Spatial Delivers R17

By DE Editors

3D components provider Spatial Corp. (Broomfield, CO) has announced the availability of the R17 release of its entire component portfolio, including 3D ACIS Modeler and its extensions as well as 3D InterOp CAD translators. Spatial reports that the enhancements in R17 are driven by customer feedback and its industry research. R17 introduces the support for ACIS on Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.

ACIS R17 now supports assembly modeling as well as part modeling. Improvements to its internal data storage reduces memory usage in run time up to 30%, enabling applications to run larger part models, according to the company. A new memory minimization feature lets developers selectively page ACIS data, which has the effect of expanding the addressable virtual memory. A new blend type, three-entity blend creates a variable-radius fillet surface that is tangent to three faces.

Of interest to CAM developers is a new stitching interface optimized for tool and die creation workflows. Additionally, an enhanced point-in-face test algorithm enables CMM/metrology  applications to speed evaluation of inspection data on the order of a 10% to 50x increase, according to the company.

Miscellaneous enhancements include improved capping and mitering algorithms and a variety of Intersector and Boolean enhancements that improve how ACIS can operate with imported and approximated geometry and optimize it to be tolerant.

InterOp offers new 64-bit translators for Windows, which provide for more capacity for model translation and allows integration with end-users already moving to 64-bit. The IGES translator now supports translation of assembly and product  structure into and out of IGES.

InterOp R17 introduces the capability to translate to and from proprietary CAD systems using InterOp Plug-in architecture. This InterOp Plug-in architecture will allow customers to expand the capabilities of InterOp beyond the CAD file formats currently supported by InterOp.

Spatial Corp. solely produces software components. It does not offer end-user products, but its products form the engine by many of the most widely deployed CAD, CAM, and analysis products on the market today. For a complete description of R17 of its 3D Software Component Portfolio, go to Spatial Corp.

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