Released February 2007
D-Cubed announces the latest release of the 3D DCM, the geometric constraint engine used to position parts in assemblies, sketch routes in three dimensions, modify the shapes of 3D parts and simulate kinematic motion in many of the world's leading CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM applications. New enhancements specific to version 36.0 are listed below. See the full product description.
This release sees the introduction of a major new dimension type, the bounded dimension. A distance or angle dimension can now be bounded by a lower limit, an upper limit, or both. The 3D DCM will permit a bounded dimension to solve for any value that is consistent with its upper or lower bounds.
Bounded dimensions can be used to ensure that parts within an assembly that are free to move only move within their prescribed bounds. This helps to maintain an assembly in a realistic configuration whilst permitting the freedoms to be exploited. End-users can investigate valid configurations within the defined bounds by interactively dragging parts. (View animation)
Another significant application for bounded dimensions is 3D sketching. The 3D DCM enables a number of major CAD systems to use 3D sketches to specify the location and shape of curves in a variety of contexts, such as surface design, or the creation of centre-line routes in piping, wiring and HVAC applications. Bounded dimensions can ensure that the lengths of individual sketch elements do not fall below zero or exceed a maximum value, for example.(View animation)
The second new dimension type introduced in this release is the curve length dimension. This is used to dimension the length of splines, evaluated parametric curves or elliptical arcs. In combination with existing 3D DCM curve design capabilities, such as tangency and curvature controls, the curve length dimension provides engineers and designers with sophisticated means to control the form of freeform curves. One application for curve length dimensions is 3D sketching, enabling the user to specify the precise length of their freeform sketch segments. (View animation)
First released in 1995, the 3D Dimensional Constraint Manager is used in the majority of today's major CAD applications and is widely acknowledged as the leading 3D geometric constraint technology. Its strengths include a genuinely three-dimensional, fully variational (non-sequential) approach to solving a wide range of sophisticated dimension and constraint schemes applied to the full range of geometry types found in a modern CAD model. The excellent performance of the 3D DCM's unique and highly developed range of constraint solving algorithms is the foundation of the latest interactive approach to assembly part positioning, 3D sketching, direct (non-history based) part modification and kinematic simulation.
D-Cubed software is part of the PLM Components suite of solutions and represents a family of geometric software components that enable key functionality in CAD, CAM, CAE, and PLM applications, including sketching, part and assembly modeling, motion simulation, collision detection, clearance measurement and hidden-line visualization.
Brand and product names mentioned in this press release are the trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Jim Thorpe
UGS (D-Cubed)
Tel: +44-1223-722655
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Plano, TX
75024
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