Find 2D and 3D designs for instant sharing and re-use

CADFind is a graphically driven, engineering design retrieval system aimed at saving companies time and money by re-using existing designs. A product of research at Aston University, it is the first that can mix 2D drawings and 3D part models in the same database – allowing search using either a 2D sketch or a 3D model as the source, and it’s available from AST. Earlier this year, AST launched CADFind for SolidWorks, allowing designers to draw or model a part within their own 3D CAD system and then search for matching 3D models or 2D drawings. That’s now extended to 2D systems with versions for AutoCAD and DWG Editor so that designers can create a sketch of a component within their own 2D CAD environment and then search for matching 2D and 3D parts, all at the click of a button. AST also offers a bureau service to speed up the process of creating company databases, which in many cases will also prove to be the most cost-effective approach.