A geometric modeling kernel is a solid modeling software component used in computer-aided design (CAD) packages. Available modelling kernels include:
ACIS is developed and licensed by Spatial Corporation of Dassault Systèmes. SMLib is developed by Solid Modeling Solutions.SMLib Convergence Geometric Modeler is developed by Dassault Systèmes. Parasolid is developed and licensed by Siemens. Romulus was a predecessor to Parasolid. ShapeManager is developed by Autodesk and was forked from ACIS in 2001. Granite is developed by Parametric Technology Corporation. C3D Modeler is developed by C3D Labs, part of the ASCON Group. CGAL is an open-source Computational Geometry Algorithms Library which has support for Boolean operations on Polyhedra; but no sweep, revolve or NURBS. Open CASCADE is an open-source modeling kernel. sgCore is a freeware proprietary modeling kernel distributed as an SDK. K3 kernel is developed by Center GeoS. SOLIDS++ is developed by IntegrityWare, Inc. APM Engine is developed by RSDC APM. KCM is developed and licensed by Kubotek Kosmos SvLis Geometric Kernel became opensource and discontinued, for Windows only. IRIT modeling environment, for Windows only. GTS GNU Triangulated Surface Library, for polygon meshes only and not surfaces. Russian Geometric Kernel. Geometry Kernel, a multi-platform C++ library with source code accessible for clients, developed and distributed by RDF - Geometry Kernel web site. SolveSpace has its own integrated parametric solid geometry kernel with a limited NURBS support.
Kernel market The kernel market currently is dominated by Parasolid and ACIS, which were introduced in the late 1980s. The latest kernel to enter the market is KCM. ShapeManager has no presence in the kernel licensing market and in 2001 Autodesk clearly stated they were not going into this business.
The world's newest geometric modeling kernel is Russian Geometric Kernel owned by the Russian government, and it is not clear if it is going to be commercially available, despite offering unique features over the other kernels on the market.
Kernel developers
The table below contains a representative list of developers developing their own kernel or licensing the kernel from a third-party.
Platforms Domain Kernel Application Developed by Country Windows CAD, AEC Open CASCADE 4MCAD IntelliCAD 4M S.A. Greece Windows MCAD ACIS / KCM KeyCreator Kubotek Kosmos United States Windows MCAD C3D KOMPAS-3D ASCON Group Russia Windows AEC C3D KOMPAS-Builder ASCON Group Russia Windows CAD C3D + K3 kernel K3-Furniture Center GeoS Russia Windows AEC C3D Renga Architecture ASCON Group RussiaiPad, Windows MCAD Parasolid Shapr3D Shapr3D zrt. Hungary Android MCAD C3D KOMPAS:24 ASCON Group Russia Windows CAD C3D Modeler for Teigha Platform / ACIS nanoCAD Plus NanoSoft Russia Windows MCAD Parasolid T-FLEX Top Systems Russia Windows MCAD APM Engine APM Studio APM Russia Windows CAM C3D TECHTRAN NIP-Informatic Russia Windows CAD C3D PASSAT NTP Truboprovod Russia Windows, Mac CAD, CAM Own Kernel Rhinoceros 3D Robert McNeel and Associates United States Windows CAD C3D ESPRIT Extra CAD LO CNITI, Rubius Russia Windows CAD C3D BAZIS System BAZIS Center Russia Windows CAE Parasolid Adams MSC Software United States Windows CAD, CAM, CAPP switch from ACIS to C3D ADEM ADEM Group Russia Windows CAE Parasolid ADINA Modeler ADINA R&D Inc. United States Windows CAD, AEC, GIS ShapeManager AutoCAD Autodesk United States Windows MCAD ShapeManager Inventor Autodesk United States Windows, Mac Solid Modeler & Machiner ShapeManagerAutodesk Fusion Autodesk United States Windows, Linux, Mac MCAD, AEC ACIS BricsCAD Bricsys Belgium Windows, Mac CAD, CAM, CAE Parasolid Siemens NX Siemens Digital Industries Software United States, Germany Windows MCAD Parasolid SolidFace SolidFace United States, Brazil Windows MCAD Parasolid (previous versions used ACIS) Solid Edge Siemens Digital Industries Software United States, Germany Windows MCAD Parasolid SolidWorks Dassault Systèmes United States, France Windows AEC Parasolid (previous versions used ACIS) MicroStation Bentley Systems United States Windows, Unix CAD, CAM, CAE, AEC Convergence Geometric Modeler CATIA Dassault Systèmes France Windows Solid ModelerGRANITE Creo Elements Parametric Technology Corporation United States Windows CADGRANITE Creo Parametric Parametric Technology Corporation United States SaaS Solid Modeler Parasolid, FeatureScript Onshape Onshape United States Windows, SaaS Solid Modeler Parasolid & ACIS IRONCAD IRONCAD United States Windows CAD ACIS GstarCAD Suzhou Gstarsoft Co., Ltd China Windows, Mac AEC, BIM Own Kernel ArchiCAD Graphisoft Hungary Windows, Linux, Mac MCAD, AEC ACIS ZW3D ZWSoft China Windows MCAD ACIS Cimatron3D Systems (Cimatron Ltd.) Israel Windows MCAD ACIS SpaceClaim ANSYS Inc United States Windows MCAD European Solid Modeller ESM HiCADISD Group GermanMac, Windows MCAD ACISCobalt, Xenon, ArgonAshlarUnited States Windows, Linux CAD Optimization Own Kernel CAESES Friendship Systems Germany Windows, macOS, Linux, CAD, CAM, BIM Open Cascade, Coin3D, FreeCAD FreeCAD Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android CAD, AEC, BIMGeometry KernelIFCEngine, STEPEngine RDF Bulgaria Windows CAD, AECOverdriveZW3D, ZWCAD ZWSoft China Windows CAD, Reverse Engineering ACIS Zeiss Reverse Engineering ZEISS Industrial Metrology GermanyWindows, macOS, LinuxMCADParasolidPlasticityPlastic Software, LLCUnited States
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