Mechanical Drawing Software is Windows-based.
Press Release Summary:
CADKEY GraphX(TM) v20 allows users to create accurate drawings from scratch, or generate drawings from solid, surface, and polygon models imported from other systems including ACIS® and Parasolid® models. Intelligent dimensioning on native or imported drawings helps prevent manufacturing errors by prohibiting creation of dimensions that do not match geometry or are not properly constructed. File referencing system provides data organization.
Original Press Release:
CADKEY Corporation Announces CADKEY GraphX
The First Product in the "All-New Architecture" CADKEY Product Line
New Version 20 Technology Delivers State-of-the-Art Products for Contemporary MCAD Market
Marlborough, MA - December 3, 2001 - CADKEY Corporation, a leading developer of Windows®-based mechanical design and drafting software worldwide, announced that in December, 2001 they will release CADKEY GraphX(TM) Version 20 advanced mechanical drawing software for drafters, mechanical design engineers and manufacturing engineers. Built on an all-new contemporary architecture, the product allows users to quickly create accurate drawings from scratch or generate drawings from solid, surface and polygon models that are imported from other systems, including ACIS® and Parasolid® models. It utilizes "intelligent" dimensioning on native or imported drawings to help prevent costly manufacturing errors by prohibiting the creation of dimensions that do not match geometry or are not properly constructed. CADKEY GraphX also utilizes a unique flexible file referencing system that allows referenced geometry to be stored in separate files or grouped in one file for optimum data organization. For maximum interoperability with other CAD/CAM/CAE systems, industry-standard data translators (DWG, DXF(TM), ACIS-SAT, Parasolid X_T, STEP, IGES, STL, VRML) are included at no extra charge. The product is optimized to run in Windows® XP, 2000, NT 4 and will run in Windows 98. It is priced at $1,800 USD and includes a one-year annual update contract.
Robert W. Bean, P.E., President and CEO of CADKEY Corporation, stated, "We have literally re-written the CADKEY® code 'from the ground up'. The all-new Version 20 architecture is the result of a significant investment in technology that began nearly four years ago. This is by far our most significant endeavor. In addition to CADKEY GraphX, we are concurrently enhancing and expanding our comprehensive hybrid modeling solutions that integrate drafting, wireframe, freeform solid modeling, parametric solid modeling, and freeform surface modeling. Two additional 3D modeling products built with this modern architecture will be released over the next several months, completing the new CADKEY mechanical design product line."
CADKEY GraphX is the first all-new mechanical CAD system to be developed in the last few years. The all-new CADKEY Version 20 Technology architecture integrates the latest advances in Windows file structuring as well as several advanced components from leading CAD technology providers. CADKEY GraphX is the first commercial application released using the GeMS++(TM) object-oriented database and memory management tools from Honeywell
(Kansas City, MO). GeMS++ was developed as part of an advanced manufacturing initiative sponsored by the US Department of Energy. This technology offers an unlimited undo/redo system, optimized file saving for smaller file size, faster file loading and advanced data protection.
Another key component in CADKEY GraphX is a unified graphics system based on the HOOPS® Application Framework from Techsoft America, Inc. (Oakland, CA). HOOPS provides optimized graphic processing critical to large assemblies as well as output of next-generation compressed graphical files (Open HSF) for sharing of data over the web. The GraphX Version 20 Technology architecture also utilizes ACIS components from Spatial Corporation (Boulder, CO) that enables the generation of sectional views and the healing of surfaces into solid models.
John Wright McCullough, Product Manager, explained, "Despite the major advances and increased use of 3D modeling over the last 5 years, some CAD users still only need 2D tools for their applications. For example, there will continue to be new tooling designed for flat or symmetrical parts in which the entire design can be described in two dimensions. Additionally, 2D drawings are still the standard means of product definition and communication of tolerance information. Based on extensive customer visits and feedback, we observed the need for a cost-effective yet sophisticated, contemporary drawing product targeted specifically for mechanical drawing."
A primary focus in the new architecture was the management of assembly information and the relation of parts to other parts in the database. "Users described troubles they had been experiencing with existing mid-range parametric modeling architectures which require the creation of a new file for each new part and drawing. We responded by creating a flexible foundation that provides options for both the typical mid-range approach and more advanced part distribution schemes. We not only maintained our traditional layering system, but expanded it to include unique new sub-level capabilities," McCullough added.
Import and Process Solid Models
Users who receive solid models from customers, vendors or other departments can use CADKEY GraphX's 3D tools to quickly extract volume data, edge geometry, hidden line orthogonal views and sections. This can significantly speed up the process of creating a detail or assembly drawing or creating machinery or tooling while referencing these solids. Working from solids expands the traditional drafting possibilities by enabling quick cut-away pictorial views and multi-colored shaded views. CADKEY GraphX also offers unique capabilities to convert imported wireframe and surface models into solids. The product's Windows-friendly interface and ability to quickly create a simple sketch or drawing make it an excellent complement to constraint-based modeling CAD software used in product design.
"Intelligent" Dimensioning
CADKEY GraphX contains the mechanical drawing, editing, two-dimensional problem solving and customization capabilities of a professional-grade CAD product, with advanced "intelligent" utilities. The new Tru-Dimensions dimension-checking system provides numerous tools to prevent or highlight incorrect dimensions, reducing costly, erroneous dimensions on production drawings. For example, functions can be customized to prevent practices such as adjusting the text of dimensions and "eyeballing" placement of the ends of dimensions, which can lead to erroneous dimensions.
Drawing Tools
CADKEY GraphX offers creation and editing of over two dozen different types of geometric, construction and detailing entities using a simple, logical and consistent interface. Intelligent positioning tools animate entities appropriately during placement and provide complete control over position-snapping options. It also provides comprehensive support of both bi-cubic and NURBS curves and advanced transformation functions for total control of geometry.
Annotation Tools
A professional set of detailing functions allows quick creation and complete manipulation of all annotations used on mechanical drawings. Settings can be adjusted and stored to match any style and support ANSI, ISO, DIN and JIS standards. Advanced capabilities such as baseline dimension sets, automatic dimensioning, and associative updating can dramatically increase detailing productivity.
Entitymaster
The Entitymaster system delivers professional-grade entity management to address big projects with large amounts of data that can become cumbersome to manage. Entitymaster streamlines the entity selection and level (layer) management process, making grabbing the target entities quick, simple and consistent across all functions. Extensive selection features include fly-over highlighting, recall last selection set, additive or subtractive modes of quick cursor and window select/unselect, next entity toggle, chaining, partial window, and filtering (mask) on any attribute. The Entitymaster level system provides support for both naming and numbering, attribute defaults by level, hiding, locking and filtering plus unique sub-level capabilities.
Data Sharing
Because most users work with other vendors and customers and do not always know what other types of software they will need to share data between each day, CADKEY GraphX comes complete with industry-standard data translators. This enables users to exchange nearly all standard types of CAD drawings and 3D models. Paper or faxed drawings scanned into a raster image file (TIFF, BMP, etc.) can be read and scaled to allow approximate distances and areas to be calculated. CAD drawings can be exchanged using DWG, DXF, CADL, and IGES files. Models can be
imported and exported from IGES, STEP, ACIS (SAT), Parasolid (X_T) and Stereolithography (STL) files. Additional
export mechanisms support TIFF, Bitmap (BMP), HPGL/2, Windows Metafile (WMF), HOOPS Metafiles (HMF) and VRML for quick distribution to a wide variety of software. Users can also create an HTML page of their drawings and models with one click to instantly share their work on the Internet.
Interface
CADKEY GraphX offers four optional interface mechanisms to enable maximum productivity for individuals with differing software experience and preferences. Anyone with basic knowledge of CAD will find the Windows-style interface easy to navigate. A popular alternative is the icon palette interface, originated by CADKEY, which includes proprietary pop-up icon menus adjacent to the cursor as an integral part of the palette, dramatically reducing icon clutter. Users can optionally customize their own Microsoft Office® type icon toolbars and use pop-up icon menus to minimize their size. The fourth option is the original CADKEY DOS-style compact text-based menu system still preferred by many
users experienced with established CAD and CAM software. No matter which interface a user selects, they have access to
standard keyboard-driven options that significantly reduce mouse clicking and dragging.
