u p F r o n t . e Z i n e

the business of cad, enlightened 

 

Issue #623 |  November 17, 2009  |  English Edition

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Write the editor. Make him smile!   |    Through PayPal, consider donating $25 in support of upFront.eZine.

 

In This Issue

1. solidThinking Release 8.0

        - Morphogenesis

        - Real-time Rendering

 

2. SpaceClaim Previews 2009+

       -Multitouch Comes to CAD

       -New Features in 2009+

 

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

 

4. Letters to the Editor

 

solidThinking Release 8.0

    - Morphogenesis

    - Real-time Rendering

 

solidThinking is a surface and solid modeler beloved of industrial designers and stylers. I like their tag line, "Where ideas take shape." The two important new features are real-time rendering and morphogenesis. But the addition of morphogenesis means that the company for the first time offers two software products:

    - solidThinking ($4,995) adds new real-time rendering, plus improvements to the existing drawing, modeling, rendering, and animation.

    - solidThinking Inspired ($6,495) combines all solidThinking with morphogenesis (for this release).

 

The software runs native on Mac and PC; you can transfer the license between computers running the two operating systems. Both programs are shipping now.

 

Morphogenesis

"We believe nature is the master inspiration for product designer," began vp of product strategy and marketing Alex Mazzardo. This new software combines computational inspiration with human thinking to meet the demand for new kinds of styling. It is meant for those designers who are looking for a different look, one based on mimicry of the laws of natural processes, specifically cellular development in bones. Indeed, solidThinking got the technology from its parent company, Altair, its research into artificial limbs.

 

As application specialist Darren Chilton began the demo, he emphasized that morphogenesis (from the Greek for "shape" and "creation") can run on any laptop -- no super computer needed.

The process works like this. (For step-by-step images of the process, see "Bone-based Architectural Design from solidThinking" at http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/blog/2009/11/bonebased-architectural-design.html.

Figure 1: Inspired's entire toolbar.

 

Figure 2: This composite image shows (1) the original solid model with force vectors in red, (2) the chubby result of morphogenesis, and (3) the scrawny one.

"What about other forms of nature, such as leaves, ferns, and skin?" I asked. I could see the bone-inspired look becoming passe as designers look for The New. Many things in nature grow similarly to bones at the micro level, Mr Chilton replied, but the company is looking at other possibilities.

 

Real-time Rendering

Mr Mazzardo then went on to show off the improvements to rendering in solidThinking. The first improvement is progressive rendering, where you get to see the entire rendering at once, albeit blurry. (Progressively, the image sharpens over time.) The rapid initial view lets you see the rendering before it is finalized, in case you made an error in the render setup.

 

The new selective re-rendering allows you to re-render just a portion of the model; the remainder of the rendering remains. It's like doing a windowed rendering of a render.

 

While the new-to-solidThinking real-time rendering is not new to the industry, it is different by being integrated into the program, so that there is no need to transfer files to an external program. Mr Mazzardo was particularly pleased of the advantage the no-added-cost built-in realtime rendering gives his product over presentation- and visualization-only products, such as Autodesk's Showcase.

 

Mr Chilton stuck some lights in arbitrary positions in the scene, did the realtime render, and then moved the lights to better positions and changed some other parameters, such as materials and colors. As he made the changes one by one, the rendering updated instantly at the same time -- again running on just a Macintosh laptop. However, geometry changes are not reflected in the realtime updates.

 

I could see that this approach is much better than previewing rendering effects on the simple sphere or cube traditionally used . I asked where the technology came from: solidThinking uses Light rendering plus some proprietary programming. "It depends on how the software company implements the third-party rendering technology," explained Mr Mazzardo.

 

For most other programs, rendering is the final step; for solidThinking, rendering is integral to the design process. "Just adding realtime rendering" isn't as useful as integrating it into the design phase, he concluded.

 

http://www.solidthinking.com

 

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[623-4]

 

SpaceClaim Previews 2009+

    -Multitouch Comes to CAD

    -New Features in 2009+

 

Once co-founder Blake Courter solved the VoIP problem at his end, he quickly expressed his company's more focused targeting to me: "We are not servicing CAD users; we are servicing engineers," he declared, dismissing the big four MCAD vendors as good for detailed design, but otherwise being off the critical path.

 

Instead, the company targets people who prepare models for analysis, explore concepts before getting the model into CAD, and want to have an idea of the costs before bidding for contracts.

 

"No one" has been talking about direct modeling until SpaceClaim was first released in 2007. Companies like Kubotek USA, CoCreate, and IronCAD couldn't get most users to take them seriously. For whatever reason, SpaceClaim triggered the big four to add direct modeling. (Perhaps it was simply the need for something new in the features war.)

 

Mr Courter wouldn't give me a seat count, but says that about half their market now is simulation. The sector certainly got a boost when Ansys began selling SpaceClaim in September. (The two work together through a bi-directional link.)

 

Multitouch Comes to CAD

After spending an intensive week with multitouch last summer, Mr Courter found that it does not replace the mouse, but that multitouch is good at making modeling easier. He feels strongly that it will makes 3D more approachable for some people.

 

For example, he can move the model in SpaceClaim at the same time as stretching it. He uses the hand and mouse together, such as using a finger to select icons from the ribbon, while moving the mouse to selects small areas of the model. He finds he is now able to hit buttons on the ribbon with his fingers without needing to necessarily look, as one must when using a mouse.

 

(Multitouch is native to Windows 7, but requires a computer screen that supports the technology. Unfortunately hardware vendors are concentrating on selling multitouch on lower-end consumer models right now, but high end machines suitable for CAD should be available in January, he predicts.)

 

He proceeded to show me how twirling two fingers does for 2D rotation, and three does 3D rotation. Multi-touch view rotation and gesture support provide straightforward access to commands that would normally be hidden behind toggle-keys and shortcuts.  But it's not just pinch (zoom), drag (pan), and twirl. Like the TabletPC before it, Windows 7 allows the fingers to work like the mouse, accessing menu items (which seem to have become taboo recently), toolbar icons (oops, I mean Ribbon elements), and objects in drawings.

 

SpaceClaim introduces three kinds of object selection new to CAD; it'll be interesting to see how quickly the Big Four mimic the actions of the small company (See figure 1):

    - Four-finger select creates a box (or selection window) to select an edge or face; Mr Courter told me it is more interactive than using the mouse and then picking two points.

    - Lasso select draws a freehand curve around the objects to selected.

    - Paint-style select where the finger "paints" over (brushes over) the objects to select

 

Figure 2:  Wheel interface for choosing the selection type.

 

While lasso and paint select can be done with a mouse, the four-finger box selection cannot. In summary, there are two classes of touching, which I would hold to be true for any CAD package:

    1. Direct touching, where the gestures perform undo, redo, delete, pull, stretch, and selection directly, without first invoking a command.

    2. Indirect touching, where you select first a command from the ribbon, and then use your fingers as a replacement for the mouse.

 

Clearly, promoting multitouch is a marketing move designed to get attention, what with SpaceClaim being the first 3D modeler with it. After seeing Mr Courter demonstrate it to me, I now feel that perhaps multitouch won't be the next technology to be as unsuccessful as speech input.

 

New Features in 2009+

Despite the multitouch hoopla, it'll probably be the other improvements that are of greater interest to designers.

 

Mr Courter showed me the new tools for fixing imported 3D models, including working with overlapping rounds. (See figure 2 below). When removing rounds, SpaceClaim automatically adds endcaps to keep the model watertight. Bodies can be locked to prevent them from being modified. Sketching is now possible in 3D through the imprinting of curves on faces.

 

Figure 2: Working with overlapping rounds in SpaceClaim

 

He demo'd the new ability to now do structural design through conceptual beam elements. SpaceClaim converts imported beams (with width and I-profiles) to conceptual beams that are just connected lines to create an abstract engineering concept. The  model is then exported to Ansys for analysis. Mr Courter knows its a bit of a reach, but he's hoping that one day we will be able to be able to push on a model, and have it push back.

 

In these recessionary times, SpaceClaim finds manufacturers receptive to being able to analyze more models in less time. He hasn't seen this sort of pent up demand since 2D design came along in the 1980s. Perhaps the key to 3D is that it must be interactive; after all, 2D CAD was merely a semi-automated upgrade to manual drafting, and so far 3D CAD software has largely been based on the 2D drafting metaphor.

 

SpaceClaim 2009+ ships on Nov 17; the "+" in the "2009+" name is the company's now- conventional name for the second release of the year.

http://www.spaceclaim.com  

 

 

Out of the Inbox

SolidACE launches the first commercial release of BuiltWorks structural design software suitable for SolidWorks environment. Structural members can be parts or assemblies, and can be analysed with STAAD.Pro. http://www.solidace.com

 

Threedify offer "3Dify" engineering software:

http://www.threedify.com

 

ASCON Group releases the new KOMPAS-3D V11 today. http://www.ascon.net

 

JTB's SmartPurger 3.0 for AutoCAD makes drawings smaller, and now has 64-bit support. No-charge version batches three drawings at a time. http://blog.jtbworld.com/2009/11/smartpurger-30-for-autocad-scripting.html

     In related news, Automation Tools 3.0 finds and replaces attribute values on multiple drawings in AutoCAD 2010 and Bricscad 10. http://blog.jtbworld.com/2009/11/autocad-automation-tools-30-released.html

 

Aftercad Software's Renderjam.com 3D collaboration service is optimized for Google SketchUp. "As the next step in our Aftercad 3D Live market rollout, we have embraced Google SketchUp users as the heir apparent in 3D CAD work on the web," says ceo Chris Boothroyd.  http://www.aftercad.com

 

Sescoi releases Version 3 of its custom manufacturing software, WorkPLAN Enterprise (for enterprise resource planning) and MyWorkPLAN for job management. http://www.sescoi.com

 

Open Design Alliance releases the DWG 2010-compatible version of DWGdirect. Version 3.2 supports overruling and subdivision mesh surfaces, ADT 2010 objects, and .NET and ActiveX. The organization has reduced release time down to eight months. http://www.opendesign.com

     In related news, ODA finally releases DGNdirect as a platform with support for V7 and V8 files, conversion of V7 to V8 files, and save as V8, PDF, and SVG formats.

 

AeroTURN Pro 3.0 does a better job of designing gate and airside facility plans. Works with AutoCAD 2010 and MicroStation V8i. http://www.transoftsolutions.com

 

ModuleWorks improves automated 3-5 axis (tilt) toolpath conversion with new smoothing methods in the recent 2009.9 release of its namesake software. http://www.ModuleWorks.com

 

And Schott Systeme's Pictures by PC 3.4 CAD/CAM moldtool design and machining process software does a better job importing STEP and 3D IGES Solid files. A new range of advanced surfacing functions and more advanced ‘Healing’ suite are included. http://www.schott-systeme.com

- - -

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

Hardware News

TEC unveils two rapid-prototype machines in the USA: the RapManUSA 3D printer for $1,500 and the RapMapPro "tabletop prototype factory" for $3,595. http://www.RapManUSA.com

 

Solido3D will soon launch at new 3D printer. http://www.marketouch.co.il

 

People/Companies on the Move

Mecanica embeds Right Hemisphere’s 2D and 3D visualization technology into its PLM360 software. http://www.PLM360.com

 

Canon buys Oce for about a billion dollars.

 

WorthWhile Web

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704328104574520112839377366.html

"It Just Isn't Working? Some File for Customer Divorce"

By Raymund Flandex

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/13/ventblockers/

"Dirty, dirty PCs: The X-rated picture guide: Horror beyond human imagination"

by Lester Haines

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-boeing-787-dreamliner-glitch-nov13,0,2113557.story

"New glitch reported in Dreamliner"

by Julie Johnsson

 

Letters to the Editor

Re: upFront.eZine Tour of Russia

Really enjoying your coverage of the isicad trip!

    - Brad Holtz

    Cyon Research

 

Re: Spin Doctor of the Moment

Ooo, 0.4% [interest on government bonds]. Be still my beating heart ;)

    - Scott Taylor

    Tailor-Made Software

 

The editor replies: "And then subtract the 2% inflation rate. Canada Savings Bonds used to be the best worry-free investment for Canadians, but now they are a joke."

 

Re: Back Issues

Is there a way to search back issues by topic rather than having to read each back issue one by one?

    - Paul Jakab

 

The editor replies: "Yes, use the Google search gadget that can be found at http://www.upfrontezine.com."

 

Re: The Perfect Mouse

I saw in the latest newsletter where you had commented on this and people had made suggestions.  Well I surfed again and found this dealer in town [with ergonomic mice].  I first tried the Evoluent Mouse, but after using that for a little bit I started to feel some pain in my shoulder.  

     I went back and they have a Contour Perfit Mouse Optical.  It is like the 3-button Logitech sort of.  It has a wheel on the side for the thumb up high and a wheel look alike below the thumb that allows a forwards and back.  Cool thing about this is the come in different sizes.  I ended up with a small and it seems pretty darned good. I think one of the readers in your newsletter mentioned this mouse. I think I will be able to live with this one.  

     I forget the commercial from years ago but “Try it, you’ll like it” should hold true. Thanks a whole bunch for reawakening my interest in a proper 3-button mouse.

    -  Jack Foster.     

 

Re: CAD Productivity

I read your "AutoCAD 2010 Reduces Work Week to 3.3 Hrs" blog post in Google Reader and noticed the add below saying “Register now for free CAD drawings”. Maybe that is the solution to productivity.

    - Jimmy Bergmark

    JTB World

 

The editor replies: "The ad reads, 'TENTE. Register now for free CAD drawings'."

 

Re: AutoCAD or MicroStation?

 After having learnt CAD 10 years ago in an office I'm now looking to but either AutoCAD or MicroStation Powerdraft for my own use as an architect coming back in to the profession. What's the verdict on which system is better. MicroStation still seems to be able to do some things that you have to do a long way round with AutoCAD?

    - Info, England

 

The editor replies: "Bentley switched to specializing in plants and civil engineering, and so they have essentially abandoned the architecture and mechanical fields. In contrast, Autodesk has two programs for architecture:

    - AutoCAD Architecture (renamed from Architectural Desktop) is suitable for those who already know AutoCAD and prefer traditional style of drafting.

    - Revit is suitable for  those who design buildings with parametrics."

 

Spin Doctor of the Moment

"Save the Children estimates that 250,000 children could be killed by climate change next year."

    - Benedict Dempsey, humanitarian policy office, Save the Children

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6905356.ece

 

Notable Quotable

"When in doubt, multiply the evidence by 10,000."

    - John Ozimek, The Register

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/11/2012_prostitute_invasion/

 

Thank You to Our Subscribers & Donators

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Contact!

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Editor: Ralph Grabowski. This newsletter is read by over eight thousand subscribers in 70 countries.
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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.

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u p F r o n t . e Z i n e

the business of cad, enlightened 

 

Issue #622 |  November 10, 2009  |  English Edition

<  Previous Issue | Next Issue >

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  selectedd 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

 

 

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[622]

== High Fidelity 3D MCAD/DCC Conversion/Viewing/Rendering ==

             For 21 years Okino has provided mission-critical 3D conversion software used extensively by tens of thousands of professionals. We convert between all major CAD, DCC & VisSim formats with full fidelity. Email Robert Lansdale (lansd@okino.com) to discuss your exacting requirements. Popular requests for 2009:

Sketch-Up, 3ds Max, Maya, XSI, DWF-3D, Inventor, Pro/E, SolidWorks, CATIA, BREP solids (IGES/STEP/Parasolid), 3D PDF/U3D, JT & Collada.

                 We know data translation and provide immaculate developer-to-customer relations. http://www.okino.com

 

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>:

Hardware News

All of 3Dcon

 

People/Companies on the Move

San Ramon, CA — November 4, 2009 — Right Hemisphere®, the standard for Visual Enterprise solutions, today announced Right Connect as its Asia-Pacific distribution partner for its Deep Exploration™ software.  Right Connect will recruit new computer-aided design (CAD) software resellers in China, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines and Vietnam in addition to managing resellers in Australia and New Zealand.

 

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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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.