[aclug-L] Re: new free cad library on linux

[phrostie <phrostie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

someone had asked about opensource projects.

i just recieved this this morning and thought i' pass it along.
if you want to start your own project then it sounds like most of the work may 
be done.

i have not had a chace to read thru all of the information.
at a glance it sounds good!

phrostie



C R Johnson wrote:

> Hey now Phrostie,
>
> I am author of the FREEdraft program. I know you maintain a page of cad
> information for linux and are active on several development mailing
> lists so I thought you might want to check this out.
>
> Matra Datavision (whom I've worked for 12 years) , longtime professional
> CAD developer (Euclid3, Strim100/Euclid Styler ( the greatest surface
> modelers ever - my specialty) , Euclid (now Catia) machinist) has
> released its Cas.cade kernel/library/engine as open source.
>
> The new name is opencascade, and Matra has put up two sites, one aims to
> be community oriented- http://www.opencascade.org - and one is
> commercially oriented - http://www.opencascade.com - for businesses who
> might need development or other support services.
>
> Cascade is a remarkable C++ library which is 90% of what one needs to
> create a professional cad system - all of the complex mathematics,
> geometry and topology - For example Euclid/Catia machinist is written
> with Cas.cade as its underlying technology as do several other
> commercially available systems.  I think this technology holds the
> potential to move professional quality free cad software development
> years ahead of where it is now. It will certainly help me in my
> FREEdraft efforts if I decide to continue with it.
>
> opencascade includes:
>
> Mathematical classes for data smoothing, finding minimums, solving
> systems of equations, etc.
>
> complete 2D and 3D API's.
>
> large set of Analytic and parametrics geometry classes including high
> order nurb and Bezier curves and surfaces, and trimmed surfaces
>
> Topology classes, including full support of exact brep solid modeling
> with boolean operations, feature based constructions, and local
> modifications like edge fillets and chamfers
>
> Tessellation algorithms (meshing) for any surface of solid model (
> including handling of trims) to a chord error tolerance
>
> A smart pointer system (handles) which make object management easy.
>
> Data exchange including dxf, iges and step.
>
> Data output for OpenGL, postscript, hpgl2, xwd, and Stereolithography
>
> And much more.
>
> I have put up a little page on my site demonstrating a little
> interaction with the "Draw" package, which is called by the developers
> as a "test harness". Heck! its practically a whole cad system in itself
> which uses a tcl/tk shell and front end. Check it out at
> http://freeengineer.org/drawpics.html
>
> Get back with me if you have any questions. Hopefully this will help to
> create some real cad momentum on linux.
>
> regards,
>
> cliff johnson

--
phrostie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oh I've slipped the surly bonds of dos
and danced the skies on LINUX silvered wings.
http://www.cottagesoft.com/~phrostie/cad-tastrafy