Yesterday, SpaceClaim launched the 2010 version of the history-free 3D modeler and we’re gonna give you a look at the new caffeine-rich, direct modeling features and functionality. They’re serious about a few things this time around – sheet metal, assembly conditions and volume simulation, among bits of other features. It can be wrapped up in one, single beam of highly focused energy… they are all features users are asking for.
It’s giving the major 3D modeling programs a run for the money. In fact, with this release, I’d go as far as to say that SpaceClaim is now one of the major 3D modeling programs and they’re still pushing the envelope of direct modeling technology. How? Let’s have a look.
The SpaceClaim 2010 new feature rundown
Some of the new features you’ll see in SpaceClaim 2010:
- New mechanism placement conditions
Ball Joints, Gears, Tangency, Rigid body, Fixed - 3D Sketching
Points, Lines, Splines - Sheet Metal Enhancements
New sheet metal tab
Form features and library
Cross-section based creation
Bend flat patterns to 3D sheet metal
Lightweight patterns
Engraved cutout notes - Simulation preparation
Body Volume power select
Improved extend tool - Interoperability
On-the-fly lightweight import - Detailing
New customizable symbols library
Modular grid coordinate system for automotive and aerospace applications. - API
Custom tools, objects
That’s a lot to cover, so we’ll knock out a few of the major ones that are really interesting and leave the rest for your mind to lapse into a cosmic wonder about. The features we cover also happen to be the only ones we have screenshots of which provides you all the rights to jab the screen with your nubs when you bring this up to show your friends. Here we go.
Assembly Conditions
There’s one things assemblies need to be able to do. Move. If you can’t simulate movement, assemblies are nearly useless. Over the past few years, SpaceClaim has increasingly been used for conceptual product development by everyone from Sales Engineers to Industrial Designers and Manufacturing teams. Having the ability to show how parts interact with each other is crucial. Now, you have that ability.
This isn’t just your ordinary assembly motion either. Most 3D programs use D-Cubed for motion simulation and constraint solving. Instead of paying royalties to Siemens PLM Software for the use of that technology, SpaceClaim went and developed their own motion tech. In many ways, it performs motion simulation much better, in that it allows you to locate the triad where you want the motion to occur and define interaction through Groups. Even better, it stops at the extents and updates part geometry in real-time… smoothly, and all of this is done through the Move command you’ll be familiar with if you’ve used SpaceClaim.


Volume Selection
You only get one image for this, so take it all in… slowly. If you’re into Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), you’ll be happy to know SpaceClaim is stepping up the game in this area to make it a lot easier for you to define those spaces to get your flow mojo on. It’s done through defining a selection criteria. You plug in the volume you want selected, for example, less than or equal to .18in3. SpaceClaim selects those volumes, you removed them, your analysis is simplified.
So, this makes it possible for any type of analyst to receive a model, simplify the model and continue with the analysis without having to trouble the engineers or stick them with another task of creating a model for analysis. Engineering continues with engineering. Analysts continue with the analysis. Time saved.

Sheet metal
Sheet metal was another area majorly lacking in previous versions. Lacking, lacking, lacking. No more. Not only are there sheet metal features, there’s a whole ribbon tab dedicated to all the metal bending joy you can imagine. The basics are there, bringing the ability to convert geometry to sheet metal, add flanges by simply pulling edges and quickly cycle through different types of bends and overlaps via a selection box. You’ll also get a library of form feature to drag, drop and manipulate till your heart’s content.
Obviously, direct modeling requires a different method for slamming out sheet metal features. You’re not building feature on top of feature. You’re influencing geometry with direct modeling tools. The way they’ve done sheet metal takes a lot of the work out of the process. As complicated as sheet metal can get, there’s bound to be some limitations with their first go at it, but for a first go, it’s extremely mature acting and may even need to start shaving come the next version.





Some of the other stuff
3D Sketching
If you’re familiar with 3D sketching in programs like SolidWorks, whose had and improved the feature for years, this isn’t anything special, but for a direct modeling tool to finally gain this capability… ’tis a good thing. With direct modeling you’re not creating reference geometry like planes to build features on top of, you’re working in 3-dimensional space to create geometry around other geometry, so it goes without saying, it would be critical to have the ability to add points, lines and splines in that 3-dimensional space to define the geometry.
Large Assemblies
For many reasons, large assemblies are always a problem in modern 3D modeling programs. The CAD companies deal with it in different ways, but it usually comes down to reducing what’s loaded when the file is opened. SpaceClaim now adds the same and they call it lightweight. An assembly is opened, then you select the pieces you want to load and edit. The same thing is applied to the assemblies in the drawings. Much needed, but really, large assemblies in any program just need to work.
The Smack
So does adding fancy sheet metal functionality, volume selection and a unique take on assembly simulation rank a product at the top? Not in the slightest. But, adding features requested by users, in my opinion, does. The bonus here is that those fancy sheet metal features, selections, sketching and assembly tools make SpaceClaim more than just a way to push and pull geometry around on a file you’ve imported. True, they’re features that other 3D programs have, but with SpaceClaim it’s all in the context of direct modeling. Direct modeling influences geometry. This version of SpaceClaim, once again, has the potential to influence how other 3D program approach direct modeling and history-free design in the future and extend the capabilities along-side other 3D programs for the user.
SpaceClaim
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