Most MCAD vendors have their list of gold star partners who develop add-ons or extensions that integrate seamlessly within the software. (IronCAD created demonstration videos to go along with each catalog, and you can view the video for the above example here. (Note that this would require customization to connect to customer’s systems.) For instance, when the Sales Engineer configures a new layout for a customer, he is determining price and lead time for delivery automatically. Components within the Catalog Browser can be linked to database with information like pricing, vendors, standard lead times, and other information important to the design department and the rest of the enterprise. This means that geometry is automatically located and oriented, based on the rules defined earlier when creating attachment points.Ĥ: Rail with stand attached: dynamically edit the rail length or type in a valueīut geometry is not the only aspect of Compose’s configuration powers. When I bring geometry with attachment points from Catalog Browser into the scene, its points snap to existing geometry that also has attachment points. These points are the key to the Compose software. All this can be within the same file, which IronCAD refers to as a “scene.” Let the Configuration BeginĪssuming I planned my project with configurations in mind, I can assign “attachment points” to geometry (see figure 3). Drag in parts to build assemblies drag in assemblies to create subassemblies. Attach it to existing geometry as a feature of the same part or drag it in as its own part. This is because IronCAD is natively a multi-body CAD program, unlike typical solids modelers. Instead of dragging in just parts, I can drag entire assemblies and subassemblies into the design. The real power of Catalog Browser is not limited to me using it to build in 3D but comes in the ability to let me create a catalog from anything, including existing model libraries. These basic building blocks are both additive and subtractive, and are stored in the Catalog Browser: blocks, slabs, slots, cylinders, ellipses, spheres, pies, tori, cones, and more (see figure 1).įigure 2: Dynamically editing a dragged-in block using control handles (the red push pins) and adding dimensions for parametric editing IronCAD has, of course, the customary 2D profile-and-extrude method comparable to other modelers, but why not design in 3D directly? By this, I mean that I select basic 3D shapes and then merge them together, brick by brick. Because a previous article introduced us to a beginner’s view of IronCAD 2013, I’m going to explain additional methodologies of IronCAD. To understand the Compose component, we first have some background on how IronCAD works. Getting Started: Understanding IronCADĪlthough IronCAD Compose is a stand-alone application, the cool stuff happens when we start working with the designed-in intelligence of IronCAD models. Considering the future partnerships with 3D content providers and the desire for interoperability, I consider Compose-Trans to be a necessary expense to expand the capabilities of Compose. This is probably the lowest-cost translator on the market. The list includes neutral formats like ACIS, Parasolid, and STEP, as well as native files like CATIA, Pro/E, UG/NX, SolidWorks, and Inventor.
Many users, however, have removed these catalogs, and then added their own, creating an OEM version of Compose to send to customers or use as a sales tool.įor US$195, we can add the translator (IronCAD Compose-Trans) that imports additional file formats. These are the parts with which we compose models. To get us started, Compose comes with 20 built-in catalogs. dxf files along with IronCAD’s own formats. stl, VMRL, and SketchUp, in addition to native IronCAD scenes. IronCAD Compose is a tessellated (faceted) viewer and so can import similar 3D file types, such as.
#Ironcad file format download#
It is a free download from IronCAD’s website.
#Ironcad file format software#
IronCAD Compose is not a full-fledged MCAD package, but software for composing models from pre-drawn parts. Here I’m going to tell you about one part of the suite, IronCAD Compose. I’m paying attention now and I think you should, too. It’s no longer a half-conscious blur but a full-featured MCAD suite consisting of software elements for 3D design, 2D design and detailing, collaboration, configuration, and data translation. Flash forward to 2013, and now I wish I’d paid attention to the IronCAD neXt Generation Design Collaboration Suite. In June 1998 I would notice a blur periodically crossing my vision. Free 3D Configurations and Collaboration with IronCAD Compose Jul 9, 2013