Geomagic Freeform 2016 Released

3D Systems Inc. has announced the 2016 release of its Geomagic Freeform suite of organic design and digital sculpting software. Key enhancements introduced in Geomagic Freeform 2016 include a new toolset for lattice structures, sketching and curve tools enhancements, improved 3D CAD and direct scan data input as well as enhanced 3D print analysis and printability tools.

“3D Systems Geomagic Freeform products deliver an advanced design environment that enables designers and engineers to create incredible products,” said Calvin Hur, vice president, co-chief operating officer and chief revenue officer, 3D Systems Software, in the release announcement. “The 2016 release of these Geomagic Freeform products represents 3D Systems’ commitment to delivering the very best tools for design, engineering and manufacturing.”

Applications in the Geomagic Freeform 2016 software line include the Geomagic Freeform toolset for design and sculpting and Geomagic Sculpt for precision voxel 3D sculpting and modeling. Geomagic Freeform Plus extends these toolsets with advanced manufacturing design capabilities that include automatic conversion of digital clay and polygons to NURBS surfaces, mold and die design, shelling, draft analysis, parting line and surface creation tools for complex organic shapes.

Geomagic Freeform provides medical professionals and implant/device manufacturers with a toolset to design patient-specific implants, study models, prosthetics, custom surgical guides and orthotics. Image courtesy of 3D Systems.

Geomagic Freeform products work exclusively with 3D Systems’ Touch portfolio of haptic devices to deliver the physical sensation of sculpting in a virtual environment. 3D Systems says that this intuitive mode of interacting within the digital space reduces learning curves, speeds the design process and helps deliver high quality 3D data. Geomagic Freeform includes a choice of either a Geomagic Touch X or Geomagic Touch haptic device while Geomagic Freeform Plus comes with the Geomagic Touch X haptic device.

Version 2016 of Geomagic Freeform debuts a new StructureFX toolset for lattice structures. This toolset delivers users the ability to create custom, internal and external lattice structures for intricate and lightweight designs, according to the company. Its advanced cage creation tools assist the design of structures for functional applications such as custom medical implants. StructureFX tools work alongside Geomagic Freeform’s 3D print analysis tools to 3D print advanced designs.

3D Systems says that the new StructureFX toolset in the Geomagic Freeform 2016 line of software products delivers the functionality that enables users to create lightweight, complex structures, lattices, cages and more for 3D printed designs quickly. Image courtesy of Artec 3D and 3D Systems Inc.

3D Systems reports that Geomagic Freeform 2016 provides improved sketching tools to capture design intent and that users can extract curve networks from a part in the object list easily. Additionally, touchscreen support for curve drawing has been improved.

3D Systems reports that 3D CAD and direct scan data input has been improved in Geomagic Freeform 2016. 3D data can be scanned directly into Geomagic Freeform products using the Geomagic Capture scanner, which, says the company, provides a seamless scan-to-design workflow. Imported CAD data can serve as the basis for organic designs as well as be subjected to a complete Boolean toolset, which, explains 3D Systems, is ideal for subtracting mechanical parts from a finished product design.

Geomagic Freeform’s 3D print analysis and printability tools have been improved in version 2016. Intended to help streamline the design to manufacturing workflow, these tools include enhanced feature size analysis and print alignment tools that enable quality and repeatability in 3D printing. Integration with 3DSPRINT 3D data cloud and desktop platform enables direct support of 3D Systems’ suite of 3D printers, including print monitoring and queue management. Geomagic Freeform 2016 solutions also offer simple tools to repair faulty and low-grade 3D data for 3D printing, traditional manufacturing or a wide range of file format exports.

Geomagic’s Freeform’s 3D printability checking tools enable users to catch potential design flaws early on, which can streamline the design to production process. Image courtesy of 3D Systems Inc.

Geomagic Freeform Plus now has a new Wrap capability that enables an enhanced workflow of improved CAD surface output for use downstream. (Existing Geomagic Freeform Plus customers on maintenance now have access to a version of Geomagic Wrap at no charge.)

To learn more about the Geomagic Freeform and the 2016 line of Geomagic Freeform software, visit Geomagic.

See what’s new in Geomagic Freeform 2016.

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Sign up for an on-demand a webinar on Geomagic Freeform

Register to download a trial version of Geomagic Freeform.

See why DE‘s editors selected Geomagic Freeform 2016 products as their Pick of the Week.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.