Analyze CAD Models
Simple, fast, without a CAD system
Analyze and verify 3D models
Virtual product development
Digital mockup
Today, development and construction are hardly imaginable without 3D CAD software. Virtual product development (VPE) enables - even before prototype construction, assembly and production:
- Feasibility studies and early error detection
- Verification of ergonomics, design and completeness
- Evaluation of space requirements and serviceability
Models published with 3D-Tool are available to the entire company. The 3D-Tool Free Viewer also supports professional measurement and analysis features and thus enables Digital Mockup (DMU) for team members without their own 3D-Tool license.
Component assembly and exploded views
For fit checks and feasibility studies, several models can be merged into virtual assemblies in a 3D-Tool scene.
Use the placement tool to align models with each other and with the coordinate system. To do this, select surfaces, edges, or points, or freely move and rotate the model.
Analysis features
Model Information
In addition to the quantity and designation of parts, more information is required for planning material and space requirements in production, transport, and assembly.
3D-Tool "Model Info" provides dimensions, surface and volume of parts and assemblies as well as weight and center of mass via the 3D-Tool material database.
The information can be converted into common units and copied to the clipboard. On request, 3D-Tool creates extensive PDF, RTF or HTML reports with all relevant model data.
Model Comparison
As part of quality assurance, measurement data, 3D scans or other model versions often have to be compared with current CAD data.
- Multiple versions of a model can be loaded and superimposed.
- The 3D-Tool "Model Comparison" makes even small differences between two models visible in color.
Wall Thickness Analysis
For injection molded and cast parts as well as especially for lightweight and structural components, compliance with wall thicknesses and the associated tolerances is important.
The 3D-Tool "Wall Thickness Analysis" displays the wall thicknesses of a model as so-called heatmaps. The calculation is carried out using the single ray or the spherical method (fitted ball).
Different colors mark wall thicknesses outside defined tolerances. Alternatively, a color spectrum shows all wall thicknesses directly on the model.
Tooling Analysis
For mold making and tooling, 3D-Tool enables part inspection and estimation of manufacturing costs.
- The "Tooling Analysis" shows drafts as angles or cavity mapping and identifies areas that cannot be demolded (undercuts) to identify possible slide units.
- The "Projected Area" supports the calculation of clamping forces and thus the selection of a suitable injection molding machine.
Explore model comparison, wall thickness analysis, and tooling analysis
Material Requirements and Manufacturing Costs
To estimate material costs, manufacturing costs and production times, 3D-Tool provides additional measurement functions alongside measurements of distance, edge length and diameter:
- The "Minimal Box" function calculates the smallest possible bounding box of parts and assemblies, for example to determine the raw material.
- The "Surface Area Note" calculates the area of individual surface segments, for example to estimate the processing effort.
- The "Contour Note" calculates the length of curves and edges, for example to estimate the time of laser cutting.
Collision Analysis
The Collision Analysis supports installation tests and feasibility studies:
- The collision mode shows all places where parts touch or penetrate each other in red color.
- In distance mode, all distances between parts that are below a certain value are displayed as a heatmap.
