAD software is being used, users will be able to publish it on the web as easily as one publishes a PDF file. Once the model is posted on the web, users will be able to rotate, pan, and zoom in on, but unlike other web viewers, this one also allows users to be able to cut interactive sections and take measurements. Like Acrobat, publishing the files in SpinFire?s .3D format is what will cost money, while the reader is free. The base prices are high, starting in the $4000 range, but low monthly fees can be arranged. SpinFire can produce .3D files from a number of MCAD applications, including Pro/E, CATIA, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Mechanical Desktop, Inventor, I-DEAS, as well as well as variety of neutral formats such as STEP and IGES. See www.actify.com.
About the Author

Based in Chandler, AZ, Joe Greco is a widely published author of MCAD-related articles. An MCAD consultant and trainer, Joe frequently contributes in-depth features and product reviews to CADENCE magazine and its quarterly MCAD supplements. Joe can be reached at joe3d@home.com.