Best 3D CAD Viewer Software? 3

[ntweisen]

I'm looking for a free (or low cost) 3D CAD data viewer for CATIA files. I was thinking something along the lines of 3D Via's free downloadable player but it lacks two important functions that I must have: 1. measuring tool - must be able to measure the model
2. display 3d annotation data. It doesn't matter if the viewer displays the history used to create the model or not but being able to measure it is essential. Is there any software out there that supports this functionality without costing thousands of dollars? Thanks for any leads.

http://excelspreadsheetshelp.blogspot.com

 

[looslib]

This free download does a good job of allowing you to view files from multiple sources. Don't remember if Delcam Exchange does measurement.

http://www.delcam.com/general/software/exchange.asp

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[Wicsteve]

See the enclosed link to see a summary of free CAD viewers and what file types can be opened with them. Covered are viewers for Creo, Solid Edge, Solidworks, NX, IGS, STEP, and Parasolid.

 

[ntweisen]

Thanks for the information! That really helps.

http://excelspreadsheetshelp.blogspot.com

 

[KirbyWan]

It's a little pricy, but AutoVue by Oracle will open just about anything you need to look at.

-Kirby

Kirby Wilkerson

Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.

 

[tz101]

You could ask the provider of the Catia files to output in e-drawings format. The e-drawings reader is a free download from SolidWorks' website. It has measuring, sectioning, everything you could ask for in a CAD viewer, but the files have to be saved in the e-drawings file format first.

 

[ntweisen]

Thanks for all the feedback! I really appreciate it. Hopefully others will find the information useful as well.

http://excelspreadsheetshelp.blogspot.com

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http://scripting4v5.com

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I thought AutoDesk (AutoCad) had a free viewer??

 

[loki3000]

adobe pro can load most of the different part formats and can probably save them as 3d pdf.

 

[snowshoe2]

I have been looking for a better Solidworks Drawing Viewer than Edrawings, due to poor print quality. So far Oracle's Autovue has been the best quality print and not bad interface. Are there any that are better?

Hoping to find a tool that I can embed into an intranet page that would look into a pdm vault for non SW staff to have access and markup ability for drawings, without going the full PLM route.

Trying to keep it simple.

Smilin
Snowshoe2