Thangs, a geometric search engine and online community for 3D model creators, has launched powered by what its developers have deemed AI machine-learning capabilities.
Physna states that its Thangs 3D search engine – billed as “powerful enough for a leading aerospace CAD engineer, yet simple enough for literally anyone to use” – gives creators access to search, collaboration and AI-powered predictive tools, similar to a blend of Google and GitHub.
“Engineers, industrial designers and 3D-printing enthusiasts understand the massive challenges of working with 3D data,” said a Physna spokesperson.
“The most important aspects of their work must be done manually, and the lack of efficient and intuitive tools often makes them far less productive than software developers.”
Thangs allows users to find parts based on their (potential) relationship to other parts. For instance, simply by uploading a 3D model, a Thangs user can find where that part could be used, or what parts are available from suppliers that fit that model as components.
In addition to search capabilities, Thangs offers collaboration tools such as automated version control and collaboration for team projects.
Its launch index of one million 3D model files can be searched based on a wide range of search terms, such as the object’s physical properties, measurements and features.
The search engine also identifies similarities and differences between 3D models, recognises how parts fit within complex assemblies and makes accurate predictions about each object’s function, cost, materials, performance, compliance and more.
The ability to find compatible parts aims to allow creators to go from design phase to build phase faster than ever before.
Thangs analyses each 3D model’s physical properties and shows how it relates to other 3D models online, including parts that fit within its assembly and partial designs. It is capable of making predictions that reveal related part suppliers.
According Physna, Thangs is on track to become the world’s largest 3D database in under a year, as it indexes public models from around the world automatically.
Every 3D model uploaded to Thangs reportedly helps its core technology to understand the physical world even better.
“Thangs is Physna’s first open product, but it uses some of the same powerful technology at the core of our enterprise offerings,” said Physna CEO Paul Powers.
“Our enterprise product is widely recognised as the technological leader in 3D search and analysis, and we’re democratising some of its capabilities through Thangs.
“Reality is three-dimensional, and it’s time for the digital age to be as well. Thangs gives everyone not only access to 3D data, but utility from it as well using some of the most cutting-edge technology available today.”
DEVELOP3D readers can access the Thangs platform here.
