Briefings: September 2004

GHOST 3D, LLC has released the first of several FaroArm (FARO’s CMM machines) integration solutions for 3D applications such as 3ds max and Autodesk VIZ. The products, Scribe-iT DCC and Power Digitizer Pack (FA), are to be accompanied by a variety of solutions focused at various market segments from CAD/CAM professionals to bioengineers, DCC modelers, game and film animators, and even forensics and visualization professionals.
In cooperation with FARO Technologies, Inc., GHOST 3D’s new line of solutions support both older and newer lines of Bronze, Silver, and Gold FaroArms as well as Platinum, Titanium, and Advantage series. The new product lines offer dedicated interactive use of the FaroArm within the 3D scene and provide digital content creation, navigation, manipulation, and integration with native tools in the supported host applications.

GHOST 3D, LLC
Castro Valley, CA

The new Teamcenter solution from UGS supports engineering collaboration across diverse MCAD authoring environments, including AutoCAD, CATIA, NX, Pro/Engineer, Solid Edge, and SolidWorks. This development, when combined with Teamcenter’s portfolio of configurable lifecycle domain and industry solutions, is said to improve design throughput, simplify design review, and increase time for product innovation.

The new multi-MCAD solution leverages Teamcenter’s CAD-neutral data management software by integrating JT visualization technology to support collaboration across MCAD environments. This enables users to bring data from multiple MCAD sources into Teamcenter, then visualize, measure, analyze interference, mark, and share it. This, in turn, facilitates the management of multisite product development and real-time response to product design changes.
Teamcenter’s integrated visualization capabilities automatically synchronize and manage MCAD and visualization data, allowing multisite design team members to automatically navigate complex assembly structures. Teamcenter’s visualization and mockup capabilities enable continuous analysis and validation of multi-MCAD designs, while preserving and maintaining the native MCAD format. Thus, multisite design teams can continue to work from the same information.
For further details, go to the UGS website.

UGS
Plano, TX

Cimmetry Systems is now shipping AutoVue 18, the latest version of its flagship MCAD and EDA (electronic design automation) visualization and collaboration solution. Key enhancements to version 18 include DMU (digital mockup) and design validation functionality.
Often categorized as a VandM (view and markup) application, AutoVue 18’s multiple MCAD DMU functionality extends it into the design validation realm, suitable for collaboration among geographically disbursed engineering teams operating within different ECAD and MCAD environments. Version 18 enables engineers to combine multisource electronic and mechanical parts, components, and assemblies in a DMU environment and perform analyses, such as clash detection. Additionally, its DMU facilities include the ability to import and combine any number of native CAD files to create a virtual assembly; precise part alignment and constraint definition; and the ability to save state information.
Enhancements with AutoVue’s 3D/2D MCAD-dedicated functionality include 3D bills of material, support for PMI and GDandT data, user-defined coordinate systems, shaded wire render mode, and 2D precise measurement and snapping. New EDA/ECAD tools include the ability to test PCB layouts for design and manufacturability violations; cross-probe layouts, schematics, and PCBs in 3D space; and filters to hide/show entities based on type.

AutoVue offers native support for viewing and markup of more than 450 file formats including 2D/3D CAD, EDA, raster, vector, hybrid, office, and graphics. It is available in desktop and client-server editions, and deployable on Windows or Unix servers. AutoVue is designed to integrate with such systems as EDM, workflow, PDM, PLM, and ERP, either directly or via the Web.

To download a fully functional evaluation version of AutoVue 18, fire up an online demo, or schedule a real-time collaboration meeting using AutoVue, visit the company’s website.

Cimmetry Systems

Wolfram Research has developed a new 64-bit optimized port of Mathematica 5 for users running SGI IRIX 6.5 on MIPS multiprocessor-based machines. IRIX users can now upgrade to the enhanced speed and functionality of Mathematica 5 without sacrificing the comfort or performance of their native operating systems.

Wolfram has also updated gridMathematica, the high-performance parallel version of Mathematica, for compatibility with IRIX. Typical uses of gridMathematica include bioinformatics applications, data mining, and large computations in physics, mathematics, and the life sciences, making it well suited for SGI’s MIPS-based multiprocessor systems.

This new port brings more than 50 customizable graphics types for 2D and 3D visualization and the intensive computational ability of Mathematica 5 to the IRIX platform. The program can be downloaded from the Wolfram Research website or ordered as a CD-ROM.

Wolfram Research
Champaign, IL

Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Mountain View, CA

Synergis Software says Synergis Adept 5.2 will support SolidWorks 2005. The new version gives SolidWorks users an out-of-the-box document management system to find, view, track, secure, and control access to SolidWorks drawings and all related PC files. Organizations with mixed software environments and geographically dispersed design and business groups can provide controlled access to SolidWorks, Autodesk-based design products, Microsoft Office, and other business critical documents in a centralized data repository on a LAN, WAN, or across the Internet. The software is expected to be released in Q3 2004.

Synergis Software will be demonstrating Adept at the Midwest SolidWorks User Conference 2004, September 8-10, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Additionally, Synergis Software hosts regular live presentations of Adept for SolidWorks. For more information, visit the company website.

Synergis Software
Quakertown, PA
synergis-adept.com

 

Christie Digital Systems, Inc., provider of visual solutions, announced the formation of the Christie Immersive Solutions Group to provide fully integrated, purpose-built visual solutions for immersive environments in the virtual reality (VR) and simulation markets. Composed of specialists from across the visualization and simulation industries, the group will deliver visualization environments designed to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

Leading the group as vice president is David Fluegeman who brings an understanding for developing and working with VAR channels from senior management roles at Evans and Sutherland, developer of 3D visual systems for simulation and training markets. He will be joined by Scott Richardson, formerly of Silicon Graphics, Inc., who becomes director of immersive product management for Christie Immersive. Leading the engineering and operations group is Dave Beresford who joins Christie as senior director of application development from Printer-On Corp., were he headed up the research and development division.

Christie, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, got started in film projection in 1929 and evolved to encompass professional projection systems since 1979. It is a manufacturer of a variety of display technologies and solutions for cinema, large audience environments, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and Virtual Reality, simulation, education, media, and government.

Christie Digital Systems, Inc.
Cypress, CA
christiedigital.com

• In the Resource Guide “Plotters for Engineering,” (DE, July 2004, p. 35) the wrong price was printed for the Océ TDS 300 plotter from Océ North America (oceusa.com). The plotter is sold as a plotter/printer with the scanner included. The correct price is $14,995 for a one-roll system and $16,595 for a two-roll system.