Different businesses have different preferences regarding the 3D CAD mechanical software they use. When collaboration time comes around, exchanging and publishing files brings additional hassles. Open Design Alliance (ODA) is in the process of easing that situation with its development of MCAD SDK, an open exchange framework.
ODA is a nonprofit technology consortium supported by more than 1,200 companies. Its MCAD SDK will give users open access to the main MCAD formats, including CATIA, Creo, Solid Edge and SOLIDWORKS. The platform will feature a common interface that can support different geometries and vital product manufacturing information (PMI) data, along with providing visualization and publishing across the board.
Whether on the cloud or on the desktop, all MCAD formats will have one viewer that will allow users to inspect, mark up and visualize designs. When working in the cloud—regardless of which cloud, such as Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) or a private cloud—users will be able to integrate data into various web applications and get support for large models. Features on the desktop include combining multiple models into one scene, computing clashes with tolerance, adding real-time GPU effects and multi-threading for high performance.
ODA also aims to enhance publishing with universal and 3D PDF publishing. For the former, the MCAD SDK platform will be compatible with PRC and PDF standards and allow for advanced animation and interactive tables and controls. Prior to publishing, designs can be reconfigured and customized. Whether 2D or 3D, features available for publishing 3D PDFs can include product marketing information (PMI) data, B-rep or mesh, materials and more.
According to Neil Peterson, ODA president, the developing platform will offer several advantages.
“First, the companies funding the MCAD SDK project will control priorities, fees and licensing terms for the developed software,” he said. “Second, ODA is committed to this technology for the long term. As the CAD market consolidates, smaller companies are being acquired and products are being retired, to eliminate competition or to maximize return on investment. ODA has a laser-like focus on development and isn’t distracted by venture-capital-inspired market activity.
ODA’s Strategic Interoperability Group (SIG) program is developing the platform. The SIG will help companies achieve goals through jointly developing solutions, which means saving on development costs. For people looking forward to the MCAD SDK, that collaboration equates to fair pricing, according to Peterson.
“We frequently hear complaints from our members about the opaque and unfair licensing terms, often enforced by NDAs, offered by commercial component vendors,” he said. “ODA has fair and transparent pricing—everyone licensing our software at a particular level pays the same fees and all fees are published on our website.”
Anyone looking to get started with the new platform still has a little wait. ODA’s tentative timeline is below.