TopSolid is a completely integrated CAD/CAM software which was created by the French company Missler Software. It is based on the geometric kernel ParaSolid. As it is fully integrated, it allows users to design and manufacture parts using the same software. There is a wide range of Topsolid industry solutions: from the more general, mechanically oriented (TopSolid’Design) to specific solutions.
Actually, there is a whole line of CAM products: mechanical machining (TopSolid’Cam), sheet metal (TopSolid’Sheetmetal), wood (TopSolid’WoodCam), wire electroerosion (TopSolid’Wire). TopSolid also incorporates additional modules: a 2D draft module (TopSolid’Draft) and a structural computation one (TopSolid’Fea).
TopSolid'Cam, one of the main products of Topsolid, manages multi axis machining such as 5 axis machining, mill turn operations, twin Spindle and twin turret technology.
TopSolid 7 is claimed to simplify the design and modification of large assemblies in an organized and structured environment.
I-DEAS (Integrated Design and Engineering Analysis Software) is a computer-aided design software package. It was originally produced by SDRC in 1982. I-DEAS was used primarily in the automotive industry, most notably by Ford Motor Company and by General Motors. Now it is owned by Siemens PLM Software. Many I-DEAS technologies formed the basis of the NX system.
A CAD file is an output of a CAD software, containing key information about the designed object: its geometry and topology representation, 3D model hierarchy, metadata, and visual attributes depending on the format of the file.
Read moreIn the 4th part of the series, we will take a look at the features of working with wireframe models in 3D CAD software.
Read moreIn the 3rd and 4th parts of the series, we will talk about surface display modes in 3D CAD programs, starting with the shading mode.
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