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In This Issue

1. The upFront.eZine Tour of Russia)

      Part VIII: LEDAS Group (last week)

      Part IX: LEDAS and isicad

        - LEDAS Software

        - History of isicad

        - How LEDAS Direct Modeling Differs from Competitors

        - PLM Services

2. Anark Core 3.0

3. Out of the Inbox, and our other regular columns

4. Letters to the Editor

The upFront.eZine Tour of Russia

[This article marks the end of the upFront.eZine newsletter's series on Russian MCAD software firms.]

Part IX: LEDAS and isiscad

Location: Akademgorodok, Russia

Date stamp: Sat 12 Sep 2009 11:17:09 AM BDST

LEDAS Software

The LEDAS Group offers a remarkable collection of software, because of the competence its employees in working with discrete mathematics, numerical analysis, constraint satisfaction, computational geometry, scheduling algorithms, and math-oriented software. I thought I'd describe some of it for you in greater detail.

The firm offers two versions of its LEDAS Geometric Solver, one for 2D and one for 3D. Both create and modify 2D geometry, connect the geometry with dimensional and geometric constraints, and solves all given constraints simultaneously. Both perform static and dynamic constraint solving, and diagnostics of overdefined constraints. Both have an API with nearly a hundred C-style functions, work with wrappers (.Net, Java, C++, etc), and have an integration wizard for use with ACIS, Parasolid, Granite, OpenCascade, and so on. LGS 2D and 3D runs on AIX, FreeBSD, Linux, OS X, and Windows.

LEDAS also offers these software modules for variational modeling (for history-free constrained geometry):

    - LEDAS Mechanical Simulation Engine models the motion of rigid bodies according to the laws of physics, including gravity, springs, constraints, and external forces.

    - LEDAS Collision Detection quickly detects collisions between large numbers of bodies through the use of bounding volumes.

    - LEDAS Geometric Measurement computes the minimum-volume bounding boxes of 3D bodies.

In addition, the firm offers software that does not deal with geometry:

    - LEDAS Math Solver satisfies and optimizes constraints using equations and inequalities. Its key advantage is its interval analysis capability.

    - LEDAS Scheduler is an API for extending software like Microsoft Project. It optimizes arbitrary criteria, resolves resource conflicts automatically, and supports incomplete data.

How LEDAS Direct Modeling Differs from Competitors

When you select a boundary element, LEDAS' direct modeling technology uses Smart Selection to also select all coincident planes, coaxial cylinders and circles automatically. All  selected elements are considered together. LEDAS tells me that SpaceClaim implemented a similar form of selection, but it looses design intent expressed with geometric and dimensional constraints. Solid Edge's synchtech remembers design intent, but their technology cannot be licensed by others.

For this reason, LEDAS created its own version, called Variational Direct Modeling, to compete with the unavailable Synchronous Technology. VDM supports direct editing of history-free modeling while keeping design intent. It does this through B-rep [boundary representation] constraint recognition, constraint solving, and local updates of B-rep geometry.

Constraints are obtained from B-rep topology (vertex-edge and edge-face coincidences), B-rep geometry and explicit design features (parallel, perpendicular, tangent, concentric, coaxial, equal radius, equal distance, and symmetry), and user-defined constraints (geometric, dimensional, and equations).

CAD vendors who implement VDM can implement intelligent object drawing and intelligent parametric modification of driving dimensions. LEDAS plans to release a beta of VDM for Rhino in December. In mid-2010 LEDAS plans to have VDM available for general licensing. More information on VDM here: http://www.ledas.com/pdf/VariationalDirectModeling.pdf .

History of isicad

While LEDAS satisfied David Levin's need to run an independent programming house, he also wanted a way to express the social side of the CAD industry. To that end, he launched the "isicad" forums in 2004, originally as a scientific forum, but then transformed into a multi-vendor forum, almost like a congress.

The isicad name is meant to sound like "easy CAD". (The Russian "i" is pronounced as a long "e." While in Russia, I was finally around others who also pronounce "Linux" as "Lee-nix.") There are, unfortunately, numerous other unrelated isicads in the world.

The forum had 400 participants, and produced 10 research papers. The proceedings were published in book form in two parts: scientific publications, and summaries of business and technology presentations. They were reproduced in shortened form in "International Journal of PLM." The forum was successful enough to be repeated in 2006 and 2008, with Autodesk as its major sponsor.

Isicad also publishes books and a monthly digital magazine named "isicad.ru," monthly in Russian and quarterly in English; see http://www.isicad.net. (Books matter in Russia; it seemed to me that every commercial street had a bookstore tucked in somewhere, usually below street level, filled with young people rummaging through new and old volumes.)

At first, the Web site was meant to document the first forum, but over the years it transformed into the isicad portal with daily updates on CAD, PLM, and ERP in Russian. This was followed by http://plmpedia.org/wiki/PLMpedia wiki in Russian and English, which can be edited by anyone who registers. "The English version is much more brief than the Russian one," David Levin noted wryly.

PLM Services

Vladimir Malukh is director of yet another division of the LEDAS group, PLM Services. He gave me an overview of its services, which until recently was the only organization in Russia to provide CATIA customization and CAA training.

From this, PLM Services have expanded into other areas: MCAD and AEC consulting, staff and upper management training, support of research and university teaching, publishing, legal aid services.

This last item caught my attention. As I reported earlier, the Russian government is forcing firms to purchase legal licenses of software, with the result that many firms are prosecuted by police -- sometimes over-zealously, such as the recent case of the high school principal. (He was accused of running pirated software on school computer; after a year in the legal system, he was found not guilty after the judge determined it computer store had installed software illegally.) In cases similar to these, PLM Systems helps with a legal defence fund for the over-prosecuted.

http://www.ledas.com

[Disclosure: Some of the firms mentioned in the "The upFront.eZine Tour of Russia" provided assistance with the airfare, accommodation, ground transportation, and meals.]

Anark Core 3.0

Scott Collins last week gave me a guided tour of the new features in Anark Core 3.0, and he did it in reverse. First, he show me the result of Core's output, and then he showed me how Core does it.

The Anark Core software produces 3D interactive technical documentation. In that way it is not different from several competitors. It does, however, differ in two areas: reducing details and recording recipes. There are two versions: desktop and server. You use the desktop software to combine data from various sources, modify the data (such as color it or add attributes or stepped instructions), and then generate the output.

All of your steps are recorded as "recipes," which you can reuse on similar data. Or you can feed it to the server, set up a schedule, and then have the server automatically collate the data and spit out the reports.

The software reads all kinds of data: CAD drawings, PDM [product data management], ERP [enterprise resource planning], customer data, and so on. It maintains links to the sources so that when they change, Core's output changes. It can generate animated assembly and repair instructions, manufacturing BOMs [bills of material]. One example is that manufacturing companies can now open their data to self-help customers looking for parts.

The big deal about version 3.0 is its integration with 3D PDF. Indeed, the server version includes Adobe's LiveCycle server, and the client version includes Acrobat Pro Extended. As Mr Collins noted, the PDF files don't need to be 3D. Nevertheless, a single document is able to encompass individual spreadsheets CAD drawings, and so on; digital signatures means the end of paper being faxed or couriered.

Another new feature is the ability to import data from any PDM connector (including TeamCenter, WindChill, and Enovia) and from any data source using customizable SQL-like connectors.

While Anark's primary customer base is the aerospace industry, but now they are finding that furniture makers and household electronic firms are interested in Core's capabilities in removing manual processes.

Version 3.0 ships this week. Workstation software is priced from $4,400 to $10K per seat, while the Server software ranges from $5,500 to $10K per user.

www.anark.com/core

Ads: CAD Services

Out of the Inbox

Carlson Construction 2010 3D surface modeling software for site and road construction imports PDF and MicroStation files, opens AutoCAD drawings and other file formats. 3D surfaces can be exported to 3D machine control system formats including Carlson, Trimble, Accugrade, Topcon and Leica. http://www.carlsonmachinecontrol.com

LEDAS has the very first software for creating assemblies in McNeel & Assoc's Rhino software. The Rhino Assembly 1.0 plug-in provides an Assembly Manager, a driving dimensions editor, and animation panel. A second plug-in from LEDAS will add history-free 3D geometry editing to Rhino. 30-day eval from http://www.drivingdimensions.com/Rhino

Parallels releases Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac updated for Snow Leopard and Windows 7.  The software allows you to run Windows, Linux and other operating systems side-by-side with Mac OS X on Macintosh computers. Autodesk recently gave official support to this software. No-charge trial from http://www.parallels.com/desktop

GibbsCAM from Gibbs and Associates now works with Celeritive Technologies’ VoluMill software for high-speed rough machining. http://www.GibbsCAM.com 

Rasterex Software releases version R11 of their Rx-brand of viewers for Windows with support for AutoCAD 2010, improved MicroStation DGN reader, new DWF 7.6 reader, integrated MS Visio reader, updated 3D readers and a series of new and improved features and bug fixes. No-charge trial versions from http://www.rasterex.com/Home/Downloads.aspx

Symscape announces its new SymLab RANS Flow add-on for Windows and Linux simulates realistic (viscous) gas and liquid flow with heat transfer using CFD [computational fluid dynamics]. Subscription is $799.99/year. 30-day trials from http://www.symscape.com

JTB World's ACAD_db 1.0 lets AutoCAD automatically update block attribute values with many external databases. Details at http://blog.jtbworld.com/2009/10/acaddb-10-released-sync-block.html

And CCE's ODX/JT CAD Libraries let you read and write native JT format files without licensing JTOpen from Siemens PLM Systems. ODX is short for "Open Data Exchange," and ODX Libraries already support CATIA V4/V5, NX, SolidWorks, Parasolid, IGES, STEP. http://www.cadcam-e.com/developmenttools/cadlibraries.aspx  

- - -

You can now be tweeted about updates to WorldCAD Access by following @ralphg on Twitter. These were some of the news items posted during the last week at the WorldCAD Access blog <worldcadaccess.typepad.com>:

- Tip: Block Collection

- Lovable Analyst Quotes

- Reason to Cheer: ANSYS Q3 Revenues Flat

- Ribbons and Tool Palettes

- SpaceClaim 2009+... Soon

 

Hardware News

3Dconnexion's 3D mice now support CATIA V6R2010. http://www.3Dconnexion.com

People/Companies on the Move

Paul Richard writes, "I have finally gone legit and started an actual business doing the same thing that I have been doing on the side for the last 10 years or so -- AutoCAD consulting (training/customizing/drafting/tech. support). Here's a link to my new Website if you want to check it out:  

http://www.AutoCADCustomServices.com

     "I know it's not such a great time to launch a new business in the middle of the great recession and all, but if you can do your part to stimulate the economy by giving me work, Barak Obama and I would certainly appreciate it."

Right Hemisphere selects Right Connect as its Asia-Pacific distributor for China, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines and Vietnam in addition to managing resellers in Australia and New Zealand.

A survey by MFGWatch find that more than a third of North American manufacturers experienced significant supply chain disruption in the past three months, but that more than 70% plan to maintain or increase employment. http://www.MFG.com

WorthWhile Web

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/copyright_treaty_leaked_trouble_for_isps_and_in.php

"U.S./International Copyright Treaty Leaked, Trouble Ahead for ISPs & Users"

by Jolie O'Dell

http://www.businessinsider.com/sergey-brin-doesnt-understand-how-book-publishing-works-2009-11

"Sergey Brin Doesn't Understand How Book Publishing Works"

by Ken Auletta

http://www.sophos.com/blogs/chetw/g/2009/11/03/windows-7-vulnerable

"Windows 7 vulnerable to 8 out of 10 viruses"

by Chester Wisniewski

Letters to the Editor

Re: upFront.eZine Tour of Russia

    Some backstory relating the foundations of the strong programming skills in Russia:

"Russia's Conquering Zeros: The strength of post-Soviet math stems from decades of lonely productivity"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703740004574513870490836470.html

    - Peter Lawton

Fascinating reports on Russia. I enjoy the color and texture you draw of the largely unknown daily life there.

    - John Brunt

    JSBA ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING

Great write ups from Russia. I was born in Moscow (whole family is from there) and even though I have very little connection with the mother land, I've thoroughly enjoyed each week's account.

   -  Steve Ostrovsky

The editor replies: "Russians could easily tell my by the 'i' that my surname is of Polish origin; if it ended with a 'y,' it would be Russian, like yours."

I seem to recollect that in a recent upFront eZine you made reference to a large number of pirated major MCAD programs turning up in Russia towards the end of the Cold War, seemingly with the cooperation of the CIA, and you wondered why the CIA would be involved. Consider these historical items:

    1. During the development of the Concorde, there was a race against the Soviets to see who could get their supersonic transport flying first. The Soviets won, but the prototype crashed on its way to its debut at the Paris air show. They shut their program down. Later it turned out that the British had became aware of the fact that a spy had been stealing their plans and sending them to the Soviets. Instead of arresting him they simply let him steal some altered drawings...

    2. Everyone has seen the news footage of the start of the first Gulf War, with all the Iraqi searchlights and ant-aircraft guns swinging about wildly, unable to lock onto their targets. It seems the Iraqis had recently taken delivery of a state-of-the-art computer printer that was on the embargo list. They had beaten the embargo by passing it through several countries until the paper trail got too complex to follow, unaware of the fact that the CIA had allowed it to pass through, because they had planted a virus in the operating system software...

    3. Several thousand years ago, the Greeks built a big wooden horse...

    - Bill Fane

If they told you [about the CIA's actions], they might have to shoot you. Just kidding.

    - Lee Teschler

Re: Dassault's Purchase of IBM PLM

    I think the decision to "acquire" IBM's PLM business was really driven by IBM's desire to get rid of it, not because it is a great opportunity and positive step for Dassault and its customers.

    An advantage for us is that our sales are more "consumer-oriented" and a significant portion of our customers are buying for their own use, using their own money. Many of them are professional engineers that use another CAD system at work that is unaffordable to them for personal or work at home use. Companies have also become much more frugal and willing to look at alternatives to $5K per seat CAD software.

    - Paul Grayson

    Alibre

Re: Ashlar-Vellum

    [Ashlar-Vellum includes] Non photo-realistic sketch rendering. When was the last time you read the words 'Non photo-realistic' in any CAD press release? I'd be interested to see what non photo-realistic looks like or is it marketing speak for a hand drawn effect?

    -  Steve Ostrovsky

The editor replies: Strange, isn't it, that there is such a push for photorealism that renderings looking hand-made are popular.

Re: Mice

    In response to the gentleman requesting a good three button mouse: I and many associates are using a Logitech mouse that has the thumb buttons with one and/or both of the these buttons programmed as middle click. I did this because I was having trouble pushing the middle button with either my index or middle finger. I have never looked back. 

    - Charlie Carlson

I found Contour Design's Perfit Mouse (optical usb) to be the best mouse for the $.  It's ergonomic, and I've been using them for over 15 years now. It was the cause of healing my carpal tunnel. The only problem these days is w/the driver on xp64. http://ergo.contourdesign.com/products/product-detail.aspx?id=36

    -Chris Huminski

    I have found that the Logitech 'notebook' mice such as the V320 work well on most surfaces, come with USB receiver, and are not too expensive. (Only drawback is they are not as big as my 1990s old favorite handrest that deceased five years ago.)  But not too bad. And, oh yah -- the receiver docks in mouse so after rearranging or moving, if we can find the mouse we've got the whole package.

    When are you going to write a great book on Revit?  We need your 'under the hood' help with this complex racehorse.

    - John Brunt

The editor replies: Sorry, I have no clue about Revit. In any case, I am swamped with custom book writing work for small CAD vendors, for which I am grateful in this recessionary time.

    As for the mouse, I know what you mean about them being too small these days. I currently use a-- well, I can't tell you, because Logitech inexplicably doesn't label its mice with model numbers. But it is one of their largest ones. I wish it were wider, though, like my first Logitech mouse, one of those rectangular ones from the late 1980s.

Spin Doctor of the Moment

"Plan for a comfortable retirement with Canada Savings Bonds [paying 0.4%] purchased through the Payroll Savings Program. The earlier you start saving, the more secure your future will be. A contribution of just $50 per bi-weekly pay can help you enjoy a worry-free retirement.”

    - Canadian federal government advertisement for term deposits.

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/home-cents/why-buy-canada-savings-bonds/article1340483/

Notable Quotable

"Just woke up and found myself in a cubicle with autocad and excel open. I'm working on something, but what is it?"

    - Lanvis on Twitter

    http://twitter.com/Lanvis/statuses/1773658623

Thank You to Our Subscribers & Donators

These great people support upFront.eZine through their contributions of $25 (or more). Thank you, guys!

- John L Loudermilk Jr

- IP Voice

- Phillip Rutledge: "Thank you for all you do. Keep up the good work."

Entire contents copyright ©2009 by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. All rights reserved worldwide. Letters sent to the editor are subject to publication. Article reprint fee: $250 and up. All trademarks belong to their respective holders. "upFront.eZine," "The Business of CAD," and "On your desktop every Tuesday morning" are trademarks of upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. Letters to the editor may be edited for clarity and brevity. Translations and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd.

Through PayPal, consider donating $25 in support of upFront.eZine.

Write the editor. Make him smile!   |     We're trendy. We have a Weblog. Read WorldCAD Access.

In This Issue

1. The upFront.eZine Tour of Russia)

      Part VIII: LEDAS Group, Ltd.  (last week)

      Part IX: LEDAS and isicad

         - LEDAS Software

        - History of isicad

        -How LEDAS Direct Modeling Differs from Competitors

        -PLM Services

2. Out of the Inbox, and our other regular columns

3. Letters to the Editor

The upFront.eZine Tour of Russia

Part IX: LEDAS and isiscad

Location: Akademgorodok, Russia

Date stamp: Sat 12 Sep 2009 11:17:09 AM BDST

LEDAS Software

The LEDAS Group offers a remarkable collection of software, because of the competence its employees in working with discrete mathematics, numerical analysis, constraint satisfaction, computational geometry, scheduling algorithms, and math-oriented software. I thought I'd describe some of it for you in greater detail.

The firm offers two versions of its LEDAS Geometric Solver, one for 2D and one for 3D. Both create and modify 2D geometry, connect the geometry with dimensional and geometric constraints, and solves all given constraints simultaneously. Both perform static and dynamic constraint solving, and diagnostics of overdefined constraints. Both have an API with nearly a hundred C-style functions, work with wrappers (.Net, Java, C++, etc), and have an integration wizard for use with ACIS, Parasolid, Granite, OpenCascade, and so on. LGS 2D and 3D runs on AIX, FreeBSD, Linux, OS X, and Windows.

LEDAS also offers these software modules for variational modeling (for history-free constrained geometry):

    - LEDAS Mechanical Simulation Engine models the motion of rigid bodies according to the laws of physics, including gravity, springs, constraints, and external forces.

    - LEDAS Collision Detection quickly detects collisions between large numbers of bodies through the use of bounding volumes.

    - LEDAS Geometric Measurement computes the minimum-volume bounding boxes of 3D bodies.

In addition, the firm offers software that does not deal with geometry:

    - LEDAS Math Solver satisfies and optimizes constraints using equations and inequalities. Its key advantage is its interval analysis capability.

    - LEDAS Scheduler is an API for extending software like Microsoft Project. It optimizes arbitrary criteria, resolves resource conflicts automatically, and supports incomplete data.

How LEDAS Direct Modeling Differs from Competitors

When you select a boundary element, LEDAS' direct modeling technology uses Smart Selection to also select all coincident planes, coaxial cylinders and circles automatically. All  selected elements are considered together. LEDAS tells me that SpaceClaim implemented a similar form of selection, but it looses design intent expressed with geometric and dimensional constraints. Solid Edge's synchtech remembers design intent, but their technology cannot be licensed by others.

For this reason, LEDAS created its own version, called Variational Direct Modeling, to compete with the unavailable Synchronous Technology. VDM supports direct editing of history-free modeling while keeping design intent. It does this through B-rep [boundary representation] constraint recognition, constraint solving, and local updates of B-rep geometry.

Constraints are obtained from B-rep topology (vertex-edge and edge-face coincidences), B-rep geometry and explicit design features (parallel, perpendicular, tangent, concentric, coaxial, equal radius, equal distance, and symmetry), and user-defined constraints (geometric, dimensional, and equations).

CAD vendors who implement VDM can implement intelligent object drawing and intelligent parametric modification of driving dimensions. LEDAS plans to release a beta of VDM for Rhino in December. In mid-2010 LEDAS plans to have VDM available for general licensing. More information on VDM here: http://www.ledas.com/pdf/VariationalDirectModeling.pdf .

History of isicad

While LEDAS satisfied David Levin's need to run an independent programming house, he also wanted a way to express the social side of the CAD industry. To that end, he launched the "isicad" forums in 2004, originally as a scientific forum, but then transformed into a multi-vendor forum, almost like a congress.

The isicad name is meant to sound like "easy CAD". (The Russian "i" is pronounced as a long "e." While in Russia, I was finally around others who also pronounce "Linux" as "Lee-nix.") There are, unfortunately, numerous other isicads in the world.

The forum had 400 participants, and produced 10 research papers. The proceedings were published in book form in two parts: scientific publications, and summaries of business and technology presentations. They were reproduced in shortened form in "International Journal of PLM." The forum was successful enough to be repeated in 2006 and 2008, with Autodesk as its major sponsor.

Isicad also publishes books and a monthly digital magazine named "isicad.ru," monthly in Russian and quarterly in English; see http://www.isicad.net. (Books matter in Russia; it seemed to me that every commercial street had a bookstore tucked in somewhere, usually below street level, filled with young people rummaging through new and old volumes.)

At first, the Web site was meant to document the first forum, but over the years it transformed into the isicad portal with daily updates on CAD, PLM, and ERP in Russian. This was followed by http://plmpedia.org/wiki/PLMpedia wiki in Russian and English, which can be edited by anyone who registers. "The English version is much more brief than the Russian one," David Levin noted wryly.

PLM Services

Vladimir Malukh is director of yet another division of the LEDAS group, PLM Services. He gave me an overview of its services, which until recently was the only organization in Russia to provide CATIA customization and CAA training.

From this, PLM Services have expanded into other areas: MCAD and AEC consulting, staff and upper management training, support of research and university teaching, publishing, legal aid services.

This last item caught my attention. As I reported earlier, the Russian government is forcing firms to purchase legal licenses of software, with the result that many firms are prosecuted by police -- sometimes over-zealously, such as the recent case of the high school principal. (He was accused of running pirated software on school computer; after a year in the legal system, he was found not guilty after the judge determined it computer store had installed software illegally.) In cases similar to these, PLM Systems helps with a legal defence fund for the over-prosecuted.

http://www.ledas.com

[This article marks the end of the upFront.eZine newsletter's series on Russian MCAD software firms.]

[Disclosure: Some of the firms mentioned in the "The upFront.eZine Tour of Russia" provided assistance with the airfare, accommodation, ground transportation, and meals.]

Anark Core 3.0

Scott Collins last week gave me a guided tour of the new features in Anark Core 3.0, and he did it in reverse. First, he show me the result of Core's output, and then he showed me how Core does it.

The Anark Core software produces 3D interactive technical documentation. In that way it is not different from several competitors. It does, however, differ in two areas: reducing details and recording recipes. There are two versions: desktop and server. You use the desktop software to combine data from various sources, modify the data (such as color it or add attributes or stepped instructions), and then generate the output.

All of your steps are recorded as "recipes," which you can reuse on similar data. Or you can feed it to the server, set up a schedule, and then have the server automatically collate the data and spit out the reports.

The software reads all kinds of data: CAD drawings, PDM [product data management], ERP [enterprise resource planning], customer data, and so on. It maintains links to the sources so that when they change, Core's output changes. It can generate animated assembly and repair instructions, manufacturing BOMs [bills of material]. One example is that manufacturing companies can now open their data to self-help customers looking for parts.

The big deal about version 3.0 is its integration with 3D PDF. Indeed, the server version includes Adobe's LiveCycle server, and the client version includes Acrobat Pro Extended. As Mr Collins noted, the PDF files don't need to be 3D. Nevertheless, a single document is able to encompass individual spreadsheets CAD drawings, and so on; digital signatures means the end of paper being faxed or couriered.

Another new feature is the ability to import data from any PDM connector (including TeamCenter, WindChill, and Enovia) and from any data source using customizable SQL-like connectors.

While Anark's primary customer base is the aerospace industry, but now they are finding that furniture makers and household electronic firms are interested in Core's capabilities in removing manual processes.

Version 3.0 ships this week. Workstation software is priced from $4,400 to $10K per seat, while the Server software ranges from $5,500 to $10K per user.

www.anark.com/core

Ads: CAD Services

Out of the Inbox

Ash

Carlson Construction 2010 3D surface modeling software for site and road construction imports PDF and MicroStation files, opens AutoCAD drawings and other file formats. 3D surfaces can be exported to 3D machine control system formats including Carlson, Trimble, Accugrade, Topcon and Leica. http://www.carlsonmachinecontrol.com

LEDAS has the very first software for creating assemblies in McNeel & Assoc's Rhino software. The Rhino Assembly 1.0 plug-in provides an Assembly Manager, a driving dimensions editor, and animation panel. A second plug-in from LEDAS will add history-free 3D geometry editing to Rhino. 30-day eval from http://www.drivingdimensions.com/Rhino

GibbsCAM from Gibbs and Associates now works with Celeritive Technologies’ VoluMillTM software for high-speed rough machining. http://www.GibbsCAM.com 

- - -

These were some of the news items posted during the last week at the WorldCAD Access blog <worldcadaccess.typepad.com>:

- Tip: Block Collection

- Lovable Analyst Quotes

- Reason to Cheer: ANSYS Q3 Revenues Flat

- Ribbons and Tool Palettes

- SpaceClaim 2009+... Soon

Hardware News

All of 3Dcon

People/Companies on the Move

New Books/eBooks

"Vector

WorthWhile Web

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/copyright_treaty_leaked_trouble_for_isps_and_in.php

"U.S./International Copyright Treaty Leaked, Trouble Ahead for ISPs & Users"

by Jolie O'Dell

http://www.businessinsider.com/sergey-brin-doesnt-understand-how-book-publishing-works-2009-11

"Sergey Brin Doesn't Understand How Book Publishing Works"

by Ken Auletta

http://www.sophos.com/blogs/chetw/g/2009/11/03/windows-7-vulnerable

"Windows 7 vulnerable to 8 out of 10 viruses"

by Chester Wisniewski

Letters to the Editor

Re: upFront.eZine Tour of Russia

    Some backstory relating the the foundations of the strong programming skills in Russia:

"Russia's Conquering Zeros: The strength of post-Soviet math stems from decades of lonely productivity"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703740004574513870490836470.html

    - Peter Lawton

Fascinating reports on Russia. I enjoy the color and texture you draw of the largely unknown daily life there.

    - John Brunt

    JSBA ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING

Great write ups from Russia. I was born in Moscow (whole family is from there) and even though I have very little connection with the mother land, I've thoroughly enjoyed each week's account.

    -  Steve Ostrovsky

I seem to recollect that in a recent upFront eZine you made reference to a large number of pirated major MCAD programs turning up in Russia towards the end of the Cold War, seemingly with the cooperation of the CIA, and you wondered why the CIA would be involved. Consider these historical items:

    1. During the development of the Concorde, there was a race against the Soviets to see who could get their supersonic transport flying first. The Soviets won, but the prototype crashed on its way to its debut at the Paris air show. They shut their program down. Later it turned out that the British had became aware of the fact that a spy had been stealing their plans and sending them to the Soviets. Instead of arresting him they simply let him steal some altered drawings...

    2. Everyone has seen the news footage of the start of the first Gulf War, with all the Iraqi searchlights and ant-aircraft guns swinging about wildly, unable to lock onto their targets. It seems the Iraqis had recently taken delivery of a state-of-the-art computer printer that was on the embargo list. They had beaten the embargo by passing it through several countries until the paper trail got too complex to follow, unaware of the fact that the CIA had allowed it to pass through, because they had planted a virus in the operating system software...

    3. Several thousand years ago, the Greeks built a big wooden horse...

    - Bill Fane

If they told you [about the CIA's actions], they might have to shoot you. Just kidding.

    - Lee Teschler

Re: Dassault's Purchase of IBM PLM

    I think the decision to "acquire" IBM's PLM business was really driven by IBM's desire to get rid of it, not because it is a great opportunity and positive step for Dassault and its customers.

    An advantage for us is that our sales are more "consumer-oriented" and a significant portion of our customers are buying for their own use, using their own money. Many of them are professional engineers that use another CAD system at work that is unaffordable to them for personal or work at home use. Companies have also become much more frugal and willing to look at alternatives to $5K per seat CAD software.

    - Paul Grayson

    Alibre

Re: Ashlar-Vellum

    [Ashlar-Vellum includes] Non photo-realistic sketch rendering. When was the last time you read the words 'Non photo-realistic' in any CAD press release? I'd be interested to see what non photo-realistic looks like or is it marketing speak for a hand drawn effect?

    -  Steve Ostrovsky

The editor replies: Strange, isn't it, that there is such a push for photorealism that renderings looking hand-made are popular.

Re: Mice

    In response to the gentleman requesting a good three button mouse: I and many associates are using a Logitech mouse that has the thumb buttons with one and/or both of the these buttons programmed as middle click. I did this because because I was having trouble pushing the middle button with either my index or middle finger. I have never looked back. 

    - Charlie Carlson

I found Contour Design's Perfit Mouse (optical usb) to be the best mouse for the $.  It's ergonomic, and I've been using them for over 15 years now. It was the cause of healing my carpal tunnel. The only problem these days is w/the driver on xp64. http://ergo.contourdesign.com/products/product-detail.aspx?id=36

    -Chris Huminski

    I have found that the Logitech 'notebook' mice such as the V320 work well on most surfaces, come with USB receiver, and are not too expensive. (Only drawback is they are not as big as my 1990s old favorite handrest that deceased five years ago.)  But not too bad. And, oh yah -- the receiver docks in mouse so after rearranging or moving, if we can find the mouse we've got the whole package.

    When are you going to write a great book on Revit?  We need your 'under the hood' help with this complex racehorse.

    - John Brunt

The editor replies: Sorry, I have no clue about Revit. In any case, I am swamped with custom book writing work for small CAD vendors, for which I am grateful in this recessionary time.

    As for the mouse, I know what you mean about them being too small these days. I currently use a-- well, I can't tell you, because Logitech inexplicably doesn't label its mice with model numbers. But it is one of their largest ones. I wish it were wider, though, like my first Logitech mouse, one of those rectangular ones from the late 1980s.

Spin Doctor of the Moment

"Plan for a comfortable retirement with Canada Savings Bonds [paying 0.4%] purchased through the Payroll Savings Program. The earlier you start saving, the more secure your future will be. A contribution of just $50 per bi-weekly pay can help you enjoy a worry-free retirement.”

    - Canadian fedeal government advertisement for term deposits.

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/home-cents/why-buy-canada-savings-bonds/article1340483/

Notable Quotable

"Just woke up and found myself in a cubicle with autocad and excel open. I'm working on something, but what is it?"

    - Lanvis on Twitter

    http://twitter.com/Lanvis/statuses/1773658623

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