UGS Launches Solid Edge Version 20

By DE Editors

UGS Corp. (Plano, TX) has announced Version 20 of Solid Edge, its mid-range 3D CAD system. The core CAD product in the UGS Velocity Series, Solid Edge V20 is said to offer “hundreds of enhancements,” according to UGS. The company also says that the new version delivers key functionality for plant equipment.

The 2D capabilities in Solid Edge V20 are said to make it easier to layout factory floors and plant equipment using actual machine geometry. A major addition claimed to be a first in the mid-range modeler world, assembly zones for massive assembly design enables design optimization in plant equipment design and shop floor layout. The new Zone provides a targeted separation of the working area and better performance due to less geometry.

Solid Edge V20 has more than 170 enhancements to its part design and drafting functionality including something called Goal Seeking. Goal Seeking strives to solve 2D engineering scenarios that are more easily expressed graphically than with equations in real time. For example, if you know the target value of an engineering calculation, goal seeking allows you to set certain parameters as the system varies other factors to achieve the desired result. You can use the results to drive 3D geometry in a true hybrid 2D/3D design environment.

Solid Edge V20 integrates with the new Teamcenter Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). This integration is said to enhance supply chain collaboration by improving access to a central database from remote locations over wide area networks. A new “Auto-constrain in Assembly” feature adds parametric intelligence to imported data regardless of origin or translation method, and a new dynamic reviewing capability for direct editing provides real-time feedback when editing imported models.

Solid Edge V20 also offers advanced feature libraries, including a Part Feature grouping that streamlines reuse of common features, and Tabulated drawings that enable you to create a single drawing for an entire family of parts. Miscellaneous enhancements include new translators for transitioning from AutoCAD to Solid Edge and collaboration with CATIA V5.

UGS says that Solid Edge V20 will be available in English this quarter and in nine additional languages shortly thereafter. Solid Edge V20 now supports Windows Vista, Internet Explorer 7 and Direct 3D graphics. For further details, click here.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.