Products: December 2006

By DE Editors

Z Corp Unveils Handheld 3D Scanner

Until this past July, Z Corporation(Burlington, MA) was known as a maker of multicolor 3D printers. Butnow Z Corp. has branched into a new market with the introduction of itsZScanner 700, the company’s first handheld, self-positioning 3D scanner.

Since the ZScanner is a hand-held self-positioning device, itdoes not require fixed-position tripods, mechanical arms, or externalpositioning devices, enabling you to scan hard-to-reach surfaces, suchas underneath a car’s dashboard, that are difficult to scan using othersystems.

The ZScanner captures data in STL format as a single, continuous scanrather than as numerous shots from fixed positions. This eliminatespostprocessing time spent integrating static shots into a cohesivescan. This characteristic combined with STL data capture means thatonce the scan is complete, you can import the data into your 3D MCADsystem or output to a 3D printer immediately.
Price: $39,900. Among the accessories included in the purchase price are a laptop, ZScan software, cables, and a carrying case.

For more information, visit zcorp.com.

The ZScanner 700 from Z Corp. received the most votes in our September 2006 issue. Vote for your favorite from this issue by clicking here.

 

NVIDIA Unveils CUDA

NVIDIA(Santa Clara, CA) unveiled a new architecture technology for NVIDIAGPUs (graphics processing units) called NVIDIA CUDA. The company alsoannounced a complementary C-compiler development environment for theGPUs that makes streaming languages for GPU computing obsolete.

NVIDIA says CUDA GPUs leverage hundreds of on-chip processor coressimultaneously to communicate, synchronize, share data, and solvecomplex computing problems. The approach, says the company, is up to100 times faster than traditional approaches.

A CUDA-enabled GPU operates as either a flexible thread processor —where thousands of programs called threads work to solve complexproblems — or as a streaming processor in applications such as imagingwhere threads do not communicate. CUDA-enabled applications use the GPUfor fine-grained data-intensive processing and they use multicore CPUsfor complicated coarse-grained tasks such as control or data management.

NVIDIA says that its C-compiler for the CUDA GPUs is a first. Thecomplete development environment is said to provide developers with avariety of tools to solve problems inherent in computation-intensiveapplications such as design, data analysis, CAE, and game physics.

CUDA-enabled GPUs offer dedicated features such as a Parallel DataCache, which enables multiple 1.35GHz processor cores — up to 128 ofthem — in new NVIDIA GPUs to cooperate with each other and performcomputations. Developers access these new features through a separatecomputing driver that communicates with DirectX and OpenGL as well asthe NVIDIA C compiler for the GPU. The CUDA SDK is available todevelopers via the NVIDIA registered developer program atdeveloper.nvidia.com.

CUDA technology is deployed today on the company’s GeForce 8800graphics card and is planned for future Quadro offerings. For more,visit nvidia.com.

Dell (Round Rock, TX) introduced PowerEdge servers and Precision workstations equipped with Intel Quad-Core processors.

The Dell PowerEdge 1950, 2900, 2950, SC1430 servers as well as the 1955blade server featuring Intel 5300 series Quad-Core Xeon processors areavailable immediately. Prices start at $1,599, $1,599, $1,699, $1,049,and $1,799, respectively. Go to dell.com/poweredge for additionalinformation.

The Dell Precision 690, 490 and 390 with Intel Quad-Core processors andcertified for most CAD and CAE applications are also availableimmediately. Prices for the Dell Precision 390 with the Intel Core 2Extreme quad-core processor start at $2,213. Dell Precision 690 and 490featuring Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors start at $2,399 and $2,149,respectively. For more information, click here.


AutoVue for LinuxCimmetry Systems (Montreal, QUE), an Agile Software company, has released AutoVue v19.1 Client-Server Web edition for Linux servers.

AutoVue 19.1 for Linux provides the ability to view, mark up, mock up,and collaborate in real-time on hundreds of documents in their nativeformats, including 2D, 3D CAD, EDA, and Office. This, says Cimmetry,can help organizations reduce CAD costs and eliminates the need forengineers to run a Windows unit just to view and print Officedocuments.The supported server platforms include Redhat EnterpriseLinux (RHEL) 4.0 and Novell SUSE SLES 9.0 Sp3.

For a demonstration copy or additional details about AutoVue 19.1 Client-Server Edition for Linux, go to cimmetry.com. Click here for a review of AutoVue 19.1 for Windows.


3D Component Support for Intel-Based MacsSpatial Corporation(Westminster, CO) has announced that its portfolio of 3D developmentcomponents (3D ACIS Modeler, 3D ACIS Extensions, and 3D InterOpTranslators) now supports Intel-based Macs. Spatial says its 3Dsoftware components lets developers create universal versions of 3Dapplications that will run natively on PowerPC- and Intel-based Macs.

For more, visit spatial.com.




Rugged Computers Feature Bright ScreensPanasonic Computer Solutions Co.(Secaucus, NJ) has introduced a pair of new rugged Intel Core Duo-basedPanasonic Toughbook computers: The CF-19 convertible tablet PC and theCF-30 notebook. These MIL-STD-810F-certified notebooks incorporatedaylight-readable screens and such rugged features as magnesium alloycases, sealed keyboards and ports, flexible internal connectors, andshock mounting.

Panasonic claims that these units deliver the brightest displaysavailable. The CF-19 tablet features a 550-Nit (candelas per squaremeter) screen with a low-reflection coating. The CF-30 has a 1,000-NitLCD, which is said to provide the brightness required for use in directsunlight. Both are available with touchscreens for use invehicle-mounted environments. Additionally, both incorporate whatPanasonic calls a “wireless-ready” design that allows embedded accessto data networks from major wireless carriers.
The CF-30 includes a 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 2MB L2 cache,667MHz front-side bus, 80GB or 60GB removable hard disk, and 512MB ofDDR2 SDRAM (expandable to 4,096MB). Its 13.3-inch display offers 1024 x768 resolution. Dimensions are 2.8 in. x 11.9 in. x 11.3 in. It weighs8.2 lbs, and the battery is good for about six hours. The CF-19convertible offers seven hours of battery life, depending on useconditions. Among its features and specifications are a 1.06GHz IntelCore Duo processor with 2MB L2 cache, a 533MHz FSB, 80GB hard drive,and 512MB SDRAM standard, expandable to 4096MB. Its 10.4-inch display’sresolution is 1024 x 768 and it weighs 5 lbs.

The estimated street price for a base model CF-30 is $4,699. Theestimated street price for a base model Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 willbe $4,199. For more information, click here.

Get Serial Data Acquisition in Real Time

Avance 3.0 is an integrated quality control tool from Avance Control(Seattle, WA). Designed to acquire data and calculate statisticalcontrol of processes in real time, Avance offers charting, OPC clients,and data analysis tools as well as a Python scripting integratedenvironment for data analysis.

The company says that Avance was developed for nontechnicalmanufacturers and engineers who need quality controls tools. Avancemanages, in real time, data from manual input, Excel spreadsheets, textfiles, serial connections (RS-232), and OPC servers.

Other features of Avance 3.0 include serial data acquisition, real-timedata acquisition and SPC, OPC client creation, a Visual Logbook thattakes journal entries to help track process changes, capabilityreports, and specification limits.

Pricing for an annual license is $500.

For more information, go to avancecontrol.com.

Full-Featured Bench Scope Has USB Ports

PDS5022S can automatically measure and display frequency andpeak-peak/rms/mean values, and cursors can be moved to make individualreadings. A built-in self-calibration facility improves measurementaccuracy. Video monitoring is also possible.

The oscilloscope can store 4 waveforms for comparison with live inputs.A persistence control is available to simulate old analog scopes tocompare slow-moving waveforms with previous scans. Its x,y displayallows you to see phase changes, and A+B and A-B math capability isalso included.

For details, visit saelig.com.

FormatWorks Adds Tools for CATIA UsersCapvidia(Leuven, Belgium) says the latest version of FormatWorks provides avariety of tools for SolidWorks users who need to translate CATIA data.Supporting CATIA V5 revisions up to version 17, FormatWorks offersfunctionality for export of CATIA V5 assemblies; support for CATIA V4export files format .exp; Preview-Select-Translate, which allowsgeometry visualization and selection of parts or assemblies fortranslation to SolidWorks; and the ability to preserve original colordefinition.

FormatWorks, says the company,  is designed for data import andrepair of models in the SolidWorks environment. Repair can be performedon imported 3D models or models created in SolidWorks. The company saysthat many kinds of geometrical and topological problems preventingSolidWorks from forming a valid solid can be resolved with help fromFormatWorks.

FormatWorks provides extensive manual repair tools. It willautomatically classify all problematic areas (e.g., gaps, invalidtopology, and bad surfaces), create new documents with problementities, and allow the user to repair each problematic areaindependently. Once repaired, these areas are automatically insertedback into the original model.

For more, visit capvidia.com.


VERICUT 6.0 Includes Control ShowroomCGTech(Irvine, CA), a provider of CNC simulation and optimization softwaretechnology, has included an enhanced library of machines and controls,called the Showroom, with VERICUT software.

Updates were concentrated in adding new functionality to the mostpopular controls: Siemens 840D, Heidenhain 530 and Mill-Plus, Fanuc andMazak. The Showroom is automatically created during VERICUT 6.0installation. While some configurations may still requirecustomization, the Showroom projects provide a starting point for thosewishing to quickly simulate the complex kinematics of a CNC machinesimilar to their own. The showroom includes sample projects and machinemodels from several leading Machine Tool Manufacturers including DMG,Fadal, Haas, Hermle, Makino, Mazak, Mori Seiki, and Okuma.

VERICUT runs under Windows and Unix operating systems.  For more information, visit cgtech.com.




Hi-Res, Large-Format Scanner
Colortrac (St. Ives, Cambridge, UK) has announced the latest addition to its product line: SmartLF Gx 42 scanners.

The new series features 1200dpi optical resolution charge-coupleddevice (CCD) array technology and is designed to provide scans, copies,or file distribution of large-format maps, engineering drawings,analysis visualizations, satellite images, graphic designs, and anyother documents that contain fine image detail and require a wide colorgamut with high dynamic range.

These 42-inch scanners can capture details in monochrome or color atresolutions from 100 to 9600dpi. Original images can be captured frommedia that is 6 to 48 inches wide by any length. The GxT versionsprovide motorized thick media scanning of mounted originals up to 0.8inch (20mm) thickness.

There are three versions of the SmartLF Gx 42 scanner: monochrome, color, and express color. Click here for further details.


Self-Paced Training Tool for Solidworks 2007 Updates

SolidWorks Solution Partner SolidProfessor (San Diego, CA) has released Update Training 2007 for SolidWorks, aself-paced multimedia training course. Intended to help designers getthe most out of their SolidWorks upgrade, topics covered in UpdateTraining 2007 range from general enhancements to sketching, parts andfeatures, assemblies, detailing, and sheet metal.

Included with Update Training 2007 is a Search-On-Demand productivityadd-in for SolidWorks. This new feature comes as part of the completeSolidProfessor Learning Management System, which includes features suchas automatic course updates, a custom course builder, online testingand reporting, and exercises with downloadable part files. TheSolidProfessor content library includes SolidWorks courses frombeginner to advanced, as well as training for PDMWorks, PhotoWorks,CAMWorks Mill Fundamentals, and others.

For more information, visit solidprofessor.com.