Design

GrabCAD Adds Cloud-Based Rendering to its Workbench

It’s becoming more and more important for engineers and designers to have a way to easily render their 3D models. These renderings are used for design reviews as well as by downstream folks for sales and marketing and product documentation.

For years, high-end rendering software was available but it was expensive, required high-end computing horsepower and came with a rather steep learning curve. It’s difficult enough for engineers to stay well-versed on the latest bells and whistles of their CAD programs and add-on packages Becoming an expert in rendering wasn’t on anyone’s priority list.

Add rendering tool to your toolbox

All this makes today’s announcement more significant. GrabCAD announces that is has added the cloud-based rendering tool Lagoa to its GrabCAD Toolbox. Now engineers in the GrabCAD community will have access to rendering without having to leave their Workbench project. To see a demo of Lagoa rendering inside of Workbench, check out this video with GrabCAD CEO Hardi Meybaum and CEO of Lagoa, Thiago Costa.

Lagoa tool enables real-time collaboration on renderings

Lagoa relies on cloud-based processing to speed up the rendering job while still offering powerful tools, such as HDR environments, advanced materials effects, and more. Because it’s cloud-based, the rendering tool makes it easy for multiple users to work together on the same rendering at the same time, allowing real-time collaboration.

Lagoa cloud-based rendering enables engineers to quickly render 3D models without worrying about excessive processing time or lack of computing resources.
Lagoa cloud-based rendering enables engineers to quickly render 3D models without worrying about excessive processing time or lack of computing resources.

Lagoa is the latest addition of GrabCAD Toolbox, a set of third-party applications that run on top of GrabCAD Workbench. To get started with Lagoa, users simply sign up for a monthly subscription. Current GrabCAD Workbench users can try the software out for free now. Here’s how:

  1. Select a file to render in GrabCAD Workbench
  2. Select “Open in Lagoa”
  3. Set up your scene – modifying materials, adding lighting, and so on
  4. Click “Render”
  5. Wait seconds (not hours) to see the result
  6. Once you’re satisfied with the image, save it back to your GrabCAD project

For more information about GrabCAD Workbench, check out the company’s web site. For more information on the Lagoa cloud-based rendering tool, check out its web site.

Barb Schmitz