Visualisation capabilities include ray tracing, anti-aliasing, texture and bump maps and decals. Production quality tools include hot and cold formed steel IntelliShapes, bearings, gears, helices and ribs including a taper option. A sheet metal catalog provides drag and drop bends, lips, seams, hems, punches and stamps. Flat patterns can be generated automatically for drawings. Associative orthographic and custom views can be placed on drawings complete with sections, detail views and bill of materials.
Drawings can include multiple sheets and have layers and line colours available.
Based on ACIS 5.0, Ironcad is compatible with SAT files plus IGES and STEP and can also import triangulated VRML and STL files as solids using planar and curved surface fitting. Ironcad offers probably the most graphical interface around. Most modelling can be achieved without being aware of parametrics, constraints or a history tree although each of these can be accessed manually for power users. The approach removes the need for construction or datum planes making it unintimidating for novices. The on line documentation includes tutorials and the comprehensive manual is supplied in a distinctive industrial strength hinged aluminium binder.