Megatech

CASE STUDY: Megatech Software GmbH
MARKET: MCAD
PRODUCT: 3D ACIS Modeler

COMPANY
Established in 1986, German software manufacturer Megatech Software GmbH develops easy-to-use CAD/CAM software with optimized performance. Its application, MegaCAD, can be found in the design shops of a broad cross-section of industries, including architecture, manufacturing, cartography, shipbuilding, and civil engineering. Today, Megatech, with more than 40 software engineers, is one of the leading European technical software development companies. Although Megatech initially started its product line with a CAM application, it quickly saw the market demand for a highperformance CAD program, and began development of what is now known as MegaCAD, a PC-based system. The powerful and competitively priced MegaCAD soon became a favorite of small engineering and architectural offi ces, followed by larger corporations that generate more complex designs, such as automotive companies and industrial plant design fi rms. Today, MegaCAD is renowned as an effective 2D and 3D modeling application.

CHALLENGE
In the mid-1990s, demand for 3D modeling functionality in CAD programs was growing steadily, and Megatech decided to add these capabilities to MegaCAD to keep pace. Megatech developed its own 3D kernel, which supplied formidable solid modeling functionality, but lacked in other areas, including surfacing. This led to signifi cant end-user diffi culties when attempting certain operations. To meet the perceived expectations of its customers, Megatech wanted MegaCAD to perform functions that included rounding along 3D contours, rounding with variable radii, and combining surface and volume modeling in one section of geometry. And, of course, the program needed to perform these modifi cations with a maximum of ease and effi ciency. In the interests of quality, time, and resources, Megatech decided to change strategies and integrate an established 3D component—Spatial’s 3D ACIS® Modeler—into its software, rather than to continue development of their own modeler. “Our own kernel could handle only polyhedral solids, and we needed to extend it to analytical and spline surfaces to improve modeling of mechanical parts,” says Georg Sczepansky, chief developer of MegaCAD. “ACIS provides strong functionality in this area.” 3D image of an industrial plant modeled in ACIS-enabled Mega-CAD.

SOLUTION
The integration of ACIS into MegaCAD took approximately one year. Most of that time was used to replace the native MegaCAD 3D software functions with those provided by ACIS. Memory management and fi le format functions from MegaCAD’s 3D kernel worked well with ACIS, requiring only a few modifi cations. As one of the key technologies of Megatech’s kernel, the extremely fast and effi cient memory system results in faster operations for large models and provides the ability to work with huge assemblies, even with low memory resources. “Because of the tight integration of MegaCAD with ACIS, we grew into a close relationship with the developers of Spatial and, together, found a way to handle very large geometric models with a minimum of memory,” Rainer Stiefvatter, director of marketing and sales for Megatech.

ADVANTAGES
Using ACIS, Megatech was able to integrate the functionality its customers wanted without having to invest the signifi cant time and resources necessary for internal development. ACISenabled MegaCAD provides its users with a full-featured 2D solution and up-to-date 3D surface and solid modeling capabilities. The comprehensive functionality of ACIS improves the modeling capabilities of MegaCAD, while increasing easeof- use. Megatech was able to offer its customers a surface modeling technology that can handle the most sophisticated design tasks. The integration of the ACIS kernel allows MegaCAD users to exchange geometry data with the users of hundreds of other ACIS-enabled CAD/CAM applications. Spatial’s ACIS SAT® format permits easy and loss-free data exchange. In addition, the tight collaboration of Megatech’s developers with the ACIS development team ensures MegaCAD’s customers have the most comprehensive and effective modeling techniques.