Software offers on-demand desktop viewing.
Press Release Summary:
ST-Viewer v5.0 viewing and markup software is based on international ISO-STEP standard for product model data. Providing CAD and non-CAD users with graphical access to 3D engineering models, interactive tool displays and describes product identification information, assembly structure information, and 3D geometry information. ST-Viewer is suited for enterprise-wide applications including design collaboration, product reviews, tutorials, presentations, and customer support.
Original Press Release:
STEP Tools Presents New ST-Viewer v5.0 for the Engineering, Design, and Business Desktop
Updated Viewer for 3D STEP Product Data Offers Premium Desktop Viewing & Markup Capabilities and More
Troy, New York - September 2, 2003 - STEP Tools, Inc. announced today it is now shipping ST-Viewer v5.0, the newest release of its viewing and markup technology based on the international ISO-STEP standard for product model data.
ST-Viewer software gives CAD and non-CAD users a professional level of graphical access to 3D engineering models in design and manufacturing companies. This powerful, interactive tool displays and describes product identification information, assembly structure information, and 3D geometry information. The product offers new enhancements and rich graphical functionality for on-demand desktop viewing. ST-Viewer is ideal for a variety of enterprise-wide applications including design collaboration, product reviews, tutorials, presentations, and customer support. Visit STEP Tools web site at: www.steptools.com/products/stviewer for an online tutorial and additional technical information on ST-Viewer.
View, Analyze, Annotate, and Dimension STEP Data
ST-Viewer v5.0 is compatible with a wide range of CAD, CAM, CAE and PDM systems. The program reads many types of STEP files and generates rich visualizations in the Open Inventor file format, which include colors, transformations, light sources, and text annotations. The software is fully STEP Compliant and supports six major STEP Application Protocols (APs) including AP 203 (mechanical CAD), AP 209 (finite element analysis), AP 210 (circuit board assemblies), AP 214 (automotive design), AP 224 (machining features), and AP 227 (process plant design).
Before proceeding with visualization, ST-Viewer automatically analyzes STEP input data. This procedure detects potential problems and appropriately adjusts software switches. The data analyzer looks for difficult geometry, burdensome file sizes, unsupported APs, and determines if configuration data is available.
ST-Viewer can communicate with CAD systems, part libraries, and databases. The software can be embedded in a company's web page as a World Wide Web browser "plug in", or used as a standalone application for viewing and sharing STEP product data. Markups and annotations can be made and sent between users of ST-Viewer. The images produced by ST-Viewer can be translated into Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) for use on the World Wide Web. Visualizations of solids and wireframe models can also be cut and pasted into other tools and printed.
The program's capabilities can be expanded using an OLE/COM interface. Using the OLE/COM interface, application programmers can create custom applications that use ST-Viewer to highlight or pick the geometry or assembly structure of a product.
ST-Viewer Pricing and Support
ST-Viewer v5.0 is priced based on number of seats: 1-4 seats - $290.00 USD, 5-10 seats - $240.00 USD, 10 seats or more seats - $190.00 USD. ST-Viewer upgrade pricing also available. Pricing is subject to change.
System Requirements
ST-Viewer requires 100mb of hard disc space for installation. Recommended Processor: Pentium 200 MHz or higher. Minimum RAM requirement: 64 MB. Recommended Video: SVGA or better. Recommended Web Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher. The software package supports Windows operating systems: Windows NT 4.0/2000 or Windows 98/95. Please note: Windows 95 releases before 1997 are not supported. ST-Viewer may or may not work properly on such systems.
About STEP and STEP-NC Standards
STEP (STandard for Exchange of Product model data) is a comprehensive ISO standard for CAD design data. STEP-NC, the manufacturing extension of this standard, annotates the design information with manufacturing data. STEP became a full ISO standard in 1994, and since then, all of the leading CAD software vendors have implemented STEP data translation. It is estimated that more than one and a half million CAD stations now contain STEP data translators. STEP-NC is on its way to becoming a Draft International Standard in 2004.
About STEP Tools, Inc.
STEP Tools, Inc. is a leading international supplier of professional STEP software toolsets (based on ISO standards) for application software developers, design firms and manufacturing companies in diverse industries. The STEP Tools product line is used by the world's foremost firms to leverage STEP and STEP-NC technology to facilitate the sharing of engineering product information. Over one million end users utilize product data applications built with ST-Developer, the company's flagship product. The company offers a suite of software solutions in several languages that integrate with existing tools and database systems, and also provide cross-platform compatibility and ease-of-use for streamlined development. The emerging STEP-NC technology is yielding process improvements including a 35% reduction in path planning time, a 75% reduction in paper drawings generated for the shop-floor, and a 50% improvement in machining time for small to mid-sized job lots. For late-breaking information, contact STEP Tools, Inc. by calling (518) 687-2848, email: info@steptools.com or visit www.steptools.com.
