3Data Expert® - Professional data preparation for Additive Manufacturing and Simulation

3Data Expert is a professional tool for preparing 3D models for Additive Manufacturing and Simulation applications. There are several commands for manipulation of both 3D surface models and 3D faceted models. These commands include surface triangulation, STL verification and repair, STL offsetting, splitting, connecting, decimation, smoothing and Boolean as well as STL coloring and texturing. Basic supports can be generated for both Stereolithography and metal processes. With the latest 64 bit implementation models with millions of triangles can be handled reliably. Prepared models can be sent directly to the receiving process using the new Plugin interface. 3Data Expert is the 3D data processing tool you need to get your AM business running.

3Data Expert brochure: low resolution (PDF, 550 KB), high resolution (PDF, 10.7 MB).

3Data Expert includes the same powerful viewing, measuring and communication tools available with the free View Expert. Some of the more advanced functions are described below.

3Data Expert® is supported on Windows XP/Vista/7.

Repair faceted 3D models

3Data Expert offers effective and user friendly repair tools for triangulated models. Models from different CAD systems, with or without colors, can be effectively repaired using both automatic and manual commands for Additive Manufacturing.

Input various faceted models: STL, VRML, ZPR, OBJ, DXF, PLY, 3DS, Collada, FBX and proprietary 3DE Files. Output following faceted models: STL, VRML, ZPR, DXF, PLY and 3DE Files. Repair errors automatically: separate shells, orient normals, stitch gaps, fill holes and remove error triangles. Manual repair with full editing capability for faceted models. Remove triangles, surfaces or shells manually.

Split and connect large models

When the triangulated model is ready and repaired for AM processes, many times one problem still remains. The model may not fit into to the build area of the 3D Printing process in use. 3Data Expert splitting and connection tools allow you to split and connect part halves accurately after the build.

Split with polylines, curved or fixed split planes. Add primitive connectors with a few mouse clicks. Add Lap Joint to connect thin parts firmly. Add empty space between the connector surfaces to allow adding glue after the build.

Create 3D Text and join geometries

Additive Manufacturing processes allow you to build several parts at once. Adding 3D Text will help to brand a model or to tell apart the models when ready from the machine. With 3Data Expert you can add 3D Text mark-ups to recognize parts from each other. Also, primitive and freeform geometries can be generated for support or to add new features to the original part.

Create 3D primitives and free form surfaces. Create 3D Text with user selectable fonts. Emboss or engrave the 3D Text to models with Boolean commands. Connect multi component parts into one printable part with Boolean commands.

Advanced cutting functions

Medical and engineering processes may require very specific tools to cut models or to drill holes for fixtures or connectors. Cut and Hole Tools available with 3Data Expert enable most delicate Boolean operations with user defined surfaces even with complex model geometries.

Cut models for medical and engineering purposes. Define any number of cutting surfaces, scale to exact cut operation. Drill accurate holes to models, add plugs. Set drill hole depths easily with sliders.

Re-triangulate faceted models

3Data Experts fast triangle decimation and aspect ratio improving functions allow you to prepare 3D faceted files for any simulation system effectively. Detailed user control over the reduction results guarantee the optimal simulation result. Triangle refine, reduce and smoothing functions allow you to prepare sparsely triangulated models from CAD systems to scanned data for accurate simulation or manufacturing.

Reduce triangle count for faster simulation. Reshape triangles to improve aspect ratio. Smooth too sparsely triangulated data for accurate 3D Printing results. Smooth scanned data for Additive Manufacturing.

Add and save material, generate supports

For flexible Additive Manufacturing operation final functions before part build may include adding material or hollowing objects for faster build. Also, metal and stereolithography processes may require supports for correct part build. 3Data Expert Print Preparation functions offer the tools to give the finishing touches to the 3D models before manufacturing.

Offset open surfaces or Extrude too thin walls to add material. Hollow bulky models to save build time and material. Add drain holes to remove excess material. Define workspaces and position parts in them. Generate basic support structures for stereolithography and metal processes.

Paint and texture models

3Data Expert includes complete set of texturing and painting tools to prepared faceted models for 3D Color Printing. Painting, texturing, adding mark-up has never been easier.

Paint triangulated models with full color palette. Add textures to surfaces and shells using various image formats: PNG, TIFF, JPG. Add logos, mark-ups, tags to separate parts after the build. Output ZPR or VRML files for 3D Color Printing.

Convert surface models into STL data

If you are running a service bureau, you may receive 3D CAD models from several sources in various formats. Optional surface formats with 3Data Expert allow you to input surface files from most CAD system in their proprietary file format or standard formats. Surface models can be triangulated accurately according to user defined parameters to suite your process needs.

Input various surface models, like IGES, VDA, STEP, UG, ProE and Catia. Accurately convert your surface models to solid STL. Automatically fill gaps, remove overlaps and fix trimming errors. The best triangulation accuracy in the market.

3Data Expert® Offers:

3Data Expert BASE for STL files

• NEW: 64 bit implementation to handle millions of triangle
• NEW: Automatic Surface Detail Reduction to handle very complex models
• NEW: Plugin command to add direct link to Additive Manufacturing systems
• NEW: Smooth command for Improving Faceted Model Accuracy
• NEW: Wall Thickness measuring for better model analysis for 3D Printing and Simulatio
• NEW: Improved Repair Shells with polygon area fillin
• NEW: Improved Boolean to connect shells with tangential contact
• NEW: Triangle Edit functions enable editing of Models with millions of triangles

Communication

• Print and Email Images and 3D Geometry with Annotations and Measures
• Input STL, VRML, ZPR, OBJ, DXF, PLY, 3DS, Collada, FBX and 3DE Files
• Write STL, VRML, ZPR, PLY and 3DE Files

Model Editing

• Cut, Copy and Paste 3D Data
• Multiply models for manufacturing
• Advanced Selection and Replace tools for Model Repair
• Create and Run Macros for Effective Model Repair
• Workflow and Tools Window to Access Mostly Used Repair and Manipulation commands
• Intuitive Menu Structure to Support the Workflow
• Help Text window to Aid in the Repair Process
• Different Error Filtering Levels for Repairing Models for Simulation vs. 3D Printing

3D Viewing, Transformations and Measuring

• Viewing with Colors, Textures and Clipping
• Transformations to Scale, Position, Rotate, Mirror & Platform positioning
• Change units for STL models
• Generate professional 2D Drawings from STL data
• Point value, Distances, Angle, Radius and Wall Thickness Measuring

New Geometry Generation

• Design of Free-Form and Primitive Surfaces
• Primitive Box, Sphere, Cone, Cylinder and Torus for Adding Features and Supports to parts
• Rotation and Sweep to create new Free Form geometry
• Extrude Surfaces to add Thickness to models
• 3D Text with for Tagging AM parts
• Image to STL generation to add engravings on 3D data

Surface Triangulation

• Conversion of IGES and other Surface models to STL with Full Control of Resolution
• Available with Optional input formats: IGES, STEP, ProE, UG and Catia
• Re-trim and Manipulate Surface data to minimize errors

Full Faceted Model Repair

• STL Model Verification and Automatic Repair
• Automatic Self -Intersection Removal
• Advanced Error Location for Manual Repair
• Triangle Mesh Editing with Triangle Delete, Add, Gap Bridging, Point addition and Area Triangulation
• Normal Manipulation for Shells, Surfaces and Triangles
• Model Complexity Reduction for faster visualization and memory utilization

Faceted Model Modification

• Flexible Boolean Functions and Multiple Join Functions
• Advanced Cut and Hole Tool for Cutting and Drilling
• Hole Tool for Adding User Defined Holes and Tapered Plugs
• Reduce and Refine commands for Improving Triangle Shapes for Simulation
• Smooth Models for Improved Surface quality
• Check Draft Angle for Mold generation

Coloring and Texturing

• Easy to Use Coloring and Texturing Commands for 3D Color Printing
• 3DE File Format to Store Full Topology, Color and Texturing Information 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Control
• Plugin command to add Direct Link to Additive Manufacturing systems
• Split models to fit on any Build area
• Connect with Pins and Lap Joint
• Hollow Parts for faster build and add Drain Holes
• Accurate Offset for STL files, Create a Solid from Open Surface
• Platform Definition for part positioning
• Platform positioning tools
• Z-Compensation for more Accurate build
• Automatic Support Structures for Stereolithography and Metal systems
• Slicing of Faceted and Surface Models

Online Help

• Extensive Online Help
• Tutorials and Advanced Model Manipulation Lessons
• Reliable Network and Standalone Licensing System

Optional Advanced Modeling

• Sketch 3D Surfaces on Medical models
• Create Volumetric Net from STL Data
• For Reverse Engineering and Medical Implant Design

Optional IGES / VDA-FS translator

• View & Verify IGES / VDA-FS files
• Conversion of IGES / VDA-FS to STL with Full Control of Resolution
• Automatic Detection of Duplicate and Missing Surfaces
• Trimming Surfaces with Curves and Other Surfaces
• Automatic normal orientation, Output of Cleaned IGES files
• File Conversion between IGES and VDA-FS Formats

Optional CATIA 4 translator

• Input CATIA 4 Files

Optional CATIA 5 translator

• Input CATIA 5 Files

Optional Unigraphics translator

• Input Unigraphics Files

Optional ProE translator

• Input ProE Files

Optional STEP translator

• Input STEP Files