Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013

Bricsys Strategy for Mechanical Design – Part 3: Variational direct modeling is a game-changing design paradigm for 3D.

BricsCAD at INTERGEO.

Miscellaneous News.CAD-Earth & ARKIplan.BricsCAD Updates.

Our goal is to make this a quarterly newsletter to provide you with interesting news about the CAD market in general as well as the BricsCAD platform and the solutions from our Third Party development partners.

The Bricsys Team

Welcome to the Bricsys Newsletter

© 2013 by Bricsys

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Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013Bricsys Newsletter MCAD CORNER

PART 3

Variational direct modeling is a game-changing design paradigm for 3D2D contours are defined as closed polylines composed of linear and curvilinear segments. Similarly, 3D solids are modeled as waterproof boundary composed of planar, cylindrical, spherical, conic, toric, and general NURBS faces. BricsCAD users can directly manipulate these boundary faces: moving and rotating them, pushing and pulling. This simple and powerful way of 3D modeling is quite similar to 2D sketching. What makes it intelligent is the same concept of geometric and dimensional constraints applied in 3D space. To differentiate from pure direct modelers, we call our technology Variational (e.g. constraint-based) Direct Modeling.

Typical constraints in 3D are a tangency between adjacent planar and cylindrical faces, a radius of a round hole, a distance between two planar faces of a sheet metal part. As in 2D, constraints play active role for further design changes. An important part of variational direct modeling technology is a possibility to avoid manual specification of a great number of constraints that would guarantee keeping the design intent of the model and its topological and geometrical validity.

For example, consider a model with a number of holes of the same radius. When the radius of a cylindrical face is modified with a push/pull operation or by changing the value of a radial constraint other faces that share the same diameter are recognized by BricsCAD and modified automatically to keep the radii synchronized. Apart from the recognition of equal radii, BricsCAD automatically recognizes other geometrical relations between surfaces of a solid and preserves them during direct modeling operations.

Bricsys Strategy for Mechanical Design By Dmitry Ushakov

Constraints make a CAD model parametric – it can be easily changed to get different design variants. Parametric modeling is a fundamental CAD concept that significantly cuts down the costs of introducing changes to the project, creating new modifications, etc. However, since initially parametric models were based on design history, a rather stable link appeared between those completely different concepts. True, design history (the record of operations used to construct a geometric body shape from scratch) can easily be transformed into a parametric model, if a set of parameters is associated with each operation. Examples of such parameters are types and coordinates of two-dimensional entities of a 2D profile and the height of its extrusion

Design variants with 3D constraints

Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013Bricsys Newsletter MCAD CORNER

in 3D space, or the diameter and depth of a hole. Changing their values and regenerating the design history, a different variant of the same geometry can be created. Parametric history-based features first appeared in Pro/Engineer, and later this method was repeated in practically all MCAD systems.

Transparency With all simplicity and universality, this history-based parameterization method has some serious drawbacks. The most important are its complexity and lack of transparency for the users. To change a geometric shape, one must locate a proper feature in the tree and figure out, which specific parameter should be changed. The fundamental principle of a user’s interface - WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) - does not work here because the user edits a text or a numerical value of a feature parameter, and as a result changes

the geometric body shape. It is well known that in large geometry models design history can be rather long and its regeneration can take much time, which puts MCAD users in a pending position and force them to waste their time and nerves in vain. ParameterizationAnother notorious drawback of history-based parameterization is that a decision, which model parameters can be changed, must be taken when the designer creates the model. If later for some reason he needs to change a particular parameter that in absent in the tree, the solution will not be easy: either to redo the model from scratch or use complex optimization algorithms in an attempt to approach the desired value of the parameter in question by varying the values of the defining parameters (which are presented in the tree).

This shortcoming reflects the overall problem of a procedural approach to parameterization, a kind of which is the method of history regeneration. Under a procedural approach designers in advance divide all model parameters into the input and output ones. It is only possible to change parameters of the first group, while the values of output parameters are calculated in accordance with pre-determined procedures, formulas, history, etc. Dumb geometryAnother key problem of history-based parameterization is inability to use this technology when working with multi-CAD and legacy data. Design history is typically lost in translation from one CAD format into another. Only boundary model is translated, which in this case is called “dumb” geometry. Some expensive translators can convert features from one system into another, but it’s not a panacea as each system has its own

Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013Bricsys Newsletter MCAD CORNER

mix of features and exact translation is impossible in principle. The same can be said about automated feature recognition in “dumb” geometry: it can work only in the simplest cases and does not resolve the general problem.This is a very important issue for most engineering companies in the world.

A recent survey conducted by Aberdeen Group covered 269 engineering companies and showed that 82% of respondents use three or more CAD formats in their design process, and 42% use five or more. Direct modeling can get “dumb” geometry “talking”, but the top challenge of working with multi-CAD data (marked by 32% of respondents) is the loss of intelligence embedded into the native CAD file.

Easy to learn and use

WYSIWYG mode

System response time when changes occur

Possibility to specify design intent

Automatic recognition of design intent

Direct editing

Parametric editing

Editing imported geometry

History-based modeling

Slow

Limited to simplest cases

Limited

Limited by history tree

Impossible

Fast

Full

Elementary (step by step)

Possible

Fast

Full

Full, keeping design intent

Full

Possible

Pure direct modeling Variational direct modeling

Variational direct modeling perfectly addresses the multi-CAD and legacy data issue, it also eliminates many drawbacks of history-based and pure direct modeling systems, while combining their best advantages. Variational direct modeling is a modern, game-changing alternative to parametric design and it is available to BricsCAD users.

Comparison of different approaches to 3D design

Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013Bricsys Newsletter BRICSCAD

Bricsys 2013 International ConferenceOctober 15-17 Bricsys organizes its annual user conference at the Darmstadtium venue near Frankfurt. The Bricsys 2013 International Conference will coincide with the release of BricsCAD V14 and also bring together many of our Application Development and Sales partners.

If interested in the opportunity to meet with the Bricsys management team, with Third Party Application Developers and with BricsCAD corporate users from all over the world, please contact us at marketing@bricsys.com.

Tuesday November 19th, Shinagawa Conference Center

Bricsys 2013 Japan Conference

Your annual opportunity to meet with the Alfatech and Bricsys management teams and with fellow BricsCAD users from all across Japan.

Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013

BricsCAD Events in MalaysiaArthur Gan, director, and his team, our Bricsys partner for Malaysia, participated in several events:

Archidex ’13, the International Architecture, Interior Design and Building ExhibitionKuala Lumpur Convention Centerwww.archidex.com.myJune 19-22Dualisma, 25th Architectural Students WorkshopUniversiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpurwww.dualisma.com.myAugust 21-15

BricsCAD Magic Days in MadridIn June Erik de Keyser, Mark Van Den Bergh and Carlos Brandao, Bricsys CEO, COO and Business Development Manager, joined Fernando Castilla and the Bricsys Spain team for the BricsCAD Magic Days held at the mythical Houdini Hall in Madrid. The

agenda for the event included presentations by BricsCAD user Alexia Basso, lightning design manager with Erco Illuminacion, and by Pablo Fernández Ortiz, commercial director with Ideas & Programas, a BricsCAD solution partner. The event also included a working session targeted at software development companies as well as performances by several magicians and mentalists.

BricsCAD Activity in Central & Eastern EuropeFlorin Balcu, head of Australian Design Company and Bricsys partner for Romania, participated to the 6th edition of the International Scientific Conference on Road Research and Administration “C.A.R.”, on July 4th & 5th, at the Howard-Johnson Grand Plaza Hotel in Bucharest, Romania. In the exhibitor area, Australian Design Company, which was also a sponsor of the event, demonstrated the latest version of the BricsCAD platform and of the ARD (Advanced Road Design) application.

Rihard Kovačič, Bricsys partner in Slovenia, participated to the Innovations in Podravje 2013 event organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on June 20th, at the Habakuk hotel in Maribor, Slovenia.

Bricsys Newsletter BRICSCAD

Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013Bricsys Newsletter SOLUTIONS

Ideas & Programas: Value-Added Solutions for BricsCADAre you ready to empower your cad experience? Discover how with our BricsCAD integrated applications. What does Ideas y Programas offer? Our company, with over 25 years of experience in designing and developing CAD software, guarantees good and innovative solutions, specialized attention and the best technical service. Please, visit our website and get to know us better!

ARKITool & ARKITool Plus

These products represent the best example of our philosophy.Discover more than 500 free commands and our exclusive utilities package (for topography, translations, protection, architecture...).

ARKIPlan

This is our famous architectural software. It allows the user to design architectural and installation elements, get dimensions and measure automatically, make project layouts, get 3D models, etc. Every tool we develop is focused in giving our clients intelligent, fast and easy solutions.

ARKIMediciones

Gives you the quickest and easiest way to measure and get a budget from your project drawn in BricsCAD. Thus, you do not need to use any other software because you will perform these tasks in the same BricsCAD environment.

ARKIModelo

Solutions for 3D architectural models. It is the only 3D software that only needs a 2D plan to generate a model. Then, you can easily modify the model and obtain different views, projections, sections, elevations, etc.

Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013Bricsys Newsletter SOLUTIONS

CAD-Earth for BricsCAD

Import & export objects between Google Earth and BricsCAD

CAD-Earth is designed to easily import/export images, objects and terrain meshes between Google Earth and BricsCAD Pro/Platinum, and create dynamic contour lines and profiles. You can pick CAD-Earth commands from a toolbar, from the screen menu or at the command prompt. Automatic load of commands in each BricsCAD session and extensive help in each step.

Import Google Earth image to CAD

Export CAD screenshot to Google Earth

Import Google Earth objects to CAD

Export CAD objects to Google Earth

Import Google Earth terrain

Cross section from mesh

Profile from mesh

More than 3000 supported coordinate systems worldwide

Free 30-day trial available

Available in English and Spanish

Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013Bricsys Newsletter NEWS

NewsThe release of the BricsCAD BIM Module in mid June was well received by the CAD press and analyst communities:

“Bricsys has been hinting at getting back into the architectural design market,

and today they released the first beta of the BricsCAD BIM Module … Expect

the BIM module to be developed slowly, and not rushed out as today’s mobile

apps are. Bricsys’ thinking is long-term. Their idea is to build an entire CAD

ecosystem based on solely the DWG file format: 2D, 3D, MCAD, and BIM.”

Ralph Grabowski - upFront.eZine Publishing

“Bricsys today announced BIM software for BricsCAD V13.2+, available as a free add-on module to

Pro and Platinum users. Released as a public beta, this move is in line with the Bricsys ‘Unified CAD’

philosophy of offering everything from 2d/3d drafting & design, Direct modeling, Constraints based-

design, Mechanical parts libraries and BIM, all under the .dwg CAD platform. A ‘BIM-enabled’ tag for

BricsCAD may be new, but this development comes with a long history and rich lineage behind it.

Long before BIM became a buzzword in CAD circles, Bricsys had a powerful but under-marketed

software called Architecturals, which offered everything that architectural design practice demanded.”

Rakesh Rao - CAD/GIS Developer

New Third Party Solutions on the Bricsys eStore Catalog

Completions Manager RVCreate high quality oil well diagrams quickly and easily.

Publisher: PetroFocus (Aberdeen, UK)www.petrofocus.co.uk

PlateiaPlateia is a professional software solution for designing and reconstructing roads of all categories, from motorways to city roads and paths.

Publisher: CGS plus (Ljubljana, Slovenia)www.cgsplus.com

AutopathProfessional swept path analysis for analizing maneuverability and clearance of vehicles on projects such as intersections, roundabouts, parking lots, etc.

Publisher: CGS plus (Ljubljana, Slovenia)www.cgsplus.com

Novedge Webinar #75: An Introduction to LightWorks Artisan for BricsCADOne-hour webinar including a Q&A session delivered by Clive Davies from Lightworks.

Bricsys Newsletter Q3 - 2013Bricsys Newsletter HIGHLIGHT

BricsCAD at INTERGEO

Bricsys Germany will be present on the INTERGEO exhibition floor in the city of Essen from October 8th to 10th, along with five BricsCAD Solution Partners representing applications ranging from classical measurement to civil engineering and GIS for supply and disposal companies:

INTERGEO is the world’s leading conference and trade fair for geodesy, geoinformation and land management. With over half a million event website users and more than 16,000 visitors from 80 countries, it is one of the key platforms for industry dialogue. INTERGEO covers a wide variety of fields, ranging from surveying, geo-information, remote sensing and photogrammetry to complementary solutions and technologies.

IBB Battefeld below SOFTWARE norBIT

GEOGRAT RZI Software Visit the BricsCAD Partner stand in Hall 3, booth F3.083!