SolidWorks Corp., a Dassault Systemes S.A company, next week will announce the latest version of its namesake 3-Dimensional catalog software.
SolidWorks 3D PartStream.net 3.0, available as a hosted service, gives component manufacturers a template-based tool for publishing online catalogs in days, rather than months, according to officials.
With newly streamlined capabilities, 3D 3.0 provides enhanced content management tools that essentially provide manufacturers more control over their online catalog content, as well as the ability to provide downloadable 3D CAD designs, said officials with the Concord, Mass., company.
On the sales front, with 3D 3.0, manufacturers customers can view products from all angles and configure models based on their requirements. Likewise, customers can download 3D CAD drawings and design it into their specs—a huge advantage over paper catalogs.
“An automobile manufacturer might flip through a catalog, look at a 2D motor and try and envision how that would fit in their own engineering designs,” said Jim Giebutowski, director of content sales for SolidWorks. “3D PartStream allows them to incorporate the 3D design.”
3D 3.0 provides a 3D ProductPage Web authoring tool that allows manufacturers several design choices, including the addition of company header branding and numerous style and layout options.
A new user interface simplifies model uploading, model previews and model sorting options. Likewise, new configuration rules allow customers to select proper product configuration based on attributes like dimensions, features, colors and accessories specific to each product line.
A product categorization functionality allows users to categorize products into natural hierarchy, while beefed up search criteria tools allow manufacturers to determine how customers search for products.
The 3D Partstream.net 3.0 service will be available next week. Pricing starts with an upfront fee of $20,000, with monthly hosting fees between $1,000 and $2,500 monthly.