CAD Talk

The last evolution of CAD Systems - Explicit Modeling Systems

2009-08-03T22:41:00.000+03:00

PTC CoCreate's powerful "Explicit Modeling" technology has a long history behind. This technology was firstly introduced to the CAD world from Hewlett-Packard at the end of 1980's. When HP announced this technology in 1988 with the first version of CoCreate Modeling (then the name was HP PE/ SolidDesigner, PE was standing for Precision Engineering and not for the Personal Edition), it was a revolutionary concept in comparision to the mainstream history-based parametric modeling approach.

Comparision between Explicit Modeling and History Based Parametric Modeling CAD Systems

2009-08-02T22:16:00.000+03:00

I just would like to make a comparision between Explicit Modeling systems and History Based Parametric Modeling systems :

Here are the + points for Explicit Modeling Systems :

+Explicit Modeling Systems propose changing models by recognizing the geometry on the fly, therefore no need to keep the model history.
+They are open for importing geometry from foreign systems (A history based system have problems to import data from other CAD system which has another history format)
+Models are small on hard disc (because the history data is not kept with the model)
+Models can be used from other designers easily, because there is no need to know the past history of the model (of the design).
+Models can be used in future after long period of time, because there is no need to know the past history of the model (of the design).
+Big assemblies are no problem (no lenghty history data is kept with the models)
+If some relations of parameters are unexpectedly changed, this could lead to some non-correct results at the History based systems

And here are the +points for History Based Parametric Systems

- Easier to work with family of parts

Explicit Modeling systems are more superior than History Based Parametric Systems. More and more history based Parametric CAD systems are trying to come close with special adaptations, but their core is not Explicit and this is like a patch on to the existing History based systems.

The world's first free professional 3D CAD System

2009-08-02T17:55:00.000+03:00

This is the 'absolutely' free personal version of CoCreate Modeling. It is not a time limited shareware or time-limited subscription. It is a complete freeware.

This free version of "CoCreate Modeling" is called "CoCreate Modeling Personal Edition", both of them are based on the same superior modeling technology "Explicit Modeling".

Of course there are some differences with the commercial product "CoCreeate Modeling"
If we compare the diferences, we see mainly the following

- The total number of parts and assemblies are limited to 60 pieces. This is not a vital problem, as many times we can combine appropriate parts together to avoid this limitation.

- As exporting formats STL, VRML and the own format PK2 are supported, and for importing the users can use STEP, IGES and PK2. This free-of-charge 3D program encourages the users to learn the program and create his own parts in PK2 format.

-The models of PE can be shared between the PE users in the proprietary PK2 format, but it is not possible to import them to the commercial version, unless the PE models are converted for this user from PTC. Usually this conversion is done for users, who are later buying the commercial version.

-It works with an active internet connection, but the user needs to be in the internet only once every 72 hours . This means just go for 1 second to internet and then you don't need any internet access more in the next 72 hours.

The strong Explicit modeling engine is the same like the commercial version, therefore it is really a good opportunity.

The following audience could be mostly interested

- Users who doesnt like their current system
- Universities
- Students
- User with black copies, who would like to drop their existing black copy against a legal software
- Home users

And all others, who wants to have a free 3D Modeling system

For downloading please go to PTC's PE download page