Latest News
January 1, 2007
By DE Editors
LabVIEW Opens Graphical System Design to MATLAB
| LabVIEW 8.20 |
National Instruments (NI; Austin, TX) released LabVIEW 8.20, the 20th anniversary edition of the LabVIEW graphical system design platform for test, control, and embedded system development. Building on its history of interconnectivity with third-party hardware and software, LabVIEW 8.20 extends the LabVIEW graphical dataflow language with native support for text-based math with MathScript. LabVIEW 8.20 also is said to bring improvements in control design and simulation performance and accelerates development of real-time system prototypes using standard PCs, FPGAs, or custom designs.
| Readers’ Choice Winner |
Using MathScript, you can integrate your MATLAB M-files or create new scripts with LabVIEW and mix and match graphical and text-based approaches to meet application needs or prototype systems. By combining the interactive front-panel GUIs and connectivity to real-world I/O from LabVIEW with algorithms designed in traditional text-based math languages, engineers can quickly explore, prototype, iterate, and complete their designs. Algorithms from other mathematics packages, including Maple and Mathcad, can also be incorporated.
For more information, click here.
LabVIEW 8.20 from National Instruments received the most votes in our October 2006 issue. Vote for your favorite from this issue by clicking here.
Port Re-Mapping in Serial PCI Cards
StarTech.com (Groveport, OH) has introduced a new line of dual-voltage PCI serial cards that enable you to re-map COM port settings to comply with legacy software applications. Previously, the ability to re-map COM settings was not available in PCI cards, causing problems for anyone using legacy software requiring specific ports to be mapped.
| Dual-voltage card from StarTech.com |
StarTech.com’s new dual-voltage cards allow up to eight serial devices to be connected to any system with a PCI or PCI-X slot. In addition to allowing you to map the appropriate COM port address, the re-mapping feature also makes these cards suitable for new or old hardware.
StarTech.com’s dual-voltage serial cards are RoHS-compliant, the company reports. The re-mapping feature is compatible with systems running DOS, Linux, or Windows operating systems up to 98. Price: $46.99 (one port) to $403.99 (8-port). For further details, click here.
Content Manager Expands Dynamic Publishing System
PTC (Needham, MA) has expanded its PTC Dynamic Publishing System with Arbortext Content Manager, which is based on PTC Windchill technology and targets organizations authoring complex publications such as those in the pharmaceutical, financial services, government, transportation, and process manufacturing industries.
PTC’s Dynamic Publishing System combines text authoring, graphics authoring, content and configuration management, automated publishing, and graphics visualization. It enables organizations to create content out of XML-based reusable components and automate the content management, review, and approval processes. Information can be published in multiple formats, languages, and media.
PTC Dynamic Publishing provides support for technical illustrations, either created from scratch or based on CAD data, and it can leverage ITEDO technical illustration technology for fully associative dynamic document version control. It has the ability to assemble and publish documents to all media automatically, including print and electronic, from a single source. Other features include workflow management capabilities, integration with Microsoft Office, access and version control at a component level, and management of component relationships.
For more information, click here.
Nastran FEA (finite element analysis) developer Noran Engineering, Inc. (Westminster, CA) has released NEi Fusion, its newest simulation product for product design, development, optimization, testing, and quality engineers.
| NEiFusion |
Tailored for small and midsize businesses, NEi Fusion creates full single-window solid modeling and analysis integration by coupling a 3D feature-based, parametric CAD solid modeling engine with Noran Engineering’s professional-level Nastran solvers. This combination enables testing a wide range of static and dynamic structural and thermal conditions.
| NEiFusion |
| NEiFusion |
NEi Fusion lets you apply forces, pressure, thermal conditions, temperature, vibration, and impact loads. With it, you can analyze parts and assemblies for a variety of static and dynamic structural and thermal loading concerns. It enables the direct use of CAD geometry for analysis as well as the direct application of analysis input data to CAD geometry. There’s a suite of features for results evaluation, presentation, and reporting, and it provides a comprehensive element library, meshing capabilities, and extensive material library. In turn, the NEi Fusion post-processor provides a wide assortment of images, graphs, and data to view simulation results.
Price: $4,990 (limited-time offer of $1,999). For more information, click here.
New STINGER IIi Portable CMM
The STINGER IIi incorporates ROMER’s patented Infinite Rotation of principal axes for inspection of hard-to-reach areas of a part. The product also includes the new Zero-G Counterbalance system that offsets the weight of the arm and probe for one-handed, easy operation.
The mobile CMM recognizes and compensates for the type of probe installed by the operator. ROMER also provides a NIST-traceable calibrated length standard for field calibration.
The STINGER weighs in at 8 to 10 lbs.(3.6 to 4.5 kg). Although lightweight, the product’s carbon fiber composite arm tubes are stronger than steel and dimensionally stable regardless of temperature.
For more information, click here.
Arena Solutions (Foster City, CA) a provider of on-demand product lifecycle management solutions for manufacturing companies, has introduced Arena PLM Fall 06. The latest release of Arena’s PLM application features new, integrated value-added services aimed at enriching product data with dynamic reference content, improved bill of materials (BOM) accuracy, and simplified collaboration across the outsourced supply chain. By integrating with Avnet Prómiere’s dynamic content and working with Skype software, Arena enables new enterprise mash-up services.
| Arena PLM Fall 06 |
Arena PLM makes it easy for OEMs, suppliers, and outsourced partners to collaborate in real-time around a single set of information — regardless of geographic location or IT infrastructure. The intention is to help manufacturers deliver higher quality products to market faster, better manage and maintain regulatory compliance, and collaborate more effectively with an ever-expanding global supply chain for improved performance.
With Fall 06, Arena Solutions has added a new value added service into its PLM application that enables manufacturers to easily and intuitively integrate dynamic content from Avnet Prómiere—an accurate and complete database of electronic components—directly into their Arena PLM solution through a point-and-click interface. Manufacturers can evaluate and integrate Avnet reference content within the context of their BOM in real time, significantly improving the critical BOM scrubbing process.
| Arena PLM Fall 06 |
Arena PLM Fall 06 uses Skype Software to enable customers to instantly call and text chat with their co-workers, suppliers, and partners within the context of their PLM environment. This service enhances communications within Arena PLM.
For more information, click here. In-Vehicle DA, Control Goes Wireless
National Instruments (Austin, TX) recently reported that a number of third-parties have developed customized modules for automotive, aerospace, and military in-vehicle applications that leverage the company’s CompactRIO control and acquisition platform. The custom modules for CompactRIO from such companies as AviaOK International, Drivven, and Science & Engineering Applications Datentechnik GmbH (S.E.A.) are said to provide wireless communications, position monitoring for mobile applications, and direct connectivity to in-vehicle sensors for ECU (electronic control unit) design and rapid prototyping.
NI describes CompactRIO as a high-performance control and acquisition system that combines an open embedded architecture with small size, ruggedness, and hot-swappable I/O modules. CompactRIO is powered by LabVIEW FPGA technology, which enables engineers to configure a variety of design, acquisition, and control applications as well as develop their own modules for specialized I/O and communication needs.
Modules provide radio-controlled clock and IRIG-B output functionality, allowing a CompactRIO system to obtain a precise timestamp based on a satellite clock.
For more, click here.
The OMB-DAQ-54/55/56 data acquisition modules from OMEGA (Stamford, CT) are the first of a new family of low-cost, USB-based products.
Designed for high accuracy and resolution, these 22-bit data acquisition systems directly measure multiple channels of voltage, thermocouple, pulse, frequency, and digital I/O. Removable screw terminal input blocks simplify input connections.
The compact CE-compliant OMB-DAQ-54/55/56 is supplied with Personal DaqView Software, drivers for Visual Basic, C++ and Delphi for Windows, terminal block, and an operator’s manual on CD. Price: $599 (to start).
For more information, click here.
Adept 7 from Synergis Software (Quakertown, PA) has specific support for SolidWorks configurations and AutoCAD layouts, including SolidWorks 2007, AutoCAD 2007-based products, and Autodesk Inventor 11. It is said to deliver increased performance by as much as 90 percent over Adept 6 for certain functions.
Adept 7 will also support FTP compression options available in third-party servers, including FileZilla, CuteFTP, and Serv-U.
Adept 7 now imports and updates user names and group information from the Windows Active Directory, allowing for permissions to be assigned to data. Price: $1,300. For more information, click here.
Catalog Data Solutions Inc. (CDS; San Jose, CA) offers manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors its CDS line of products for interactive online catalogs, e-commerce, 3D CAD model delivery, and product configuration. Additionally, CDS offers a range of professional services covering hosted services, product delivery, and technical consulting as well as large-scale project implementation management.
The CDS product line comprises four compatible modules: Catalog, Configurator, CAD Model Generator, and 3D Spare Part Catalog. The modular nature of the products enable you to build and custom-tailor your online offering as your needs evolve.
| Catalog Data Solutions |
CDS Catalog is a hosted service for your interactive online catalog. For your end users, it provides tools for product selection and configuration as well as attribute, graphical, part number, and keyword searches. Business metrics include reports and graphs ranging from page views to repeat orders.
CDS Configurator provides advanced tools to guide users through complex product configurations, including custom orders using nonstandard parts. Its guided option selection functionality prevents customers from configuring unavailable products. Features include part number validation, assembly support,and the ability to enable customers to configure and download CAD models and CAD drawings.
For more information, click here.
Subscribe to our FREE magazine, FREE email newsletters or both!
Latest News
About the Author
DE’s editors contribute news and new product announcements to Digital Engineering.
Press releases may be sent to them via [email protected].
