LEDAS Ltd., a leading provider of computational software components for computer-aided design (CAD) systems, today announced the availability of Driving Dimensions 0.2, the second preliminary version of its free plugin for Google SketchUp. The plugin can be downloaded at www.DrivingDimensions.com. It offers easy-to-use parameterization tools, which considerably reduce the time required to make changes to the existing models and open new modeling capabilities.
The new features of Driving Dimensions 0.2 are its full compatibility with the latest version of Google SketchUp 7, possibility to set new types of driving dimensions — binary distances and angles (in addition to the lengths and radii, introduced in 0.1 version), smart parameterization of cylindrical surfaces, and robustness improvement working with large models. Driving distances in 0.2 version can be set between two arbitrary vertices, a vertex and an edge, or between two parallel edges. Angular driving dimensions are set between two adjacent edges of the same face. Smart parameterization of cylindrical surfaces maintains cylindrical shape in setting the radius of one of the surface-constraining arcs (circumferences). Setting different values of the radii for two surface-constraining arcs (circumferences), the cylinder is transformed into a cone.
«In the month passed since the release of the first preliminary version of Driving Dimensions 0.1 plugin for Google SketchUp 6, we have seen considerable interest to this solution by the SketchUp users around the world,» says Dmitry Ushakov, Director, Product Management, LEDAS Ltd. «The overall number of successful downloads of the plugin from our site and from download.com has exceeded 1500; many industry experts mentioned our plugin in their blogs; and various user communities have been actively discussing it in their forums. All this greatly stimulates our development work and encourage us to create similar plug-ins for other popular systems of geometric modeling.»
About Driving Dimensions
Driving Dimensions are end-user applications developed by LEDAS as plugins for popular 2D and 3D modeling systems to provide advanced parameterization capabilities to their users. Driving Dimensions are based on the Variational Direct Modeling technology, which uses direct (history-free) editing model elements, preserving its design intent, expressed by explicit and implicit driving dimensions (linear, angular, radial) and geometric constraints. Simultaneous satisfaction of geometric and dimensional constraints is achieved with LGS variational geometric solver, which is being developed by LEDAS since 2001 and is available for licensing to all CAD developers.
About LEDAS
LEDAS Ltd. is an independent software development company founded in 1999; it is based in Novosibirsk Scientific Centre (Akademgorodok), Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science. A leader in constraint-based technologies, LEDAS is a well-known provider of computational software components for PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions: geometric constraint solvers for CAD/CAM/CAE, optimization engines for Project Management, Work Scheduling and Meeting Planning as well as interval technologies for Knowledge-Based Engineering and Collaborative Design. The company also provides services for PLM market: software development, consulting, reselling as well as education and training. More information about LEDAS is available at www.ledas.com.
Contact
LEDAS Marketing Department
Phone: +7 383 3356 504
fax: +7 383 3356 256
email: info@ledas.com
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