Editor’s Pick: 3D Systems Releases Geomagic 2014

A week or so ago, 3D Systems released the 2014 version of its Geomagic suite of software tools for creating and 3D printing CAD designs, scanning objects, and inspecting articles. And, geez Louise, they are doing interesting things down there in Rock Hill, SC. Here’s what I mean.

A key element to keep in mind about Geomagic 2014 is that the modules in the suite are integrated. Married may be the better word since some of the modules have been renamed, which are noted in the news write-up. The main applications in the suite for our purposes today are Geomagic Design X for getting legacy scans into CAD; Geomagic Design Direct, which integrates reverse engineering tools with direct-modeling CAD; Geomagic Verify for first part inspection; Geomagic Control, a 3D metrology solution and automation platform; and Geomagic Freeform, a multi-purpose design platform. Making their debut in Geomagic 2014 are two new modules: Dynamics for Geomagic Design and Simulate for Geomagic Design. We’ll focus on these last two.

But first, miscellaneous enhancements across the Geomagic 2014 suite include enhanced user interface functions; additional support for more contact and non-contact scanning and measurement devices; and greater automation of 3D scan and measurement processes. You’ll find thumbnail descriptions of the individual modules and some of their notable enhancements in today’s Pick of the Week write-up. You’ll also find links to all these modules so that you can drill down for more details.

OK, now, the new modules. Dynamics for Geomagic Design enables motion simulations. Specifically, it’s a rigid body kinematics and dynamics simulation tool. You use it to build and test functional virtual prototypes of some gizmo with complex motion, say a conveyor belt or pulley, and then you simulate its full-motion behavior.

Simulate for Geomagic Design provides finite element analysis (FEA) capabilities—stress, strain, deflection, vibration, buckling, and heat transfer. You can analyze a part by defining your boundary conditions manually or you can leverage this module’s integration with Dynamics for Geomagic Design to transfer the boundary conditions from a motion analysis into your FEA simulation.

So, what you probably noticed about all this integration business is that Geomagic 2014 creates a comprehensive design-to-manufacturing environment that should cover virtually every possible scenario in the 3D scan-design-print workflow you throw at it. Functionally, this means engineers, product designers, artists, and technicians at manufacturers of various stripes can scan objects, fiddle with data points, import legacy data, model designs, freeform sculpt organic shapes, and analyze parts and designs in a seamless environment. And all of it is tweaked to make scanning, modeling, and 3D printing more efficient.

In a nutshell, that’s why I think they’re up to some interesting things at 3D Systems. Hit the link over there and see for yourself.

Thanks, Pal. — Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood

Editor at Large, Desktop Engineering

Read today’s pick of the week write-up.

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