2D drafting software is free to download

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 18, 2006

Solid Edge 2D Drafting software is now available free of charge.

Solid Edge 2D Drafting software is now available worldwide to anyone who requests the software through a new online download from the www.solidedge.com website.

This announcement highlights a redefinition of the marketplace through the commoditisation of 2D and the emphasis on the value of managed 3D modelling.

There is no cost to download or license the software; optional support and automatic upgrades for the product are available for a nominal cost.

"UGS knows how to wake up an industry", said Ken Versprille, PhD, Principal and PLM Research Director, CPDA.

"Their new free 2D drafting product puts a gold stamp on drafting as a commodity".

"We are talking top-notch 2D drafting here; not the weak teasers the industry has seen offered free in the past".

"It is an impressive, bold move by a leading vendor to increase their market recognition and is sure to make others scramble in their back rooms".

UGS customers who are paying for AutoCAD or other 2D drafting tools can now use free Solid Edge 2D Drafting to streamline their 2D design processes, reduce costs and take advantage of single-source support.

Users can share native drawings with their suppliers, for design review or manufacture, avoiding translation requirements while ensuring data integrity.

Customers can subscribe to Solid Edge's award-winning support programme and gain access to the application programming interface (API) at a nominal cost "We can replace AutoCAD with Solid Edge 2D Drafting", said Juergen Niesner, CAD System Manager, Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen.

"Free Solid Edge 2D Drafting comes just at the right time for us".

"Currently, we support three systems".

"With Solid Edge 2D Drafting, we need only one system, which saves us time and money".

Solid Edge 2D Drafting features an engineering sketchpad, which allows designers to sketch ideas and turn freehand sketches into accurate 2D dimension driven (variational) drawings.

In the office, onsite, or on the shop floor, users can take advantage of the free and versatile 2D sketchpad.

Solid Edge 2D Drafting features drag-and-drop diagramming capabilities using industry-standard symbols (blocks) to automate the creation of electrical and P and ID layouts - without the need for dedicated schematic software.

Users can develop schematics, layouts and other 2D-centric deliverables, while maintaining all 2D legacy data and eliminating the need to pay for upgrades.

"This is a strategic move for UGS and establishes 2D as a true commodity in the market", said Dave Shirk, Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, UGS.

"Thousands of organisations still designing and documenting in 2D will benefit from this offer".

"In addition, making our advanced 2D sketching capabilities available to all will allow many to take the first step to evolve to 3D with the mid-market PLM leader".

With this announcement, organisations now have more reasons to adopt UGS' "Evolve to 3D" programme.

Evolve to 3D is the simple four-step process for moving from 2D design to complete 3D digital mock-up with minimum disruption.

Free 2D drafting enables customers to get their job done and complete the first step at no cost.

Solid Edge is the CAD component of the new UGS Velocity Series portfolio.

Solid Edge 2D Drafting provides a production-proven set of capabilities for creating 2D documentation.

It includes drawing layout, diagramming, annotation and dimensioning controls that automatically comply with drafting standards, such as ISO, ANSI, BSI, DIN, JIS and UNI.

In addition, it provides intuitive wizards for robust translation to ease the transition from 2D AutoCAD and other drafting applications.

UGS will provide Solid Edge 2D drafting in ten languages, including English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Russian.