Precise CAD data repair

Optical system design often includes importing 3D mechanical CAD files for opto-mechanical stray-light analysis, LED illumination system design and other optical design tasks into optical design software, such as that developed by Zemax Development Corp.

Before importing design files into Zemax software, the geometry must form “water-tight” solid models. Any gaps between surfaces can cause errors in optical analysis. To precisely repair and optimally condition CAD data from all major CAD applications for translation, Zemax incorporates TransMagic Inc.’s easy-to-use multi-CAD data exchange software.

“Our customers struggle with the handover between mechanical and optical engineering – they are optical engineers and not experts in CAD. Mechanical CAD packages are three orders of magnitude coarser resolution than what is needed for optical design, and errors in mechanical designs may not be apparent in the CAD package,” Mark Nicholson, vice president at Zemax, said.

“TransMagic is able to simply explain what is wrong with a badly formed CAD file then easily repair the file with a high-resolution before importing into Zemax. CAD files repaired by TransMagic are imported into Zemax with no problems,” added Nicholson.

According to Todd Reade, TransMagic president, TransMagic resolves critical geometry issues in design files for the optical industry as well as energy, medical and manufacturing industries. It offers real solutions that enable designers to perform their jobs more efficiently and to get their products to market faster. It reduces the unnecessary delays and expenses associated with re-drafting models, outsourcing file translations and sharing design data.