September
14, 2004
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- - - C
O N T E N T S From the Editor Dentistry
CAM It's
Not Translation; Below
the Radar Write - - - Donate - - - Look for additional,
nearly-daily CAD commentary at our Weblog: (ADVERTISMENT) Updated and Expanded for AutoCAD 2005! Tailoring AutoCAD 2005 is the new e-book for AutoCAD 2005. Download as a 260-page e-book in PDF format (US$26.95) or on CD ($31.95). Covers all areas of customization, from changing the user interface to writing toolbar macros and LISP routines. Click here to sample preview pages and place your order.
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From the Editor Our bulk email software suffered a serious bug that caused it to lose about a thousand email addresses. We reconstructed the mailing list from backups, but may have included your email address when you no longer wish to receive the e-newsletter. If so, our apologies, and please let us know through subscribe @ upfrontezine.com - - - We look forward to seeing some of our readers at this week's IntelliCAD conference taking place in Denver CO. www.intellicad.org/worldmeeting2004/ - - - During this e-newsletter's summer break, we continued to report on CAD news at our Weblog at worldcadaccess.typepad.com . The headlines we posted over there included:
Dentistry CAM KaVo's Everest System uses a 3D scanner to record 15 point clouds of the patient's tooth needing repair ("stump"). The scan take three minutes, and has an accuracy of 20 micrometers. For a new crown, software combines two data sets: the tooth stump and the wax model of the crown. After the crown and stump data are matched, the crown is trimmed to match the stump. A CAM module calculates cutting data, and then passes the data to a CNC system, a five-axis cutting and grinding machine. Depending on the material used, the replacement tooth is also sintered in an oven. The Everest System reduces the restrictions on materials, and allows the use of titanium for frameworks, lucite-reinforced glass ceramic, and sintered zirconium oxide. KaVo says that digital dentistry provides a 3x increase in production. Conventional methods require about an hour to produce a titanium framework; the Everest system needs only 20 minutes. (Based on a report by Jill Aitoro <jilla @ cramco.com>.) It's not Translation; It's Data
Representation What does it mean to be "DWG compatible," or to read DWG entities perfectly? What is in essence the problem of DWG reverse engineering? I want to react to the old DWG compatibility issue that was brought up again with the SolidWorks / Autodesk polemic around IntelliCAD. The DWG Alliance manages to decipher the compression algorithms that Autodesk, for obscure technical reasons -- and maybe more obviously competitive reasons -- puts in each successive version of the DWG format. Despite the hard work by the Alliance, it is dealing with objective data only. Its DWG Direct API provides access to the data describing polylines, ACIS bodies, paperspace viewports, and other DWG entities. But is that enough to claim compatibility? Compatibility means reusability of the data, the proper conversion of DWG entities in the host application object model. For most users, compatibility simply means that the drawing should look on the screen and on paper exactly like it does in AutoCAD. And here is the most difficult part of reverse engineering: reproducing the inconsistencies (subjectivity, as opposed to data objectivity) accumulated by the incredible stratification of a 22-year-old software like AutoCAD. We are no longer dealing with the data, but with a _representation_ of the data. The Problem of Data Representation Reading .dwg data is one thing; representing it like AutoCAD does is another. We should not talk about "DWG compatibility," but about "AutoCAD compatibility." Surprisingly, DWG compatibility does not mean interpreting an otherwise simple object model (lines, arcs, and circles) into another, but emulating a given representation of this object model. This is a problem for all DWG-capable applications, including Autodesk's non-AutoCAD applications, like Inventor and Revit. In fact, in this regard, Autodesk applications are not much better equipped than their competitors; yes, they may benefit from Autodesk's very protected ObjectDBX technology (that is in fact the AutoCAD DWG I/O engine unplugged), but this achieves only the first step: deciphering the data. Achieving an AutoCAD-like representation of the data -- the most difficult part -- is as difficult in Autodesk's Revit as it is in Graphisoft's ArchiCAD. For some of the competition, having a longer experience of the problem, may sometimes provide better answers than Autodesk itself. That most compatibility problems remain at this "representation" level is in itself interesting: it shows that, despite the technology advances of the last twenty years, despite all the BIM and PLM claims from CAD vendors, we have a very poor and primitive use of the numeric data we produce. Representation still prevails. The enormous importance so-called DWG compatibility -- AutoCAD emulation -- is absurd in theory, but in practice strong reality. Objects and data intelligence are clearly the secondary concern. Some day, the DWG format will loose its importance, but not before a much more profound appropriation and integration of the numeric data in the user's practices. Below the Radar A summary of CAD industry news you may not have read elsewhere, or that we found interesting: - - - Bluebeam Software expands their software to output CAD files in TIFF, JPEG, BMP, and other format, as well as PDF. Two-week trial of Bluebeam Pushbutton Plus is available at www.bluebeam.com Noran Engineering's NEiWorks for SolidWorks works with any Nastran FE solver. Analysis data is seamlessly updated when geometry is changed. www.NENastran.com In related news, Applied Production's ProFab Sheet Metal CAM software also supports SolidWorks 2005. www.AppliedProduction.com Rasterex releases RxAutoImage 7.5 does image clean-up and enhancement, raster editing, and raster-to-vector conversion inside AutoCAD 2005 and LT 2005. www.rasterex.com Robert McNeel & Associates adds Universal Deformation Technology to Rhino 4. UDT is their proprietary NURBS curve, surface, and solid deformation technology. www.mcneel.com HP's Xeon-based xw6200 and xw8200 workstations are the first to support UGS's NX 2 and Parasolid V16. Future releases of the software will support the workstations' 64-bit extensions -- but no date cited. www.ugs.com IMSI releases TurboCADCAM v2.5 (YS$995), its 2-1/2D milling and turning CAM software intregrated with TurboCAD. www.imsisoft.com ICEM is shipping its new automotive styling and industrial design software, ICEM Style. Beta testers included Lotus Cars, Volkswagen, Peugeot Citroën, Porsche, Seat, Ital Design and Pininfarina. Download a trial from www.icem.com DRCAUTO Software has updated its Smart Architect for AutoCAD 2005, including smart walls, user block library, project management, drawing documentation, and quantities. 30-day trial from www.drcauto.com VX Corporation releases VX v10 CAD/CAM software with model morphing, reverse engineering, and 2D layout. www.vx.com VISIARC's WebViewer 2004 lets you view and print technical documents on small devices, like cell phones. www.visiarc.com Seminars & Conference The first conference for application developers interested in IntelliCAD is Sept 16-17 in Denver CO USA. www.intellicad.org/WorldMeeting2004/ PLM Road Map 2004 in Dearborn MI USA, Sept 22-23. www.cpd-associates.com 2004 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and RD&D Expo is Nov. 13-19 in Anaheim CA USA. infocentral@asme.org Companies/People on the Move Graphisoft appoints Giovanna Mandato as the director of global marketing. Ms Mandato was previously with Vivendi Telecom Hungary. Bentley Systems acquires Symmetry Systems, a Bentley retailor specializing in selling civil engineering software in the northeastern United States. Reason for the acquisition was not given. PTC's India
development centre has become the company's largest, employing over
400 people in Pune. "Now that offshore delivery has been proved
to work, huge amounts of product development and design will shift
from high-cost regions, such as the US, Western Europe and Japan,
to India, China, Russia," said James
Heppelman, executive vice president
and chief product officer for PTC. Gibbs and Associates, developer of GibbsCAM, ccelebrate their 20th anniversary in September. Computer News Summaries Autodesk says it is losing US$367 million in potential revenues each year because of software piracy in India. "For every two companies that buy our software here, there are eight who steal," said Andre Pravaz, vice president of Autodesk's Asia-Pacific operations. No basis for the estimate was provided. Market News ANSYS is splitting it stocks 2-for-1. think3 Q2 revenues were US$9 million, up 12% over a year ago. Moldflow reports Q4 revenue of US$15.2 million, up 54% from a year earlier. Net income was $1.1 million. Fiscal year 2004 revenues were $48.7 million, up 33%. netGuru's net revenues for 1Q05 were US$3.7 million,down from $4.3 million a year ago. Net loss was $738,000, worsened from $403,000 a year ago. In other bad news, netGuru terminated its outsourcing arrangement with DOWCO Consultants due to the interpretation of exclusivity requirements. Delcam had record sales during it first half of 2005: £10.3 million, up 5% from the previous year. The upFront.eZine stock index is at /www.cadwire.net/to?upfrontezine/stocks Brand New CAD Books/eBooks "Introductory Courseware for Autodesk
Revit 6.1 - All Building Types"
"Tailoring
AutoCAD 2005" WorthWhile Web http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=17685
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/mm20040804.shtml
Letters to the Editor Re: DWF Q&A: Five Minutes with Amar Hanspal The interview surprised us at COADE Engineering Software. The comments attributed to Mr. Hanspar, "Mr Hanspal said he's offered to help other CAD vendors implement DWF, but his offer has not been taken up. Right now, it's just OCE and HP who work closely with Autodesk." Strange, we have been developing a CAD-based DWF product, CADWorx IP (Internet Publisher), since June 2003 which was released -- with Autodesk's knowledge -- in March 2004. (Autodesk PR issued a press release in May 2004). The product is based on DWF technology and publishes CAD projects that automatically link drawing entities with their underlying database information and any documents linked to those entities. This may not be the group that your article
is alluding to -- the paragraph may well be speaking only of 'competitors'
(Bentley, et al), but the mention of HP and OCE leads us to believe
these non-competitors were seen as the only developers that had
'taken up the call.'
Re: Pliable Lens Display The lens stuff has been around for a while. I thought it was all locked up in Xerox patents. I'm very dubious of the 2D fisheye lens; I'd want to see some usability studies. Also, I stumbled across the 3D fisheye/exploder stuff. Again, maybe it'll work, but I'd want to see some usability. The defense angle, for examining satellite images, is brilliant. I believe the biggest boost to usability for
CAD, illustration, PhotoShop, etc, will be high-resolution displays.
But that's a no-brainer prediction.
Re: DGN 8 Specification Download The
link to the V8 Documentation is available on-line, but only if you
pay Bentley a ton of money. Both SELECT [annual user subscription]
and Developer Network require hefty fees.
Re: OpenDWG in Autodesk Products Evan Yares failed to point out that the products that previously used OpenDWG were before being owned by Autodesk. OpenDWG is not 100% which was the point of the Manufacturing team's document. Also the comment from the reader about Autodesk
not knowing the DWG format 'No one knows exactly what's in the DWG
format, and, therefore, even Autodesk can't document it.' I think
that is pretty interesting and could be attributed to the quality
and knowledge of his source of the comment. This may have also been
back from the long gone Generic CADD days and not "Cadkey"
as the person mentioned as Autodesk never owned that product. Autodesk
technical developers in the core team definitely know the DWG inside
and out but it just may not be documented in a book sitting on a
shelf in the office.
Re: Other Comments You comment on your labor over the language,
yet in the very next paragraph you lay down this clunker? ""The
Salmon of Doubt" is a wrapup of Douglas Adams' writings, who
died suddenly in 2001." Fer shame, fer shame! :)
OK, anyone who can identify an FPA-4, discuss
Douglas Adams, and mention windsurfing in an engineering newsletter
deserves my support! I do enjoy reading your take on events and
products. It helps to see a different view point than that of the
various corporations. I especially enjoy the quotes and the "Below
the Radar".
I get upFront.eZine at work. Love reading
your articles. Makes the week go so much better.
Thanks for providing the very best forum on
our industry."
Thanks, great zine. Spin Doctor of the Moment ""This new release continues
to build on the existing capabilities of the core product and leverages
its technical leadership. Two major value-adding themes have driven
the development of this new revision: the addition of new methods
for reliability-based design optimization and a focus on increasing
user productivity." Notable Quotable "So I went on my first Net-inspired blind
date last week. I was prepared: I brought a copy of my background
check, a DNA sample, and a small clip book of my favorite columns,
with the jokes highlighted." |
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Return to www.upfrontezine.com. Entire contents copyright ©2004 by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. All rights reserved worldwide. Article reprint fee $500. All trademarks belong to their respective holders. "upFront.eZine," "Talking About CAD," and "On your desktop every Tuesday morning" are trademarks of upFront.eZinePublishing, Ltd. Letters to the editor may be reproduced in an edited form for clarity and brevity. Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily shared by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. |
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