CADKEY
Encyclopedia
CADKEY is a 2D/3D Mechanical CAD
(Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) software application released for various DOS
, UNIX
, and Microsoft Windows
operating systems. Originally released for DOS in 1984, CADKEY was among the first CAD programs with 3D capabilities for personal computer
s.
in 1986 and 1988.
In June 1989, Cadkey, Inc. purchased the rights to DataCAD
from 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. from Autodesk
where 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.
By 1995, a Microsoft Windows
version named CADKEY for Windows was introduced. Around this time CADKEY claimed 240,000 users.
In June 1996, Baystate Technologies of Marlborough, MA purchased the rights to the CADKEY product. Previous to the CADKEY acquisition Baystate Technologies had developed Third-party software component
modules for CADKEY, AutoCAD
, Ashlar-Vellum
, and Microstation
.
By 1999, Baystate Technologies was [doing business as]] CADKEY Corporation, had added significant history-free Solid modeling
and Freeform surface modeling capabilities 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, MA and continues development under the name KeyCreator.
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
(Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) software application released for various DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, UNIX
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
, and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
operating systems. Originally released for DOS in 1984, CADKEY was among the first CAD programs with 3D capabilities for personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s.
History
Peter Smith and Livingston Davies founded Micro Control Systems (MCS) in 1981. MCS released CADKEY in 1984, the first 3D PC CAD product. After the success of the product the company took the name CADKEY, Inc. and set up headquarters in Windsor, CT. CADKEY won editor's choice and CAD product of the year awards from PC MagazinePC Magazine
PC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
in 1986 and 1988.
In June 1989, Cadkey, Inc. purchased the rights to DataCAD
DataCAD
DataCAD is a computer-aided design and drafting software for 2D and 3D architectural design and drafting, developed and sold by DATACAD LLC.-Usage:...
from 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. from Autodesk
Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...
where 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.
By 1995, a Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
version named CADKEY for Windows was introduced. Around this time CADKEY claimed 240,000 users.
In June 1996, Baystate Technologies of Marlborough, MA purchased the rights to the CADKEY product. Previous to the CADKEY acquisition Baystate Technologies had developed Third-party software component
Third-party software component
In computer programming, a third-party software component is a reusable software component developed to be either freely distributed or sold by an entity other than the original vendor of the development platform...
modules for CADKEY, AutoCAD
AutoCAD
AutoCAD is a software application for computer-aided design and drafting in both 2D and 3D. It is developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. First released in December 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on personal computers, notably the IBM PC...
, Ashlar-Vellum
Ashlar-Vellum
Ashlar-Vellum, a dba of Ashlar Incorporated, is a developer of Computer-aided design and 3D modeling software for both the Macintosh and Microsoft Windows platforms. Ashlar-Vellum’s interface, designed in 1988 by Dr...
, and Microstation
Microstation
MicroStation is a CAD software product for 2- and 3-dimensional design and drafting, developed and sold by Bentley Systems. The latest versions of the software are released solely for Microsoft Windows operating systems, but historically MicroStation was available for Macintosh platforms and a...
.
By 1999, Baystate Technologies was [doing business as]] CADKEY Corporation, had added significant history-free Solid modeling
Solid modeling
Solid modeling is a consistent set of principles for mathematical and computer modeling of three dimensional solids. Solid modeling is distinguished from related areas of Geometric modeling and Computer graphics by its emphasis on physical fidelity...
and Freeform surface modeling capabilities 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, MA and continues development under the name KeyCreator.