Technology should enhance productivity, not hinder it. What makes SpaceClaim special is that it takes the complication out of CAD modeling.

SpaceClaim is a great alternative solution for CAD modeling. It can get the job done—faster, simpler, and at a more affordable price when compared to feature-based CAD software which can be expensive, rigid, and require a CAD specialist to run the program. SpaceClaim is a direct modeler that gives any engineer, designer, and machinist the power and flexibility to edit, repair, and create any geometry with ease—without worrying about where the file comes from and without any specialized training.

The new SpaceClaim 2017 released earlier this year is full of new features and enhancements to make CAD modeling even more intuitive for creating and editing 3D models quickly.

From large changes to behind the scenes enhancements, the new version will speed up your workflow and create better models for design, reverse engineering, manufacturing, additive manufacturing (or 3D printing), and simulation.

Let’s take a look at some of these new features.

3D Modeling Improvements

Minimal Distortion for Unfolding of Surfaces

The Unfold feature is especially useful for sheet metal designs. When you design a model, like a stamp sheet metal part, it would be challenging to unfold because it’s distorted as it’s manufactured with all the different curvatures.

With this new feature, SpaceClaim can now flatten multiple connected faces of complex sheet metals or modeling surface skins to a 2D profile surface with a single click. The software will first minimize any changes to the overall area of the set of faces. Secondly, it will minimize the changes to the length of edges, essentially the perimeter of the model and its geometry features (ie. holes).

SpaceClaim 2017 also added new bend annotations. When used with the Unfold feature, it gives a better graphical display of information to your manufacturer for bending the sheet metals to make sure your product is bent to the right bend angle and direction.

Volumetric Sweep

This new functionality can take a solid body and sweep it along an arbitrary path. The result is a faceted body that is useful for creating and visualizing motion paths or envelopes, or for creating cuts from the path of a moving tool bit in machining operations.

Stopped Chamfers

This new feature provides the ability to have chamfers stop at a given distance along an edge. When you add chamfers to a model, you now have control options on either ends of the edge.

Additive Manufacturing Improvements

Produce Faceted Models with Lattice Structures

Lattice structures are difficult to manufacture using traditional manufacturing processes such as casting. However, with the rise of additive manufacturing, more and more mechanical designers are taking advantage of building parts with lattice structures as they produce lighter and stronger parts. They are compelling to use for manufacturing better parts built for rigidity with lower material costs.

With SpaceClaim 2017, you can shell out any part to a specified thickness to remove the material on the inside and to replace it with an infill of lattice structure. Different lattice patterns are available to choose from depending on applications, the different types of forces and stresses needed for the part. The result is a faceted model ready for additive manufacturing.

Improved Selection Tools

New slider bar tool provides the ability to do more precise selection on faceted models. Sliding the bar allows you to select more facets based on angles. This is extremely helpful because it selects exactly what you want instead of using the static tolerance value. It makes selection a lot more easier.

New Analysis Tools

SpaceClaim 2017 has new inspection tools to detect issues prior to printing to ensure there are no problems including cavities errors, overhang detection, thickness improvements, and sharp edges. You can use these tools on solid models and on STL files after you converted them.

Other Notable New Features

Dynamically Move Through the Model with Fly Through View

Very often, SpaceClaim users are modeling complex assemblies where they want to visualize the components of their designs from the inside. Previously prior to this version, SpaceClaim gives a camera perspective from the outside of the part or assembly, where you are looking at the model from far away.

With this new feature, you can change the way you render a scene in SpaceClaim and you can look at things from any vantage point from inside the assembly. You can display and manipulate the camera position to control the field of view (how much you can see) and angle you want to see.

This new feature provides users with a new perspective to design and concept modeling. For example, users now have the ability to look at a 3D model of a building from different perspectives for architectural design—not just from the outside, but from the inside as well.

Scripting

Scripting gives users the ability to automate your modeling, for repetitive tasks or for creating custom geometry.

SpaceClaim 2017 has now expanded the available commands for use in macro-like recording feature. You can now perform a wider array of edits on a model, and SpaceClaim will record the necessary script. The data captured is in the Python language, so you don’t need not be proficient in scripting code or programming in order to use it.

Scripts can be replayed on imported versions of a model. You can record the initial changes to a version of a model, then replay those same changes to a later version of the model. SpaceClaim will recognize the ID’s of faces, bodies and other characteristics, and will intelligently apply scripted changes to later versions of any file. This improvement will reduce your remodeling time as you can capture your changes and transfer them to other models automatically instead of doing them manually.

New File Format Compatibility

Key to the use of SpaceClaim for most people is the ability to import and export files of 3D models in all the major CAD formats, including neutral file formats. STEP is probably the most popular neutral file format amongst SpaceClaim users. If you work with STEP a lot, you’ll know that STEP has published a new standard called STEP AP242 and it’s starting to gain adoption. The new version supports STEP files AP242 as well as import graphical PMI for dimensioning and tolerancing for part manufacturing information.

The latest version of SpaceClaim 2017 can now open and import the following file formats:

• Inventor 2017
• NX 11
• Solid Edge ST9
• SOLIDWORKS 2017

For a complete list of files that SpaceClaim is compatible with for importing and exporting, please read SpaceClaim’s File Compatibility Document.

We’ve only highlighted some of the new features and enhancements to this year’s SpaceClaim CAD modeling software. To learn more about SpaceClaim 2017, including the latest SpaceClaim 2017.1 release that just came out in May, you can view the webinars using the link below:

Webinar: What’s New in SpaceClaim 2017 Release →

Webinar: SpaceClaim 2017.1 Release →

The post What’s New in SpaceClaim 2017? appeared first on GoMeasure3D.

Perplexus is a 3D puzzle designed by Michael McGinnis that challenges players to navigate a ball through a labyrinth contained in a clear plastic sphere, using gravity and their own steady hands. Ever since he was a high school student, McGinnis had been making 3D mazes made from wood he built by hand. McGinnis teaches sculpture and design at a local junior college and spends his free time in his shop, designing and building. His dream was to turn his maze creation into a toy for mass-production. 

Challenges with Product Design and Development

The first prototype and iterations of his design for Perplexus Original was built from styrene plastic sheets until it was time to send the final version to manufacturing. The manufacturer would then hire a CAD expert to work with Michael during the modeling process. After several attempts and close calls, Perplexus successfully found worldwide distribution in 2002, nearly 25 years after he built his first 3D maze.

Even after his success, modeling continued to be a tedious and time-consuming process. McGinnis knew there had to be a better way. He was spending hundreds of hours on his designs. There are CAD packages in the market, but knew he couldn’t learn to use them due to the complexity of the software. He wanted more control in the 3D modeling process and didn’t want to depend on others to model his very intricate hand-built designs.

Finding an Easy Way to Streamline the 3D Modeling Process

McGinnis found out about SpaceClaim CAD modeling software from his student. “As soon as I saw SpaceClaim, I knew this was what I was looking for,” he says. 

“I had no CAD experience up until SpaceClaim. It [the software] was just intuitive—I found that I could figure out how to build things. An obvious feature of SpaceClaim I love is the simplicity of the tools.”

Michael McGinnis Perplexus Inventor

The toy inventor taught himself how to use the software, and built the entire concept design from scratch. SpaceClaim became Michael’s go-to 3D modeling software. He replaced his physical design process with 3D modeling and saved many hours in every iteration of a design. Michael took his designs to the next level by using SpaceClaim from concept modeling, prototyping, to preparation for manufacturing.

Becoming a CAD Specialist

Gone are the days of wood and holding the CAD expert’s hand hoping he doesn’t make a mistake. McGinnis now creates his prototypes with 3D printing or waterjet cutting, then sends the completed design to partners in Utah to prepare them for manufacturing. 

Over the years since discovering SpaceClaim, he has refined his software-design skills, creating models that are more complex, and need fewer modifications for printing. His 3D printing service commented that McGinnis’ models never need to be prepped for printing, compared to other customers that require significant amounts of work. From carving wood to flawless 3D models, McGinnis has become an accidental expert in creating concepts in SpaceClaim and empowered him on his creative process.

Video Case Study

See firsthand how McGinnis develops his Perplexus creations using SpaceClaim:

Since its inception, Perplexus is the winner of 16 toy industry awards, including Game of the Year for Perplexus Epic, the first maze project McGinnis ever used SpaceClaim to work on his design.

– – –

Reference:

Perplexus Case Study, SpaceClaim. 
GoMeasure3D is an authorized distributor of SpaceClaim.

The post Perplexus Solves 3D Modeling Puzzle With SpaceClaim appeared first on GoMeasure3D.

While featured-based CAD software is great for complex applications, most of the time a direct modeler like SpaceClaim gets the job done a lot faster and simpler without the fuss. Our technical team depends on SpaceClaim as the go-to tool when we want to design a part, prepare a model for downstream applications, or reverse engineer from a STL file with a faster and a more direct approach to geometry creation and scan data editing capabilities.

ANSYS recently released a new version of SpaceClaim CAD modeling software. SpaceClaim 2016 delivers workflow improvements and new tools to empower you to get designs and ideas to market faster than ever before. It’s definitely worthwhile to give these new features a look.

New Reverse Engineering Tool

Especially noteworthy to mention for SpaceClaim 2016 is the newly developed Skin Surfacing tool added to the reverse engineering workflow. The tool enables users to be more effective in organic modeling, even for highly complex freeform shapes. It’s just one button, but it contains several built in workflows. You can now quickly define surfaces on STL models without the need to first dissect the model into planer sections and then project guide curves. This new function is a real time saver. 

Additional features to the Skin Surfacing tool include:

• Creating accurate surface geometry from any faceted file
• Leveraging simple facet selections to automate surfacing
• Creating a blended solid model from cross sections

The Skin Surfacing tool is easy to learn and command functions are limited to only those necessary for you. Additional steps that used to be needed to convert 2D models or STL files into solid models in previous SpaceClaim versions are now eliminated. Design time is reduced. In combination with its existing tool sets, SpaceClaim has become a leading reverse engineering software that gives engineer, designer, and machinist the power and flexibility to create CAD models with ease from mechanical parts to organic surfaces.

Get a preview the New Skin Surface tool:

Keeping in mind that no software currently available on the market can truly interpret the original design intent from scan data, software like SpaceClaim empowers users with the tools needed to make intuitive decisions and complete reverse engineering projects faster without breaking the bank.

The post Speed Up Your Reverse Engineering Process with SpaceClaim 2016 appeared first on GoMeasure3D.

Recently our team discovered the SCExplode add-in that solves this challenge. It offers an intuitive way for SpaceClaim users to animate assembly instructions to ensure components are properly configured according to a standard. Users can create videos for distribution or they can take images of each configuration. What’s great is that SCExplode works directly inside the SpaceClaim environment.

SCExplode also has the ability to create dotted assembly lines automatically to show the direction of the explosion. The video below demonstrates how the lines serve as guides to indicate where each component fits in exploded view.

We want to stress that we aren’t affiliated with SCExplode and its developer in any way. We wanted to share this add-in with our customers and other SpaceClaim users who can get a lot of value from this tool for a small price.

SCExplode costs $88 per licence but there is a 7 day trial for you to test before buying. You can download the free trial at AR-CAD.

The post Animating Exploded Assemblies and Creating Assembly Lines in SpaceClaim appeared first on GoMeasure3D.