Products: November 2005

By DE Editors

FLEX Released for Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX

FlexPDE 5 from PDE Solutions (Antioch, CA) is an extensive rewrite of the FlexPDE application and includes Arbitrary Lagrange/Eulerian (ALE) moving meshes and optional 1D geometry among other improvements.      

Version 5 allows you to type in your partial differential equations, add a description of the problem domain, and instantly convert this problem specification into a sophisticated finite element model.  The program includes automatic mesh construction, unlimited equation complexity, an unlimited number of simultaneous equations, a nonlinear equation solver, dynamic timestep control, export to TecPlot or VisIt for visualizations and more.

FlexPDE is a self-contained processing system that analyzes your problem description; symbolically forms Galerkin finite element integrals, derivatives, and dependencies; builds a coupling matrix and solves it; and plots the results. It requires no additional software, nor do you have to buy modules to address new fields of study.

For more information, visit pdesolutions.com.

FlexPDE 5 from PDE Solutions  received the most votes in our August 2005 issue. Vote for your favorite product from this issue under Products at deskeng.com.

    Maplesoft ToolModels and Simulates Multibody Systems

Maplesoft (Waterloo, ONT) has released DynaFlexPro, its Maple 10-based design tool that uses symbolic computation methods to derive the system equations of complex mechanical multibody systems. Maplesoft says that unlike other multibody design tools that use purely numeric solvers, DynaFlexPro generates solutions that are exact, compact, and efficient for real-time implementation at a fraction of the cost.

Designed by analysis software developer MotionPro Inc., and launched under the MapleConnect Premier program, DynaFlexPro is the result of years of research and development with applications in complex mechanisms, vehicle suspensions, stability control, trains, articulated vehicles, vibration analysis, robotics, biomedical prosthesis design, and piano mechanisms.

According to the company, other tools introduce errors in analysis and the analysis is too slow for implementation in a real-time simulator. In addition, models are often difficult to parameterize. DynaFlexPro solves these problems by using Maple to symbolically generate the equations of motion for the mechanism.

This process results in an exact-form representation of the mechanical system that is completely parameterized, error-free, and quick to evaluate when numeric data is introduced, making the model ideal for real-time use. The Maple code generation capability can be used to export the model to other tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, MATRIXx/System- Build, and LabVIEW.

“DynaFlexPro is a classic example of how symbolic solvers can completely change the way engineering design is carried out,” according to Maplesoft spokesperson Paul Goossens.

DynaFlexPro requires Maple 10. Price:  $3,990, which includes both Maple 10 and DynaFlexPro, or  $1,995 for current Maple 10 users.

For more information, go to the Maplesoft website, maplesoft.com.

  Notebook Offers Workstation Features in Desktop Replacement

Eurocom Corporation (Napean, ONT) says its new mobile workstation combines workstation-like features, power, and flexibility with Eurocom desktop replacement technology and AMD dual-core and FX single-core processing power. The new notebooks mean designers, engineers, and  programmers can go mobile and practice their craft anywhere they see fit equipped with mobile systems capable of running 3D modeling and engineering software with a single computer solution.

The workstation features many innovative computer technologies, including AMD Dual-Core and FX 64-bit, Intel Pentium 4 Prescott up to 3.6 GHz (FSB800); dual-channel memory DDR 400 MHz and DDR2 533 MHz up to 2 GB; high-end upgradable graphics with 256MB of DDR2 video with ATI and NVIDIA chipsets certified for OpenGL; large capacity notebook hard drives up to 160 GB or 320 GB of storage with multiple drives; data integrity solution with RAID 0 and 1 in a notebook; and much more.

For more information, visit eurocom.com.

  Roland Unwraps New Packaging Prototyping System

Combining technologies from across its Color Products and Advanced Solutions Divisions, Roland DGA Corp. (Irvine, CA)has introduced the Packaging Prototyping System, a complete system designed to produce packaging prototypes in less than one day. The new system incorporates Roland’s advanced print/cut and 3D scanning and milling technologies into a complete solution for creating precision, custom packaging prototypes.

       The Packaging Prototyping System includes the following components: Roland LPX-1200 3D laser scanner; reverse engineering software; Roland MDX-40 3D milling machine; Roland SolJet PRO II V SC-545EX 54”-wide integrated printer/
cutter; and standard vacuum forming equipment.

Additional information is available at rolandasd.com