Cobalt

Name: Cobalt — Download page. 3D CAD parametric modeling
Price: 695.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)
Author: Ashlar-Vellum

Cobalt — Free Download. 3D CAD parametric modeling

Cobalt is three-dimensional parametric modeling software used in product design and development. It offers wireframe, solid, and surface modeling, along with precision drawings, rendering, and animation. Its organic workflow integrates professional power with execution speed. Designers, engineers, and inventors employ its on-demand parameters, dimensionally constrained and equation-driven, to generate design variations quickly.

★★★★★

5.0(1 ratings)

Download Cobalt (Official links)

File size: 461 MB

The latest version of Cobalt is: 12 SP2

Operating system: Windows

Languages: English

Developer: Ashlar-Vellum

Price: $695.00 USD

Parametric modeling. The foundation of Cobalt is its parametric engine, which maintains intelligent associations between all features of the model. When a user modifies a dimension or a geometric relationship, the model updates automatically in a cascade, preserving design intent. This system allows for exploring multiple iterations of a concept without needing to manually remodel from scratch.
Class-A organic surface modeling. Cobalt includes advanced tools for creating and editing high-quality surfaces, known as Class-A surfaces. These tools allow precise control over continuity (G0, G1, G2) between surface patches, essential for designing automotive bodies, consumer products, and aerodynamic shapes that require perfect light reflections.
Dimensional and geometric constraints. The system allows applying constraints in both 2D sketches and 3D assemblies. Users can define fixed distances, angles, parallelism, perpendicularity, concentricity, and tangency relationships. These constraints lock the geometry, ensuring desired relationships are maintained during any subsequent modification.
Equations and design tables. Model parameters can be controlled through mathematical equations and design tables. This enables the creation of complex configurations where multiple dimensions change in an interrelated way, or the generation of part families from a single master model by varying values in an integrated spreadsheet.
Organic workflow. This proprietary Cobalt methodology allows freely switching between sketch, solid, and surface modeling at any stage of the design process. There is no rigid linear sequence; the user can add features, edit reference geometry, or refine surfaces in whatever order the creative process demands, without losing associativity.
Hierarchical assemblies. The software manages complex sets of parts through a hierarchical assembly structure. Individual parts are inserted and positioned with assembly constraints (coincidence, offset, etc.). Changes in a component part propagate automatically to all assemblies where it is present, maintaining the integrity of the overall set.
2D production drawings. From 3D models, Cobalt generates technical production drawings with orthographic views, sections, details, and isometric views. Dimensions in the drawing maintain a bidirectional link with the 3D model. If a dimension is modified in the model, the drawing updates, and vice versa.
Integrated photorealistic rendering. The internal rendering engine allows creating high-quality images and flight animations directly within the application. Users apply materials, configure lighting scenes, and adjust backgrounds to generate visual presentations intended for clients, catalogs, or design reviews.
Analysis and measurement tools. It includes utilities for analyzing physical properties of the model, such as calculating mass, volume, surface area, and center of gravity, based on an assigned material density. It also offers precise measurement of distances, angles, and radii between any geometric entities in 3D space.
Interoperability with other CAD formats. Cobalt provides robust import and export capabilities. It supports standard formats like STEP, IGES, SAT, STL, and native formats from other CAD systems. This facilitates collaboration in multi-application environments and preparing models for additive manufacturing (3D printing) or CNC machining.
Parametric construction history. All modeling operations are recorded in a graphical and editable history tree. Users can go back to any point in the history, modify parameters of previous operations, suppress steps, or reorder them. This granular control over the construction sequence is fundamental for iterative design.
Standard parts library. The application incorporates a library of common mechanical components, such as screws, bearings, and standardized profiles. Users can insert these parts directly into their assemblies, saving time in modeling recurring elements and ensuring compliance with standards.

Cobalt was developed by Ashlar-Vellum, a company based in Austin, Texas, specializing in geometric design software. Development of the core application began in the late 1980s, evolving from the foundations established by the Vellum software. The first commercial version of Cobalt was released in the early 2000s. The software is primarily written in C++, a language that provides the control and performance necessary for intensive geometric and mathematical operations. Throughout its history, development has focused on stability, geometric precision, and workflow fluidity for parametric modeling, targeting professionals in industrial design and mechanical engineering.

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