Cyborg3D merges surface modeling with NURBS solids

IntegrityWare takes its popular plug-in tech and build a stand-alone 3D platform for translation, design, and 3D printing.

The boutique maker of 3D modeling technology known for combining the rigor of CAD geometry with the beauty of surface modeling has released a new software platform for 3D modeling. IntegrityWare’s Cyborg3D is both a platform and a series of products built on the platform.

Cyborg3D combines organic surface modeling (subdivision surfaces) with parametric CAD (NURBS solids and surfaces) modeling. IntegrityWare is pitching Cyborg3D as “well suited for dealing with large assemblies and compute intensive functionality.” Cyborg3D offers patented technology for converting between organic geometry and precise NURBS geometry, and for calculating and maintaining complex relationships between diverse types of geometry.

IntegrityWare's Cyborg3D combines the mechanistic style of CAD solid modeling with the organic style of Subdivision Surface modeling. (Source: IntegrityWare) — **IntegrityWare’s Cyborg3D combines the mechanistic style of CAD solid modeling with the organic style of Subdivision Surface modeling. (Source: IntegrityWare)**

IntegrityWare plug-ins (also sold under the nPower Software brand) are already available for SolidWorks, 3ds Max, Maya, Modo, and Rhino. With Cyborg3D the technology becomes available as stand-alone products. The Cyborg3D platform includes conversion technology, allowing the import and export of CAD models (STEP, IGES, SAT) and mesh models (OBJ, STL).

Specific products now available based on the Cyborg3D platform are:

Cyborg3D SubD2CAD will convert typical subdivision surface (SubD) models from products including 3ds Max, Modo, Softimage, ZBrush, and most models from 3D model databases like Turbosquid into standard CAD formats (STEP, IGES, SAT). SubD2CAD can also be used to create freeform, organic models from scratch. Final models can be converted into standard CAD formats for downstream activities including analysis, drawing production, CAM, Booleans, filleting, or shelling.

Cyborg3D CAD2Print is tailored for 3D printing of CAD models. It can import models using standard CAD formats (IGES, STEP, SAT) and format them for 3D printing by creating what IntegrityWare calls “water-tight meshes.”

Cyborg3D CAD2Poly tessellates NURBS (CAD) geometry into polygonal models (including quad meshes) in STL or OBJ format. It offers flexible control of the resulting meshes, making it suitable for game engines, rendering, interference detection, and 3D printing applications. The multi-threaded architecture in Cyborg3D makes CAD2Poly useful for large assemblies. Cyborg3D CAD2Poly is priced at $495.

The Cyborg3D line is based on IntegrityWare’s Solids++ geometric modeling kernel, unique among commercial 3D modeling kernels for its hybrid support for solids, surface, and polygonal modeling. Cyborg3D also utilizes a new SubD-NURBS library product from IntegrityWare, which provides conversion between Sub-D geometry and NURBS geometry.

**Cyborg3D is a series of three products for translation, design, and 3D printing that are powered by the hybrid Solids++ modeling kernel from IntegrityWare. (Source: IntegrityWare)**

What do we think?

3D designers seem to fall into two camps: those who are just fine with the feature set of their one-and-only preferred CAD or digital content modeling software, and those who keep looking for just one more product that can tweak their models in a new and different way. The plug-ins from IntegrityWare have long scratched the itch for the second group; now Cyborg3D give them reason to buy new stand-alone software.