LEDAS Improves Parametric Design in SketchUp

New update of Driving Dimensions plug-in significantly improves quality, stability, and performance; introduces multi-language support

LEDAS Ltd., an independent provider of variational design tools, technology components and software development services for CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM market, today announced the availability of version 1.2 of its Driving Dimensions plug-in for Google SketchUp software. The Driving Dimensions product line from LEDAS is aimed at making advanced MCAD technology available at an affordable price to all users of popular 3D software.

Version 1.2 contains significant improvements in quality, stability, and performance. This was made possible because it is based on the next generation of LGS 3D geometric constraint solving software component recently released by LEDAS. The new version generates solutions that users would expect to see as outcomes. When users now modify the parameters of driving dimensions, most edges and faces remain unchanged; the only ones to change are those needed to satisfy the new parameter values. In addition, the time to solve constraints has been significantly reduced, with the Driving Dimensions plug-in now up to ten times faster than the previous version on large models.

A new feature in Driving Dimensions version 1.2 is multi-language support. Now all tooltips and system messages can be translated to other languages. Version 1.2 comes with English and Japanese built-in. (Translation into Japanese was performed by EBATECH of Japan, a reseller of LEDAS solutions in Japan.)

LEDAS invites uses of the free version of Driving Dimensions to help translate the plug-in to different languages. As compensation, LEDAS will provide all collaborators with Pro licenses of the Driving Dimensions plug-in for SketchUp at no charge.

"The Driving Dimensions plug-in for SketchUp is our most popular software," said Dmitry Ushakov, Director of Product Management, LEDAS Ltd. "The free version of our plug-in has been downloaded by more than 15,000 SketchUp users worldwide since the first public beta was released a year ago. Significant feedback from users of both the free and Pro versions is allowing us to improve the quality of our software, and is giving us fresh ideas on new functions."

About Driving Dimensions Plug-In for SketchUp

LEDAS Driving Dimensions for SketchUp is a plug-in that performs parametric modifications of 3D geometric models in very simple and intuitive way. With Driving Dimensions, users can modify any dimension (length, distance, radius, or angle) in any SketchUp model with just one click. All driving dimensions set in one model are satisfied simultaneously. The simplicity of the user interface of Driving Dimensions plug-in hides a very strong set of mathematical algorithms in the field of geometric constraint solving. Parametric design has never been so easy -- even for beginners.

Version 1.2 of the Driving Dimensions plug-in is compatible with Google SketchUp 6.* and 7.1, both the free and Pro versions running on 32-bit versions Windows 2000/XP/Vista as well as on Intel-based Mac OS X 10.4 and above. Visit DrivingDimensions.com/SketchUp for more information, detailed on-line help, written and video tutorials, and sample parametric 3D models.

The Driving Dimensions plug-in for SketchUp is available in two versions: free and Pro. The free version is not intended for commercial use and does not allow users to add more than 25 driving dimensions to one model. The Pro version eliminates these restrictions at a modest price: single-user licenses are only $45, which includes a year’s worth of updates. It can be easily purchased through our online store at DrivingDimensions.com/store/SketchUp.

About Driving Dimensions Portfolio

Driving Dimensions is a set of end-user applications developed by LEDAS as plug-ins for popular 2D and 3D modeling systems. The aim is to provide advanced parameterization capabilities to users of programs such as Google SketchUp and McNeel & Associates’ Rhinoceros. Driving Dimensions plug-ins are based on the Variational Direct Modeling technology, which uses history-free editing model elements, preserves design intent as expressed by explicit and implicit driving dimensions (linear, angular, or radial), and geometric constraints.

Simultaneous satisfaction of geometric and dimensional constraints is achieved with LGS 2D/3D geometric constraint solvers, which have been developed by LEDAS since 2001. They are available for licensing to all CAD developers.

More information about the entire Driving Dimensions portfolio of applications can be found at www.DrivingDimensions.com.

About EBATECH

Established in 1997 by Mr. Yoji Ebata, EBATECH is located in Chita (Aichi Prefecture), Japan. EBATECH provides technology components for the creation of CAD software for Japanese market. Visit www.ebatech.jp for more information.

About LEDAS

LEDAS Ltd. is an independent software development company founded in 1999. It is based in the Novosibirsk Scientific Centre at Akademgorodok, the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science. A leader in constraint-based technologies, LEDAS is a well-known provider of computational software components for PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions: geometric constraint solvers for CAD/CAM/CAE, optimization engines for project management, work scheduling and meeting planning as well as interval technologies for knowledge-based engineering and collaborative design.

The company also provides services for PLM markets: software development, consulting, reselling as well as education and training.

More information about LEDAS is available at www.ledas.com.

Driving Dimensions and LGS are trademarks of LEDAS Ltd. Any other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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