Include 3D Mechanical Design Elements in Industrial Designs

By DE Editors

September 18, 2007 –– Robert McNeel & Associates, Inc. (Concord, MA) and SpaceClaim Corp. (Seattle, WA) announced interoperability between Rhinoceros and SpaceClaim, enabling product stylists to include 3D mechanical design elements in their designs and deliverables.

The solution allows Rhino files to be opened directly in SpaceClaim for creating and modifying solid geometry. The 3D model can then be sent back in the Rhino file format for precise surface modifications by the industrial designer. SpaceClaim Professional 2007’s 3D and Rhino’s free form modeling offer precise modeling and a short learning curve. The solution greatly improves collaboration between design disciplines resulting in better product designs and faster time-to-market.

Industrial designers must work closely with product engineering to develop stylized surfaces that also meet mechanical design requirements. This requires seamless data exchange between surfacing and design applications. Rhino and SpaceClaim integration meets that need by enabling product stylists to create free-form surfaces in context of the product design. For instance, from within SpaceClaim industrial designers can directly modify 3D geometry, such as support ribs or bosses, which conform to the stylized surfaces. Precise surface modifications can be made within Rhino and accurately transferred to the SpaceClaim model. Product engineering benefits from receiving more complete designs that require little to no surface modifications.

Rhino integration is included at no additional cost with the 3D Data Exchange Package upgrade, scheduled for November.

To view an explanatory video, or get more information about SpaceClaim Professional 2007 and 3D Data Exchange package, go to SpaceClaim.

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