Free plug-in ensures full compatibility with latest SolidWorks release

TROY, Mich., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- solidThinking ( www.solidthinking.com), developer of the globally popular solidThinking industrial design/styling software and a SolidWorks solution partner, today announced that it is making available a plug-in for SolidWorks 2009. The plug-in, which solidThinking and SolidWorks users will be able to download for free starting Dec. 5, allows for solidThinking files to be imported directly into SolidWorks or for a SolidWorks model to be saved as a solidThinking (.st) file. EuroMold 2008 attendees can learn more about the plug-in and experience a demo of solidThinking at booth B118, Halle 6.0 Dec. 3-6 at the Exhibition Fair Ground in Frankfurt, Germany.

"As a leader in the computer-aided industrial design arena, we are working to ensure that professionals have access to the most advanced, flexible and time-saving software from whatever platform they are operating," said solidThinking Vice President of Product Strategy and Marketing Alessandro Mazzardo. "The solidThinking plug-in helps preserve near-seamless creativity and precision."

With the plug-in, SolidWorks users can import a solidThinking file as a SolidWorks part. Depending on the options selected, the system creates surfaces and/or solid bodies. Surfaces may be knit together, or separate sheet bodies can be created for each solidThinking surface. The user also may choose to rotate the model so that the original Z axis becomes the Y axis, providing the same vertical orientation as the original solidThinking model.

Similarly, solidThinking users can open a SolidWorks model that has been saved as a solidThinking file using the new plug-in. The SolidWorks sheet and solid bodies are stored as solidThinking entities, and the hierarchy given by assemblies, subassemblies and parts is translated into solidThinking groups and subgroups.

The free plug-in will be available to users at www.solidthinking.com.

About solidThinking, Inc. ( www.solidthinking.com)

solidThinking, Inc. develops and markets industrial design/styling software that helps designers invent, explore and evaluate new ideas easily, rapidly and cost-effectively, without the limitations of traditional software. Designers use solidThinking software to create photorealistic 3D virtual prototypes of products across the design arena, from architecture and automobiles to electronic devices, jewelry, product packaging and yachts. solidThinking is a wholly owned subsidiary of Troy, Mich.-based Altair Engineering, Inc. ( www.altair.com). Altair Engineering is privately held and employs more than 1,400 in North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific.

For more information, news and upcoming events, and to further explore solidThinking, check out www.solidthinking.com.

Web site: http://www.altair.com/
http://www.solidthinking.com/