Headlining Creo 4.0’s new features is support for model-based enterprise (MBE), also known as model-based definition (MBD). Like other companies building software for designers, PTC has realized that many companies feel that 2D drawings are becoming more of a hindrance than a help when it comes to articulating a design. Not only do drawings take time to produce, they can also be difficult to interpret. To address this issue, firms have begun to build manufacturing instruction directly into a model, and with Creo 4.0, users will now have the tools to apply ASME and ISO standard geometric dimensioning and tolerancing annotations. This addition will allow Creo users to move forward to meet the future of CAD and also validate their models without having to produce 2D paper drawings.
In addition to MBE/MBD improvements, Creo 4.0 will also include new 3D printing tools that take into account a designer’s need to leverage the prototyping and production technology. In 4.0, users will have access to a suite of tools to build and analyze parts that feature internal lattice structures. With these automated tools, designers will be able to make lighter-weight parts in a way that can only be achieved using 3D printing technology.
The last major upgrade to Creo 4.0 is a revamping of the software’s UI. Now, users will have a more dynamic experience when interacting with their model. Depending on the geometry that a user selects, context-sensitive commands will appear right at a designer’s fingertips. With these new tools, users will be able to get their work done faster and in a more intuitive manner.
Although PTC has started to tease Creo 4.0, the company says that we haven’t seen anything yet and that this newest update will be chock full of new features. In fact, as PTC recently said, “Creo 4 is going to be … one of the biggest releases we’ve had in a very long time.” For users, that represents good news and a sign that PTC is still committed to its CAD tool, even though the company appears to be pivoting towards a product lifecycle management/Internet of Things–centered business.