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‘direct modeling’

SpaceClaim 2011+ New Features… Oh, and a Splash of
World Domination.

26 Aug, 2011 by Josh Mings in CAD, NEWS
3D Human CAD Models

Earlier this week, in an amazing cavalcade of suspense, mystery and PR firm mailings, SpaceClaim slapped a little plus sign on their current release. SpaceClaim 2011+. Some say it has the features to reduce a hurricane from a category 3 to a category 2. (We’ll see this weekend if that is actually is true.) A few things it does actually have is fancy new sheetmetal and volume features. But more than that, SpaceClaim is gettin’ comfy with the phrase ‘world domination’ and they have PowerPoint slides to prove it. Hit it!

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Addressing the Direct Modeling Confusion. Siemens first at bat.

15 Mar, 2011 by Josh Mings in DESIGN


When you think of modeling, you may think of features used when creating 3D geometry… or you may think of your days as a elbow model for L.L. Bean. You sexy beast. Either way, there’s a process and a need for both. In the case of 3D modeling, the process is dependent on what you need and often, how fast you need it.

Siemens has a unique approach to direct modeling as it relates to the history of features in both Solid Edge and NX. How do these programs stand out? And even more important, how do they approach the intracacies of modeling with and without a history of features? Kris Kasprzak, Director of Marketing at Siemens UGS PLM Software, had some things to say when faced with such a daunting question.

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Cue the Banjos. SpaceClaim 2011 is Released.

20 Jan, 2011 by Josh Mings in NEWS

What do banjos have to do with the 7th release of SpaceClaim’s namesake product? Only everything. You can model a banjo in SpaceClaim, 4 of 5 bluegrass groups recommend SpaceClaim (unofficially), and Blake Courter, cofounder of SpaceClaim, who gave us a demo of 2011 and it’s multi-touch capabilities, plays the banjo (proof at the end of the post.)

Enough said? I think so. This version of SpaceClaim, above all, shows how the program has matured and where they’re concentrating the updates. Here’s a quick look at what you’ll see and most likely value in, what some would call, the reigning king of direct modeling development.

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Tyco Chooses SpaceClaim or… The Straw That Broke the PTC Back *Updated*

17 Jan, 2011 by Josh Mings in NEWS

How does Tyco Electronics spell direct modeling power? SpaceClaim, that’s how. Over a year ago, Tyco decided their Pro/E users needed some direct modeling capability. Some simple designs were just taking too long in Pro/E. Could direct modeling be the answer?

Well, after an in-depth productivity analysis, an equally in-depth feature comparison and ROI study of SpaceClaim against competing products, they decided on SpaceClaim over Pro/E’s sister product Co-create, Keycreator and the like. While the seat count isn’t being revealed at this time, the deployment has gone out to more that 3500 people on a floating license set-up. How did it prompt PTC to shake things up with Creo? Here’s my take.

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Jeff Ray on V6, the Cloud and Killing SolidWorks

09 Nov, 2010 by Josh Mings in NEWS

If you’ve been wondering what’s going on with SolidWorks, this is your day. Deelip Menezes was fortunate to have the ear of Jeff Ray, CEO of SolidWorks, for a good amount of time and got his thoughts on a wide array of topics, from cloud computing to the future of SolidWorks.

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First Thoughts on Exploring Solid Edge ST3

09 Nov, 2010 by Josh Mings in NEWS

Here’s where it happens. Where the surly bonds of history-based design slip off into a miry pool of sketch-driven constraints. Ker-plunk. Yes, watch them sink… down, down, down.

It pains one who has built models feature-upon-feature to see the control, the order, give its last fleeting breath. As it happens though, Siemens hasn’t quite let the process of history-based modeling slip down into the dark undertow. Instead, they’re pulling it right to safety, giving it a proper chest whack and spitting a good amount of lung juice on the face of iterative design. They’ve passed this… ability on to the users of Solid Edge ST3. You have a choice, features with history, features with no history. All in the same interface. Here’s a breakdown of what’s important and first thoughts on the program as we explore Solid Edge ST3.

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SpaceClaim 2010. Direct Modeling Smells of More Features, Simulation and Sheet Metal

04 Aug, 2010 by Josh Mings in NEWS, REVIEWS

Go ahead, open the fridge. What do you see beside the fruit salad? A fresh bottle of SpaceClaim 2010. It’s fizzy and brimming with all sort of new features that make 3D product developers say things like, “refreshing!” and “titillating!” but mostly, “I’m so excited, I’ve torn my eyebrows off my face!”

Yesterday, SpaceClaim launched the 2010 version of the history-free 3D modeler and we’re gonna give you a look at the new caffeine-rich, direct modeling features and functionality. They’re serious about a few things this time around – sheet metal, assembly conditions and volume simulation, among bits of other features. It can be wrapped up in one, single beam of highly focused energy… they are all features users are asking for.

It’s giving the major 3D modeling programs a run for the money. In fact, with this release, I’d go as far as to say that SpaceClaim is now one of the major 3D modeling programs and they’re still pushing the envelope of direct modeling technology. How? Let’s have a look.

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1,000,000 Holes Can’t Be Done… Except with SpaceClaim 2010

23 Jul, 2010 by Josh Mings in NEWS, TECH

I DARE you. Try to make a million holes in a sheet metal part with whatever 3D design tool you’re using. Go ahead… I’ll wait… anything happen right before your arteries surface to your skin and workstation starts smoking? Most likely, it can’t be done. I’ve never seen it done… till now.

I received a gift via twitter from Blake Courter, co-founder of SpaceClaim. It was an image of a sheet metal part with 1,000,000 holes. Even though it looked real and the image crashed Photoshop when I tried to save it, I wasn’t convinced. I asked him to prove it… and he did.

This video shows the yet unreleased SpaceClaim 2010, and an actual sheet metal part with 10,000 holes. An order of magnitude less, but still impressive. I’m a little more convinced, but can’t wait to spin up SpaceClaim to see the pure hole-punchin’ power it’s capable of.

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AutoDesk Inventor Fusion Adds Thick, Beefy Change Management to Manage… Your… Change.

26 Oct, 2009 by Josh Mings in NEWS

Can you just smell the sizzle of fusion happening? I can. The MCAD atmosphere is beginning to get a little bit warmer and a tad amount crispier than last week. Why, you ask? Autodesk slipped their fresh slab of direct modeling tech back into the ovens to broil and today they have released it upon the masses.

Yes, Autodesk Fusion has been updated to actually add the ‘Fusion’ bits. While the first go around left a lot of questions, this version shows you a little more about the direction Fusion is headed and why Inventor plays a really big part of it all.

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Ninja Robot Automata: SpaceClaim Crumbles the 3D CAD/Social Media Wall

02 Apr, 2009 by Josh Mings in ROCKIN'

Allright gang. (Yes, I just called you gang) I didn’t get a chance to post this incredible look into the future of 3D CAD and Social Media madness yesterday, so here a treat for ya today. It’s all come together and Blake Courter from SpaceClaim has done it single-handed with a single add-in to the SpaceClaim software. See the future in the video below.

riiigght”, “niiiiice” – HILARIOUS. – Thanks Blake.

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