3D CAD CAM Software

1955 A computer graphic system was developed by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) for the USA Air Force, called SAGE (Semi Automatic Ground Environment) The system of CTR displays showed computer processed radar data information.
1957 DR Patrick Hanratty developed the PRONTO which was the first commercial numerical-control programming system.
ITEK project with GM was termed The Electronic Drafting Machine which used a PDP-1 computer from DEC (Digital Equipment Corp.)
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This was a vector refresh display system and disk memory device, the input commands were done using an electronic light pen.
1960's At General Motors Research Laboratories Dr Hanratty co-designed DAC (Design Automated by Computer) the first production interactive graphics manufacturing system.
1969 Computervision & Applicon companies were founded.
1970 Solid modelling software began being developed and M&S Computing was founded (later to become Intergraph)
1971 MCS was founded and supplied CAD/CAM software used by such company/software as McDonnell Douglas, Unigraphics. Computervison, CADDS. Autotrol, AD380. Control Data, CD-2000. Their mechanical design package ADAM was released in 1972.
1975 The Utah teapot model was created by computer graphics researcher Martin Newell
1977 Dassault engineers produced CATIA (Computer Aided Three dimensional Interactive Application).
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1978 The Romulus, B-rep Solid Modeller kernel was released by Ian Braid, Charles Lang, Alan Grayer, and the Shape Data team in Cambridge, England.
1979 Boeing, General Electric & NIST develops a neutral file format that allowed transfer between different systems and called IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Standard)
1981 Dassault Systems created SolidWorks and Mike Riddle wrote a CAD program called MicroCAD.
1982 Autodesk was founded and created a low cost version of AutoCAD based on MicroCAD.
1984 Gabor Bajor wrote a 3D CAD program for the MAC that became Graphisoft Company, ArchiCAD.
1985 Bentley Systems, Microstation for PC.
1986 AutoLISP coding began to be used.
1987 Winsom CSG solid modelling software developed by Peter Quarendon in collaboration with John Woodwark at the IBM UK Scientific Centre for scientific visualisation and modelling across a wide range of applications including molecular graphics, archaeology and medical applications. Used by William Latham and Stephen Todd to create Mutator 1 art.
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1988 3DSystems release StereoLithography Interface Specification (STL)
1988
Martin Newell the most influential person in 3D CAD usability, founded Ashlar Incorporated.
1991
Microsoft uses Open GL (SGI graphics technology) for use with Windows NT.
1991 DeskArtes Oy formed, an STL data manipulation software company.
1991 SolidThinking project originally developed for NeXT and their operating system, by Alex Mazzardo, Mario Mazzardo & Guido Quaroni.
1992 Materialise formed and release Magics an STL manipulation software.
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1992 DTM introduce SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) system for fusing plastic powder.
1994 Euclid World user group meeting in Paris.      
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1995 Brock Rooney & Associates Inc, Brockware produced STL interface software from IGES, VDFS, Computervision CADDS
2008 Moi 3D version 1 (January 18th) was developed by Michael Gibson (http://moi3d.com)
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2013 RS Components (Electrocomponents plc) launch DesignSpark Mechanical 3DCAD software in conjunction with SpaceClaim as a Free modelling tool for engineers. With access to more than 38,000 3D models in the extensive DesignSpark online component library.