Since 1988, Draftware has established itself as a key player in the field of CAD data interoperability. A historical specialist in visualization solutions for Computervision environments, this company based in Warsaw (Indiana) now offers essential solutions for organizations facing compatibility challenges between legacy and modern CAD systems. Present in more than 30 countries, Draftware enables industrial companies to preserve their investments in technical data while facilitating their digital transition.
As a strategic partner of CAD Interop for nearly three decades, Draftware has developed particular expertise in managing proprietary formats from legacy design platforms. This expertise is crucial for industries where product lifecycles span several decades, requiring access to historical technical data.
Draftware's Historical Expertise in CAD Visualization
Founded in 1988 by two experts in the CAD/CAM field, Draftware quickly developed specialized expertise in developing viewers for Computervision systems. This initial specialization laid the foundation for a deep understanding of interoperability challenges that remain relevant today.
The company's technological evolution reflects the transformations in the CAD sector, from the first DOS solutions to modern Windows applications. This trajectory has allowed Draftware to maintain compatibility with legacy formats while progressively integrating contemporary standards.
Period | Product | Platform | Technological Innovation |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | DraftView for Personal Designer | DOS | First viewer dedicated to Computervision systems |
1991 | DraftView for CADDS | DOS | Extension to CADDS 4X environments |
1994-95 | DraftView Windows | Windows 3.1/95 | Transition to 32-bit architecture |
2000+ | Extended DraftView Range | Modern Windows | Multi-format support and advanced interoperability |
The DraftView Range: Advanced CAD Visualization Solutions
At the core of Draftware's offering is DraftView, a suite of specialized viewers addressing specific needs for accessing legacy CAD data. These solutions allow organizations to consult, analyze, and utilize their technical data without requiring full licenses from the original CAD systems.
DraftView viewers are distinguished by their ability to faithfully interpret proprietary formats while offering an intuitive user interface. This dual approach resolves one of the main technical challenges for industrial companies: maintaining access to historical data without depending on obsolete systems.
Key Features of DraftView Solutions
- Native visualization of Computervision formats without prior conversion
- Printing options and export to standard formats
Draftware's expertise also extends to the medical sector with PolyWare, a medical imaging solution illustrating the company's technological versatility in visualizing complex data.
Technical Data Interoperability: A Strategic Issue
CAD data interoperability represents a multidimensional challenge for industrial organizations. Beyond simple geometric conversion, it involves preserving critical information such as tolerances, annotations, and design intent.
Draftware addresses this issue through a methodical approach that accounts for the technical complexity of proprietary formats. This expertise helps resolve situations where generic conversion solutions fail to capture all technical information.
Technical Challenge | Draftware Solution | Operational Benefit |
---|---|---|
Access to Computervision data | Specialized DraftView viewers | Consultation without dependency on legacy systems |
Conversion between heterogeneous formats | Optimized translation tools | 70% reduction in reconversion time |
Preservation of technical metadata | Contextual processing algorithms | Maintained integrity of critical information |
Integration into modern processes | Standardized interfaces | Optimized workflows between systems |
The Partnership with CAD Interop: Technical Synergy for Over 30 Years
The collaboration between Draftware and CAD Interop represents a strategic alliance in the field of technical data interoperability. For three decades, this partnership has offered complementary solutions addressing the specific needs of industries facing obsolete CAD environments.
This technical synergy translates into an integrated approach that combines Draftware's historical expertise on Computervision systems with extended interoperability capabilities. Clients thus benefit from continuous access to their technical data.
Sectoral Applications and Use Cases
Draftware's expertise finds particularly relevant applications in several industrial sectors where the sustainability of technical data is essential:
- Orthopedic Industry: Management of implant design data with complete traceability
- Aerospace: Maintenance of technical documentation for extended lifecycle programs
- Manufacturing Industry: Reuse of existing designs and adaptation to new systems
- Energy: Preservation of installation data with operating durations spanning several decades
Strategic Advantages of Interoperability Solutions
Implementing interoperability solutions developed by Draftware generates tangible benefits for technical organizations. These advantages go beyond simply resolving compatibility issues to create real opportunities for process optimization.
- Significant reduction in conversion and maintenance costs for legacy data
- Preservation of historical investments in technical data
- Acceleration of development processes through efficient reuse of existing designs
- Elimination of information silos between different technical departments
- Improvement of digital continuity in multi-system environments
Technological Evolution Perspectives
The field of CAD interoperability continues to evolve in the face of increasingly complex digital environment challenges. Draftware continues to develop solutions adapted to new design paradigms while maintaining compatibility with historical systems.
This dual approach is particularly relevant for organizations that must reconcile the use of legacy data with the adoption of modern methodologies such as Model-Based Definition (MBD) or digital twins. Draftware's future developments, in collaboration with its strategic partners, aim to facilitate this transition while preserving the continuity of industrial processes.
Website : http://www.draftware.com/