www.upfrontezine.com
Inside this Issue
Robert Lansdale heads up Okino Computer Graphics, a company that specializes in translation in both the CAD and rendering worlds.
upFront.eZine: How did you get started in what you do?
Mr. Lansdale: 1988 was the time of Alias 1.0, CAD-3D on the Atari,
Caligari, and the forerunners of today's major animation packages. Because I
couldn't afford Alias or RenderMan, I decided to drop everything and write NuGraf
as a clone of the best of what was the market at that time.
From day 1, my mind had been set on creating one of the best all-around toolkits
available, encompassing geometry pipelines, color conversion, MIPMAP/EWA filtering
(my master's thesis), low memory usage, scanline rendering, and so on. Three
years later, it was ready: a "3D Studio r1.0" product, without
the user interface, for developers to directly drop into their product. By 1997,
we began to hook up our toolkit within package, such as 3DS MAX and Maya, as
native plug-ins.
One of
the most popular conversion routes at that time, and still to this day, is the
Lightwave <-> 3D Studio conversion. I spent about four years developing
the underlying conversion pipeline and cloning the file format and functionality
of these respective programs.
upFront.eZine: So that's the rendering market. What's the CAD connection for you?
Mr. Lansdale: In short, NuGraf is marketed to CAD world, and PolyTrans
to rest of 3D world. They are identical packages at the core level.
The
tie-in for the CAD market is that in 1989 I discovered that my 'reason to be
on earth' was to write data translation systems. That year I began a well-received
IGES import converter. This lead to our Wavefront .obj importer system in 1992,
.3ds importer in 1993, Lightwave 'clone' importer in 1994, and DXF in
1995. The number of converters never let up!
In
the early days, each of these converters was a means to import complete 3D datatsets
for rendering into our NuGraf toolkit software, because our company policy is
"no modeling." We wrote our converters to bring in all scene content,
including materials and texture mapping. Thus, we had a powerful 3D rendering/database
toolkit underlying these geometry converters.
NuGraf
proper found its niche a low-cost high-speed solution for the import, optimization,
and rendering of Pro/Engineer data. That's why our Web site has a large number
of Pro/E images. The IGES converter, which I had started in 1989, was the savior
to the import of Pro/E data to NuGraf.
upFront.eZine: How does your PolyTrans product fit into all this?
Mr. Lansdale: Back in the summer 1996, people at Siggraph wanted us
to make a data translation product, so I renamed NuGraf to the PolyTrans name,
stripped out rendering, material editing, texture editing, complex UI, simplified
the manuals, and a new product was born. By October 1996 sales zipped up and
within a year we had sold to almost every game developer (although game developers
are now a tiny portion of our user base).
We
were the first license of Geomware's NLIB (now SMLIB) library, and introduced
complete import, cleansing, and conversion of 144/142 trimmed NURBS IGES files.
In the same timeframe came the licensing of ACIS as a conversion pipeline (I
believe we were the first); the development of our OLE D&M interface for
SolidWorks and Solid Edge -- I don't think too many others ever implement OLE
D&M [Microsoft's ill-fated object linking and embedding for design and modeling]
-- XGL, VET, and so on.
upFront.eZine: Tell me a little bit more about your company.
Mr. Lansdale: I am not "Mr Okino" and I don't sit in a small
room answering phone calls, eating beer and pizza, responding to email and shipping
products (although some customers initially assume so). We're a private Canadian
corporation, located in Toronto with 11 to 12 employees. Okino was named after
Professor Okino in a book by Nadia Magnenat-Thalmann and Daniel Thalmann. We
are not a Japanese company.
Our
primary goals are to create a great general purpose tool that will satisfy the
needs of all 3D people, when they have a problem to solve. Tools that don't
die when presented with overly large datasets. To provide a neutral, politics-free,
"universal" conversion hub of translation software. To provide a technical
means to connect the CAD, VisSim and 3D multimedia worlds as no one else has
tried in one package. To provide tech support that is knowledgeable, friendly,
and from the mouths of the programmers themselves.
This interview continues in a future issue of upFront.eZine.
EDS and Autodesk aim to let their software read each other's data files.
The aim is for "seamless connectivity" between Autodesk's proprietary
ShapeManger kernel (used by Inventor) and EDS apps (such as Unigraphics and
Solid Edge) based on the open ParaSolid spec.
"'Open
by design' is good for the industry, and our customers demand it," proclaimed
Chuck Grindstaff, president of PLM Products at EDS PLM Solutions. But,
as Evan Yares noted at CADwire.com, CAD vendors like to use the word
"open" more often than they like to implement the philosophy in their
software <http://www.cadwire.net/commentary/?16985>.
Robert
Kross, vp Manufacturing Division at Autodesk, said, "By enabling this
type of interoperability, our customers will be able to use data from different
systems without employing third-party translators, neutral file formats or other
methods." That sounds one-way to me. Autodesk has rarely been keen to provide
direct translators to or from other CAD packages, so I'll be interested to see
if Inventor -> Solid Edge translation ever appears from Autodesk.
The
real purpose of the agreement, of course, is to let Autodesk develop a SolidWorks
translator. SolidWorks is based on ParaSolid, curious because SolidWorks is
owned by the same software coleuses that owns ACIS. Expect a "SolidWorks
Migration Kit" from Autodesk later this year to counter the "Over
90,000 AutoCAD users have already switched to SolidWorks!" campaign that
SolidWorks aims at Inventor and Mechanical Desktop users.
The news is sure to annoy third-parties who already produce direct
translators for those CAD packages. It may also cause SolidWorks to finally
switch from ParaSolid to ACIS -- now that Autodesk no longer has an ACIS license.
Not
to be ignored, Spatial announced the next day that its InterOp translates
-- directly or indirectly -- solid, surface, and wireframe 3D data between ParaSolid
and ACIS, as well as CATIA v4, IGES, STEP, VDA-FS, and Pro/ENGINEER. http://www.spatial.com/products/interop
The
same day, PTC announced that its Granite One kernel was popular. Also,
Granite would be adopting HOOPS 3D Application Framework (HOOPS/3DAF) so that
apps can create HOOPS Stream Format (HSF) data. http://www.hoops3d.com
"This desktop software solution is aimed at getting you away from your
PC and out into the real world a lot quicker. It'll even help with your love
life," write J Weinberg and R Barrett in "Turn your PC into a love
machine" in a recent edition of the Sun (London, England) newspaper.
"Visio
2002 - When you finally get your date back to your flat [apartment] you need
to make sure everything is in place for the perfect romantic evening. So use
Microsoft's diagramming and graphics tools to plot the position of your stereo
to give the perfect mood music and the drinks cabinet to serve the all important
nightcap." As 'The Register' wryly commented, "No, really,
Visio is s.e.x.y...".
Caution
- Photography and writing may offend some readers: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001550000-2002090344,00.html
Could either SAP or Oracle be eyeing PTC? Word is both companies are interested in PTC's product lifecycle management software.
Data Design System's ElectroPartner is CAD software for designing electrical installations in buildings, and has been certified for IFC data exchange. You define an information model (functions and equipment) of the building, and then extract the information in several forms, including a CAD drawing, bill of quantities, and technical calculations. http://www.dds.no
Cadkey is renaming CADKEY v20 (US$3,000) as "CADKEY Workshop Version 20" and expects to ship the product in April. http://www.cadkey.com/webstore
EDS will ship Unigraphics NX in Q3 2002. The NX product merges two of its current CAD products, which were not named in the press release, but I am guessing are Unigraphics and I-DEAS.
Architosh has gathered 3,500 names on a petition urging Autodesk to develop a Mac OS X version AutoCAD. The CAD-for-Mac Web site guestimates that Autodesk could expect revenues of US$50 million. "The cost of originally porting AutoCAD to the Mac platform was reportedly US$7 million during the early 90s," a cost shared by Apple and Autodesk. http://www.architosh.com/news/2002-02/2002b-0221-acad-index.phtml
GEOMATE's GrafiCalc 3.0 (US$995) plug-in for Inventor checks models for tolerance, fit, and manufacturability. http://www.graficalc.com
IntegrityWare has added 3DCompress to its POPlib, compressing 3D polygonal meshes up to 98% of their original size with no quality loss. http://www.PolygonLibrary.com
Pathtrace Systems is shipping EdgeCAM v6.50. http://www.pathtrace.com
AUDIT_DWG for AutoCAD 2002 checks system variables, registry settings, symbols tables, and 100 parameters -- then warns of problems, and generates an HTML report. http://minilien.com/?lOnKHBedRk
Spatial's 3D Insiders' Summit is May 13-15 in Westminster CO USA. http://www.spatial.com/news_events/events/summit
People/Companies on the Move
CLB Media now says it has "temporarily
suspended" its Canadian 'CAD Systems' magazine, which "will
remain so until a full market analysis is completed."
Another Canadian CAD magazine, 'AutoCAD User,' also appears to have suspended publication. No more issues of the quarterly magazine have appeared after a combined Spring/Summer issue.
Koonras Technologies (a subsidiary of Polar Investments) and D.B.S.I. Investments purchased all Cimatron shares owned by Zeevi Computers, which had owned 64.3% of Cimatron's shares. Purchase price was US$9.9 million.
Think3 asked John Pope to be its North American Strategic Account Sales Manager. Mr Pope previously held sales and sales management positions at PTC.
Computer News Summaries
The European Parliament is ready to permit Europeans to use the new Internet address extension ".eu". - The Inquirer
Two new digital cameras from late-comer Pentax: the DigiBino DB-100 is a pair of binoculars with a built-in digicam, while the Optio 230 includes a 3D-image mode for stereoscopic shooting. Lexar is sampling a 2GB CompactFlash memory card from Samsung (1GB card already available for US$1,200). And the new PDR-T10 digital camera from Toshiba has a touch-screen interface. - http://www.imaging-resource.com/EVENTS/PMAS02/PMAS02.HTML
Microsoft has delayed .Net a second time; the product is now 13 months late. Five weeks after Bill Gates put his foot down over the company's security lapses, there is no real evidence yet that the crackdown is working. - CNET
Market News
IMSI says sales were up 37% from last quarter to US$3.7 million. After debt restructuring, total debt is US$3.5million, which is payable over the next two to 12 years. IMSI terminated its merger agreement with DCDC. DCDC was to get 51% of IMSI's stock of IMSI. DCDC is instead converting its US$3.6 million promissory note in IMSI in return for 38% of IMSI stock (on a fully diluted basis) and US$250,000 payable over 15 months.
Stratasys doubled the size of its common share buy-back program, from US! million to $2 million.
Rand announced 4Q revenue of CDN$93.5 million, down from CDN$112.5 million in 4Q the previous year.
upFront.eZine Publishing announced revenues for 2001 were up 17% from the previous fiscal year.
Data Design System reported FY 2001 revenues of US$3.9 million, an increase of 15% from the year before.
The WorthWhile Web
Bike Brain
http://home5.swipnet.se/~w-51358/pilot/default.htm
Bikini
The bike-connected PalmPilot.
Letters to the Editor
Re: Revit Wants to be Bought by Autodesk
"I welcome the buyout
because Revit's new paradigm and AutoCAD's mature user interface need to merge.
I find myself flipping back and forth between AutoCAD and Revit for different
drawing tasks. Revit has not replaced AutoCAD in my studio, but has earned a
permanent position.
"Another
benefit is the credibility the purchase gives Revit as a tool. I find my co-workers
(design staff of over 100) are learning ADT, but find it easy to ignore Revit.
There really are things that are easier to do in Revit.
"I
do not know if Revit will survive as an independent product, or if it will be
absorbed and disappear as the examples you gave. I do know that it is such a
powerful concept implementation that it will affect AutoCAD for the good --
either as a sister product, or as a new facet of AutoCAD 200x or ADTx, or whatever.
"A
few months ago, a Revit salesperson told me that there were between 5,000 and
6,000 users. Using your son's algebra, your estimated 2,500 paying users are
joined by 2500+ non-paying, educational users."
John
S. Brunt
Architect
"We got a call from the regional Revit manager, who knew we were ADT-authorized,
and strongly suggested that we sign up to be Revit authorized now, rather than
wait for Autodesk to take over the authorization process. He was promising a
two-year dealer contract with good margins for a product he was told by Autodesk
will replace ADT.
"We
have enough on our place and politely refused."
-
Autodesk dealer
"I find it be simply another case of corporate arrogance. 'If you build
a better mousetrap...' But most already have traps that work pretty well. I'll
keep saying it until I'm blue in the face: the key for innovation in a mature
market is integration and incrementalism!"
-
David William Edwards
"This should and will get the attention of the FTC [US Federal Trade
Commission]. The FTC approval will be a major hurdle, unless it is able to be
swept under the carpet. With this acquisition, Autodesk is buying the only competition
they have in the AEC space.
"I
guess we could add Graphisoft, Nemetschek, and Bentley into the competition
mix, however if I put all of these guys together, I would be surprised if they
would be more then 10% of AEC CAD market share. My guess is that Autodesk owns
85% market share, and now they are buying up the leading competitor (technology
wise).
"Previously
Autodesk bought their largest competitor SoftDesk. For the good of the customer
and the CAD industry, I stand on the side that says this is in violation of
the FTC anti-trade regulations and should not be approved."
-
Ed Russell
Devtron, Russell
"I have been using DCA, SoftDesk, LDD, and whatever they're calling
it now. DCA's civil design product showed a lot of potential, but since the
purchase by Autodesk it has become something of a stepchild to the Autodesk
family.
"Architectural
Desktop is under constant development, and from what I can see, is a powerful
tool for architects. Mechanical software also continues to progress. The intelligent,
reactive software being created for these two fields is enviable to those of
us in the civil field.
"Civil
engineers seem to be an afterthought to Autodesk, and that's a shame. There
are a lot of intuitive, intelligent civil programs out there that appear poised
to take a large segment of Autodesk's civil user base.
"I
find it interesting that even Revit recognizes the shortcomings of the civil
software now produced and sold to civil engineering firms by Autodesk."
-
Jeff Swanitz
PACE
"The press releases mentions Autodesk gaining 100 employees. Less than
six months ago, Revit employed over 150. Revit downsized to gain more venture
capital money. It was a condition of securing the last round of funding that
brought in US$7 million.
"I'm
only slightly bitter, because I left with stock!"
-
Former Revit employee
"Two corrections, please, for the next time you write about us. We are
Revit Technology, not Revit Technologies. Our CEO's first name is David, not
Dale."
- Alex Neihaus
Revit
Technology Corp.
"Thank you for a great e-paper, informally written with what always
appears to be at the 'cutting edge' of any news-worthiness."
-Chris
Bain
Australia
Spin Doctor of the Moment
CFO (chief financial officer): chief fudge-the-books officer.
-
Salon
"There is a kind of power that comes with not needing to be liked."
-
Arthur Erickson, architect, at age 77