Year
|
Event
|
1980
|
T&W
Systems releases Versa CAD |
1980
|
Matra
Datavision founded as part of Lagardene Group and starts producing
CAD/CAM software.
|
1981
|
Dassault
Systems is created.
|
1981
|
Computer
graphics from Cornell University founded 3D/Eye Inc., a pioneered
3D and graphics technology.
|
1981
|
Unigraphics
introduced the first solid modeling system, UniSolid.
It was based on PADL-2, and was sold as a stand-alone product to Unigraphics. |
1982
|
CATIA
Version 1 is announced as an add-on product for 3D design, surface
modeling and NC programming.
|
1982
|
In
1982 mini computers with much more power at less cost started to appear.
This was a major step forward and by 1984 the technology began to
be competitive with traditional methods.
For many years aircraft had of course been designed using computers,
but now it was becoming possible to economically design saucepans
and other domestic products with complex 3D shapes using a computer.
|
1982
|
Autodesk
was founded by sixteen people in April 1982 in California by initiative
of John Walker in idea to create a CAD program for a price of $1000
to can run on PC. John Walker has been running Marinchip Systems
for two years before. The first version of AutoCAD was based on
a CAD program wrote in 1981 by Mike Riddle called MicroCAD, changed
later in Interact.
|
1982
|
A company
called P-CAD released a CAD program called CADplan. Later the product
was purchased by CalComp and renamed CADVANCE.
|
1982
|
In November
at COMDEX trade show in Las Vegas was demonstrated the first CAD
program in the world that runs on PC. This was the initial release
of AutoCAD and deliveries begun in December.
|
1983
|
Unigraphics
II introduced to market
|
1983
|
Applicon
introduces BRAVO! first 32-bit VAX based mechanical design/NC system |
1983
|
The first
German and French versions of AutoCAD
|
1983
|
The work
has started for a new reliable and universal system of transferring
data called STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model
data). STEP can transfer CAD data, to include complete details
of product modeling including materials and various design parameters.
The first generally available STEP translator was released in 1991
by EDS Unigraphics.
|
1983
|
Autodesk
ships version 1.2 of AutoCAD in April, version 1.3 in August and
version 1.4 in October.
|
1984
|
CoCreate
Software Inc., was established in 1984 as a division of Hewlett-Packard
Company with the charter to expand the scope and focus for development
of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
software products.
In 1996, CoCreate became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hewlett-Packard
Co. and expanded its product offerings to include collaboration software
solutions. |
1984
|
DUCT
development continued at Cambridge together with the small team established
at Delta in Birmingham.
By 1984 the Birmingham team was larger than that at Cambridge and
the unique features of DUCT began to be recognised.
It was one of the very few systems developed from the beginning to
design and machine products.
The equal emphasis on design and machining made it different to its
competitors and this was appreciated by the users.
Most other systems had developed 2D draughting first, followed by
3D modelling with machining added later. |
1984
|
In
1984, a Hungarian physicist, Gabor Bajor, smuggled two Macs into his
country. At the time, ownership of personal computers was illegal
under Communist rule. Using Pascal, he and a teenager, Tamas Hajas
worked to write a 3D CAD program for the Mac which will be the beginning
of Graphsoft Company. |
1984
|
Drafting
capabilities are added to CATIA in 1984, enabling it to function
independently of CADAM.
|
1984
|
The first
Autodesk Training Centre
|
1984
|
In October
AutoCAD version 2 (Release 5) with text improvements, DXFIN and
DXFOUT commands, new Inquire commands, Object Snap, named views,
Isometric capabilities and new Attribute features.
|
1985
|
Keith
Bentley founds Bentley Systems, Inc.
MicroStation
provides advanced computer-aided design on PC. MicroStation began
as a clone of another CAD package. Originally named PseudoStation,
the software developed by Bentley Systems allowed users to view
IGDS drawings files without needing Intergraph's software.
The next version of PseudoStation was renamed MicroStation and added
the ability to edit IGDS files. After Intergraph purchased 50% of
Bentley Systems, a new version of MicroStation added proprietary
extensions to the IGDS and renamed it DNG.
|
1985
|
CATIA
Version 2 is announced with fully integrated drafting, solid and
robotics functions.
CATIA becomes the aeronautical applications leader.
|
1985
|
The first
CAD Camp organized by Autodesk in San Rafael, California.
|
1985
|
Autodesk
sales were over $27 million this year.
|
1985
|
Peter
Smith and Livingston Davies found Micro-Control Systems and releases
CADKEY, the first 3D PC CAP product |
1985
|
Diehl
Graphsoft, Inc. is founded and the first version of MiniCAD is shipped
in the same year. MiniCAD will become the best selling CAD program
on the Macintosh.
|
1985
|
Varimetrix
founded.
|
1985
|
AutoCAD
version 2.1 in May with 3D capabilities and Polylines command.
|
1986
|
On
January 9, Deneba Software is officially incorporated. The company
sets out to address the needs of Mac users with MacLightning - the
first interactive spelling checker for Mac. It debuts at MacWorld
Expo in San Francisco and is an instant hit. MacLightning 2.0 ships
in August as does Voila - an outline processor desk accessory. |
1986
|
Version
2.18 of AutoCAD, launched in January, included the full AutoLISP
programming language.
AutoLISP
is an ASCII based language of interpreted type, originally derived
from a shareware Lisp implementation called Xlisp.
AutoLISP extended the variables and expressions feature to let users
write and store LISP programs that implement custom commands.
|
1986
|
CADENCE
magazine is established.
Would become the world's largest independent CAD publication. |
1986
|
Richard
Sowar founded Spatial Technology which will debut officially one
year later.
|
1986
|
MCS
introduced ANVIL-5000, a 3-D mechanical CADD/CAM/CAE system that,
for over a decade, was the most powerful, fully integrated CADD/CAM/CAE
software available, running on all classes of engineering computers
from high-end workstations to personal computers |
1986
|
Dassault
acquires CADAM |
1986
|
American
Small Business Company releases DesignCAD |
1986
|
AutoCAD
reaches 50,000 copies sold world wide.
|
1986
|
Caligari
Corporation was founded. |
1986
|
AutoCAD
has won since 1986 "The Best CAD Product" award from PC World magazine
every year for the next 10 years.
|
1986
|
AutoSketch
1.0 entry level CAD program from Autodesk.
|
1986
|
In June
AutoCAD version 2.5 (Release 7) with more editing and dimensioning
commands enhancements.
|
1987
|
General
Motors selects Unigraphics company as a Strategic Partner
|
1987
|
Since
1987 certified national courses of study by City and Guilds of London
Institute in AutoCAD has been conducted.
|
1987
|
ISICAD
purchased CADVANCE and developed it into the first Windows based
CAD application on the market.
|
1987
|
Deneba
begins publishing its products under its own label. A software equivalent
to 3M's Post-it notes, it integrates seamlessly with Excel, Word,
MacWrite and most other programs. The first release of Canvas sets
a new standard in graphic design by bringing together painting and
drawing onto the same page for the first time ever. |
1987
|
Varimetrix
introduces one of the first PC based B-rep solid modeler.
|
1987
|
Version
2.6 of AutoCAD (in April) introduces a compiled LISP but it still
required the interpreter to run it.
|
1987
|
AutoCAD
Release 9 in September is the first version of AutoCAD to require
an 80x87 math processor in computers based on Intel 8086 processors.
All files produced by this version made compatible among all supported
computers.
Release 9 includes as well an Advanced User Interface incorporating
a menu bar, pull-down menus, icon menus and dialog boxes.
ADS (AutoCAD Development System) was introduced with release
9 for OS/2 operating system and allowed C code to be used instead
of ASCII based AutoLISP. To enable C code to access AutoCAD internal
data, a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) are supplied
with AutoCAD.
Internally AutoCAD sees an ADS application exactly the same as a
LISP routine.
|
1988
|
Shape
Data Ltd. acquired by Unigraphics for solids modeling capabilities
-- Parasolid -- the production-proven kernel modeling toolkit.
Shape Data was developer of Romulus, Romulus-D and Parasolid applications.
Parasolid is a very powerful B-rep solid modeling kernel that allows
the joining of boundaries represented surfaces together as a solid.
|
1988
|
MacLightning,
from Deneba, is renamed and re-launched as Coach Professional 3.0
- a complete spelling, thesaurus, and definitions reference system.
Memorandum from deneba Software, is renamed and re-launched as Comment
2.0. Canvas 2.0 ships and proves to be an potent force in the then
nascent digital graphics world. This version introduced a host of
innovations including: multi-point Bezier curves, unlimited layers,
32-bit color, drawing precision, color separations, auto-tracing and
dozens more. |
1988
|
CATIA
Version 3 is announced with AEC functionality. CATIA is ported to
IBM's UNIX-based RISC System/6000 workstations. CATIA becomes the
automotive applications leader
|
1988
|
Martin
Newell founded Ashlar Incorporation and release Ashlar Vellum CAD
software. |
1988
|
John
Walker retained from the chair to devote to full-time programming.
|
1988
|
Surfware
Inc., ships the first version of SurfCAM, a CAD/CAM program.
|
1988
|
In October
Autodesk ships AutoCAD Release 10, with 3D enhancements.
|
1988
|
Autodesk
ships AutoSolid an add-on application for AutoCAD.
|
1989
|
Unigraphics
announced commitment to UNIX and open system architecture.
Pratt
& Whitney selects Unigraphics as its system of choice.
New,
STEP-compatible Parasolid kernel modelers for 3-D modeling introduced.
Parasolid
integrated into Unigraphics iMAN PIM system jointly developed with
Kodak
|
1989
|
Autodesk
buy Generic Software and Generic CADD program.
There
are over 600 add-on applications for AutoCAD.
|
1989
|
Acecad
Software (England) ships the first version of Strucad, a high-end
structural CAD program.
|
1989
|
Canvas
2.1 is released and receives the coveted Editor's Choice Award from
MacUser Magazine. The first German and French versions of Canvas are
released. Deneba releases UltraPaint - a powerful entry-level painting
and drawing application for Macintosh. UltraPaint featured 256-color
painting, the world's first vector and raster open plug-in architecture,
color gradients, vector masking, image processing filters. Refinements
of these technologies would all find their way into Canvas 3 some
years later. |
1989
|
Graphisoft
US was established to sell and support ArchiCAD products in the
US and Canada.
|
1989
|
Archway Systems
is founded by Mike and Tom Lazear |
1989
|
Parametric
ProÔ releases T-FLEX, the first parametric mechanical CAD program
for PC. It uses a propietary 3D kernel, the Baranov kernel. Later
will migrate to ACIS. |
1989
|
CSC ships
MicroCADAM, a CAD/CAM program which will become the best selling
CAD product in Japan.
|
1989
|
Parametric
Technology ships the first version of Pro/ENGINEER.
|