3D frameworks for CAE and Java3D
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Hi all, I have been programming C++ on Windows since 1994. However, it has not been possible to keep up with all the things on the programming side lately--I've been doing research in mechanical engineering. So, I thought of raising a question I have somewhere here at CodeProject. Hope to get your well thought out answers. Recently I ran into Java3D and it seems to suit many of my requirements, viz. a framework with which to rapidly write custom-built visualization programs for CAE applications. (In CAE, I do not mean rendering just tetrahedra or bricks as in FEM applications. I also include rendering for, say, voxels based object representations). The question is: Does anyone know anything comparable to Java3D, but on the Microsoft platform, preferably using C++? Please do note a few things before you answer: This is not a platform-war related thing. I would actually prefer something on VC++ 6/Win2K because that's what I am most acquainted with and find myself comfortable in. However, I also find that DirectX technology is too inclined towards the games and X-box sort of development. CAE applications often do not require all those advances in rendering as such. For example, CAE apps almost never need texture mapping, advanced translucency-based considerations, etc. At the same time, CAE applications require some other things not provided by either OpenGL or DirectX, like the following. Imagine a field, say, a CT scan of an organ wherein there is some field value associated with each point/voxel inside the organ volume. Suppose someone wants to take an oblique cut through it--i.e. the plane of the cut is not parallel to the main reference system made by the scanning planes. Since the voxel is not a point, some interpolation would be required over the oblique plane and perhaps, there would be need for anti-aliasing the interpolations too. Here, neither DirectX nor OpenGL gives me what is needed. This was just an example. There are several other considerations too. Since such customizations may be necessary, I would rather play with or implement my own renderer. However, highly powerful systems in C++ are not useful--even if their source code is available, the system would be too large and too complex. (e.g. PovRay). Here, Java3D seems to be small enough (at least as of today) to fit the bill. So, please do let me know if you know of any suitable free (public domain) framework or so, similar to Java3D, but using VC++ 6 or VC# Express Edition 2005. If there isn't any, I will proceed wit