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Beth Stackpole

Take the SpaceClaim Challenge

Remember the old Tide challenge? You know, the one where moms put the popular laundry detergent to the test to take on grass stains, ground-in ketchup and whatever other messes their dirty offspring could muster.

CAD users, get ready for a similar challenge. CAD newcomer SpaceClaim Corp. is inviting mechanical engineers and designers to test out their toughest 3D CAD modification problems on the new SpaceClaim Professional 2007+ in a worldwide contest launched this week.

One of SpaceClaim’s claims to fame is its ability to import 3D CAD and neutral file formats and modify the geometry no matter how it was constructed. That’s no easy task, the officials contend, since engineers typically struggle with modifying 3D CAD models due to the interoperability differences between file formats. Neutral file formats like IGES and STEP and other translators only exchange geometry; they don’t make modifications, officials say.

Engineers participating in the SpaceClaim 3D CAD Modification Challenge get to try out SpaceClaim Professional 2007+ for free and to learn from peers who participate. They will also be eligible to win prizes, beginning in January, which include a copy of the software for a one-year license. The grand prize winner will receive an HP Compaq 6820s Notebook PC installed with a one-year license of SpaceClaim. What does SpaceClaim get out of the deal? They’re hoping to receive valuable input that will help shape future versions of the software.

Entrants will be judged on the degree of difficulty of the design modifications, the complexity of the model, the credibility of the modifications and the use case and the “entertainment factor.”