Imagecom Corp. has developed a powerful program entitled FlexiDesign, which it introduced in May of 1999. It uses sophisticated algorithms to analyze a 2D drawing and then convert it into a feature-based parametric model in Autodesk Inc.'s Mechanical Desktop software. Working as a plug-in, the program has almost no interface, for once it is activated the only change in Mechanical Desktop is the introduction of a small, two-button toolbar. The first button starts the conversion process, while the second loads the help.

However, before a conversion can take place a 2D file has to be opened in Mechanical Desktop. Three view drawings, orientated in either the first or third angle projection are preferred, but not required. Drawings with as few as one view will still work, but more user input is needed to determine the depth of the extrusion or the amount of degrees the drawing will be revolved.

In any case, a drawing usually needs some amount of cleanup after it is brought in. For instance lines that are intersecting, not touching, stray, or duplicated in place, will cause problems for the 3D algorithms whose job it is to build the model. This is also the case with entities such as hatch patterns, text, and dimensions.

This is where a powerful new module of the program called FlexiCheck comes into play. As the first step in the conversion process, it cleans up the entities previously described. Before continuing with the actual conversion, however, it pauses to allow the user to go in and perhaps do some additional housekeeping. I found that most drawings still needed some manual clean up, but the majority of it was done for me. In fact, Imagecom likes FlexiCheck so much that it is starting to sell it as a separate product for users who only need to clean up messy 2D files.

After the clean up, the program calls up a Window inquiring about the number of drawing views. Once an answer is supplied, Flexi-Design asks for the orientation of those views. So, if there are three views, the software will ask if they are situated in the first or third angle projection. After this step, the fun starts as the program, usually in less than a minute, builds a feature tree in Mechanical Desktop's browser. I was impressed with the degree of parametric features it creates, including its recognition of various types of holes-countersunk, counterbored, etc.

When it is completed, FlexiDesign displays the 3D model alongside the original 2D file. All of the clean up was actually done on a copy of the original, and that file is located behind the 3D model file. Because of this way the program makes use of multiple documents opened simultaneously, the use of Mechanical Desktop 4 is recommended due to its support of the Multiple Document Interface. According to a representative at Imagecom, the company is also working on software that will convert 2D files into the SolidWorks format.

At $4,995, the software isn't cheap. However, Dr. Rajan Ganesan, vice president for Product Development at Imagecom, believes that it typically pays for itself within the first 25 drawing conversions. Users I spoke to also seemed to concur with this assessment. For instance, David West, a Design Engineer for Christie Manufacturing Inc. in Gaineville, TX, feels that the program helped them migrate from 2D drawings to 3D models very inexpensively. As a result, they were able to reuse existing 2D designs in newer models of their thermoplastic pipe joining equipment.