Digital Geometric Kernel (Former KernelCAD), is a software development framework and a set of components for enabling 3D/CAD functionality in Windows applications, developed by DInsight.
DInsight promotes KernelCAD as a quick way for adding 3D/CAD functionality without significant knowledge about the subject. It targets engineers and software developers.
Architecture
At the top level DG Kernel is a user interface control. As such, it can be added to forms or dialogs using development environments such as Microsoft Visual Studio or Embarcadero Delphi. Pure geometric functionality can be used in background without creating a window. Samples include C#, Visual Basic .NET, WPF, C++ and Pascal (Delphi) versions.
The API is based on an interface (abstract class) hierarchy.
DG Kernel relies on three major third party components:
Market niche
DG Kernel automates and simplifies the extensive solid modeling functionality available in OCCT particularly. It also bridges the gap between complexity of OCCT and the prohibitive for small businesses costs of commercial kernels like Parasolid or ACIS
Milestones
The product was first released by DInsight in 2001 under Kernel CAD name.
In version 6.0, released in December 2018, the main product was renamed to DG Kernel. The most significant change in version 6 was an alternative high-level interface for OCCT technology, which solves a number of issues with using OCCT directly.
Version 7.0, released in December 2021, includes a pure .NET version of the control.
In version 7.1, released in March 2023, Data Exchange (Import/Export) via STEP format has been reimplemented based on Extended Data Exchange (XDE) engine of OCCT. This includes support of STEP assemblies and their hierarchies, per face colors, entity and assembly names.
Version 7.1 also marks significant change in licensing: DG Kernel is free to use for individuals, small businesses and non-commercial organizations.
Digital Geometry versus CAD
By Digital Geometry DInsight means computer–generated geometry. In other words, Digital Geometry is programmable CAD.
Historically the CAD term has been used for any 3D model representations. In many situations Computer Aided Design term becomes misleading. In traditional CAD 3D model is the objective. In Digital Geometry 3D objects are an intermediate step for calculations or simulations.
Traditional CAD means computer-assisted, but mostly manual work, which significantly depends on the human (designer). However, in many situations, like tool-making by CNC machining, the final surface is not known in advance because of the complicated movement. Objects created this way, are not designable in principle. Another example is a geometry obtained with complicated algorithms simulating and/or optimizing technological processes.
