SpaceClaim 2011 Takes On The Enterprise

In the seventh release of its 3-D design tool, SpaceClaim keyed in on enhancements that make deployment easier for large enterprise customers looking to expand the use of 3-D data for concept modeling, bid modeling and model preparation.

New in SpaceClaim 2011 are enhancements in the areas of surface modeling, large assembly performance, enterprise integration and model preparation for CAE tools. These areas of improvement are based on input from customers interested in expanding their use of 3-D data to communicate design intent prior to release to CAD systems, which many contend are too complex and time consuming to master for the broader engineering audience.

"Too often, geometry is the bottleneck to getting the job done," says Blake Courter, co-founder of SpaceClaim. "CAD plays an isolated role in the product development organization. Engineers doing sales work, who are overseeing projects or figuring out how to optimize manufacturing processes all have to interact with 3D, but feature-based CAD systems are only designed to be used by trained operators."

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In the latest release, SpaceClaim 2011 serves up new and improved surface modeling functions, freeform sketch capabilities and the ability to work with symmetry. To build out its story around use of SpaceClaim as a tool for preparing models for simulation, SpaceClaim 2011 offers a new feature for selecting faces by area, which expedites volume extraction for CFD programs along with mold design. Mesh data can now be directly reused to make precise 3-D models, and the upgrade is stocked with a host of new sheet metal capabilities, Courter says.

In addition to the variety of new feature improvements, SpaceClaim 2011 offers a range of packaging options targeted at larger corporate customers to make it easier to deploy the design tool on a broader scale. To that end, the software's Trace Parts library content is now provided as a free online service and floating licenses can be borrowed for offline use.

In a related announcement, SpaceClaim announced a major enterprise customer win on the heels of the new release. Tyco Electronics, a provider of engineered electronics components and network solutions, is taking advantage of the new floating licenses to deploy SpaceClaim on an enterprise scale to 3,500 engineers, according to Courter.

"We identified the need for a 3-D design tool for engineers involved in concept modeling and simulation that was easy to deploy and use, didn't require intensive training and yet was precise, powerful and worked with our existing CAD and CAE tools," said Andreas Hintz, Tyco Electronics' manager of enterprise CAD/CAE/CAM, in a prepared release. "SpaceClaim met the key requirements of our global business units and our pilot test feedback was very positive."