Quietly working behind the scenes of every CAD/CAM/CAE software is a 3D geometric modeling kernel, basically the brains behind the software that enable it to perform the complex modeling commands needed by its users. As such, end users typically don’t focus on buying CAD software based on what kernel the software uses, but on the features and functionality offered by the software.
Two of the most common 3D modeling kernels are ACIS, originally developed by Spatial and now part of Dassault Systemes, and Parasolid, from Siemens PLM.
New features in Parasolid v26.1
Parasolid provides high-level functionality that now handles more of the geometric complexities encountered throughout concept-to-manufacture workflows across many engineering disciplines. Parasolid is used in many world-leading CAD/CAM/CAE/AEC products including Siemens’ own Solid Edge and NX systems.
Parasolid version 26.1 includes enhancements to a wide variety of areas with a special focus on providing high-level functionality to support the productivity of end-users who encounter complex geometric configurations in their daily work.
Building on foundations of industry-hardened technology; these new capabilities allow application developers to deliver productivity boosting solutions to overcome problems that would otherwise require considerable end-user skill and time. Areas enhanced in v26.1 include hole filling and sweeping, blending and model editing.
Hole Filling and Sweeping
V26.1 adds to extensive surfacing functionality with new creation and editing capabilities that are of particular interest to end-users who import data, which may require repair, from other systems. These include:
* Filling holes in a model, guided by reference points to influence the surface shape.
* Generating the swept volume of a spun tool body swept along a path with an arbitrary lock direction.
* Using non-G1 guide wires when sweeping a profile along a G1 path.
Blending
V26.1 provides finer control and more options in numerous complex scenarios that may occur in new and legacy designs in operations for both functional and aesthetic purposes, These include:
* Trimming face overhangs when blending sheet bodies.
* Refining control of blend location in face-face blending.
* Adding the ability to manage mergeable edges during edge blending.
Model Editing
* V26.1 combines existing functionality to perform high level tasks often encountered by end-users.
* Extrusion of bodies with edges parallel to the direction of the sweep direction, avoiding the creation of a non-manifold body.
* Faces can be deleted from locally-manifold areas of a general body and the underlying geometry healed.
In addition to these features, there are other new enhancements that target specific industries and workflows. Click here to learn more.
