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IronCAD developers Visionary Design Systems Inc (VDS) merged with innovative 3D software developers 3D/EYE in 1997 and since April 2000 been called Alventive Inc.
IronCAD offers one of the more radical interfaces among the mid-range modellers.
With a strong emphasis on graphical interaction, feature creation can be accomplished by dragging features from standard catalogs and subsequent editing and manipulation by dynamic dragging.
Feature based parametric models can be generated using Intellishapes which include constructional features and modifications such as shelling, blending and chamfering.
Further freedom is available by direct face modelling which allows individual faces to be moved or tapers and offsets to be created.
Although this loses the ability to edit the models constructional history it is symptomatic of IronCAD's goal of allowing the user to balance ultimate model robustness through structure and procedural rigour with flexibility to work according to individual preferences.
Described as design flow architecture, the need for construction or datum planes is minimised and parts or assemblies can be created flexibly within a single file or as external references if required.
At a more fundamental level users can also select between either or both of the core modelling kernels, Parasolid and ACIS.
Whilst the kernel wars have generally subsided, this selectability can make the strengths and limitations of each more apparent.
Although by using the kernel collaboration setting the most appropriate method of generating each feature is used automatically, it is possible to force the use of just one.