Novato, California, based IMSI® Design, a leading developer of CAD solutions, has announced the release of the TurboCAD Mac 15 family of products.
This latest release encompasses a range of editions with various capabilities, all native for the latest Macintosh platform. Versions include Designer, Deluxe, Pro and Platinum. TurboCAD Mac continues to provide innovative tools for mechanical, 3D printing, hobbyist, makers and architectural design communities.
TurboCAD Mac 15
The latest TurboCAD Mac 15 ships with over 100 new features and improvements, including new AI-powered copilot technology.
IMSI Design’s new TurboCAD Mac 15 with new AI Copilot technologies.
The new artificial intelligence (AI) technology delivers benefits across four primary roles:
- AI Help System — can respond to help-related queries about how to use the software
- AI Data-Driven Insights — the user can tap AI to deliver insights about CAD files
- AI Knowledge Base — the user can utilize an extensive AI knowledge base for a wide range of questions.
- AI Text to Image — finally, the user can create textures and backgrounds for photo rendering using Text to Image AI technologies.
The new AI technologies will help users both learn TurboCAD Mac 15 faster and leverage its capabilities to the fullest. The TurboCAD Mac Copilot AI technologies support two levels: TurboCAD Mac Copilot Help (free, 1-year subscription for all TurboCAD variants) and TurboCAD Mac Copilot Professional (available as a 1-year subscription service).
Talk To Your CAD Data
The Copilot Professional subscription includes “Talk to your CAD Data,” general AI access, and Text to Image. IMSI Design says the AI Copilot is “adept at handling diverse, multilingual requests, from guiding through the initial steps of using TurboCAD Mac to sharing intriguing details about a file or providing insights on design trends and principles.”
Reports Tim Olson, Vice President of IMSI Design:
TurboCAD Mac Copilot supports queries not only into documentation but also into the mathematical properties and attributes unique to CAD objects in a file. TurboCAD Mac Copilot can find problems, locate unusual values, or create custom tables of any property. TurboCAD Mac Copilot enables a full interrogation of the design to a specific query, moving beyond the limitations of user interface buttons and menus.
“With the launch of TurboCAD® Mac and the new TurboCAD® Mac Copilot feature, we’re not just participating in the technological revolution; we’re leading it. Artificial Intelligence represents a seismic shift in how we interact with technology, a leap forward that will transform every aspect of our lives. Our mission is to empower our users with the most sophisticated and user-friendly design tools available. By weaving AI into the fabric of our products, we’re not merely adapting to a new era—we’re crafting it. Our passion for innovation is relentless, and through AI, we’re unlocking a realm of potential that was previously beyond reach,” outlines Rita Buschmann, Senior Product Manager, CAD and Home Design.
Introducing TurboCAD Mac Platinum
TurboCAD Mac 15 introduces a Platinum version for the Mac version—we believe for the first time. This Platinum version offers an enhanced version for mechanical design suitable for professional uses, including support for more sophisticated surface and solid modeling tools. Platinum can also handle additional blending options such as curvature, three-face, and more, plus enhanced edge modeling treatments with features like flange, lips, and grooves.
TurboCAD Mac 15 Platinum version showcasing TandemCover modeling operations.
Surface modeling now includes commands such as tangent n-sided covers, pressure deform a surface/face, curvature blends, curvature edge matching, rebuild, insert know, and elevate. Finally, Platinum also offers more file support options, including import options for CATIA v4, Pro-E, and VDA.
Precision Tools and Enhanced Modeling
Other precision tools and improved modeling capabilities include:
- Split at Discontinuity: Intelligently splits curves at points of discontinuity to ensure smooth modeling operations.
- Blend Version Control: Revert to previous blend settings for more control over design processes.
- Convert Text to Surface: Easily transform text into ACIS surface faces, expanding creative possibilities.
- Shear Transform: Apply shear transformations to curves, surfaces, and solids with precision.
- Verify Clearance: Accurately calculate the spatial clearance between solids for perfect component fits.
Also new to TurboCAD Mac 15 is Layer Sets that allow the user to have far more control over layers in general, improving layer management. Layer Sets include control for view orientations and zoom levels, enhancing project transitions. The Fastener Library is now integrated with the Symbol tab, simplifies the insertion of ANSI-standard nuts, bolts, and washers into designs. And lastly the onboard help system has seen a major upgrade. Clicking on a tool now displays the associated help context in a dedicated help palette.
Availability and Pricing
All products are available now and the TurboCAD Mac 15 family starts at Designer (retailing for USD 99.99) and goes up to Pro (retailing at USD 799.99) and to Platinum (retailing at USD 1,299.99).
Architosh Analysis and Commentary
Over the past several years, IMSI Design has been rather quiet from our perspective. Since Bob Mayer’s retirement, it has been a delight to hear from the company’s new leadership, with CAD industry veteran innovator Tim Olson now in the vice president role. We have reviewed IMSI Design’s Mac products for years, and our last review was TurboCAD Mac Pro 8 in 2015. In 2013, we reviewed version 7. Looking back at our last review in 2015, we noted how TurboCAD Mac 8 had incorporated the very latest Spatial ACIS 24 modeling kernel (engine). One issue we at Architosh were aware of several years ago was that Spatial was dragging its feet with native ARM chip support for the Mac components of its geometry engine. We note this in comparison to Parasolid. It appears that ACIS 2023.1.0 (released in May 2023) includes support for the Mac ARM platform (thus native support for the M1, M2, M3, and M4 microprocessors.).
It is rather happy news to see the Platinum version come to TurboCAD Mac 15. We noted at our last review that the Mac side of the MCAD market was blooming as more and more computer users were adopting the Mac platform. That general trend has only accelerated since Apple left Intel X86 for its own ARM-based M-series chips. With the big enterprise MCAD tools in the market still a Windows-only affair, 3D MCAD workflows are constrained to more mid-range CAD tools. The Platinum version firmly enhances IMSI Design’s TurboCAD Mac 15’s unique position in the market.
