Introducing Our New 3D Primitive Model – Ruby

New primitive model in DriveWorks 23

To deliver effective technology solutions, we research and actively listen to the DriveWorks community of users, including customers, resellers, and authorized partners, continually gathering feedback from enhancement requests and other community forums. Continually developing our technology drives us forward and ensures we deliver solutions for current and future engineering and manufacturing challenges. DriveWorks 23 delivers new features in DriveWorks 3D to make interactive 3D visualizations, for desktop and web, even more realistic and performant. New features include Undo/Redo functionality, PBR advanced render property, and a new primitive model, in the form of DriveWorks canine team member, Ruby!

What is a primitive model?

A primitive model is a 3D base shape that can be added to a 3D document. Primitives allow for the dynamic procedural generation of various simple 3D geometries from within a 3D Document. The primitive model types available in DriveWorks are:

• Cube (added by default)
• Sphere
• Plane
• Dome
• Cone
• Cylinder

And new for DriveWorks 23, Ruby!

Each primitive has its own parameters that can be controlled from the Information Panel and by rules in the Parameter Panel.

New 3D primitive – Ruby

Ruby joined the DriveWorks team in 2018 as a puppy and quickly established herself as a very popular team member.

So popular in fact, that following a conversation at DriveWorks World 2024, members of the DriveWorks Development team set about developing a Ruby-inspired 3D primitive model. Initially planned as an out-of-scope feature for DriveWorks developers to use internally (their own version of the Utah teapot), they used spare time over lunch breaks to start working on the new model.

The process started with taking lots of pictures of Ruby from different angles, together with detailed measurements. This was easier said than done, with a lively Labrador, as you might imagine! Using Blender, a 3D computer graphics software tool, to trace around the images, they were able to produce a 3D Ruby model.

Too good not to share with the wider community of DriveWorks users, the finished version of the Ruby 3D primitive model is now available as a feature of DriveWorks 23.

The new Ruby primitive model can quickly and easily add geometry with irregular surfaces to test textures, lighting, and animations. It can also act as a reference model to add a sense of scale to a DriveWorks 3D scene.

I’ve really enjoyed being involved in the development of the Ruby primitive. From our starting point of taking Ruby’s measurements through to using it as a new 3D feature has been a great experience. The new Ruby primitive model is an ideal place to start experimenting with some of the other new 3D features in DriveWorks 23. I’d like to thank Ruby for her inspiration and cooperation!

Joseph Chadwick

Apprentice Software Developer

I was initially surprised when the decision was made to add this little lunchtime project to DriveWorks 23 as a feature, but actually, I really appreciate how useful it can be when I’m working on the layout and visuals of my own 3D scenes. It’s been fun seeing all the different ways others in the team have been using it, too. It feels great to have our own unique 3D primitive (and to have immortalised the company dog in the process), and I hope our users enjoy using it as much as we enjoyed making it!

Luke Dicken-Jones

3D Developer

Learn more about the new features and enhancements in DriveWorks 23 on the Enhancements page of our online help file.

Additional DriveWorks 23 resources

Use the resources below to learn more about what’s new in DriveWorks 23:

Tech Talks recording

Best practices for updating to a new version of DriveWorks

Watch

DriveWorks World session recordings

What’s new in DriveWorks 23

Watch

Upcoming Tech Talks

This series of Tech Talks focuses on new DriveWorks 23 features

Register