LEDAS Announces RhinoDirect 0.1 - public beta release

New plug-in parametrically edits history-free 3D geometry in Rhinoceros.

Novosibirsk - LEDAS Ltd., the independent provider of variational design tools, technology components, and software development services for the CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM market, today announced the public beta release 0.1 of its new product, RhinoDirect. This new plug-in for Rhinoceros 3D modeling software by Robert McNeel and Associates is built on the functions provided by the RhinoAssembly plug-in released last month by LEDAS. The version 0.1 of RhinoDirect is available as a free download from www.DrivingDimensions.com/labs.php.

RhinoDirect allows Rhinoceros users to assemble complex mechanisms composed of rigid and non-rigid parts. Three-dimensional shapes of non-rigid parts are adjusted automatically to satisfy the geometric constraints and driving dimensions set by the user. Moreover, RhinoDirect allows users to apply constraints and dimensions directly between the faces and edges of one part.

The first beta version of RhinoDirect has very few limitations. Solids can be modified if their boundaries consist of planar faces with sharp or filleted edges, round holes, and protruding cylinders. These limitations will be overcome by later beta releases; the next beta ships in February.

"RhinoDirect is the next in our Driving Dimensions series of plug-ins for Rhinoceros," explained Dmitry Ushakov, Director of Product Management at LEDAS. "Our first one, RhinoAssembly, has proven to be extremely popular among Rhino users, and we expect an even greater interest in this new plug-in. Our goal is to provide Rhino users with powerful tools that parametrically modify 3D geometry in a direct modeling environment that outperforms the capabilities of all other MCAD and AEC CAD systems on the market."

The version 0.1 of RhinoDirect is compatible with Rhinoceros 4.0 SR5B and higher, and runs on 32-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista, and 7. A set of tutorial videos are available at www.DrivingDimensions.com/labs.php. LEDAS plans to ship the commercial version of RhinoDirect before the end of 2010.