http://www.solidsmack.com/design-news/t-splines-for-solidworks-advanced-surfacing-power-is-here/
I will report back here with more info; whatever I learn next week at SW World.
http://www.solidsmack.com/design-news/t-splines-for-solidworks-advanced-surfacing-power-is-here/
I will report back here with more info; whatever I learn next week at SW World.
So, it's a new interface but not really any new math.
It's not a new interface. It is ~mesh modeling that directly imports to SolidWorks. So far, from Matt's article, it doesn't seem a whole lot different than the existing technology of T-Splines > Rhino > SolidWorks, except that now it imports directly into SW instead of the intermediate step.
I'll be interested to see it, but, not being a fan of Rhino, I think I won't get too excited until it lives in SW itself.
I was lucky enough to test this out last month and I agree that this has the potential to completely alter the way we model in SolidWorks. Of course there is a "but"!
The biggest but is that the first version TsElements is literally just a file importer and very basic editor - note edit, not create - of existing TSpline surfaces generated in TSplines for Rhino, or, for certain very specific types of OBJ files. So if you have Rhino and TSplines you can buy TsElements and have the ability to tweak the TSpline in Solidworks, or, if you concepetualise in , say, Modo (I've not been able to try Modo's OBJ format in testing though - so it may not be the "right type of obj" - you can import that into SolidWorks as a TSpline as well and tweak it in SolidWorks.
The very first version of Elements has a hidden feature - control drag a face in face edit mode and you do what is called a TsExtrude - you basically add a new bridging face set. But, this functionality will be turned off as they develop another tsplines product for Solidworks that will be more similar to the Rhino version.
Let me start by saying this stuff is truly amazing - when it works with Rhino. Look at the latest webinars on the TSplines site and see if you can find the golf club one. That was created from one Rhino curve and about 3 Tspline commands in next to no time. I wouldn't know where to start doing that in SolidWorks (OK I would but I wouldn't bother!)
As well as this tSplines have said they are developing their own modeller as a standalone app.
So, as it stands, TsElements is a bit useless if you only have access to SolidWorks. You need to wait for the more advanced (higher priced) package when that appears. All of which is a problem for TSplines I think.
I have no idea what the pricing structure will be, but if I was a betting man I'd suspect the next level up package will be significantly more that TsElements - which is already $499. If they price it at TSplines for Rhino level ($599) all well and good. But if they price it a lot higher (say above $1000) you have to start to ask yourself "would I be better off buying Rhino/TSplines and just importing to SolidWorks as an IGES file?" Personally, I'd rather not have to do that as I really don't like Rhino. But time will tell.
In any case, judging by the poor update list for 2012, and the comments from SolidWorks people about modelling, I'd say we need to start looking at add ons and alternatives to bring modelling in SolidWorks to the next level.
Kevin,
Yes, the same Sub-D that you do in Modo (Tab on polygon model) can be exported directly into SW as an OBJ and then edited. The only requirement of OBJ opened with the T-spline add-in is that they be quadrilateral patches not triangular. In other words, any application where you can create polygonal box models and export as OBJ you can import into SW.
Thanks for posting that Mark - it was exactly the question I needed answering! I am trying to find an excuse to buy TsElements - looks like I need to look at Modo as well
The only concern I have is my lack of sub-div modelling skills - 20 odd years of NURBS does that to you
Kind of odd that it's only like an import, I was hoping it would be an integrated partner product like other gold partner add-ins. I guess great things just take time
I really hope that is their end-game plan. Of course, SW is announcing long term plans for a shift to this whole "cloud" thing, so if I was a gold partner, I'd either want details on that, or I'd be weary of trying to add anything to the existing software.
Hi,
I just wanted to say it was great to meet some of you last month at SW World. We are very excited to be a part of the SolidWorks community. As has been mentioned here; tsElements for SolidWorks really is our first product for a solid modeler, and to be honest we wanted to get a reality check from the community whether organic surfacing inside SolidWorks is something that would be of interest before we got too far down the development road. We in fact have received a very strong positive response and have already begun development on a more advanced add-in that will allow the creation of T-Spline surfaces inside SolidWorks.
We really value those who have bought tsElements and found that it is useful for them today (as Kevin mentioned, not everyone will have a use for it yet).
Sincerely,
Matt Sederberg
801-841-1234
CEO
T-Splines, Inc.
Provo, UT
Matt,
Like a number of people who stopped by at SWW, I am really looking forward to seeing the integrated SW version of T-Splines. (I could never relate to Rhino.)
Jerry Steiger
Matt,
I downloaded and installed the add-in. It could not activate because of the error "tsElements for SolidWorks unable to activate license. (Code: -105) Read error from network (-105).
I assume this is because of our company firewall. Is your activation set to work through a proxy server?
I don't need any direct help with this, I will try again from my home installation, where I will probably be doing my review of tsElements anyway. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the issue. I will also be sending this reply as an email.
Hi Charles,
Yup, going through the proxy server is the problem. We've cleaned up a few annoyances like this and some other bugs and will get a 1.01 release out, hopefully tomorrow, that will get you a workaround if you have a proxy server.
Thanks,
Matt
Charles, everyone:
We released tsElements service release 1.01 on Friday. This makes it easier to activate the trial if you have a VPN. Info and download link here:
http://www.tsplines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=30568
Also we reset the 10-day trial counter so if you tried to play with tsElements but were affected by activation issues, etc. you can have another go.
One last thing: tomorrow we are hosting a free webinar introducing tsElements for SolidWorks at 12 noon Eastern. You can register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/580313184
Thanks,
Matt
Here's a link to our YouTube tsElements for SolidWorks channel. You'll find a recording of our webinar introducing tsElements for SolidWorks here.
http://www.youtube.com/user/tsplines?feature=mhum#p/c/82E87599931C21EC
What is a T-spline? Just a rebranded B-spline, I would wager.