BricsCAD

One of beneficiaries of BricsCAD is the Russian LEDAS company which developed the technology of variation direct modeling used in BricsCAD Platinum. While licensors a component and libraries of the Russian CAD are just the foreign companies. In particular, the mechanism of direct modeling in KOMPAS-3D is licensed at Bricsys company, in T-FLEX the geometrical core of Parasolid of Siemens PLM Software company, and library for work with files of .dwg all vendors is used (except Autodesk) license^[1] from Open Design Alliance (USA)^[2].

2010: Bricscad 10

The Bricsys company, the developer of the Bricscad CAD system, announced in September, 2010 the new version of a product for the Linux platform. Thanks to support of the widespread format DWG, Bricscad 10 has close compatibility with the most popular automated design engineering system of AutoCAD.

The solution Bricscad 10 is one of the first products which brings to attention of users of Linux functional and simple tools in use for viewing and editing drawings in a widespread DWG format and can be involved in the most different industries (civil engineering, mechanical engineering, architecture, GIS system, etc.).

The version of Bricscad V10 for Linux is delivered complete with the LISP, DCL and Diesel API interfaces. Afterwards Bricsys is going to expand a set of available API interfaces for Linux taking into account needs of users.

In the new version of a product support of modern web technologies is implemented. Development of eBridge provides close interaction of Bricscad 10 with Vondle web service. This solution SaaS can be used for the organization of effective collective work and simplifies management, viewing, exchange, control of versions and accomplishment of other transactions with the CAD data online.

Bricscad 10 will support three widespread Linux distribution kits – Fedora 12, OpenSuse 11.1 and Ubuntu 9.10 (or later versions).

Bricscad 11

Bricscad 11 for the Windows operating system has close compatibility with an automated design engineering system of AutoCAD and necessary for creation and editing drawings in the .dwg format offers all.

The advanced user interface Bricscad 11 provides quick access to tools and functions, including Grips, Dynamic Input and Dynamic Dimensions. In the version of Bricscad 11 the possibility of editing dynamic blocks is for the first time implemented. The application will allow to use blocks from available libraries Dynamic Blocks Libraries, and for modification of their properties and restrictions the Properties Bar panel can be used. Specialists will be able to use the PDF files as a substrate and will appreciate Layer Preview preview feature.

The version of Bricscad V11 Pro uses Redway3D – the productive 3D engine - rendering. The Drawing Explorer component allows to simplify manipulations with lighting and materials. In the nearest future there will also be a product Bricscad V11 Classic for Linux in which support of eBridge technology will be implemented.

Bricscad 11 Platinum

In the new version developers offer users three-dimensional parametrical solid modeling which ensures functioning with two-dimensional and three-dimensional drawings in the DWG format. Besides, in a packet of Bricscad 11 Platinum six new tool kits will appear.

For modeling of objects the packet of Bricscad 11 Platinum offers standard primitives, including a parallelepiped, a cylinder, a cone, the sphere, the torus and a prism. Such tools as pulling, turn and bending are available to modification of primitives. Combining these primitives and tools with logical actions – consolidation, subtraction, intersection – the user can design the most difficult solid bodies.

Wednesday "X-Solids" in a packet of Bricscad Platinum displays all history of creation of parts, providing parametrical editing these parts at any time. Any parameter of a primitive can even be changed easily after this primitive became a part of a compound part. Primitives in irregular shapes can be moved, copied, rotated, deleted – at the same time they remain as a part of a difficult part. Internal roundings off and diagonal interfaces can be scaled and deleted, as well as sections, and logical actions with forms it is possible to cancel – as on one, and all at once.

Users of a packet of Bricscad Platinum 11 will be able to create two-dimensional figures from one or several integral parts using the QuickDraw utility. The QuickDraw utility automatically creates and aligns two-dimensional figures in several types at once – up to 10 at once. Creators of two-dimensional drawings can use parametrical three-dimensional functions which are integrated with the usual drawing interface. All these opportunities allow to master quickly creation of difficult three-dimensional models, providing preparation of all necessary two-dimensional drawings. All files – two-dimensional and three-dimensional – are stored in the DWG format. The core of ACIS which is built in Bricscad packet in editions Pro and Platinum provides fast execution of operations with continuous parts and exact elimination of the hidden lines.

The extensive library of three-dimensional models of the equipment created on the basis of SI Mechanical packet from Scott Hull also is a part of a packet of Bricscad 11 Platinum. Parametrical objects of any sort are standard elements, connecting elements, etc. – are instantly created and scaled by a one click of the button.

At the initial stage the packet of Bricscad Platinum is available in the version to the Windows platform in English – support of other languages will appear in the next weeks.

Bricscad V11 Pro for Linux

The packet of Bricscad V11 Pro for Linux for the first time offers users of the Linux platform the full-fledged mechanism of modeling of continuous volume parts of ACIS opening a way to new opportunities 3D - modeling. Besides, the Bricsys company promised to add new features for work with 3D - objects in the subsequent versions of Bricscad for Linux. The SOLPROF command for work with continuous parts and the editor of PC3 Editor for change of configurations of printers and plotters is also added at an output of drawings to paper.

Especially it is necessary to mention the program interface BRX API for the Linux platform which is available in a packet of Bricscad V11 Pro for Linux now. Emergence of such interface means that now users of Linux will be able to receive in the order the full-fledged design and engineering systems based on drawings in the DWG format, and to developers of such applications will enough have a uniform set of the code for all three supported CAD platforms: Bricscad BRX for Windows, AutoCAD ARX and Bricscad BRX for Linux.

Tools of BRX Linux SDK developer (Software Developer Kit) are completely identical to tools for Windows. The only difference consists available special arrangement libraries for Linux instead of similar libraries for Windows. According to the producer, more than 90% of functions to Windows BRX are already available in BRX Linux, including the BModeler component, udaleniyen the hidden lines and the BRep API interfaces to reports generation. It is until the end of the year going to unify completely the BRX interface for Windows platforms and Linux.

Except the basic BRX functions tools of BRX Linux SDK include the level of emulation Windows Platform Emulation Layer which provides access to a large number of the Windows API functions on the Linux platform. This level of emulation it is built in the BRX tools therefore it is completely transparent for developers.

As the additional help to third-party developers the producer planned release of extensive documentation which will help to pass to the Linux platform. In documentation such topics as setup of a working environment, conversion of the BRX projects created in the environment of VisualStudio to projects for Linux and also setup of BRX projects before compilation for the Linux platform are in detail covered.

2012

BricsCAD 13 for Windows

The Bricsys company from Belgium officially released in the fall of 2012 the new version of the BricsCAD 13 CAD system for the Windows operating system. Developers presented tools for modeling of combined objects in the new version – the main scope of these tools is design of mechanical parts.

Besides, new features for creation and editing 2D - drawings are provided to BricsCAD 13 for Windows. Among other things, all new features of BricsCAD 13 can be integrated with external solutions using freely available API interfaces – it helps partners of the company to create custom solutions based on BricsCAD on the instructions of clients.

The packet of BricsCAD 13 for Windows is continuation of a deserved and popular cross-platform line of BricsCAD. This product contains functions for the solution of any tasks of the design engineer – from simple 2D - sketches to expanded direct 3D - modeling. As the unified solution, a packet of BricsCAD 13 offers the modeling of combined parts constructed based on functions direct 3D - modeling and processing of boundary conditions from the previous version of BricsCAD 12. In particular, now the .DWG files with parts of assembly can be organized in a tree structure of mechanical components. Changes in components of assembly of any level are generated automatically together with updating of the bill of materials. The mechanism of processing of boundary conditions of assembly Assembly Constraints allows to set 3D - communications between edges and edges of different mechanical components. Function of the kinematic analysis allows to move and rotate model parts for the solution of straight lines and return kinematic tasks in real time.

In addition to users of BricsCAD 13 for Windows the whole set of new commands, functions, dialogs and parameters for the improved work on 2D - drawings is offered. For example, the manager of filings, dialog of input of arrays and several expansions of printing, including the special mode of printing in the background is for the first time implemented. Autoend for the command line, support of multiline text inserts with a possibility of a binding and stretching/scaling, a command for work with the referred to as groups of drawings and also support of expressions for the 2D installation - restrictions on the sizes is also provided.

The new module Powerdimensions adds expanded functions for putting of the sizes on 2D - drawings of mechanical parts. Support of multithreaded generation of types on drawings is an important step forward in increase in overall performance of a packet too.

The packet of BricsCAD represents not only a powerful and universal CAD system, but also the full-fledged platform for development of a custom solutions CAD. The world partner network of BricsCAD totals more than 700 independent developers who use standard API interfaces of a packet BricsCAD (LISP, DCL, VBA/COM, .NET, BRX) for creation of target solutions in the different industries and disciplines. Several hundred such solutions in twenty categories are already available in shop of solutions on the website of Bricsys company, and in the coming months their number should grow even more.

Briscad V12 for Linux

The Belgian company Bricsys known for the products to the Bricscad series for automated design submitted at the beginning of 2012 the next version of the CAD system for the Linux platform. All three editions Bricscad V12 for Linux – Classic, Pro and Platinum – open for users of open systems access to tools of a world class for 3D - modeling and also the program interface CAD API which is not conceding by opportunities of Windows versions of the products Bricsys. Together with representation new Linux version of the product the Bricsys company announced preserving of the prices of Bricscad V12 Linux and also plans for release of all series of the products Bricscad V12 on the Mac OS X platform in the second half of 2012.

The release of the version of Briscad V12 for Linux confirmed gravity of intentions of the producer concerning Linux, earlier almost not considered how the serious platform for professional design work.

All three editions of a packet of Bricscad V12 for Linux offer the same powerful mechanism of approval of restrictions for the planes (2D constraint solver), as in much more expensive CAD. Using this mechanism users can set a set of different restrictions for two-dimensional elements, including, perpendicular, parallel and concentric.

From other improvements in the version of Bricscad V12 for Linux (all editions) it is possible to select such opportunities as cutting of the shaded areas, adding of own models of shading, installation of parameters of the sheet, generation of interactive sections and also 2D - and 3D - modeling using visual styles. The improved mechanism of processing of bitmap images allows to scale easily large images in geoinformation supplements of Brisccad.

Pro-edition of a packet Bricscad V12 differs from standard in Linux version existence of tools for so-called "direct" 3D - modeling (direct modeling) and dynamically put down sizes. Users can easily switch between the two-dimensional and three-dimensional modes. The new element of the interface under the name "Quad Cursor" (The quadruple cursor) helps to create and edit quickly 3D models with the minimum number of transactions. This cursor automatically highlights and selects objects of model gets on borders, providing all set of buttons for pulling, turn and removal of facets, and all transactions are executed in real time.

2015: BricsCAD v.16 is localized

On October 14, 2015 the Bricsys company submitted the version of BricsCAD V16. On November 10, 2015 developers announced release of localization of this version^[3].

Changes in structure of a product

In BricsCAD v16 the WHOHAS command appeared, she helps to learn a user name for the blocked file which edits it at the moment and start time of blocking. The EXPORTLAYOUT command exports all visible objects from the current sheet to space of model of the new drawing.

Work with filings is improved: in properties of the drawing it is possible to see data on filing with which the specific drawing is associated, and if necessary to delete such association. All objects and layers from now on maintain property of transparency.

In BricsCAD V16 the special assistant to DATAEXTRACTION appeared, he allows to export in the automatic mode different properties of the entities which are contained in the dwg-file to files of .dxd (Data Extraction Definition) and .csv (Comma Separated Value).

Users of BricsCAD can create and edit the text from several columns (MTEXT) now, select a method of display of fractions.

Order and exceptions of it

The functional break was provided to release of the ARRAYRECT, ARRAYPOLAR, ARRAYPATH command. They allow to create associative arrays 2D - or 3D - objects, placing them at the set distance from each other, according to the set law (a rectangular grid, around, or along the set curve). Difference of associative arrays from normal in a possibility of intellectual editing, both using the ARRAYEDIT, ARRAYEDITEXT, ARRAYCLOSE commands, and through a property bar: for example, it is possible to change the generating element then all other elements will change respectively. It is possible to change a number of elements and distance between them, it is possible to give to a separate element exclusive provision or to delete it.

Representation of BricsCAD V16 in 2D

Geometry — a basis of all the rest in BricsCAD. Any model can be imported to BricsCAD and to edit as instruments of direct editing, and using a task of parametrical dependences between its elements.

Certain problems are created by incompatibility between cores of geometrical modeling: BricsCAD is founded on a core of ACIS, the core of Parasolid is the basis for SolidWorks, CATIA and Creo use own cores. Three-dimensional model, being correct in terms of one core, can become a stumbling block for another — because of incompatibility of the principles of work underlain in a basis of products with admissions on geometry and topology of boundary representation of bodies.

Specified caused special processing of geometry when importing model to BricsCAD from other formats:

• search and correction of the geometrical and topological "errors" (which are like those only from the point of view of ACIS),
• simplification of geometry (transition from NURBS to analytical surfaces everywhere where it is possible with required admission),
• automatic gluing together of set of surfaces in one waterproof cover.

All these functions appeared in BricsCAD v16. Now they can automatically be executed when importing geometry to BricsCAD. In the presence in model of unrecoverable errors their list is output to the special Report panel of the observer of construction with convenient navigation by each error allowing the user to localize it in geometrical model.

Smart choice

Being the system of direct modeling, BricsCAD offers users opportunities of direct work with edges and edges of bodies — they can be changed by squeeze out-push out method, to move on the new place or to delete with automatic filling of an interval. In the version of V16 new tools for the convenient choice of edges and rebyor are implemented. One click the user can select all edges forming an overhang, dredging or rounding off on a body. It is possible to set additional condition of the choice in the form of a condition on the area, length or radius of the corresponding elements.

Free forms

The LOFT command became additional expansion of functionality of three-dimensional modeling. It allows to create three-dimensional bodies with a complex geometry on the basis of two-dimensional sections.

The model created in BricsCAD V16 using the LOFT (2015) tool

One more new method receive a body of a free form in BricsCAD - "sculptural" deformation of edges of the existing body with preserving of smoothness between them. Such deformation can be set by movement of any point of an edge (as inside, and on border - the Move Point tool), equally, as well as broadcasting, rotation of edges (Move Edge). Edges can give any desirable form (Transform Curve).

In version 16 the technology of variation direct modeling is expanded from three-dimensional bodies ("3D Solid" objects) to surfaces ("Surface" objects). The surface in BricsCAD can be received dynamic sweep representation of any flat or three-dimensional profile at its shift in the set direction or rotation around the set axis. It is possible "to blow up" any existing body to receive its cover in the form of a set of surfaces. On the contrary, any set of the integrated surfaces forming a "waterproof" cover can be "sewed" in a body. One more method of receiving a body from a surface is a giving of the last set thickness (as well as many other things in BricsCAD it is implemented in a transaction type of direct editing with a dynamic input and dynamic receiving the resulting body).

Tools for work with surfaces in BricsCAD (2015)

Transactions of movement and rotation of an edge "squeeze out-push out", creations of rounding off or a facet, removal of edges with "sticking up" of an interval, deformation of edges are equally applicable both to three-dimensional bodies, and to surfaces now. A surface it is possible to cut a body or other surface on a part. Subtraction of a body from a surface it is possible to receive a hole in the last which can be "stuck" with removal of the corresponding edges. To edges and edges of surfaces it is possible to apply the same three-dimensional restrictions (dependences), as to edges and edges of solid bodies, receiving thereby parametrical objects. All this with equal success works, as with the surfaces created in BricsCAD, and in other CAD systems.

Representation of opportunities 3D in BricsCAD V16 (2015)

Assemblies and parametrical components

In version 16 there were local components allowing to set structure of a product in the form of one .dwg-file. At the same time a former opportunity to save assembly components in separate .dwg-files remained. The user at any time can switch a component from local representation to external and vice versa. Switching of a component in local breaks off associativity of assembly with the external file, and switching in an external component sets this dependence.

Simplifying technical details of implementation: local components are similar to blocks, and external — to external references (XREF). And users of BricsCAD have now an opportunity to automatically transfer files with external references and blocks to files with external and local components, as well as to make the return transition from a component to blocks and links.

In what does advantage of components in comparison with standard blocks and external references consist? First of all that components can be parametrical. It is very simple to create a parametrical component — to add to its geometry at least one two-dimensional or three-dimensional parametrical dependence (restriction of distance, a corner or radius) enough. Parameters of restrictions can be connected among themselves by formulas using the additional parameters determined by the user. At an insert of a parametrical component in assembly its parameters can be designated, both specific values, and formulas using parameters of the assembly.

In version 16 the mechanism of intellectual replacement of an insert of one parametrical component on another is implemented: if the added component contains parameters with the same names, then they automatically contact the same values and formulas — the component automatically inherits the sizes of old.

The mechanism of parametrical components allows to work equally easily both with 2D, and with 3D - geometry (three-dimensional bodies and surfaces) — unlike the mechanism of dynamic blocks.

Each component can set the individual density which is taken into account at calculation of weight, the center of masses and a tensor of inertia of assembly. On structure of a product the bill of materials (BOM) which can be exported in the form of the table of BricsCAD for work with it in other programs is generated. Inserts of components can be connected among themselves by three-dimensional restrictions (assembly interfaces) that allows not only to position easily parts in assembly from each other, but also to online solve problems of a straight line and inverse kinematics of mechanisms.

Starting with the version of V16 application developers for BricsCAD had an opportunity to create and use parametrical components programmatically — the corresponding program interfaces are delivered together with BricsCAD Platinum now.

Significant innovation in this area - in BricsCAD Communicator. From files in formats SolidWorks Inventor, Solid Edge Creo CATIA, NX, STEP it is possible to take geometry of a part or assembly and structure of a product, representing it both in the form of a component, and in the form of standard blocks (at the choice of the user). It simplifies the subsequent editing such assembly in BricsCAD.

The imported assembly of SolidWorks with structure of a product in BricsCAD V16 (2015)

About generation of drawings in BricsCAD V16 (2015)

About design of products from sheet metal in BricsCAD V16 (2015)

Practices in the field of BIM in the version of BricsCAD V16 (2015)

Notes