Cadex CAD Exchanger

The main articles are:

• Data management
• CAD Computer-aided design systems

CAD Exchanger is a software package aimed at solving compatibility problems data in the field. CAD CAD Exchanger provides 3D visualization , data converting them to different CAD formats, meshing for engineering analysis, displaying meta-information about 3D models, etc. The list of supported formats is regularly expanded to include both neutral formats (IGES, STEP, STL, JT,, X3D VRML, OBJ) and geometric core formats (ACIS, Parasolid, Open CASCADE, Rhino/Open NURBS) CAD^[1]

2022

CAD Exchanger 3.12.0 with improved support for CAD model properties

An updated version of CAD Exchanger, a software package for developers of engineering applications and users of 3D CAD programs, has been released. Cadex (Cadex) announced this on July 7, 2022.

Key innovations 3.12.0:

• Importing a IFC4 Format
• Video instructions and examples of 3D models in the viewer and CAD converter files
• Advanced Developer Tool Algorithms
• Improved support for CAD model properties

CAD Exchanger has supported the IFC format since 2018. Previously, only the IFC2x3 version was available. Users can now import IFC4 files, including all IFC 4.1 specification entities: B-Rep view, assembly structure, names, user-defined properties, colors, and layers.

In the spring of 2022, CAD Exchanger launched an updated user interface. Subsequent releases focus on expanding the functionality of the interface and improving its appearance. For July 2022, usability was improved, video tutorials were built in to help master basic tools, and examples of 3D models were added so that users could test CAD Exchanger without even having their own CAD files at hand.

The ability to identify elements of the product structure of the model with global unique identifiers (GUID) has become available for B-Rep representations, the calculation of the overall parallelepiped has been accelerated, for complex geometry, the API for applying surface transformations has been improved, and it was also possible to get rid of duplication of materials in the model by more thoughtful transfer of textures.

The CAD Exchanger team updated the Unity plugin to simplify and improve the integration of CAD models into Unity scenes:

• Saves the association between GameObject objects and the corresponding CAD Exchanger objects during ModelData_Model conversion to GameObject.
• Support for broken, point sets, triangle names in the structure, as well as textures stored in external TGA and TIFF files.
• Simplified access to model metadata (names, identifiers, user-defined properties, layers, PMI).
• Qualitative conversions between programs with different coordinate systems.

The CAD Exchanger team has processed many custom cases to improve support for 3D geometry and other CAD model properties stored during import:

• Bezier Surface Support from STEP
• CATIA Note Surface Support Enhancements
• Supports sheet solids, cylindrical and planar faces, and equidistant surfaces from Parasolid, JT, NX, Solid Edge, and SOLIDWORKS
• Registering Missing Xrefs in Creo Assemblies
• Improvements in component positioning and import of component names from SOLIDWORKS
• Improvements in import of names and layers from CATIA, DWG, DXF, SolidWorks, STEP and STL
• Improvements in Importing Precision Geometry Colors from SOLIDWORKS
• Improvements in FBX import, especially if you assign multiple materials to a single polygon mesh object^[2]

CAD Exchanger 3.11.0

On April 15, 2022, Cadex introduced CAD Exchanger 3.11.0.

According to the company, key changes to CAD Exchanger 3.11.0 include:

• Updated user interface
• Personal account
• Exporting 2D Drawings to DXF

With the release of the updated version, the CAD Exchanger team has changed the graphical interface of the application for converting and viewing 3D models. In particular, the toolbars were rebuilt, the settings windows were changed, the notification algorithm was optimized and the design was completely updated.

Measuring Tools, Creating an Exploded View, and Moving Features in a New CAD Exchanger Interface

One of the goals of the changes is to optimize access to and navigation through all tools. Previously, groups of buttons were located in different parts of the window, now all buttons are moved to the horizontal menu, and the main tools and viewing settings are placed in the center. Tooltips, highlighting of active items and drop-down menus have been thought out again - now it will be easier for users to navigate the available actions.

It was also necessary to optimize the configuration of the main processes: import, export and generation of the grid. With a large number of parameters, there is a risk of overloading the interface. The settings windows are minimalistic and at the same time retain all customization capabilities.

Visual and functional uniformity in the updated interface will further enable CAD Exchanger to implement various tools. It is planned to add video instructions and complex models in the near future.

Now CAD Exchanger customers can create their own account on the my.cadexchanger.com website and access all purchased licenses. In the first version of the personal account, the following options are available:

• viewing license data,
• download installation packages,
• ability to share access to licenses with colleagues.

Features such as license transfer, demo installation, support plan management, and support requests will appear in future versions of your account.

Personal account

To register, you need to visit my.cadexchanger.com. License data is automatically pulled up according to the specified email address after its confirmation.

Developers can now let their applications export 2D data to DXF format. DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is more compatible with third-party software than DWG and can be used to transfer 2D geometry to non-Autodesk CAD packages to CNC machines or other 3D formats. Available only for the CAD Exchanger SDK.

CAD Exchanger 3.11.0 also optimized the read, write, and mesh tools.

The development team made changes to importing certain geometry types and properties from, files CATIA IFC and OBJ, and exporting to FBX, Parasolid, and STEP formats. The reading tool has also been updated: SOLIDWORKS now the displayed colors exactly correspond to the colors of the original model.

In addition, CAD Exchanger 3.11.0 optimized the quality of the mesh generated from complex models, the overall stability of the meshing tool, and the performance of the CAD Exchanger SDK in various import and export scenarios.^[3]

Notes