CADKEY
 | |
 A CADKEY (Windows version) user interface showing a wireframe 3D model in multiple viewports. | |
| Developer(s) | Micro Control Systems (AKA CADKEY, Inc.), Baystate Technologies (AKA CADKEY Corporation), Kubotek Corporation |
|---|---|
| Initial release | December 1984 |
| Final release | CADKEY Wireframe Silver Edition
/ August 4, 2008 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows,DOS,Unix |
| Successor | KeyCreator |
| Type | 3D computer graphics,CAD |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | info |
CADKEYis a 2D/3D mechanicalCAD(computer aided design or computer aided drafting)software applicationreleased for variousDOS,Solaris, andMicrosoft Windowsoperating systems. Originally released for DOS in 1984, CADKEY was among the first CAD programs[1]with 3D capabilities forpersonal computers.
History
[edit]Peter Smith and Livingston Davies founded Micro Control Systems (MCS) in 1981.[2]MCS released CADKEY in 1984, the first 3D PC CAD product.[3]After the success of the product the company took the name CADKEY, Inc. and set up headquarters in Windsor, Connecticut. CADKEY won editor's choice and CAD product of the year awards fromPC Magazinein 1986 and 1988.
In June 1989, Cadkey, Inc. purchased the rights toDataCADfrom Microtecture Inc.
In September 1992, Dr. Malcolm Davies (no relation to Livingston Davies) was elected president/CEO of Cadkey, Inc. Dr. Davies joined Cadkey, Inc. fromAutodeskwhere from 1988 to 1992 he was V.P. marketing and sales. As part of a strategic shift to direct mail-based sales, Malcolm Davies reduced the price of the flagship CADKEY product from US $3,500 to $495.[4]
By 1995, aMicrosoft Windowsversion named CADKEY for Windows was introduced. Around this time CADKEY claimed 240,000 users.[5]
In June 1996, Baystate Technologies of Marlborough, Massachusetts, purchased the rights to the CADKEY product. Previous to the CADKEY acquisition Baystate Technologies had developedthird-party software componentmodules for CADKEY,AutoCAD,Ashlar-Vellum,andMicrostation.[6]
By 1999, Baystate Technologies wasdoing business asCADKEY Corporation, had added significant history-freesolid modelingandfreeform surface modelingcapabilities to the product. A CADKEY variant without any solid or surface modeling capabilities was sold under the name CADKEY Wireframe.
In October 2003 Kubotek Corporation of Osaka, Japan, acquired Baystate Technologies. Kubotek formed Kubotek USA, Inc. based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and continues development under the nameKeyCreator.The first version of KeyCreator was shipped in early 2004.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ab"CADKEY Definition from PC Magazine Encyclopedia".Pcmag. 1994-12-01.Retrieved2011-05-25.
- ^"Miscellaneous"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2011-07-23.Retrieved2011-05-25.
- ^"Section 10: CAD/CAM/CAE/CADD".Design.osu.edu. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-16.Retrieved2011-05-25.
- ^"Business solutions from".AllBusiness.Retrieved2011-05-25.
- ^"WorldCAD Access: Blast from the Past".Worldcadaccess.typepad. 1995-12-15.Retrieved2011-05-25.
- ^"Baystate v Bentley (Gorton, software, copyright, data structures)".Scribd.Retrieved2011-05-25.