Geometric modeling kernel
A geometric modeling kernel is a 3D solid modeling software component used in computer-aided design packages. Available modelling kernels include:
- ACIS is developed and licensed by Spatial Corporation of Dassault Systèmes.
- Romulus is licensed by Siemens and HP and was released in 1982.
- is developed by Solid Modeling Solutions.
- Convergence Geometric Modeler is developed by Dassault Systèmes.
- Parasolid is developed and licensed by Siemens.
- ShapeManager is developed by Autodesk and was forked from ACIS in 2001.
- Granite is developed by Parametric Technology Corporation.
- C3D Modeler is developed by C3D Labs, part of the ASCON Group.
- CGAL is an opensource Computational Geometry Algorithms Library which has support for boolean operations on Polyhedra; but no sweep, revolve or NURBS.
- Open CASCADE is an opensource modeling kernel, for Windows and Linux only.
- sgCore is an opensource modeling kernel, with precompiled libraries only, for Windows only.
- Open Inventor is both a proprietary and free and opensource modeling kernel.
- Coin3D is an opensource modeling kernel library of the Open Inventor API.
- K3 kernel is developed by Center GeoS.
- SOLIDS++ is developed by IntegrityWare, Inc.
- APM Engine is developed by RSDC APM.
- Kubotek Kosmos is developed by Kubotek3D subsidiary of Kubotek Corporation, released in 2016 and 2018.
- SvLis Geometric Kernel became opensource and discontinued, for Windows only.
- IRIT modeling environment, for Windows only.
- GTS GNU Triangulated Surface Library, for polygon meshes only and not surfaces.
- Russian Geometric Kernel.
- FeatureScript is an opensource modeling feature kernel for cloud platforms, developed by Onshape.
- Geometry Kernel, a multi-platform C++ library with source code accessible for clients, developed and distributed by RDF - .
Kernel market
The world's newest geometric modeling kernel is Russian Geometric Kernel owned by the Russian government, and it is not clear if it is going to be commercially available. However, it has superior features over the other kernels on the market.
Kernel developers
In the table below you can see a representative list of developers that belong to companies developing their own kernel or licensing the kernel from third-party| Platforms | Domain | Kernel | Application | Developed by | Country |
| Windows | CAD, AEC | Open CASCADE | Greece | ||
| Windows | MCAD | ACIS / | KeyCreator | United States | |
| Windows | MCAD | C3D | ASCON Group | Russia | |
| Windows | AEC | C3D | ASCON Group | Russia | |
| Windows | CAD | C3D + K3 kernel | Russia | ||
| Windows | AEC | C3D | ASCON Group | Russia | |
| iPad | MCAD | Parasolid | Shapr3D zrt. | Hungary | |
| Android | MCAD | C3D | ASCON Group | Russia | |
| Windows | CAD | C3D Modeler for Teigha Platform / ACIS | Russia | ||
| Windows | MCAD | Parasolid | Russia | ||
| Windows | MCAD | APM Engine | Russia | ||
| Windows | CAM | C3D | Russia | ||
| Windows | CAD | C3D | Russia | ||
| Windows, Mac | CAD, CAM | Own Kernel | Rhinoceros 3D | United States | |
| Windows | CAD | C3D | , | Russia | |
| Windows | CAD | C3D | Russia | ||
| Windows | CAE | Parasolid | United States | ||
| Windows | CAD, CAM, CAPP | ACIS | Russia | ||
| Windows | CAE | Parasolid | United States | ||
| Windows | CAD, AEC, GIS | ShapeManager | AutoCAD | Autodesk | United States |
| Windows | MCAD | ShapeManager | Inventor | Autodesk | United States |
| Windows, Mac | Solid Modeler & Machiner | ShapeManager | Fusion360 | Autodesk | United States |
| Windows, Linux, Mac | MCAD, AEC | ACIS | BricsCAD | Belgium | |
| Windows, Mac | CAD, CAM, CAE | Parasolid | Siemens NX | Siemens PLM Software | United States, Germany |
| Windows | MCAD | Parasolid | SolidFace | United States, Brazil | |
| Windows | MCAD | Parasolid | Solid Edge | Siemens PLM Software | United States, Germany |
| Windows | MCAD | Parasolid | SolidWorks | Dassault Systèmes | United States, France |
| Windows | AEC | Parasolid | MicroStation | Bentley Systems | United States |
| Windows, Unix | CAD, CAM, CAE, AEC | Convergence Geometric Modeler | CATIA | Dassault Systèmes | France |
| Windows | Solid Modeler | GRANITE | Creo Elements | Parametric Technology Corporation | United States |
| Windows | CAD | GRANITE | Creo Parametric | Parametric Technology Corporation | United States |
| SaaS | Solid Modeler | Parasolid, FeatureScript | Onshape | United States | |
| Windows, SaaS | Solid Modeler | Parasolid & ACIS | IRONCAD | United States | |
| Windows | CAD | ACIS | GstarCAD | Suzhou Gstarsoft Co., Ltd | China |
| Windows, Mac | AEC, BIM | Own Kernel | ArchiCAD | Graphisoft | Hungary |
| Windows, Linux, Mac | MCAD, AEC | ACIS | ZW3D | China | |
| Windows | MCAD | ACIS | 3D Systems | Israel | |
| Windows | MCAD | ACIS | SpaceClaim | ANSYS Inc | United States |
| Windows | MCAD | European Solid Modeller ESM | HiCAD | ISD Group | German |
| Mac, Windows | MCAD | ACIS | , Xenon, Argon | Ashlar | United States |
| Windows, Linux | CAD Optimization | Own Kernel | Germany | ||
| Windows, macOS, Linux, | CAD | Open Cascade, Coin3D, | FreeCAD | ||
| Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | CAD, AEC, BIM | Geometry Kernel | IFCEngine, STEPEngine | Bulgaria |