Skip to content

Summary

InnovMetric wanted their 3D point cloud processing software to offer the same CAD import capabilities that are available from large software companies. One of their priorities was to offer nearly 100% flawless import of CATIA v5.

InnovMetric selected Spatial’s 3D InterOp software for its high-end CAD translators, particularly its ability to flawlessly exchange CATIA v4 and v5 data. In addition, the frequent releases and service packs that Spatial offers enables InnovMetric to maintain competitive edge.

Small hexes

The Company

Founded in 1994, InnovMetric Software Inc. pioneered the market for software that transforms high-density 3D digitizers into true metrology instruments. A privately owned company, InnovMetric’s PolyWorks® inspection and modeling solutions are

at work daily in more than 30 countries, providing users such as BMW, Boeing, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Porsche and Toyota with the most complete, accurate, and robust 3D point cloud processing software solution on the market.

SOLEIL 1.jpg
Small hexes

The Challenge

CAD Translation for Inspection and Modeling Software

InnovMetric wanted to offer the same CAD import capabilities in its products that are available from large software companies. To be competitive in the automotive and aerospace industries it’s imperative for the company to offer nearly 100% flawless import of CATIA v5. It wouldn’t be cost-effective for InnovMetric to try to develop a data exchange capability itself because commercially available products already exist to solve this problem. So it sought out a reasonably priced, effective third party tool to meet its high demands and expectations.

Inspector_MainVisual_Car_0.png
WN_INS_2024_overlay.png
Capture décran 2024-09-12 160848

The Solution

High Quality Translation with Flawless Exchange of Data

In 2002, InnovMetric found the answer in 3D InterOp translator technology from Spatial and has been integrating it into PolyWorks ever since. Spatial’s InterOp components allow it to offer high-end CAD import capabilities and increase its penetration in large automotive and aerospace accounts. “Naturally we turned to Spatial,” said InnovMetric President Marc Soucy. Spatial’s InterOp translators provide InnovMetric access to stable and actively-developed high-end CAD translators, which the company is highly comfortable passing along to its customers. InnovMetric’s customers expect to have as flawless import as possible without any translation errors and full content of the files available.

Spatial’s 3D InterOp translators enable InnovMetric’s customers to easily integrate advanced 3D data interoperability capabilities into applications that use 3D information, including CAD/CAM/CAE applications; data management systems, such as PDM/PLM collaboration systems; and visualization applications. “Spatial’s CAD translation technology has reached a great level of maturity – it’s a very, very good product,” notes Soucy. After the initial integration of the InterOp library into its PolyWorks application, InnovMetric has reached a point where adding a translator now takes less than an hour because of the Connect API.

The Results

A Partnership in Innovation

InnovMetric purchased Spatial’s 3D InterOp so that it wouldn’t be faced with the resource, economic, and time-to-market challenges that would have come with developing the technology itself. “We’ve been working with Spatial on the development of the library since the beginning and are pleased that our recommendations and requests are continually being factored into new releases and service packs.” Spatial’s business model is flexible and accommodating to a company such as InnovMetric that may be small in size but needs to cater to some of the world’s largest companies.

Spatial enables InnovMetric to be very competitive in the CAD translator market. In its largest accounts, most of the sales come with either a UG or CATIA translator; sometimes customers buy both CATIA v4 and v5. The company finds its biggest advantage in the fact that Spatial’s CATIA v5 - used by almost all automotive

companies - stays in the native CATIA libraries, as opposed to a reverse engineering translator. Plus, because it’s such a stable technology, customers can expect nearly 100% flawless import without translation errors, according to Soucy.

Key Insights

Spatial’s SDKs are industry-leading for a reason.
Group 111

Solutions

InnovMetric was able to integrate 3D InterOp in less than an hour because of the Connect API. The frequent releases and service packs that Spatial offers enables InnovMetric to maintain competitive edge.