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Issue #512 : : April 3, 2007 |
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In this issue: The Competitive World of CAD Viewing Formats |
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Fundamentally, creating new drawings in CAD can be frustrating. CAD vendors recognize this by trying to make computer-based software easier to use -- subject to the limitations that computers impose, such as the keyboard, 2D-oriented mouse, and limited resolution monitors. Pencil and paper they ain't. Companies like Alias, Nemetschek, Autodesk, and AtLast (now Google) create sketching software that attempts to mimic the ease of sketching with a pencil. Products from Alias and Google are a success; those from Nemetschek and Autodesk failed. Others have tried to reduce the command set. After leaving his post as cto at Autodesk, John Lynch developed 3D CAD software that employed just six commands: profile, extrude, cut, offset, taper, and place. All other editing was done with grips (handles) or through dimensions. But Design Variations failed in the marketplace. Today, others continue on the quest, such as MoI (moment of inspiration) at www.moi3d.com . Another is Mike Riddle. He wrote the original code for what became the most successful CAD program ever (AutoCAD). He followed that with the fastest CAD software ever (FastCAD). And now he's working on the most back-to-basics CAD program ever. "Lately, I’ve been involved in the design of a new CAD user interface and a program intended to bring CAD to the 'napkin space' we’ve all used to explore our ideas," he writes on his blog at michaelriddle.com . "My 'impossible dream' is to reach the transparency and ease of use of a pencil and paper." Evan Yares has a screen grab of this everything-old-is-new-again software at www.evanyares.com/the-cad-industry/2007/1/3/in-praise-of-simplicity.html (scroll down to the screen grab).
The
Competitive World of A reader commented on the short list of competitors noted in my interview with Right Hemisphere, saying, "The concept of a server + viewer solution came from Actify [but] is now getting to become a commodity market, and prices or companies will suffer as a result. However, I see that this competition is great for the consumer, as it is driving development and innovation, resulting in very nice pieces of software." The reader provided this list of some of the more common solutions for CAD viewing, data repurposing, re-export-to-Web streaming file formats:
And the list goes on, and grows every month... For the VRML2 and X3D file format, there are these Web viewers and applications:
And many more at www.web3d.org/applications/tools/authoring. However, these lists can be (somewhat) divided into two categories: 1. Those file formats used to stream lightweight files out of a CAD or modeling package. 2. Those file formats specially designed for transferring data from a dedicated, interactive Web publishing program to a dedicated, interactive, realtime file viewing program or Web plug-in. Sometimes, The Story Isn't There I come across dozens of story ideas every week. "Story idea" is editor-talk for the germ of an idea that leads to a story -- an editorial, an article, an opinion piece. Most of the articles in this newsletter and on the WorldCAD Access weblog result from story ideas that I come across in my daily readings of 1-2 hours. Sometimes, I sense a story idea, but then it dies. ("Dies" is more editor-talk.) Here's an example: Joe Rigoli of Davies Murphy Group last week emails me a press release on behalf of his client, Kubotek: Ralph The phrase "help keep jobs in the U.S." hit me as a story idea. The idea is that keeping jobs in the US can mean losing jobs. That's because to save jobs, costs have to be cut. One way to cut costs is to automate -- which costs jobs. (Or save jobs by growing the business.) From Mr Rigoli's introduction, I got the germ of a story idea: Kubotek somehow helps automate a company sufficiently that it saves some jobs. Well, it's more a thesis. I scan the body of the press release for confirmation; if what I need is there, then I have a story. I come across some good points made by the owner of the business that implemented KeyCreator: "Product development firms are choosing to outsource manufacturing tasks because they believe they can reduce cost," said Scott Basilius, president and owner of the third-generation business that bears his name. "The trouble is that the total impact of offshore manufacturing is unknown until the final part has been delivered. Time lost due to communication gaps, prototype delays, and error corrections has been mounting as the hidden cost of doing business." (He leaves out that costs are raising overseas, as workers get better pay and raw material costs increase.) "To say our business is highly competitive is an understatement. Just look at the newspaper headlines and you can appreciate how innovative we have to be to protect our jobs." Okay, but has the company cut jobs in order to stay competitive? Has using KeyCreator "throughout its manufacturing process to shorten design cycles, reduce costs, and speed time to market" cost jobs? The press release doesn't say, and perhaps the company has been fortunate enough to hire more staff. So, my story idea dies. But then another story idea pops into my head: how about a story on story-ideas that die?
[Announcements of new and updated products.] - - - McNeel releases free DOSLib for AutoCAD 2008. The add-on provides DOS-like utilities for AutoLISP, such as retrieve and set default printers, spool print files, and manipulate INI files. Download from www.en.na.mcneel.com/doslib.htm Datakit of Lyon France [my daughter was there last week on a school trip] announces its topological data exchange software for SolidWorks and Rhino 4. www.datakit.com iCADsales.com ships software based on progeCAD: progeBUILD is for building services, including HVAC, piping, and structural. The bundle is US$1.499. Download the demo from www.icadsales.com/index.pl?id=4150 SpaceClaim Professional 2007 (US$1,700 per year) is now shipping in English or Japanese from www.spaceclaim.com form-Z releases a beta of RenderZone Plus for 6.0/6.1 RenderZone and RadioZity users. The company notes that RadioZity is coming to an end, and that its features will be integrated into RenderZone. www.formz.com/downloads/beta_log_in_65.html Eric Pousse of RealCADD updates his DWG/DXF Converter (shareware; US$30) that converts DWG and/or DXF files between v12 and 2007, and any version between. Download from www.adx-online.com/DWG-DXFConverter.zip [I asked Mr Pousse about incompatible objects that are removed or changed. He replied, "Perhaps my response will surprise you: I don't know. I use the DWGdirect libraries from the Open Design Alliance, and I made only the GUI."] Ashlar-Vellum releases Graphite v8 last week. [Do they need a better pr agent? I learned of this from Tenlinks.com, who read it at Architosh.com, who picked it up from Ashlar-Vellum's newsletter.] www.ashlar.com Acrobat Pro 3D v8 is now available for beta testing by anyone. Sign up, create a password, and download from labs.adobe.com/technologies/acrobat3d_version8/ Speaking of which, 3Dconnexion's SpaceNavigator device supports Adobe's Photoshop CS3 and Extended editions -- such as manipulating 3D objects. www.3dconnexion.com Autodesk says they have sold eight million licenses of all its software. PTC announces something that sounds important: "PTC, the Product Development Company, today announced the availability of a comprehensive process framework that consists of industry-specific product development process landscapes. The intent of this framework is to help discrete manufacturers in multiple industries understand the linkage between product development process improvements, PLM technology investments, and business value." [Translation, anyone?] www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/standards/textsub.jsp?&im_dbkey=48606&icg_dbkey=21 ASCON announces a new add-on for its 3D parametric modeling software. Template Manager creates and maintain custom template libraries for KOMPAS-3D. The company notes it has installed 30,000+ seats. www.ascon.ru/english ALGOR ships ALGOR V20 with design scenarios, software wizard for creating bolts and fasteners, size optimization, k-epsilon turbulence model, and rebar-concrete modeler. "V20 users are voicing their approval for this major software release," reports the press release. [Those who voiced disapproval seem to be left out.] www.algor.com - - - These news items were posted during the last week at the WorldCAD Access blog <worldcadaccess.typepad.com>:
And at the Gizmos Grabowski <worldcadaccess.typepad.com/gizmos/> Weblog:
Hardware News Robert McCartney suggests checking out this new inkjet printing technology at www.memjet.com . The page-width inkjet nozzle assembly claims to output 60 color pages a minute.
People/Companies on the Move After one year at Google, SketchUp co-founder Brad Schell is leaving to take time off from the CAD industry. aecnews.com/news/2007/03/29/2308.aspx MSC.Software appoints Sam Auriemma as cfo, replacing the retiring John Laskey. Mr. Auriemma is the former cfo of FileNet. Longtime Canadian services partner Processia Solutions becomes a certified reseller of CATIA, ENOVIA and DELMIA software. ROMER (aka Hexagon Metrology) and Faro Technologies agree to stop funding lawyers. They agreed to settle outstanding disputes between them, including patent suits and false advertising.
Market News Delcam increased sales by 14% to £26.7 million (about US$50 million). Profits increased 9.6% to 2.56 million (about $5 million). The company raised £6 million through 1.5 million new shares. For the first half 2006/2007, IGE+XAO recorded a net profit of e1.0 million, up 20.1% from a year ago.
Brand New CAD Books/eBooks "Customizing SolidWorks For Greater Productivity"
"The Year in Infrastructure"
"What's Inside? AutoCAD 2008"
WorthWhile Web http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2007/03/28/giving-it-away/
Letters to the Editor Re: 3Dconnexxion SpaceTraveller "So, tell us more about that keyboard by BMW." The editor replies: "A local discounter had it for $17 instead of $70. It's by Benq, design by BMW. It's okay; I am disappointed that its driver doesn't let me assign keystrokes to its extra function keys, just program names. I had to cut out 'Designed BMW Group' from the instruction manual and stick in onto the keyboard so that visitors would be able to notice." Mr Wilson responds: "(*sigh*) It always boils down to the drivers." - - - Re: PhotoShop Extension "Regardng Photoshop and CAD, have you looked at Autodesk
Impression? Is it ppossible to make a comparission?" The editor replies: "Impression is strictly for 2D hand-like renderings, whereas PhotoShop does much more. Impression ($500) is tightly linked to AutoCAD, whereas PhotoShop requires the U3D xlation and Acrobat 3D (total price $2000). Perhaps more of Acrobat 3D will makes its way into PhotoShop in the next release."
"[Instead of buying Acrobat 3D (another $995), which reads
3D CAD files and exports them in U3D format for PhotoShop Extended.]
That is unless you are already a MicroStation user which exports
U3D direct." The editor replies: "You're right that I forgot to mention that some CAD programs export U3D; the PhotoShop senior product manager didn't mention any CAD package by name."
"I must be the 8001th who wants to correct you on the PhotoShop
version aimed at the photographers, it's called Photoshop Lightroom.
And, by the way, it does not share much with the 'real' PhotoShop,
it was called simply 'Lightroom' up to beta4." The editor replies: "Not the 8001th certainly, but the first.' - - - Re: D-Cubed Release 52 "The actual number of releases of the 2D DCM is 34, because
we made some changes to our numbering scheme in the past. This is
still quite a large number and represents two releases a year since
we started in 1989. Do you think it could still be a record?" The editore replies: "I think so. Some software, like Inventor, initially came out twice a year, but have now slowed down to annual releases." - - - Re: Online Project Management "A colleague of mine referred me to your website and newsletter
after reading some comments on project management software. Our
ENGINEERING.com offers a Web-based central repository for managing
process, data, and tasks surrounding product development & construction
teams. Collaboration Suite is offered both as a hosted or
deployed solution at https://collaboration.engineering.com/ " - - - Re: Daylights Saving Times "I thought you might get a chuckle out of this: I posted an internal memo on our intranet regarding the DST change and blah blah blah. I spelled it out as 'Daylight Savings Time'. "I got a scathing e-mail from an employee berating
me for making 'Savings' plural, and provided numerous links to official
government sites to back it up. I really mean berating me, as in
paragraphs of how inconsiderate I was to have overlooked that. Amazing
how inflamed some people can get." - - - Re: AutoCAD 2008 "Amazingly my company is going to go to 2008. They have
been on subscription, but only running 2005. No one bothered to
install 2006 or 2007 even though they paid all of that money for
subscription."
Notable Quotable "...say hello to Pluto -- the suddenly former planet. Forever
and immutable, it turns out, are subject to demotion." Thank You to Our Subscribers & Donators Thanks to the following subscribers who donated $25 (or more) recently.
Copyright 2007 by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. All rights reserved worldwide Article reprint fee US$250.0 and up.
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