Products: June 2006
Hardware, Software, Tools, and Utilities
Latest News
May 1, 2006
By DE Editors
UGS Announces Parasolid V17.1
UGS Corp. (Plano, TX) announced the availability of Parasolid version 17.1, the latest release of its geometric modeling component software. Parasolid V17.1 includes new capabilities to support efficient 3D model construction, editing, and refinement as well as to enhance CAM applications. This latest release also includes extended support for advanced Microsoft technologies.
 |
| DE’s Readers’ Choice Winner |
Parasolid V17.1 includes extensions to its functionality and ease-of-use across a variety of application domains. They include new manufacturing support functions for toolpath simulation and hole identification; added capability for fast local editing; blending and filleting extensions to increase end-user productivity; and enhanced modeling operators for sheet modeling.
 |
| Parasolid V17.1 from UGS Corp. |
Parasolid V17.1 uses the new technologies released in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. In particular, the 64-bit Windows platform is now fully supported, enabling advanced applications to use Parasolid with very large data sets. Parasolid has also been released on 32-bit Windows. Parasolid can also be integrated into applications based on the latest Microsoft .NET technologies.
For more information, visit UGS Corp.
Parasolid V17.1 received the most votes in our March 2006 issue. Vote for your favorite by going to the last page of this section.
Alias Ltd. (Runcorn, UK) announced the release of I-View CAD 2, the latest version of its piping isometrics converter. It works with ISOGEN-enabled systems in either IDF or PCF formats and converts to either a MicroStation DGN or AutoCAD DWG 3D model file format. According to Alias, users do not need extensive knowledge of AutoCAD (Autodesk; San Rafael, CA) or MicroStation (Bentley Systems, Exton, PA) to produce 3D piping models with I-View CAD.
Pipeline and component attribute information read directly from the input files or imported from an external data source can also be included in the model output. Models and the attribute data they contain can easily be reviewed in design visualization applications like SmartPlant Review and NavisWorks. Existing model files containing other plant items such as equipment and steelwork can also be referenced alongside the piping model to provide a comprehensive 3D view.
Among I-View CAD 2.0’s new features is a full-scale 3D symbolic model output, extended support for pipeline and component attributes, an option to display Pipeline Placeholders on the piping model output that holds the attributes associated with the pipe, the ability to import attribute data from other ODBC data sources, and support for review of 3D model and attribute data in SmartPlant Review and NavisWorks. I-View CAD 2 runs on Windows NT4, 2000, and XP.
For more information, visit Alias Ltd.
Softcover International (Cambridge, UK) is now distributing Scan2CAD v7.5 for automatically converting scanned paper drawings into DXF files for editing in most CAD programs.
Softcover says Scan2CAD v7.5 takes care of scanning, raster editing, and raster-to-vector conversion of technical drawings and diagrams, schematics, maps, site plans, sketches, artwork, and CNC profiles. It converts monochrome (1-bit), grayscale (8-bit), and color (24-bit) raster images into monochrome or color DXF files for export to most popular CAD, CNC, or GIS programs.
The update allows a raster image to be included with the DXF file as an attachment in a user-specified color. Scan2CAD opens raster file types like .BMP, .CAL, .JPG, .PNG, and .TIF. Softcover says it will open all sizes of scanned images acquired via a TWAIN interface or directly via dedicated drivers that support professional large-format scanners. It automatically cleans dirty raster backgrounds and improves foreground drawing detail.
Among the improvements to Scan2CAD are new window dialogs to view in detail the effect of a raster editing function on all or part of an image; straightforward color reduction; and improved arc, circle, and Bezier curve recognition as well as new keyboard shortcut keys.
For more information and to try a free evaluation version, go to Softcover International.
DAPstudio 2.5, the latest release of the Data Acquisition Processor (DAP) measurement application from Microstar Laboratories, Inc. (Bellevue, WA), displays live data in several formats, including bar graph, line graph, and waterfall. Each format has an optional 3D view designed to make it easy to see different shapes on different channels. According to Microstar, the flat view means values can be measured more precisely. Tool buttons let you toggle between the views.
 |
| DAPstudio from Microstar Laboratories. |
The waterfall line-graph implementation gives a quick overview of millions of data points through a moving window, and lets you look at spectra over both frequency and time simultaneously.
Price: $199. To learn more or download a free trial version of DAPstudio 2.5, visit Microstar Laboratories.
Zontec, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) has released Synergy 1000 Statistical Process Control (SPC) software for companies seeking a production-based software tool for real-time quality management.
Zontec says that Synergy 1000 enables businesses to standardize how they organize, store, and act upon their production data as it relates to quality. The software, adds the vendor, can aid companies that regularly document contract compliance, generate audit trails and traceability records, and are striving for certification to ISO and TS quality standards.
 |
| Synergy 1000 from Zontec. |
Synergy 1000 is said to offer true real-time data collection, charting, and color-coded alarms for monitoring process violations and implementing corrective actions, according to a press release. The system includes built-in gauge interfacing for automated data collection and advanced analytical and reporting tools. Short-run utilities and gauge repeatability and reproducibility are provided at no additional cost.
Synergy 1000 runs on Windows 98, NT, 2000, and XP operating systems, and is available in standalone PC or network configurations. For more, visit Zontec.
MetaGeek, LLC (Boise, ID) has created the Wi-Spy, calling it the world’s smallest 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer. The device is designed as a resource for troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and sells for about 40 times less than traditional spectrum analyzers, says MetaGeek.
According to a press release, wireless device performance is commonly inhibited by signals from other wireless networks, cordless phones, and similar devices. Even a microwave can interfere with the best wireless equipment, significantly reducing productivity. To combat the occurrence, many companies use a spectrum analyzer to track and record different wave frequencies, possibly interfering with a wireless network.
Wi-Spy can visually display many wave types and is capable of storing real-time data for later reference, making it suitable for anyone troubleshooting wireless networks or optimizing WLAN signal strengths.
Price: $99. Wi-Spy is a USB key device comparable in size to a small flash drive.
For more information, go to MetaGeek.
Saying it meets the growing storage capacity, performance, and reliability requirements of desktop computers and low-end servers, Seagate Technology (Scotts Valley, CA) has introduced a new 750GB capacity desktop hard drive. The hard drive is part of the new Barracuda 7200.10 family built on perpendicular recording technology.
With the introduction of the Barracuda 7200.10 family, Seagate now offers perpendicular recording technology across its desktop, notebook, enterprise, consumer electronics, and retail hard drives. The technology arranges data bits vertically on the disk media rather than horizontally as is the traditional orientation. A press release from Seagate says the new arrangement increases drive throughput without increasing spin speed by allowing more data bits to pass under the drive head in the same amount of time.
The Barracuda 7200.10 family provides 200GB to 750GB of capacity at a density of 130 GB per square inch (up to 188 GB per disk). Barracuda 7200.10 also features cache sizes from 8MB to 16MB and 1.5Gbps and 3.0Gbps Serial ATA (SATA) data transfer rates with Native Command Queuing. NCQ enhances reliability by reducing head movement and streamlining the delivery of queued commands.
For more, visit Seagate Technology.
CT CoreTechnologies (Maumee, OH) has added a new tool to its 3D_Evolution Conversion Engine. Feature recognition is now available for Autodesk Inventor, CATIA V5, Pro/E, SolidWorks, and Unigraphics models. According to a press release, 3D_Evolution can migrate 3D data between native CAD interfaces without needing a native API.
 |
| 3D_Evolution Conversion Engine from CT CoreTechnologies. |
3D_Evolution and its Advanced Repair Technologies enable you to consistently provide loss-free conversion of 3D models with advanced quality control and compact file size of the models, says the company. In addition, 3D_Evolution has the flexibility to create solid models from surface models without worrying about mini elements, gaps, or overlapping elements.
CoreTechnologies says the new 3D_Evolution tool allows both OEMs and their suppliers to exchange data seamlessly while maintaining total control over that data. The software also gives users the ability to turn modifiable features on or off, creating partial BREP solids to prevent modifications to critical or proprietary 3D data. One of the program’s enhancements is its ability to transform IGES and STEP format files into 3D models with recognizable features for both components and assemblies. With this function the need to rebuild an IGES or STEP file to create a solid model is eliminated.
According to CT Core Technologies, the 3D_Evolution program was developed to eliminate the need to invest in multiple CAD systems to meet the growing demands of the manufacturing marketplace. 3D_Evolution interfaces directly with CATIA V4 and V5, Unigraphics, SDRC I-deas, Pro/E, SolidWorks, Inventor, and 14 other formats. It is used primarily in the aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial markets.
For more information, visit CT CoreTechnologies.
SolidProfessor (San Diego, CA) says that its PDMWorks Client training course provides training on how to manage SolidWorks parts, assemblies, and drawings as well as non-SolidWorks documents using the PDMWorks system from SolidWorks (Concord, MA).
The training course offers access to multimedia modules that map directly to important PDMWorks tasks. This, in turn, can help CAD managers ensure that system users manage SolidWorks files in a consistent and predictable manner, according to SolidProfessor. PDMWorks Client is also said to include a variety of tips.
Price: $199 (discounts are available). For details, visit SolidProfessor.
FARO Technologies, Inc. (Lake Mary, FL) has released new Laser Tracker X and Xi models. The new trackers are capable of 0.0006 in. and 0.0002 in. distance accuracies, respectively, and feature an expanded temperature range. According to FARO, the Laser Tracker X and Xi are twice as accurate at distance measurement as previous models. In addition, the new models have a 66 percent wider temperature range, extending from 215°C to 50°C (5°F to 122°F).
 |
| Laser Tracker X and Xi from FARO Technologies. |
The 0.0006-in. and 0.0002 in. typical accuracies at 10m are half of the maximum permissible error in the new ASME B89.4.19 standard for laser tracker evaluation.
FARO portable contact measurement systems use laser technology to measure large parts and machinery across a range of industrial applications. Each measures x,y,z coordinates by following a hand-held mirrored, spherical probe that is guided along the surface to be measured. The 3D position of the probe is reported in real-time with angular encoders and the XtremeADM feature, which enables FARO trackers to handle beam breaks and immediately reestablish the beam to continue measuring, avoiding resets.
In addition to offering up to 0.001 in. 3-D, single-point accuracy and a 230-foot range, both X and Xi models include Self-Comp, a one-button, fully automated, five-minute compensation routine; and Smart Warm-up, which heats the Tracker to operating temperature in half the time of previous models. The FARO Tracker X model also has an Instant-On Laser for immediate measuring capability.
For more information, visit FARO Technologies.
upFront.eZine Publishes Two More Titles for Users of AutoCAD 2007
upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. (Abbotsford, BC, Canada) has added two more e-books to aid users of the AutoCAD 2007 software from Autodesk (San Rafael, CA; autodesk.com). The new PDF books are an updated edition of Tailoring AutoCAD 2007 and the new Tailoring Visual Styles. Both new e-books are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs formatted for printing on standard office paper and include a margin designed for three-hole punching.
Now in its 5th edition, Tailoring AutoCAD 2007 shows how to customize the software step-by-step. The e-book covers subjects like modifying AutoCAD’s user interface; creating aliases, keyboard shortcuts, toolbars, tool palettes, and menus; writing toolbar and menu macros; and creating custom linetypes, hatch patterns, shapes/fonts, and templates.
Price: $30.20 (302 pages). You can get more information, read the full table of contents, and view selected pages by clicking here.
Tailoring Visual Styles is the new mini e-book on how to work with the new visual styles feature in AutoCAD. Highlights include a guided tour of visual styles; working with the Tool Palette, Dashboard, Visual Styles toolbar and palette; commands and system variables that affect visual styles; coverage of the Background and Ground Shadow options; and two full-length tutorials on creating visual styles.
Price: $11.10 (74 pages, 130 illustrations). Learn more by clicking here.
nPower Software (San Diego, CA) is distributing a new solution called Power Translators Pro for importing large CAD models and assemblies into Autodesk (San Rafael, CA) 3ds max and Viz. Power Translators Pro includes a one-year subscription to the Power Net network management tool that can distribute tasks across multiple processes on local and satellite network machines.
According to nPower, complex data translation processing that used to take days or weeks can now be done in hours while maintaining high-quality surface definitions. It accomplishes this by leveraging the CAD geometric modeling kernel SOLIDS++ that has been integrated into Autodesk 3ds max and Viz. It also contains all necessary tools to clean up, prepare, and render large and complex models.
New features include network translation on render farm or satellite nodes; multiprocessor mesh generation; surface repair and reconstruction; face flipping/visibility tools; translation of Parasolid and SolidWorks files; and optional native translation of UGS and CATIA files.
Power Net means users with many or large models and assemblies can avoid the bottlenecks created by rendering and data translation. Power Translators Pro will take advantage of available processing power and optimize the translation process. Power Net leaves your workstation free for other tasks, and you can batch process up to 8,000 model files simultaneously.
Price: $199, which includes one year of Power Net. For more, visit nPower Software.
Saelig Co. Inc. (Pittsford, NY) is offering the CUBLOC, an embeddable multitasking processor programmable in both Basic and Ladder Logic. The company says Basic and Ladder Logic are simultaneously executed for fast control, complex math, graphic LCD, and data communication protocols that can be easily implemented. While Ladder Logic offers real-time sequential processing, Basic supplies the number-crunching power. Resulting data may be shared. The real-time processing of a MODBUS PLC and the 32-bit floating-point math, graphic capabilities, and communication of BASIC are now available in one chip.
CUBLOC can be programmed from a Windows XP, 2000, or 98. Using an optional XPORT Internet module, TCP or UDP packets can be monitored via the Internet from anywhere, allowing users to update or provide service for products located anywhere in the world.
Price: $34 for the CB220 (24-pin DIP with 16 I/O, 8-channel 10-bit A/D, 3-channel 16 bit PWM); $43 for the CB280 (64-pin module with 49 I/O, 8-ch 10-bit A/D, 6-channel 16-bit PWM); $69 for the CB290 (108-pin module with 91 I/O, 28KB data memory, 8-channel 10-bit A/D, 6-channel 16-bit PWM).
FiberSIM 5.1, software for designing and manufacturing composite parts has been released by VISTAGY, Inc. (Waltham, MA). FiberSIM 5.1 provides tools that enable engineers working in commercial CAD systems to automate design processes early in product development. As the latest version of its design environment for composite products, VISTAGY says that FiberSIM 5.1 will result in more efficient and accurate manufacture of complex or large composite parts.
 |
| FiberSIM 5.1 from VISTAGY, Inc. |
Engineers who produce large or complex composite parts can use FiberSIM to design and validate laminates, zones, layers, and ply sequences. The software provides new capabilities to automate design methods. For example, the new Merge Model capability enables engineers to divide an electronically generated model into several separate models and combine them again at another time, allowing a number of engineers to simultaneously work on the parts of a large composite product. The Symmetric Laminate Utility generates a model, such as an aircraft’s composite left wing section, and then applies all the data to automatically create a corresponding structure for the opposite, right-hand side, saving manual design time.
FiberSIM 5.1 also has new capabilities specifically designed to optimize various composite product development processes. The new Automated Deposition Design (ADD) option automates the creation of product geometry specific to manufacturing processes such as tape-laying or fiber placement.
For more information on FiberSIM, visit VISTAGY.
ASI DataMyte, Inc. (Plymouth, MN) has released Applied Stats Software Version 6.3, Service Pack 2. This software consists of Applied Stats Database Tools (DB Tools), which is a new database management tool for Applied Stats databases, plus a new calculation (Tz), updated Unicode drivers, a minor database update, and updates. DB Tools is a new application that uses the .NET framework.
DB Tools allows users to perform a variety of database management functions for their Applied Stats databases, including scheduling and execution of archive jobs and database optimization. The application uses the Windows Scheduler to define the date, time, and frequency in which an archive will be performed. Archives may include single or multiple setups and the user may define the data range. Users may optionally delete data and optimize the database following the archive. Users also have the ability to remove sample records in order to maintain a smaller production database.
A Tz Summary and Histogram Statistic, used to indicate how centered a process is, was added to the Summary Stats and Histogram views for Applied Stats, Analyst, and Applied Stats Enterprise Monitor. Additionally, some Applied Stats device drivers (Mettler Scale, Mettler Scale with LV-10 Feeder, Mettler Toledo AG1993 Scale, Mettler Toledo PG2002 Scale, and Sample Feedback) have been converted to Unicode so they are now compatible with Version 6.3. They may be loaded from the Device Drivers installation program.
For details, go to ASI DataMyte.
ProgeSOFT (Como, Italy) ProgeCAD 2006 Professional 6.1.8 has more than 50 improvements in the areas of dimensions, text handling and true type fonts, cut and paste between drawings, VBA and LISP programming, Audionotes, and editing.
ProgeCAD 2006 Professional includes a library manager for discipline-specific symbols, ACIS 3D solid modeling, raster image support, rendering, and a specific set of tools. ProgeCAD supports the DWG design file format, from version 2.5 through 2006, plus it offers compatibility with AutoCAD menus, scripts, blocks, VBA, and AutoLISP programming.
For more information, visit ProgeSOFT.
COADE (Houston, TX) says that full support for AutoCAD 2007 from Autodesk (San Rafael, CA) in its CADWorx 2007 plant design suite enables process industry engineers to take advantage of Autodesk’s solution.
Enhanced tools include Dashboard so CADWorx users can edit and view design data by grouping design tools in one place; Advanced Navigation that allows transparent pans or zooms in either orthogonal or perspective mode; and Walk and Path animation tools that simplify path-based animations in AutoCAD for realistic and distributable plant tours.
According to COADE,CADWorx offers intelligent drawing to database connectivity and advanced levels of automation. It offers bidirectional integration bet
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].
