CADRA Integrates with SpaceClaim Engineer

By Anthony J. Lockwood

SofTech Inc. (Lowell, MA) and SpaceClaim Corp. (Concord, MA) have announced the integration of the CADRA 2D mechanical design and drafting program and the 3D direct modeler SpaceClaim Engineer. According to the companies, the CADRA for SpaceClaim Engineer Integrator enables CADRA users to produce 3D detailed models quickly and efficiently,  integrate solid modeling with existing drafting workflows, and import data from any CAD system using SpaceClaim’s data translators while SpaceClaim users will be able to create detailed engineering documentation in CADRA.

CADRA for SpaceClaim Engineer Integrator is said to tightly couple CADRA Design Drafting with SpaceClaim Engineer, creating a combined design,  drafting, and solid modeling capability. With this bi-directional integration, engineers working in SpaceClaim Engineer can conceptually design in 3D and then produce their required engineering drawings in CADRA Design Drafting. Drafters and designers, on the other hand, can expand any portion of their CADRA 2D detail drafting work to 3D solid modeling using SpaceClaim Engineer, say the companies. Additionally, the companies report that any 2D geometry represented in a CADRA drawing can be used to create a 3D solid model, giving the designer or drafter better visualization of the design intent for a part or assembly.

SofTech says that some of the benefits of CADRA for SpaceClaim Engineer Integrator for CADRA users include the ability to integrate solid modeling on a single desktop, bringing prototyping capabilities to CADRA, and making photorealistic images of work in progress possible.

With CADRA for SpaceClaim Engineer Integrator report any 2D geometry represented in a CADRA drawing can be used to create a 3D solid model in SpaceClaim Engineer. Images courtesy of SofTech Inc. and SpaceClaim. Corp.

“Our bi-directional connector technology lets CADRA users easily and seamlessly work in 3D with the ease of use they have become accustomed to in CADRA,” said Bob Anthonyson, vice president of business development at SofTech in the announcement. “SpaceClaim Engineer is a cost-effective and easy-to-learn 3D solution for the thousands of engineers, designers, and drafters that rely on CADRA each day for their design work. The SpaceClaim Engineer and CADRA bundle is exactly what our market needs to expand an organization’s access to 3D technology beyond the more difficult to use, parametric feature-based 3D tools. It also adds digital prototyping capabilities to their environment and can reduce design costs, improve design quality, and decrease time-to-market.”

CADRA Design Drafting from SofTech Inc.

“CADRA bundled with SpaceClaim Engineer marries the best of the 2D world with the best of the 3D world,” said Rich Moore, vice president of business development at SpaceClaim, in the press statement. “Not only will our SpaceClaim customers be able to create detailed documentation in CADRA, but they will also be able to easily turn existing 2D drawings and concept sketches created in CADRA into SpaceClaim parts and assemblies, providing even more value to their existing investment in CADRA.”

The CADRA for SpaceClaim Engineer Integrator solution is available immediately and sold and supported by SofTech. For more information, visit SofTech.

Watch an example of using assemblies with CADRA for SpaceClaim Engineer Integrator.

Watch an example of bi-directional data exchange with CADRA for SpaceClaim Engineer Integrator.

Sign-up for the on-demand webinar on the CADRA and SpaceClaim integrated solution.

Go here for more on CADRA design and drafting features.

Go here for more details on SpaceClaim Engineer.

See why DE’s editors selected the CADRA for SpaceClaim Engineer Integrator as their Pick of the Week.

Sources:  Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.