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.
- 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 opensource Computational Geometry Algorithms Library which has support for boolean operations on Polyhedra; but no sweep, revolve or NURBS.
- Open CASCADE is an opensource 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.20212223
Kernel developers
The table below contains a representative list of developers developing their own kernel or licensing the kernel from a third-party.24
References
Tyrka, Katherine (2001-12-01). "Kernel strategies". Design News. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-12-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203719/http://www.designnews.com/article/CA155479.html ↩
Shah, Jami (2004-06-27). Parametric and Feature-Based CAD/CAM. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 449. ISBN 0-471-00214-3. 0-471-00214-3 ↩
SMLib http://smlib.com/ ↩
Yares, Evan. "Spatial, ACIS, CGM, and the future of geometric modelers". 3D CAD World. Retrieved 18 May 2013. http://www.3dcadworld.com/spatial-acis-cgm-and-the-future-of-geometric-modeling-kernels/ ↩
"Autodesk - Produktivität, Performance und Präzision: Neue Version der Autodesk Inventor-Familie". www.autodesk.de. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20120315200548/http://www.autodesk.de/adsk/servlet/item?linkID=411015&id=3774381&siteID=403786 ↩
"GRANITE Interoperability Kernel FAQ". PTC Inc. Retrieved 18 May 2013. http://www.ptc.com/products/granite/faq.htm ↩
Levin, David. "Geometric Kernels and Irremovability of Presidents from Office". LEDAS Ltd. Retrieved April 15, 2013. http://isicad.net/articles.php?article_num=16062 ↩
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"Geometros Solid Geometry Engine for C++, C#, Objective-C, Java - sgCore". www.geometros.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02. http://www.geometros.com/index.html ↩
"About the developer". Innovation and research center "GeoS". Retrieved 9 August 2016. http://k3-tent.com/about-the-developer.html ↩
"SOLIDS++". IntegrityWare, Inc. Retrieved 17 August 2016. http://www.integrityware.com/solids.html ↩
"APM Studio". Research and Software Development Centre APM. Retrieved 18 August 2016. http://apm.ru/produkti/programmnie_kompleksi/APM_WinMachine/APM_Studio/ ↩
"Геометрическое ядро APM Engine". sapr. Retrieved 18 August 2016. http://www.sapr.ru/Article.aspx?id=6985 ↩
"На ядре". isicad. Retrieved 18 August 2016. http://isicad.ru/ru/articles.php?article_num=14210 ↩
"3D Software Development with Kubotek Kosmos". Kubotek Kosmos. Retrieved 26 May 2023. http://www.kubotekkosmos.com/products/3d_framework ↩
"Kubotek Kosmos Announces the 5.0 Release of its 3D Framework Modeling Kernel". EIN Presswire. Retrieved 13 April 2023. https://www.abc27.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/627758543/kubotek-kosmos-announces-the-5-0-release-of-its-3d-framework-modeling-kernel/ ↩
"The IRIT modeling environment - Home Page". www.cs.technion.ac.il. Retrieved 2019-10-02. http://www.cs.technion.ac.il/~irit/ ↩
"GTS - The GNU Triangulated Surface Library". gts.sourceforge.net. Retrieved 2019-10-02. http://gts.sourceforge.net/ ↩
"Geometry Kernel Library Packages". www.rdf.bg. RDF. http://rdf.bg/downloads-all/geometry-kernel-downloads/ ↩
"Russian 3D-kernel RGK: Functionality, Advantages, and Integration". Isicad.net. 2013-05-24. Retrieved 2016-07-27. http://isicad.net/articles.php?article_num=16135 ↩
"Does the CAD world need another geometry kernel?". gfxspeak.com. 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2016-08-17. http://gfxspeak.com/2013/06/06/does-the-cad-world-need-another-geometry-kernel/ ↩
"Features of RGK". RGK. Retrieved 15 August 2016. http://rgkernel.com/features-of-rgk.html ↩
"Вопрос распараллеливания в разработке ядра геометрического моделирования" (PDF). Singularis Lab. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20221103151739/https://www.singularis-lab.com/docs/materials/05_Shapovalov_RGK_CKA.pdf ↩
Ushakov, Dmitry. "Russian National 3D Kernel". LEDAS Ltd. Retrieved April 3, 2012. http://isicad.net/articles.php?article_num=15189 ↩
"Renga Architecture". ASCON Group. 2015-03-17. http://ascon.net/main/news/items/?news=2046 ↩
"Renga Architecture is brand-new AEC software by an MCAD vendor". WorldCAD Access. 2015-03-13. http://www.worldcadaccess.com/blog/2015/03/renga-architecture-is-brand-new-aec-software-from-an-mcad-vendor.html ↩
"Геометрическое ядро C3D станет частью российской CAM-системы ADEM". c3dlabs.com. December 20, 2021. https://www.c3dlabs.com/ru/blog/customer-stories/geometricheskoe-yadro-c3d-stanet-chastyu-rossiyskoy-cam-sistemy-adem/ ↩
"Creo GRANITE Interoperability Kernel". http://support.ptc.com/products/granite/gplugs ↩
"Creo GRANITE Interoperability Kernel". http://support.ptc.com/products/granite/gplugs ↩
"How Does Onshape Really Work?". https://www.onshape.com/cad-blog/under-the-hood-how-does-onshape-really-work?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9x_nAwostn44l67FSU0BbQVj7COiIjdvFvxteTqx_lmPGviQ8sZ0XIG9U-LbyUCYkHATaLL6XxJOpVNeb2mD3DbaecwA&_hsmi=64117165 ↩
"SpaceClaim General FAQ". http://www.spaceclaim.com/en/Support/FAQ/General_FAQ.aspx?fss=General%20Questions#652 ↩
"Software für 2D-/3D-CAD und PDM | HiCAD und HELiOS". https://www.isdgroup.com/de/ ↩
"SpaceClaim General FAQ". http://www.spaceclaim.com/en/Support/FAQ/General_FAQ.aspx?fss=General%20Questions#652 ↩
"CAESES Software › CAESES". https://www.caeses.com/products/caeses/ ↩