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issue #557 : : april 29, 2008 |
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In this issue: NX & Solid Edge to Obtain Synchronous Technology -
Paraphrased Q&A Out of the Inbox, and the other regular columns.
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NX & Solid Edge to Obtain Synchronous Technology Siemens PLM Solutions spent weeks building up suspense for a major announcement. Would it be good? Or a let down? During last week's semi-public/private media event, it became quickly apparent that the next release of high-end NX and mid-range Solid Edge software will add non-history (freeform) editing to their current history-parametric modeling. It does editing with -- or without -- the history tree. Some bloggers describe it as 'SolidWorks with SpaceClaim bolted on'. Here's how Siemens describes it: "...first-ever history-free, feature-based modeling technology..." "...combines the best of constraint-driven techniques with direct modeling..." "...simultaneously synchronizes geometry and rules through a new decision-making inference engine." "...the efficiency of parametric dimension-driven modeling without the computational overhead of pre-planned dependencies." "Suggestive Selection automatically infers the function of various design elements without the need for feature or constraint definitions." "New inference technology automatically infers common constraints and executes typical commands based on cursor position."
Siemens' executive vp of products Chuck Grindstaff emphasized that synch-tech is not a bolt-on; the company spent years integrating it into the databases of NX and Solid Edge. Once the software becomes generally available this summer, feedback from users will determine how spectacular synch tech is -- or not. Although the technology is an application on top of ParaSolid and D-Cubed components, it is patent-pending, and Siemens has no intention of sharing it with competitors through its ParaSolid and D-Cubed licensing programs. This announcement:
Paraphrased Q&A Q: How is synch-tech different from others? Q: How is synch tech different from CoCreate and Pro/Engineer? Q: Does this technology have an effect on TeamCenter? Q: What about complex surfaces? Q: How does this affect NX CAM? Q: What are the implications for existing customers? Q: When existing customer migrate, how will this affect training,
hardware, and other costs? Q: Will this be more popular in Europe? Q: What happens when a feature is imported from CATIA or Pro/Engineer?
Q: You mentioned it works with JT. Does this work with any
other visualization formats? Q: Can I reuse a model in other CAD software after it has
been modeled by synch-tech? Q: Are there active pilots underway [customers already using
the software]? Q: Are there any features that sync-tech does not recognize? Q: Can customers add feature-recognition rules? Q: What kinds of new markets does this open up?
Bloggers React Within minutes, CAD bloggers were commenting. Some pointed out that this technology was not new. Some felt this made SpaceClaim an even more desirable acquisition target, the only question being: would it be acquired by SolidWorks or Autodesk? Here are links to many of the postings: Deelip Menezes 3D CAD NEWS Matt Writes Solid Smack Evan Yares Scott's Harangue Ricky Jordon's Blog
The Shipping Manifest Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology [yes, that's the awkward name, and no, there is no version number] and NX 6 are currently in beta. The duo will be re-announced at a media and analyst event in late May, and will ship sometime this summer. The Velocity Series portfolio also gets launched at the end of May. Velocity Series consists of Solid Edge, Teamcenter Express, Femap, and CAM Express. Link: www.siemens.com/plm/breakthrough
In Related News In the midst of last week's media frenzy, Kubotek USA quickly issued its press release that (1) welcomed Siemens to the party, and (2) announced Key Creator 7.5. Executive vp Robert Bean wrote, "When Kubotek announced in 2004 that we were pursuing an alternative to the mainstream history-based modeling approach, we knew it was a revolutionary concept." So, welcome to the old new: "This release marks the tenth KeyCreator enhancement release produced by Kubotek since the history-free, feature-based product was first introduced in February of 2004." Link: www.kubotekusa.com/news_events/press_releases/pr_04_22_2008.html
I've previously guessed that Acrobat 3D was not doing
well for Adobe, and now there's two more hints: (1) Randall
Newton reads in 'Computerworld' that Acrobat 3D will
become part of Acrobat Pro in the next release; and (2) Randall
Newton had to read it in 'Computerworld', instead of hearing it
from the lips of Adobe marketing. Acrobat 9 is due to ship this
summer. aecnews.com/news/2008/04/16/3296.aspx
Apple has added OpenGL to its iPhone's API. Can CAD file viewers be far behind? Probably. www.tuaw.com/2008/04/23/apple-iphone-sdk-beta-4/ "Dear Ralph, As one of my preferred AutoPLANT users, you owe it to yourself to check out promis-e 2007, our NEW electrical design solution." [The oh-so-false-personalization of bulk emailing. Unfortunately, Nadia is coy about letting loose a 30-day demo (i must request one) or revealing the price ("Please contact me so we can discuss our promotional promis-e 2007 pricing").] Valid 'til mid-May only. www.bentley.com/en-us/Promo/Promise/promise+overview.htm Datakit's CAD data translator plug-ins are certified for Inventor 2009. They report that Catia V5->Inventor is the best selling translator. www.datakit.com iCADsales.com ships progeCAD 2008 Professional v8.0.18. Get your 30-day eval version from www.ICADSales.com/ . Features of the new IntelliCAD-based software include:
ZWSOFT of China releases ZWCAD 2008i with improved performance, new gradient fills, support for TIFF files, and enhanced DRX. Trial version of the [you guessed it] IntelliCAD-based software avail at www.zwcad.org Dassault, quiver: Altadyn 'bringing-3D-to-everyone' of France says "a leading independent research firm has recognized [our] flagship product 3DXplorer among the top pioneers of the emerging web3D market." [Forrester, your cheque in the mail.] I'd've given their 3D plugin-free 3D browser the acid test (does it run in Opera?) but they wanted way too much personal data on the page following www.3dxplorer.com Geometric announces DFMPro 2008 EX for SolidWorks.
(DFMXpress is included with SolidWorks 2008.) The 'Design for Manufacturability'
software automate in-house DFM practices using rules coded in Visual
Basic scripts or SolidWorks macros. Trial version from www.dfmpro.com
Lattice Technology has a no-charge download of its updated XVL Player v9 available at www.lattice3D.com And Autodesk reports that a hundred third-party developers have 200 add-on apps working with its 2009-line of CAD software. www.autodesk.com/developers - - - These news items were posted during the last week at the WorldCAD Access blog < worldcadaccess.typepad.com>:
And at the Gizmos Grabowski <http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/gizmos/> Weblog:
Hardware News NVIDIA's new Quadro graphics cards ($150 and up) offer 10X performance over similarly-priced consumer graphics cards. "...it's all about tuning the pipeline and balancing the typical workload for AutoCAD, not the latest version of Halo." www.nvidia.com/builtforpros Toshiba hopes to ship 512GB SSDs [solid state drives that use flash memory] by the end of 2009 -- by shrinking chips to 30 nanometers and by storing 4 data bits per memory cell. The company hopes to cut the cost of SSDs by 40-50% a year. - Electronista < www.electronista.com/articles/08/04/23/toshiba.512gb.ssd.coming/ > Genius ships two new 4000LPI [lines per inch] LCD digitizing tablets: G-Pen M712 (12x8.25") and M609 (9x5.5"). Both have a cordless pen, pan-zoom roll pads at the top, and multiple hot keys. Priced at $249 or $195. www.geniusnetusa.com
Seminars & Conferences 4th Annual VisMasters Design Modeling & Visualization is May 11–13 in Boston MA USA. http://dmvc.vismasters.com/ LMS Test & Simulation Conference is May 28-29 in Troy MI USA. http://www.lmsintl.com/lmsconferences/america 2008 GeoTec Event is June 2-5 in Ottawa Ontario Canada. http://www.geoplace.com/ME2/dirsect.asp?sid=F1E958ECB4E84C1C97324D4851580DDB&nm=GeoTec+Event European PLM 2008 Summit is June 23-25 in Tolouse France. http://www.plmsummit.com 24th Annual Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference is July 21-25 in Concord NC USA. http://http://www.cmsc.org International Conference on Technologies to Document, Preserve, Communicate, and Prevent the Destruction of our Fragile Cultural Heritage is Oct 20-26 in Limassol Cyprus. http://www.vsmm2008.org NAFEMS 2020 Vision of Engineering Analysis and Simulation is Oct 29-31, (2008) in in Hampton VA USA. http://www.nafems.org/nafems2020 People/Companies on the Move BlueCielo Eo ECM Solutions acquires CAD & Company's ECM division and its ImandrA software. [ECM = Engineering Content Management.] Sescoi launches a new Web site for its ERP software, WorkPLAN Enterprise, at www.workplan-enterprise.com Aras opens an office in Solothurn, Switzerland to handle operations in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Right Hemisphere selects CENIT AG as one of its worldwide VARs [value-added resellers]. www.cenit.de Capvidia appoints Bruce Stein as regional sales manager for the Great Lakes Region.
Market News Catalog Data Solutions reports Q1 revenue increased 100% over a year ago. Autodesk spends $8 million laying off 40 employees, half of them at head office, and on other cost reductions. PTC reports Q2 revenues up 14% -- or 13%, depending on the method of accounting. Next quarter's revenue increase, however, may be close to flat.
WorthWhile Web http://www.cnet.com/8301-13505_1-9924261-16.html?tag=nefd.top
http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/five-security-apps-linux-osx-windows.ars/1
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080427.whijacknet0427/BNStory/National/home
Letters to the Editor Re: No More Hands for a 3D Input Device "Our little design group (six users) uses 3D daily, and none of us would think of doing 3D without a 3D input device. If you think you are better off without one, there is only one explanation I can think of: You haven't tried it. "After some practice learning to 'drive', we can zoom in or out, roll our model over to select edges or get a better view, and move parts of a subassembly to get them in rough position before constraining them. A 3D input device is far more efficient than picking zoom, pan, roll, rotate, and move from menus. "Don't take my word for it, use one for week and you'll
never give it up." - - - "I worked for a large manufacturing company back in the late 90s who was intent on moving all their aging plethora of mainframe CAD systems to 250 seats of CATIA. They had to decide what to do about the low-end stuff, like 2D drafting, take-offs, and part feeds -- building small components for importing into the big CATIA models. "During a few meetings with IBM [salesmen], the discussions kept running into whether to continue focusing on AutoCAD, or to bring in SolidWorks. We had more than a thousand seats of AutoCAD, but almost zero SolidWorks. "The IBM suits more than once leaned towards AutoCAD, but
would never elaborate or explain why. The same happened with discussions
over going with Enovia or SmarTeam. Business makes for some strange
stuff indeed." - - - "Over the years I enjoyed reading your eZine and which has
become a great source for industry related news and gossip."
Spin Doctor of the Moment "Ritz Camera, Nikon Celebrate Earth Day By Making You Carbon
Neutral For a Month"
Notable Quotable "Intel needs someone banging at the door to keep Moore's
Law from becoming Moore's Recommendation."
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