C3D Toolkit

Main article: CAD Computer-aided design systems

2023

Support for NX and SolidWorks formats by C3D Converter

C3D Labs on November 10, 2023 announced the expansion of the set of formats supported by the C3D Converter data exchange module. They became native formats of foreign CAD systems: NX and SolidWorks.

C3D Converter is responsible for reading and writing 3D models in various exchange formats. The conversion module is part of the Toolkit C3D - a set of tools for engineering software developers. It is C3D Converter that provides the ability to exchange data between CAD built on the C3D core and other complex software products.

Traditionally, C3D Labs has relied on popular exchange formats such as STEP or JT. The company has accumulated significant competence in the formats of geometric cores ACIS and Parasolid. In conditions of real import substitution, support for only exchange formats is insufficient. In the case of working in a multi-CAD environment, as well as in the case of migration from foreign CAD to domestic ones, it is much more convenient to work directly with native, or as they say, "native" CAD formats. This reduces the number of iterations in the conversion chain and reduces the number of errors.

Taking into account the company's experience with the Parasolid format and based on market analysis, it was decided to implement support for CAD formats based on the geometric core of Parasolid: NX and Solidworks. And today the results of this work are becoming available to users of the geometric C3D kernel.

Using the native format converter by users of different CAD platforms (NX and SolidWorks) enables you to share and work on the same models without compatibility issues. Developers have the opportunity to modify old projects in outdated formats, saving time and money, or migrate to other software. Some industries may require specific CAD formats for data exchange. C3D Converter meets these requirements.

Шаблон:Quote 'author = said Aleksandr Spivakov, Development Manager C3D Converter, C3D Labs.

Integration with SinoRay

The Chinese company GMPT has licensed C3D Toolkit to develop its SinoRay solution. C3D Toolkit is a specialized software development tool (SDK) responsible for constructing, editing, visualizing and converting geometric models. C3D Labs (S3D Labs) announced this on July 7, 2023. Read more here.

C3D Toolkit 2023

On June 9, 2023, C3D Labs unveiled an updated version of C3D Toolkit 2023.

According to the company, taking into account current tasks and customer requests, all components have been updated in the release - the geometric core of the C3D Modeler, the C3D Solver parametric solver, the C3D Converter data converters, the C3D Vision visualization module.

C3D Modeler 2023

Ensuring end-to-end and interrelated accuracy management in operations is one of the important areas of work for this release that will continue with the next release. In the current version, there have been significant changes in all functional areas of the C3D Modeler module.

Wireframe Modeling:

• You have completed the curve extension operation with various options.
• Additional modes have been refined to create curves as a smoothed approximation of a set of points.
• added the function of assembling a framework with local inaccuracies of segment docking (in order to achieve end-to-end accuracy);
• the functions of folding and expanding curves on a number of surfaces have been improved;
• At customer requests, the law curve (character curve) has been supplemented.

Wireframe Modeling

Surface modeling:

• You have developed rounds of unbound face groups with different options to avoid stitching faces of different shells into one to create a round, and to select face groups from different shells.
• the middle shell has been modified according to the registered wishes and comments;
• continued improvements in patch construction with the possibility of mating;
• The function of converting surfaces to a NURBS representation has added an accuracy control function, which is necessary for both conversion and modeling tasks.

Solid Modeling:

• the main update is a cast slope operation or a "slope from a chain of edges," this function uses a modified option to remove and restore rounds as a component;
• in noticing operations, the diagnosis of generators for self-intersection is optimized;
• in such note operations as - extrusion, rotation, kinematics - it became possible to use the frame (MbWireFrame) directly as a generatrix;
• in the extrusion operation, the extrusion mode has been modified to the object taking into account the angle, now the calculation of the extrusion depths of the generating contours takes into account the entire set of bodies, and not just the nearest body.

Direct modeling. In terms of the spectrum of topology configurations being processed and its changes have been made

• rework in the following modes:
• Face movement and equidistant face displacement
• Removing faces
• Delete and restore rounds
• integrates round processing in a slope from a chain of edges.

Polygon Modeling:

• optimized construction of intersection contours with cutting planes (in terms of operability and speed);
• improvements in the functionality of the Boolean operation with polygon objects were completed: elements of diagnostics and correction of model defects appeared.

Polygon modeling

To create planar projections:

• It became possible to project polygon objects taking into account self-blanking and shading with other objects;
• a number of modifications have been made to project B-Rep objects.

C3D Converter 2023

In the data exchange module C3D Converter:

• There is a reading of the native NX data format;
• Improved import of polygon models from JT format
• Optimized export to JT to avoid losing assembly structure when importing to SW\NX
• an entry of embedded schemas for correct reading of B-Rep from JT has been added to the export functionality in Parasolid.

C3D Solver 2023

In the geometric constraint solver, Solver C3D are implemented:

• Support for 2D patterns
• spline of constant length;
• interval angular dimensions.

C3D Collision Detection 2023

One of the important changes in C3D Toolkit 2023 is the selection of the component - C3D Collision Detection. The module is responsible for detecting collisions between model elements. For a long time it was developed and developed by the developers of the C3D Solver team, and at the same time was an integral part of the geometric core. Many customers need a collision detector, even if they do not use other core components. Now they have the opportunity to license C3D Collision Detection as a separate product.

The developers have worked to expand functionality and add missing functions to the API for the full use of the collision detector as an independent module.

C3D Vision 2023

The C3D Vision visualization module optimizes rendering performance by using shaders and culling methods, and continues to develop the functionality of "widgets." The main changes to this version are:

• Explosion operation to explode model components
• Add 3D textures to the scene with shaders to control their display.

Adding 3D Textures

Technical Support Changes

A separate technical support team for users of C3D Toolkit components has been created. Its main task is to primary parsing requests and errors from users. Support Team:

• provides feedback on user requests;
• works to improve the quality of documentation in conjunction with development;
• Tracks registered development tasks.

C3D Toolkit 2023 will be available for download by users at the end of June 2023.

2020: C3D Toolkit 2020

On June 22, 2020, C3D Labs presented C3D Toolkit 2020. The release updated all five components: the geometric kernel C3D Modeler, the C3D Solver parametric solver, the C3D Converter data converters, the C3D Vision visualization module and the polygon mesh conversion module to C3D B-Shaper solid models.

The 2020 release reflects the needs of different software markets, and C3D Toolkit 2020 offers tools for both CADCAMCAE developing classic//systems and products in the field of, BIM VR 3D-, scannings digital production.

The main changes in the presented version are related to surface, solid and sheet metal modeling, direct editing of 2D geometry, 3D rendering, interoperability.

Lofted Surface Dome

Surface modeling

In the geometric core of C3D Modeler 2020, the main emphasis is placed on the development of the functionality of complex surface modeling, which is traditionally referred to as a "heavy" class. It opens the way to solving CAD problems in the aviation industry, engine and shipbuilding.

• Curves with smooth curvature change and their editing using geometric determinant are implemented.
• Construction of conical section surfaces is implemented. The cross section of these surfaces can change during movement along the reference curve according to a given law and have the shape of a circle, an ellipse arc, a parabola, a hyperbola, a given spline, a straight line. The conical section surfaces can fit smoothly with the specified surfaces.
• Equidistant curves are modified to specify different offsets at the edges of the curves and the law of displacement change (constant, linear, or cubic). Equidistant surfaces are similarly modified.
• Face extension works for multiple faces at the same time. A method has been developed that combines smoothly joined faces into one face.
• You can define contours as a grid on a surface along a network of curves. The internal parameterization of the surface has changed for the optimal blend of adjacent sections.
• In the kinematic operation, the mode of explicit control of the shape is added - normal to the surface of the guide.
• The lofted surface has a dome option: if the end (start and/or end) sections of the surface are point or degenerate to a point, you can control the shape of the surface using a factor and a vector, such as a control plane.

Solid modeling

Added the cutting surface extension control to the shell section operation. In the middle shell, it became possible to set the thickness range.

Modeling Sheet Solids

C3D Modeler contains sheet modeling functionality. In version 2020, a method for stamping a sheet body with another arbitrary body has been developed. Added bend operation on curved edges.

Merging Faces with a Shared Surface

Converting Polygon Meshes to B-Rep

C3D B-Shaper converts heavy polygon models to solid models with a boundary representation (B-Rep) for optimal use (editing, display, etc.) in various 3D applications. Potentially B-Shaper is embedded in reverse engineering, BIM, VR, topological optimization technologies.

During the year of using the module in user applications, a stream of models was received to check algorithms and identify problems with obtaining a qualitative transformation result. Taking into account the feedback from the market, version 2020 implements a simplified mode for building a B-Rep model: if, due to errors in input data and inaccuracy of recognition, it is not possible to build a common edge between neighboring faces, then boundary edges will be built. Simplified mode is designed primarily for visualization tasks.

Converting Polygon Meshes to B-Rep

Editing 2D Geometry Directly

In the C3D Solver parametric solver, dragging capabilities were supplemented with dynamic transformation - matrix transformation, which includes rotating, moving and scaling part of the drawing. It works in real time and allows you to recognize the stationary and movable parts of the drawing, minimizing the latter. The preparation of such dragging and its execution are combined into one API call.

Interoperability

The C3D Converter 2020 data conversion module implements reading attributes from the JT format by accessing file data metadata and ensures the transfer of control characteristics of models (volume, surface area, density and mass) in STEP and JT formats.

The grids in C3D and JT are arranged differently, and before C3D Converter could quickly record only grids without topology. As a result of processing the grid conversion algorithm in the updated version of converters, topology transfer is combined with the speed of export to JT format.

The reading PMI in imported fonts is expanded: 3D models the reading of fonts embedded in the JT format is added, which allows you to correctly display all PMI data. The problem of transferring PMI through the C3D format was solved by marking PMI geometric objects with special attributes and providing users with the ability to substitute fonts, primarily for the STEP format (the format itself does not support working with fonts C3D).

3D visualization

The C3D Vision engine developed for 3D engineering applications is aimed at the accuracy of the display of geometric constructions and performance when working with large models.

In version 2020, interactive tools such as manipulators are implemented. The basic manipulator class is called SceneWidget, it is used both separately and as part of object editing processes. Among the manipulators developed:

• Hot-point manipulator, widget with a certain representation and behavior
• direction manipulators perform a shift along the specified axis
• rotation manipulators implement rotation around axes.

You have improved the selection of geometric entities using the frame by adding the ability to select and scale the frame. When selecting, both the combining and cutting frames are available, as well as their aggregates - from left to right and from right to left.

2019

C3D B-Shaper Software Component

On July 3, 2019, the company C3D Labs released the C3D B-Shaper software component to convert polygon models solid-state to boundary representation (B-Rep). It is addressed to software CAD M/AEC//developers and BIMCAE provides access to full-fledged work with 3D models obtained from 3D scanning or borrowed from electronic catalogs.

According to the company, the B-Shaper C3D is built on its own mathematical algorithm and is part of the C3D Toolkit for engineering software development.

Most modern 3D engineering applications use Boundary Representation (abbreviated B-Rep) for 3D modeling. This approach has proven itself to accurately describe the simulated object - both in mechanical engineering and in architectural and construction design.

At the same time, more and more data is not created in the CAD system, but comes from external sources - from catalogs of 3D models or as a result of 3D scanning - in the form of polygon models (for example, in STL format). Polygon models slow down software due to their large volume, and most importantly, they cannot be edited and used during the design process.

To solve this problem, the B-Shaper C3D component is designed. It turns a polygon mesh into a B-Rep model with which you can work with classic CAD tools - perform Boolean operations, chamfer, get projections and sections.

In a situation where polygon models do not require modification, but are present in large quantities, the use of the B-Shaper C3D will reduce the amount of data, speed up calculations, simplify visualization and, as a result, increase the performance of the program when working with large saturated projects.

The C3D B-Shaper module for July 2019 is available for testing and licensing as part of the C3D Toolkit or as a standalone component.

Integration with VR Concept

On June 21, 2019, VR Concept announced that it had chosen a geometric C3D core to develop its virtual prototyping tools. Read more here.

2018

C3D Toolkit 2018

On June 25, 2018, C3D Labs announced the release of C3D Toolkit 2018, an updated suite of tools for engineering software development. It includes the C3D Modeler geometric kernel, the C3D Solver parametric kernel and the C3D Converter data exchange module. In the presented version of C3D Toolkit, the developers focused on increasing functionality, increasing speed of work and implementing user wishes.

Many additional special cases of building rounds added to C3D Modeler 2018

Changes to C3D Modeler 2018:

• In the geometric core of C3D Modeler, modeling of complex shapes continues to develop. Many additional special cases of drawing rounds have been added.
• The function of full round (round three faces) is implemented.
• In a multi-guide loft operation, surfaces are smoothly joined by G2.
• Section transformation is available when moving along the rail.
• The bending functionality is being improved. A bending of non-sheet bodies appeared.
• In traditional sheet body bending, you can simplify the flat pattern and add reinforcement edges to sheet body bends.
• Particular attention is paid to optimizing computing algorithms and supporting multithreading. As a result, the developers achieved an increase in performance in operations for calculating mass-centering characteristics and building projections.

Changes to C3D Solver 2018:

• Dragging is optimized in a parametric 2D solver: the algorithm determines how much of the drawing can be frozen without compromising motion. As a result of optimization, the behavior of undefined drawings has improved.
• The 2D solver implements rigid sets and docking of two-dimensional curves along G2.
• Multiple acceleration is achieved with the symmetry of a large number of objects and in work with interpolation splines. The average solver performance has increased by 30%.

Changes to C3D Converter 2018:

• The data exchange module has expanded the functionality of transferring curves. The Parasolid converter implements the import and export of wire frames; The JT converter has support for curves in polygon representation, as well as points. Work has been carried out to support current versions of formats. You can import from Parasolid up to and including version 29. The range of supported JT versions from 8.0 to 10.x has been expanded.
• A function for exchanging data without using files has appeared: users have access to import models from the buffer recorded in all border view formats.

Among the technological changes common to all components of the Toolkit C3D, the developer noted support for Microsoft Visual Studio 2017, Clang 5.0, GCC 5.4 and. operating system FreeBSD

An updated version of the C3D Vision visualization module, the fourth component of the C3D Toolkit, will be released in September 2018. Then the C3D Mesh2Brep module appears to convert polygon models to a boundary representation.

Select C3D Toolkit to develop 3D modeling in Elcut

The Russian developer of the settlement software "Thor" on June 14, 2018 announced that he had chosen the C3D Toolkit toolkit for the development of 3D modeling in the program. Elcut

The company will use three components from the Toolkit C3D: the C3D Modeler geometric core, the C3D Converter data exchange module, and the C3D Vision visualization module. They will replace the freely distributed Open Cascade Technology libraries that Thor used to work with. Read more here.

2017

Skoltech Licensing

The Skolkovsky Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) licensed in the fall of 2017 the C3D Toolkit, the technology of a resident of the Skolkovo Foundation's IT cluster, C3D Labs for engineering software development. The technology has proven its effectiveness in testing software components for building 3D models, parametrically editing them, effectively controlling the rendering of visual scenes and converting 3D data into basic exchange formats.

The collaboration between Skoltech and C3D Labs began in May 2015, when the high-tech technologies of C3D Labs were presented at a joint seminar on new production technologies with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Skolkovo. In 2016, representatives of C3D Labs were invited to the Skoltech Parallel Design Laboratory to participate in an open lecture on 3D modeling technologies, at which students and teachers of the university got acquainted with the C3D ELP educational program and discussed examples of the successful use of 3D components by other Russian universities.

Evgeny Selivanov, Head of Industrial Technologies. Industrial Internet of Things, IIoT of the Skolkovo Foundation: "C3D Labs has been a resident of the IT cluster since 2013. During this time, the company has grown from a small startup into a full-fledged player in the PLM technology market with key customers in Russia, the USA, China, India, Turkey, South Korea and Sweden. Starting 4 years ago with the promotion of the commercial geometric core, today C3D Labs already offers a whole set of software components necessary for the development of modern 3D modeling systems. The company actively cooperates with residents of the Skolkovo Foundation (Eremex, NTC APM). And now the C3D Labs software has licensed the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology to support the scientific and research activities of students. This forms a good technical base for the training of world-class specialists who are able to create specialized software applications for solving industry engineering problems. "

Features of using C3D Toolkit

The main task of the CEDESK group project is to create software tools and processes that can improve the interaction of aerospace workers within the framework of Industry 4.0. To do this, master's students and doctoral students develop a seamless integration of simultaneous design methods into large-scale IT systems: product lifecycle management and enterprise resource planning. This takes into account the use of specialized software by the enterprise, the peculiarity of well-functioning production processes and the distribution of roles between different production participants.

In order for the members of the research group from Skoltech to quickly acquire the necessary set of knowledge and skills to create applications based on C3D Toolkit, it was decided to send one of the CEDESK participants to C3D Labs for summer practice. The choice fell on the master's student Nikita Letov. He was instructed to make a project that would effectively use the capabilities of various software components together. To this end, he developed a 3D application that allows you to automate the process of designing the nose parts of missiles by using a simple interface with the input of the necessary parameters of the nose fairings.