Solid Edge
Encyclopedia
Solid Edge is a 3D CAD
parametric feature solid modeling
software. It runs on Microsoft Windows
and provides solid modeling
, assembly modelling
and drafting
functionality for mechanical engineers. Through third party applications it has links to many other Product Lifecycle Management
(PLM) technologies.
Originally developed and released by Intergraph
in 1996 using the ACIS
geometric modeling kernel
it later changed to using the Parasolid
kernel. In 1998 it was purchased and further developed by UGS Corp (the purchase date corresponds to the kernel swap).
In 2007, UGS was acquired by the Automation & Drives Division of Siemens AG
. UGS company was renamed Siemens PLM Software
on October 1, 2007.
Since Sep 2006 Siemens also offers a free 2D version called Solid Edge 2D Drafting.
Solid Edge is a direct competitor to Creo Elements/Pro, SolidWorks
and Autodesk Inventor
.
UGS Corp switched from the ACIS
modeling kernel to Parasolid
kernel in 1998 with V5.
Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology was launched in 2008.
Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology 2 was launched in 2009. Solid Edge ST3 was released on October 13, 2010.
Unlike other direct modeling systems, it is not driven by the typical history-based modeling system, instead providing parametric dimension-driven modeling by synchronizing geometry, parameters and rules using a decision-making engine, allowing users to apply unpredicted changes. This object-driven editing model is known as the Object Action Interface
, which emphasizes a User Interface that provides Direct Manipulation of objects (DMUI). The latest version, Synchronous Technology 2, adds support for sheet metal
designing, and also recognizes bends, folds and other features of imported sheet metal parts.
Synchronous Technology has been integrated into Solid Edge and another Siemens commercial CAD software, NX
, as an application layer built on the D-Cubed
and Parasolid
software components.
Solid Edge integrates with Sharepoint and Teamcenter to provide product lifecycle management. Solid Edge also integrates with PLM products from third parties.
Solid Edge provides support for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) starting with Solid Edge ST2 version released in 2009. This functionality is based on Siemens PLM's
existing Femap
and NX Nastran technologies.
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
parametric feature solid modeling
Solid modeling
Solid modeling is a consistent set of principles for mathematical and computer modeling of three dimensional solids. Solid modeling is distinguished from related areas of Geometric modeling and Computer graphics by its emphasis on physical fidelity...
software. It runs on Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and provides solid modeling
Solid modeling
Solid modeling is a consistent set of principles for mathematical and computer modeling of three dimensional solids. Solid modeling is distinguished from related areas of Geometric modeling and Computer graphics by its emphasis on physical fidelity...
, assembly modelling
Assembly modelling
Assembly modelling is technology and methods used by computer-aided design and product visualization computer software systems to handle multiple files that represent components within a product. The components within an assembly are represented as solid or surface models.The designer generally has...
and drafting
Technical drawing
Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
functionality for mechanical engineers. Through third party applications it has links to many other Product Lifecycle Management
Product lifecycle management
In industry, product lifecycle management is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from its conception, through design and manufacture, to service and disposal...
(PLM) technologies.
Originally developed and released by Intergraph
Intergraph
Intergraph Corporation is an American software development and services company. It provides enterprise engineering and geospatially powered software to businesses, governments, and organizations around the world. Intergraph operates through two divisions: Process, Power & Marine and Security,...
in 1996 using the ACIS
ACIS
The 3D ACIS Modeler is a 3D modelling kernel owned by Spatial Corporation . ACIS is used by many software developers in industries such as computer-aided design , Computer-aided manufacturing , Computer-aided engineering , Architecture, engineering and construction , Coordinate-measuring machine...
geometric modeling kernel
Geometric modeling kernel
A geometric modeling kernel is a 3D solid modeling software component used in computer-aided design packages. Examples include Romulus, Parasolid, ACIS, ShapeManager and Open CASCADE....
it later changed to using the Parasolid
Parasolid
Parasolid is a geometric modeling kernel originally developed by ShapeData, now owned by Siemens PLM Software , that can be licensed by other companies for use in their 3D computer graphics software products....
kernel. In 1998 it was purchased and further developed by UGS Corp (the purchase date corresponds to the kernel swap).
In 2007, UGS was acquired by the Automation & Drives Division of Siemens AG
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
. UGS company was renamed Siemens PLM Software
Siemens PLM Software
Siemens PLM Software is a computer software company specializing in 3D & 2D Product Lifecycle Management software. The company is a business unit of Siemens Industry Automation division, and is headquartered in Plano, Texas....
on October 1, 2007.
Since Sep 2006 Siemens also offers a free 2D version called Solid Edge 2D Drafting.
Solid Edge is a direct competitor to Creo Elements/Pro, SolidWorks
SolidWorks
SolidWorks is a 3D mechanical CAD program that runs on Microsoft Windows and is being developed by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., a subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes, S. A. . SolidWorks is currently used by over 1.3 million engineers and designers at more than 130,000 companies worldwide...
and Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk Inventor, developed by U.S.-based software company Autodesk, is 3D mechanical solid modeling design software for creating 3D digital prototypes used in the design, visualization and simulation of products...
.
History
Solid Edge V1 was first released in 1995. In October 1997 the Sheet Metal environment was introduced with V3.5.UGS Corp switched from the ACIS
ACIS
The 3D ACIS Modeler is a 3D modelling kernel owned by Spatial Corporation . ACIS is used by many software developers in industries such as computer-aided design , Computer-aided manufacturing , Computer-aided engineering , Architecture, engineering and construction , Coordinate-measuring machine...
modeling kernel to Parasolid
Parasolid
Parasolid is a geometric modeling kernel originally developed by ShapeData, now owned by Siemens PLM Software , that can be licensed by other companies for use in their 3D computer graphics software products....
kernel in 1998 with V5.
Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology was launched in 2008.
Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology 2 was launched in 2009. Solid Edge ST3 was released on October 13, 2010.
Animation
The Traditional modeling process begins with a base feature controlled by a 2D sketch, which is either a linear, revolved, lofted, or swept extrusion. Each subsequent feature is built on the previous feature. When editing, the model is "rolled back" to the point where the feature was created so that the user cannot try to apply constraints to geometry that does not yet exist. The drawback is that the user does not see how the edit will interact with the subsequent features. This is typically called "history" or "regeneration based" modeling. In both traditional and synchronous mode Solid Edge offers very powerful, easy yet stable modeling in hybrid surface/solid mode, where "Rapid Blue" technology helps the user to create complex shapes in an intuitive and easy way.Direct
The Direct modeling features allows the user to change model geometry/topology without being hindered by a native model's existing - or an imported model's lack of - parametric and/or history data. This is particularly useful for working with imported models or complex native models.Synchronous
The software combines direct modeling with dimension driven design (features and synchronously solving parametrics) under the name "Synchronous Technology". Parametric relationships can be applied directly to the solid features without having to depend on 2D sketch geometry, and common parametric relationships are applied automatically.Unlike other direct modeling systems, it is not driven by the typical history-based modeling system, instead providing parametric dimension-driven modeling by synchronizing geometry, parameters and rules using a decision-making engine, allowing users to apply unpredicted changes. This object-driven editing model is known as the Object Action Interface
Object Action Interface
Object Action Interface, also abbreviated as OAI, is an extension to the Graphical User Interface, especially related to Direct Manipulation User Interface...
, which emphasizes a User Interface that provides Direct Manipulation of objects (DMUI). The latest version, Synchronous Technology 2, adds support for sheet metal
Sheet metal
Sheet metal is simply metal formed into thin and flat pieces. It is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and can be cut and bent into a variety of different shapes. Countless everyday objects are constructed of the material...
designing, and also recognizes bends, folds and other features of imported sheet metal parts.
Synchronous Technology has been integrated into Solid Edge and another Siemens commercial CAD software, NX
NX (Unigraphics)
NX, also known as NX Unigraphics or usually just U-G, is an advanced CAD/CAM/CAE software package developed by Siemens PLM Software.It is used, among other tasks, for:* Design...
, as an application layer built on the D-Cubed
D-Cubed
D-Cubed Components are a collection of geometric software component libraries developed and licensed as commercial products by Siemens PLM Software...
and Parasolid
Parasolid
Parasolid is a geometric modeling kernel originally developed by ShapeData, now owned by Siemens PLM Software , that can be licensed by other companies for use in their 3D computer graphics software products....
software components.
Assembly
An assembly is built from individual part documents connected by mating constraints, as well as assembly features. Solid Edge supports large assemblies (over 100,000 parts).Features
A draft file consists of the 3D model projected to one or more 2D views of a part or assembly file.Solid Edge integrates with Sharepoint and Teamcenter to provide product lifecycle management. Solid Edge also integrates with PLM products from third parties.
Solid Edge provides support for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) starting with Solid Edge ST2 version released in 2009. This functionality is based on Siemens PLM's
Siemens PLM Software
Siemens PLM Software is a computer software company specializing in 3D & 2D Product Lifecycle Management software. The company is a business unit of Siemens Industry Automation division, and is headquartered in Plano, Texas....
existing Femap
Femap
Femap is an engineering analysis program sold by Siemens PLM Software that is used to build finite element models of complex engineering problems and view solution results...
and NX Nastran technologies.
See also
- Associative engineAssociative engineAn associative engine in CAD/solid modelling software is the component which maintains the associative relationships between the collection of geometric entities. The associative relationships are basically LISP expressions which describe the orientation and placement of two or more geometric...
- Freeform surface modellingFreeform surface modellingFreeform surface modelling is the art of engineering Freeform Surfaces with a CAD or CAID system.The technology has encompassed two main fields...
- NX (software)
- Comparison of CAD SoftwareComparison of CAD softwareThis page compares computer-aided design software that engineers and architects use to create drawings for the fields of architecture, engineering and construction in terms of aspects that can be directly compared...