CADDIT Launches Powerful Low-Cost 3D CAD Software ZW3D with Time Limited Discount Offer

Sydney, Australia 03 April 2017 - CADDIT announces an exciting new 3D CAD product line agreement with ZWSOFT to sell and support all ZW3D products Australia-wide. ZW3D offers mechanical designers, engineers, machinists and manufacturers a powerful suite of integrated CAD and CAM software for parametric 3D part and assembly design, hybrid freeform and direct editing, sheet metal nesting and weldment construction, 3D publishing and printing, prismatic and multi-axis machining, lathe turning and more. ZW3D also delivers powerful 3D CAD translation tools for importing SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Siemens NX, JT, PTC Creo, Autodesk Inventor, STEP, ACIS .sat and .sab, IGES and many more formats from even very recent versions of the software. ZW3D supplies thousands of businesses globally, including Yamaha Motor Co, Bridgestone, Johnson Controls, Baosteel and many others.

ZW3D uses specially written state-of-the-art modeling technology, originally developed by VX Corporation of Melbourne FL USA, with software R&D still located in Florida to this day. The user interface includes a modern ribbon-based UI with visual help cues and prompts. Traditional bottom-up assembly design is offered in every version of the software without limitation. Standard and higher versions also offer advanced assembly options, top-down down and animation. There are also two CAM-specialist versions for CNC machinists at reduced cost in CAD features. CADDIT also announces a special price release of ZW3D 2017 for the Australian small business user called "Workshop". ZW3D Workshop by CADDIT edition will include all features of ZW3D Premium minus the costly electrode and mould tooling libraries, to be made available at a much lower cost.

To help introduce this high-value 3D CAD and CAM software option to small business users in Australia, CADDIT has arranged for significantly reduced pricing on both software, support and one-year upgrade options. Level one support for ZW3D will be local. A series of free comprehensive one-day training events are planned around Australia, based on number of requests. The first event is planned in Parramatta NSW near our offices. Frequent news and updates will be posted over the next few weeks on  our websites. For immediate contact or general ZW3D inquiries, CADDIT.net will be the nation-wide software partner which can be contacted HERE.

3D Document Publishing from TransMagic

One of the sometimes overlooked (this author included) features of TransMagic 3D CAD translation software is its free 3D model viewer. TransMagic read and write a number of file formats using native libraries - CATIA, SolidWorks, JT, Siemens NX / Unigraphics, Autodesk Inventor, Pro/ENGINEER - as well as neutral formats like STEP, IGES & STL - the advantage being native, reliable 3D CAD translation between high-end CAD systems of very good quality. However what should be done to share a CAD file with a client or colleague who has no 3D CAD system at all?

Enter TransMagic's 3D web page publishing feature. This video briefly demonstrates using TransMagic to publish a STEP file to HTML and open with Windows Internet Explorer.

Saving a CAD model or assembly as an HTML page from TransMagic will create (at least) two linked files using the file name given - one HTML file which can be loaded from Windows Internet Explorer & an associated HOOPS ".hsf" file containing the actual 3D parts which use the HTML as a "container". Simply, zip or unzip both files together, upload send in email or save to the same hard disk (or server) location and open the HTML from Internet Explorer with the .HSF file present in the same directory. You can view this video's actual HTML page for yourself HERE.

Of course, HTML code can be edited to change colors, add a company logo or product information and web links as desired - so it is far more effective in making product presentations than a binary viewer - and transmits far more successfully in email. It also adds the possibility (perhaps also using TransMagic's batch-convert option) to publish 3D part catalogs on a website that visitors can navigate and "inspect" in real time 3D.

For Australia and New Zealand, TransMagic can be downloaded locally from CADDIT. From other lands, please refer to http://www.transmagic.com/.

TransMagic R8 sp3 Released in Australia through CADDIT

Vendor-neutral design collaboration over the network, CAD model repair and healing, cross-platform solid model translation, model analysis and measurement, batch translation, perspective rendering - these are just a few features enhanced by the latest release of TransMagic in Australia / New Zealand by CADDIT. TransMagic converts CATIA, SolidWorks, Unigraphics, JT, Pro/ENGINEER, Inventor and many other 3D formats.

TransMagic R8 sp3 enhancements include:

• TransMagic is now fully supported on both Intel 64-bit and Windows 7 systems.
• Drastically improved rendering performance for re-rendering geometry changes. The rendering engine now intelligently determines only what has changed and re-renders only that vs. re-rendering the entire scene after small changes.
• New "Show Un-Repaired Geometry" dialog that gets launched when appropriately during the Auto-Repair Wizard
• TransMagic now offers two different methods for stock size calculation "bounding box" - precise and fast.
• CATIA V5 Environment now created on a per user account basis - allows any account type to establish the TM V5 Environment automatically without any user rights issue.
• Siemens Unigraphics JT Facet Resolution can now be one of five settings for "normal deviation" and correspond to the following settings: Lowest accuracy (fastest) = 45 degrees, Low = 30 degrees, Normal = 15 degrees, High = 10 degrees, Highest accuracy (slowest) = 5 degrees
• Added JT assembly output types: Single File Assembly Entire assembly in one file. Typical Assembly Assembly JT files + part JT files. Typical Assembly w/Directory Typical assembly JT file + directory. All Assembly Files Each assembly is a JT file including parts.
• Upgraded to JT Open 5.3.
• More enhancements to stability, speed, command-line interface and batch mode CAD file translations.

TransMagic native 64-Bit permanently changes the landscape for large CAD file translation by solving this common manufacturing problem. TransMagic reports that the new platform offers 10-20% better performance and a tremendous increase in CAD software file size capability. Translating multi-gigabyte files on a single computer is now a reality, with TransMagic 64-Bit.

TransMagic users with active maintenance can upgrade to SP3 free of charge. TransMagic 8 sp3 can be downloaded directly from CADDIT in Australia HERE. CADDIT can be contacted about options for TransMagic 64-bit, batch mode and command-line translation enterprise solutions HERE.

Review Alibre Translate 3D for CATIA Pro/E SolidWorks..

March 2009 saw a lot happen with our Alibre 3D CAD software line. It was interesting to watch a little stampede develop during the last couple days of March because of a sale we had going! But that same month we were given Alibre Design 11.2 with several enhancements. Significantly, these included the release of AlibreTranslate, a new product Alibre launched tucked into Alibre Premium version for free in March. There are some cool features offered by the new AlibreTranslate.

AlibreTranslate imports the following 3D CAD formats directly:

• Dassault SolidWorks .sldprd 3D model files and .sldprt assembly files
• Dassault CATIA V5 .CATPart model files and .CATProduct assemblies
• EDS/UGS/Siemens Solid Edge 3D .par parts and .asm assemblies
• Autodesk Inventor .ipt parts and .iam 3D assemblies
• PTC Pro Engineer & Wildfire .prt models and .asm assemblies, also .xpr & .xas
• Parasolid: v18 (*.x_t, *.x_b, *.xmt_txt, *.xmt_bin)

AlibreTranslate also offers a range of automated model check, stitching and healing functions with the software. This assures closed manifold 3D objects which can be edited directly in Alibre as solid models. Units conversion between English Imperial and Metric are also included. Alibre 3D CAD already supports Rhino 3DM, AP 214 STEP, ISO IGES, Spatial (Dassault) ACIS SAT for translation to progeCAD, AutoCAD, TurboCAD as well as native AutoCAD DWG file support. Enabled with the optional AlibreTranslate license, a CAD designer can import almost any mainstream CAD model and edit it.

AlibreTranslate also exports to write directly to:

• SolidWorks 3D model file .sldprt format
• Parasolid: v18 (*.x_t, *.x_b, *.xmt_txt, *.xmt_bin)

AlibreTranslate uses a fast intermediate STEP conversion to import the final solid volumes from the various 3D CAD formats, and the included adjustable healing algorithms help assure design integrity - as shown in this perfectly imported and beautifully rendered Pro Engineer model assembly below:

Readers may download Alibre Design software (which includes AlibreTranslate) directly from CADDIT and run for 30 days in full version mode before choosing either to buy or continuing on with a free Xpress license. Support for Alibre in Australia is offered on our new Alibre forum page.

Can TransMagic Really Help Solve 3D CAD Translation Problems?

Recent economics have spawned an increasing need for business to adapt in new markets. And new markets often require companies to read new 3D CAD file formats - but "total cost of ownership" for maintaining additional CAD environments can be costly and time consuming. TransMagic is central, easy-to-use 3D collaboration software for reliably sharing CAD files across multiple CAD programs. TransMagic saves companies time, effort and money by offering a better option than budgeting and maintaining several independent CAD environments.

TransMagic software translates CAD information directly from one modeling technology to another, supporting direct ACIS, ParaSolid *.x_t, CATIA V4 & V5, Unigraphics JT and more, preventing data loss. TransMagic's functionality extends far beyond any basic 3D model translator, with robust tools like "Gap Check" and "MagicSurface". TransMagic repairs model gaps, heals unstitched surfaces and automates much of the rework that often comes with basic STEP and IGES file exchange.

Superlift, one of the largest suspension companies in the off-road market, is one manufacturer using TransMagic to save time. "TransMagic has made it possible to open any neutral or native CAD file we receive, quickly isolate, repair and retrieve what we need," said Kevin Dill, Product Development Lead Engineer for Superlift. "Repairing damaged files and grouping what we need prior to importing has saved us lots of time. Our time is now better spent working with clean, manageable files that we can rely on as we design new products."

ZEMAX Development Corporation, developers of ZEMAX optical system design software, had a similar problem. "Our customers struggle with the handover between mechanical and optical engineering – they are optical engineers and not experts in CAD. Mechanical CAD packages are three orders of magnitude coarser resolution than what is needed for optical design and errors in mechanical designs may not be apparent in the CAD package," says Mark Nicholson, Vice-President, ZEMAX Development Corporation. "TransMagic is able to simply explain what is wrong with a badly-formed CAD file and then easily repair the file with a high resolution before importing into ZEMAX. CAD files repaired by TransMagic are imported into ZEMAX with no problems."

An independent review of TransMagic was recently written by Frank Sherosky of the Detroit Automotive Technology Examiner. In part he writes, "TransMagic appears good for suppliers, because it reads proprietary CAD files in their native formats. (While the operative word is "read," I'm also concerned with "write.") That alone makes for higher data-read integrity, not to mention same-day implementation. Furthermore, the company touts the system is scalable, meaning suppliers can buy value-priced suites and add more capabilities at a later time." The full review can be read HERE.

For more information about if TransMagic can help your business, you can contact us on this page.

Video Overview of T-FLEX CAD Parametric Feature Tree

T-FLEX CAD CAM is a low cost PLM suite of mechanical design software which allows users to quickly create finished products and large moving assemblies with complex shapes and surfaces. A standard feature of parametric 3D CAD software is the feature tree which allows you to "browse" and change selected features from any point in the design history of a 3D model. The following short video offers an overview of the T-FLEX CAD 3D Parametric Feature Tree panel:

T-FLEX CAD is high-end PLM software like Pro Engineer, Unigraphics and CATIA but priced at a fraction of the cost. Although inexpensive upgrade options are available, every T-FLEX license is permanent and does not require anula subscription fees to continue working. CAD Designers are encouraged to download and try T-FLEX CAD CAM for themselves free for thirty days from CADDIT.net.

CAD File Formats

Since there is a lot of confusion about CAD files, I thought some of this would be helpful.

Almost every CAD program has their own binary CAD format. And most CAD formats have many versions! For example, AutoCAD 12 cannot read AutoCAD 14 DWG any more than Word 97 can read Office XP docs.See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CAD_file_formats

There are some "more or less generic formats" used for exchange. Here are some:
DXF (many versions over the years)
IGES (Current version 5.3 ?)
STEP (*.stp - be careful of this one - several versions called "application protocols)
STL (for polygon models)
XYZ (just coordinate data for "point cloud")
DWG (Autodesk proprietary made public by ODA see http://www.opendwg.com/)
ACIS *.sat 3D Solid ModelsParasolid x_t 3D Solid Models
HPGL - Hewlett Packard Plotting data files
SVG - A new XML vector data format, could be used in CAD

That's just the tip of the iceberg.Almost every CAD has their own format:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_CAD_companies

It is possible to convert between CAD formats. Several things are required. Both formats must support the entities (CAD object types) that are being converted. A software program is also need that can provide the actual translation. CADDIT is a regional distributor for TransMagic CAD Translation Software, as well as providing CAD conversion services themselves.

CADDIT Australia to sell TransMagic 3D CAD Translators

Sydney Australia, February 05 2008 – CADDIT announced a new partnership to distribute 3D translation technology for TransMagic, Inc. CADDIT is now the national distributor for all TransMagic “plug-in”, desktop and workgroup solutions for CAD viewing, markup and translation. The agreement between TransMagic, Inc and CADDIT Pty Ltd benefits Australian companies that receive CAD files from different systems, but lack either the licenses or expertise “in house” to reliably read them all.

See http://www.caddit.net/press/pressRelease-TransMagic-CADDIT.pdf for the full announcement.