Released August 2007

UGS PLM Software announces the latest release of the D-Cubed 2D Dimensional Constraint Manager (2D DCM), a software component that controls 2D parametric sketches in 2D and 3D design environments. Some of the new features specific to version 52.0 are listed below. A full product description can be found here.

Functional enhancement: new solving option for spline curves

Most sketches can have multiple solutions which satisfy the constraints and dimensions. For example, a circle constrained to be tangent to a line can be positioned on either side of the line. The 2D DCM uses the initial geometry positions to preserve the intent of the design and will not change the current relative arrangement of geometries. However, if the application has moved geometry independently of the 2D DCM, a different solution may be found. The 2D DCM provides a solving mode that can maintain the original solution even if the application independently moves geometry. Previous versions of the 2D DCM supported this capability when moving splines (including NURBS) but not when changing their shape. The latest version enables an application to change the shape of a spline and maintain the original solution, as illustrated below:

In the initial configuration shown to the left, a distance dimension positions the circle 10 units from the spline. Next, the application modifies the shape of the spline independently of the 2D DCM, causing the spline to cross the perimeter of the circle. Without the new functionality, the 2D DCM then produces a new solution based on the new position of the spline relative to the circle, shown in the central figure. With the new functionality, the application can retain the original solution, as seen in the figure to the right.

Integration and performance enhancement: thread safety

It has always been possible to create more than one instance of the 2D DCM solving system in the same application. This is beneficial in a variety of situations, for example when solving several sketches independently. Previously, however, it has not been possible for applications running on systems with multiple processors to create different instances of the 2D DCM in different threads. This capability, known commonly as thread safety, is supported in the latest version.

Integration enhancement: development environment extensions

The D-Cubed components are integrated into a wide range of applications. Hence, they are available for a wide range of application development environments which are continually being extended to keep pace with customer requirements. This release sees the addition of support for 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows Vista, Linux Suse v10, Linux Red Hat Enterprise 5 and the Intel 32-bit processor version of Mac OS X.

About the D-Cubed 2D DCM

First released in 1990, the 2D DCM is used in most major CAD applications and is widely acknowledged as the leading 2D geometric constraint solving technology. It provides a variational (non-sequential) approach to solving a broad range of dimension and constraint schemes optimised for use in 2D environments. In addition to driving the sketcher in most mechanical CAD products, it is used in the integral design environments of many other applications, such as CAM and CAE systems.

About UGS PLM Components; Parasolid and D-Cubed

UGS PLM Components are software tools that can help increase the profitability of software applications in the CAD, CAM, CAE and PLM marketplace by raising their value and lowering their costs. This is achieved by supporting innovation and interoperability with standard tools that ensure quality and reduce time to market. UGS PLM Software develops these components, uses them throughout its own applications and licenses them to independent software vendors and end-user organizations. Flexible licensing arrangements and a simple, proven integration process enable any organisation, large or small, to bring innovative capabilities to their applications quickly and economically. Part of the UGS PLM Components family of products, the Parasolid and D-Cubed components provide 3D part and assembly modeling, editing and interoperability, 2D/3D parametric sketching, motion simulation, collision detection, clearance measurement and visualization. Applications include mechanical CAD, CAM, CAE, mold design, sheet metal, AEC, GIS, structural, plant and ship design, CMM, reverse engineering and sales configuration. For more information, please visit www.ugs.com/products/open/.

Contact

Jonathon Rimmer

UGS (D-Cubed)

Tel: +44-1223-722635

jonathon.rimmer@ugs.com