C3D

C3D Toolkit is a geometric modeling kit originally developed by ASCON Group, now by C3D Labs, using C++ and written in Visual Studio. C3D Toolkit responsible for constructing and editing geometric models. It can be licensed by other companies for use in their 3D computer graphics software products. The most widely known software in which C3D Toolkit is typically used are computer aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and computer-aided engineering (CAE) systems.

As the software development tool, C3D Toolkit performs 3D modeling, 3D constraint solving, polygonal mesh-to-B-rep conversion, 3D visualization, and 3D file conversions. It incorporates five modules:
* C3D Modeler constructs geometric models, generates flat projections of models, performs triangulations, calculates the inertial characteristics of models, and determines whether collisions occur between the elements of models;
** C3D Modeler for ODA enables advanced 3D modeling operations through the ODA's standard "OdDb3DSolid" API from the Open Design Alliance;
* C3D Solver makes connections between the elements of geometric models, and considers the geometric constraints of models being edited;
* C3D B-Shaper converts polygonal models to boundary representation (B-rep) bodies;
* C3D Vision controls the quality of rendering for 3D models using mathematical apparatus and software, and the workstation hardware;
* C3D Converter reads and writes geometric models in a variety of standard exchange formats.

History

Nikolai Golovanov is a graduate of the Mechanical Engineering department of Bauman Moscow State Technical University as a designer of space launch vehicles. Upon his graduation, he began with the Kolomna Engineering Design bureau, which at the time employed the future founders of ASCON, Alexander Golikov and Tatiana Yankina. While at the bureau, Dr Golovanov developed software for analyzing the strength and stability of shell structures.

In 1989, Alexander Golikov and Tatiana Yankina left Kolomna to start up ASCON as a private company. Although they began with just an electronic drawing board, even then they were already conceiving the idea of three-dimensional parametric modeling. This radical concept eventually changed flat drawings into three-dimensional models. The ASCON founders shared their ideas with Nikolai Golovanov, and in 1996 he moved to take up his current position with ASCON. Today he continues to develop algorithms in C3D Toolkit.

Functionality

C3D Modeler

* Modeling 3D solids
* Performing Boolean operations
* Creating thin-walled solids
* Filleting and chamfering parts
* Modeling sheetmetal parts
* Designing with direct modeling
* Modeling 3D surfaces
* Modeling 3D wireframe objects
* Surface triangulation
* Performing geometric calculations
* Casting planar projections
* Creating section views
* Calculating mass inertia properties
* Collision detection

C3D Converter

Boundary representation (B-Rep):
* STEP incl. PMI (protocols AP203, AP214, AP242)
* Parasolid X_T, X_B (read v.29.0/write v.27.0)
* ACIS SAT (read v.22.0/write v.4.0, 7.0, 10.0)
* IGES (read v.5.3/write v.5.3)
Polygonal representation:
* STL (read and write)
* VRML (read v.2.0/write v.2.0)
Both representations:
* JT v.8.0 - 10.x incl. PMI and LOD (ISO 14306)

The C3D file format is also used as CAD exchange format, and it is gaining popularity in the global area.

C3D Vision

* Configures levels of detail (LOD)
* Applies shaders and widgets
* Uses 3D assembly feature tree managers
* Controls static graphics and dynamic scenes
* Sets anti-aliasing levels
* Culls invisible elements of scenes
* Speeds up visual computing through hardware acceleration
* Section planes
* Interactive 3D controls (manipulators)

C3D Solver

* 2D constraint solver for 2D drawings and 3D sketches
* 3D constraint solver for assemblies and kinematic analyses

The C3D Solver supports the following constraint types:
* Coincidence (available in 2D and 3D)
* Align points (2D)
* Angle (2D and 3D)
* Coaxiality (3D)
* Distance (2D and 3D)
* Equal lengths (2D)
* Equal radii (2D)
* Fix geometry (2D and 3D)
* Fix length and direction (2D)
* Incidence (2D)
* Parallelism (2D and 3D)
* Perpendicularity (2D and 3D)
* Radius (2D)
* Tangency (2D and 3D)

C3D B-Shaper

* Controls surface recognition accuracy
* Segments polygonal meshes
* Edit segments
* Reconstructs segments in certain types of surfaces
* Generates B-rep models

Features

The development environment operates using these software:
* MS Visual Studio 2017
* MS Visual Studio 2015
* MS Visual Studio 2013
* MS Visual Studio 2012
* MS Visual Studio 2010
* MS Visual Studio 2008
* Clang (for Mac OS)
* GCC (for Linux)
* NDK (for Android)

The supported programming languages include:
* C++
* C#
* JavaScript

Applications

Since 2013 - the date the company started issuing a license for the toolkit -, several companies have adopted C3D software components for their products, users include:

nanoCAD
an
nanoCAD Mechanica
use the C3D Modeler, C3D Solver, and C3D Converter components
KOMPAS-3D
flexible 3D modeling system
KOMPAS-BuilderKOMPAS:24
for Android
TECHTRAN
uses C3D to import 3D models in various formats, view them, prepare blanks for turning CNCs from 3D models of future parts, and retrieve geometric data from 3D models.
LEDAS Geometry Comparison (LGC)
technology to compare 3D models and pinpoint all of the differences between them
* CAE syste
PASS/EQUIP
for comprehensive structural pressure vessels analysis
ESPRIT Extra CAD
is based on C3D kernel
*Furniture Design CA
K3-Furniture
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*Furniture Design CA
K3-Mebel
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Quick CADCAM
*Furniture Design CA
BAZIS System

*3D AEC CAD software platfor
Renga Architecture
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* Building information modeling syste
Renga Structure
for structural design buildings and facilities
Staircon
application for the timber staircase industry
SolidEng Dietech India
develops software to configure mold bases for various die casting machines
LOGOS
software for simulation with supercomputers
PRISMA
(Russian analogue of MCNP)
*EE Boost Acoustic VR
*EE Boost Electromagnetics
MKA Steel
application for a single-story steel structure design
Delta Design
software for the automated design of electronic devices
*Altium Designer software package for printed circuit board, field-programmable gate array and embedded software design
* Quickfield finite element analysis software package

*ÇİZEN Die (manufacturing) Design Software from Mubitek

*Open BIM Systems from CYPE Software

VR Concept
Virtual reality application uses C3D Converter for reading imported CAD data, and C3D Modeler for constructing and editing 3D models

Recently, C3D Modeler has been adapted to ODA Platform.

In April 2017, C3D Viewer was launched for end users. The application allows to read 3D models in common formats and write it to the C3D file format. Free version is available.

See also

* CAD standards
* Computer-aided technologies
* Computer-aided design
* Computer-aided manufacturing
* Computer-aided engineering
* Geometric modeling kernel
* Geometric modeling
* Solid modeling
* Boundary representation

References

External links

Official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:C3D
Graphics software
3D graphics software
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design software
Computer-aided engineering software
CAD file formats
C++ libraries
3D scenegraph APIs
Application programming interfaces
Software development kits
Programming tools