​Three Dimensional Parametric Packages

A number of three-dimensional drawing parametric packages are available including Cubify Design, GeoMagic Design and Solid Edge. Use of a parametric drawing package will allow for rapid modelling and drawing changes.

Cubify Design is provided by GeoMagic which was previously known as Alibre Design. Cubify Design should be sufficient for most patent drawings, although it is not possible to export STEP files. *Important Cubify has been discontinued*

Youtube tutorials relating to GeoMagic and Alibre may be useful when learning Cubify Design. Each of these products are GeoMagic Products.

Sketchup is not a parameteric modeller and is therefore not recommended.  Nonetheless, if you use Sketchup you will have to provide us with 2D dxf files exported using either:

 (i)  2D Graphic PDF export with white shading;
 (ii) http://extensions.sketchup.com/it/content/skema-2d-projection; or 
 (iii) https://help.sketchup.com/en/article/3000165#export-2d

Two Dimensional Line Drawing Packages

A number of two-dimensional drawing packages are available including CorelDraw and Inkscape.

We use CorelDraw to edit two dimensional PDF and DWG vector files provided by our clients.

Inkscape is not able to handle some drawings with many thousands of lines and we do not use the software for this reason.

Another package that we use is REACONVERT PRO which converts PDF to AI format (Adobe Illustrator format). AI format is a specific PDF format that can be read by CorelDraw.  CorelDraw sometimes has trouble with some other PDF formats.

Vector Images

JPG and PNG images produced by programs such as Photoshop cannot be modified to meet with line thickness requirements. For this reason we prefer vector drawings produced using Cubify Design and CorelDraw or similar packages.

Sometimes JPGs and PNG images can be embedded in a PDF. These types of PDF are not preferred. It is possible to determine whether a JPG/PNG has been embedded in the PDF by zooming into the PDF drawings as seeing whether the line quality degrades based on the zoom level.

Software Images
​
Some client have provided website images in Mozilla Archive Format (MAFF).  We have found this particular format useful as it faithfully saves a webpage.

Patent Drawings

Patent drawings must meet formal drawing requirements including line thickness and margin requirements. We use functionality in CorelDraw to ensure that our drawings meet these requirements.

We recommend Cubify Design (USD 200) as a low cost option for sole inventors (no longer available on website).   Cubify Design is a feature limited version of Geomagic Design (USD 1500/3000).  

Unfortunately Cubify Design  does not provide for STEP export. Cubify Design also limits STL export to 3D faces. 

Geomagic Design provides for STEP and STL export with full body data.  In our opinion, Geomagic Design (USD 1,500) provides the most comprehensive mid-range package.  

SolidFace (USD 899) is another option.  SolidFace and allows export in a variety of formats including parasolid format.  It is more difficult to learn but should have significant performance benefits over Cubify/GeoMagic for large assemblies.  SolidFace can export parasolid format but not STEP files.  There does not appear to be an upgrade path for STEP files.

SolidEdge, AutoDesk-Invent and SolidWorks are feature rich packages ($5000+).   SolidEdge is able to view many formats of files including STEP, Autodesk-Invent and SolidWorks files.   

We are able to use Cubify Design and SolidEdge when viewing 3D files.   

For editing 2 dimensional DWG or PDF files generated by one of the packages above we recommend CorelDraw (Graphics Suite X8).

​REAConvertor PRO will convert PDF drawings to 'Adobe Illustrator' PDF Format (AI/PDF).  CorelDraw sometimes has difficulty importing other PDF formats.