Anark Corp. is staking claim to the problem of sharing 3D CAD data throughout the enterprise and supply chain with its new Anark Core Platform, which it says automates and simplifies the transformation process while protecting intellectual property.
Unlike traditional CAD authoring tools and translation products, Anark Core offers an automation system that lets users establish an easily repeatable process for transforming and delivering IP-protected geometry for both upstream and downstream applications, says Stephen Collins, CEO of the Boulder, CO, firm. The software's transformation capabilities let users produce both high-precision (B-reps) and lightweight (mesh) product geometries, making it equally well suited as a 3D data-sharing tool for downstream uses, amongst OEMs and suppliers, for example, or for upstream applications such as technical publications, interactive catalogs or sales and marketing collateral.
The key to Anark's unique approach is its “recipe” approach that let users establish a set of rules and guidelines for the transformation process. “It's traditionally been time consuming and costly to repurpose and share CAD data,” Collins says.
To ensure designs are safeguarded when sharing 3D models, companies typically had to manually remove data and tweak geometries. Not so with Anark Core, where recipes automatically remove data to make sure designs are protected, he says.
Beyond traditional CAD offerings, which offer their own set of data translation capabilities and tools, Anark's other key competitors are Right Hemisphere, Seemage and Lattice3D. Those companies offer 3D CAD data-sharing tools, but they are primarily targeted at downstream users for applications like 3D publishing, Collins says.
While Anark Core offers some unique approaches, it, along with its competition, has hit on a growing requirement. “There's a growing demand amongst customers, who are finally recognizing that there is significant value in driving data downstream,” says David Prawel, president of Longview Advisors.
The Anark platform comprises two main components: Anark Core Workstation, which is the authoring tool that lets users set up the transformation recipes as well as import CAD data; and Anark Core Server, which is a scalable server system for high-volume, repeatable applications. The Core Server also maintains coherency between managed CAD repositories like Product Data Management (PDM) systems.
Core Workstation is priced starting at $5,000 while Core Server starts at $25,000 for each CPU license.
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 Anark Core’s transformation capabilities allow users to produce both high-precision (B-reps) and lightweight (mesh) product geometry for use in a variety of applications. |
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