Parasolid is a geometric modeling kernel originally developed by

Shape Data Limited Shape Data Limited is a computer software company in Cambridge, England that specialises in developing programs for engineering and manufacturing professionals. Overview Established in 1974 by several doctoral students of the University of ...

, now owned and developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software. It can be licensed by other companies for use in their

3D computer graphics 3D computer graphics, or “3D graphics,” sometimes called CGI, 3D-CGI or three-dimensional computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) that is stored in the computer for th ...

software products. Parasolid's capabilities include model creation and editing utilities such as Boolean modeling operators, feature modeling support, advanced surfacing, thickening and hollowing, blending and filleting and sheet modeling. It also incorporates modeling with mesh surfaces and lattices. Parasolid also includes tools for direct model editing, including tapering, offsetting, geometry replacement and removal of feature details with automated regeneration of surrounding data. Parasolid also provides wide-ranging graphical and rendering support, including hidden-line, wireframe and drafting, tessellation and model data inquiries. Parasolid parts are normally saved in XT format, which usually has the file extension .x_t. The format is documented and open. There is also a binary version of the format, usually with an .x_b extension, which is somewhat more compact. To use Parasolid effectively, software developers need knowledge of

CAD Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve c ...

in general,

computational geometry Computational geometry is a branch of computer science devoted to the study of algorithms which can be stated in terms of geometry. Some purely geometrical problems arise out of the study of computational geometric algorithms, and such problems ar ...

and

topology In mathematics, topology (from the Greek words , and ) is concerned with the properties of a geometric object that are preserved under continuous deformations, such as stretching, twisting, crumpling, and bending; that is, without closing ...

. Parasolid is available for Windows (32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64), Linux (64-bit), macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), iOS, and Android.

Applications

It is used in many

Computer-aided design Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve co ...

(CAD),

Computer-aided manufacturing Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) also known as computer-aided modeling or computer-aided machining is the use of software to control machine tools in the manufacturing of work pieces. This is not the only definition for CAM, but it is the most ...

(CAM), Computer-aided engineering (CAE),

Product visualization Visualization or visualisation (see spelling differences) is any technique for creating images, diagrams, or animations to communicate a message. Visualization through visual imagery has been an effective way to communicate both abstract and c ...

, and

CAD data exchange CAD data exchange is a method of drawing data exchange used to translate between different Computer-aided design ( CAD) authoring systems or between CAD and other downstream CAx systems. Many companies use different CAD systems and exchange CAD ...

packages. Notable uses include: * Abaqus *

ADINA ADINA is a commercial engineering simulation software program that is developed and distributed worldwide by ADINA R & D, Inc. The company was founded in 1986 by Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Bathe, and is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, United S ...

Alibre Design Alibre Design is a 3D parametric computer aided design (3D CAD) software suite developed by Alibre for Microsoft Windows. Available in fifteen languages. Alibre is a brand of Alibre, LLC, a company based in Texas. About Founded in 1997, Alibr ...

* Altair HyperWorks * Ansys * TopSolid * Cimatron E *

Delcam Delcam is a supplier of advanced CAD/CAM software for the manufacturing industry. The company has grown steadily since being founded formally in 1977, after initial development work at Cambridge University, UK. It is now a global developer of ...

COMSOL Multiphysics COMSOL Multiphysics is a finite element analysis, solver, and simulation software package for various physics and engineering applications, especially coupled phenomena and multiphysics. The software facilitates conventional physics-based us ...

* Femap * HyperMesh * IRONCAD * MasterCAM * Medusa *

MicroStation MicroStation is a CAD software platform for two- and three-dimensional design and drafting, developed and sold by Bentley Systems and used in the architectural and engineering industries. It generates 2D/3D vector graphics objects and elements an ...

* Moldflow *

Siemens NX NX, formerly known as "unigraphics", is an advanced high-end CAD/CAM/ CAE, which has been owned since 2007 by Siemens Digital Industries Software. In 2000, Unigraphics purchased SDRC I-DEAS and began an effort to integrate aspects of both softw ...

* Onshape * Qinetiq Paramarine * Plasticity *

PowerSHAPE Delcam is a supplier of advanced CAD/CAM software for the manufacturing industry. The company has grown steadily since being founded formally in 1977, after initial development work at Cambridge University, UK. It is now a global developer of ...

* Shapr3D * Simcenter STAR-CCM+ * SimScale * Solid Edge *

SolidWorks SolidWorks is a solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) application published by Dassault Systèmes. According to the publisher, over two million engineers and designers at more than 165,000 companies w ...

T-FLEX CAD T-FLEX CAD (T-FLEX) – is a Russian-made parametric computer-aided design (CAD) software application for 2D design, drafting, and 3D solid modeling based on commercial Parasolid geometric kernel. It's primarily developed and distributed by ...

Vectorworks Vectorworks, Inc. is a U.S.-based software development company that focuses on CAD and BIM software for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), landscape, and entertainment industries. Vectorworks is owned by the Nemetschek Group ...

* WorkXPlore 3D

References

External links

Official Parasolid web page
Graphics software Computer-aided design software CAD file formats Siemens software products {{graphics-software-stub