upFront.eZine
t h e b u s i n e s s o f c a d
Issue #719 | January 24, 2012
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In This Issue
2. KeyCreator Compare
- Q&A
3. Out of the Inbox, and other regular columns.
New Webzine Launched
First off, I have to admit that the new webzine is, in fact, not new. It's CADdigest and it is run by Tenlinks.com. The site has hosted reprints of articles about CAD, CAM, and CAE from many sources for nearly a decade, including many from upFront.eZine and WorldCAD Access.
Before Christmas last year, however, publisher Roopinder Tara thought about a new tact: how about paying people to write original material for CADdigest? One thing lead to another, and I ended up as the new managing editor of a new webzine that isn't new.
Mr Tara is taking an interesting approach that I haven't seen before in my 25 years in the technical publishing industry. It's to gather a group of top-notch CAD experts virtually, and then get several of them to write about the same subject from different angles.
For instance, the very first software to get the multi-facet treatment is Kubotek's KeyCreator Compare. First, I interviewed Kubotek vp of sales Matt Carr and senior application engineer Andy Beaupre, and then wrote it up. (See the next piece in this newsletter.) Next, John Evans wrote a 2,000-word review of the software, describing the good and the bad. Then, Matt Lombard is scheduled to deliver his comparison of importing tools to me next week.
And on it goes. This approach provides greater depth than the typical one-article review or interview. Mr Tara hopes to shine the spotlight on lessor-known products, in particular.
So, Mr Tara is the man who signs the cheques and comes up with the overall plan. I make sure the writers deliver on time and then I edit their words to perfection. And most importantly, we already have a stable of well-known writers who are looking forward to being part of this new endeavour.
My biggest beef right now is that you can't easily tell which articles on CADdigest are part of this new packaged approach, and I've been bugging Mr Tara to do something about it! http://www.caddigest.com
Insider tip: we have next planned a five- or six-article treatment of Solid Edge.
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KeyCreator Compare
Kubotek is known for its KeyCreator direct modeling MCAD software, but another side is less visible: software that inspects and validates CAD models, especially those translated from other formats.
This side of the business came about when Boeing wanted to allow subcontractors to use their own CAD systems, but needed some way to certify that the models translated correctly to CATIA, the system Boeing uses. Kubotek developed the model validation software, and then expanded its abilities to check the accuracy of assemblies, references, dimensions, PMI, annotations, BOMs, and even the math types used by translators. Kubotek has now developed a Comparison Suite, targeted at two main applications: Comparison and documentation of changes occurring in translated data for quality system compliance and comparison and documentation of design changes. Basically, the Comparison Suite of products handles not only the validation, but also documenting design changes, including the set-up of custom templates to automate batches of change reports.
Figure 1: Kubotek Compare highlights differences between versions of geometry
Kubotek's Comparison suite consists of ECO Manger, Validation Tool and now the Compare add-on. While ECO and Validation Tool are meant for larger enterprise or tier level suppliers and are priced accordingly. (Comparison Suite products range from about $2K - $9K for the "add-on" versions to KeyCreator, and $3K-$11K for the stand-alone products.) However, the new Compare add-on may be a good entry point for those wishing to spend a lot less and who can use this technology with KeyCreator's CAD system. Compare performs basic geometry and assembly comparisons, looking for differences between two files. The differences are reported using colors, "is-was" values displayed by tooltips, and a detailed history tree. There is no formal report generation; it is strictly visual. Kubotek suggests the software can be used by designers to self-check design changes during a design session--designers can see a history of the changes they've made as the model develops.
Q&A
In a recent interview, Kubotek VP of Sales Matt Carr explained to me his company's intent regarding KeyCreator Compare.
Q: Is KeyCreator Compare a stripped down version of KeyCreator?
A: It is a stripped-down version of our high-end ECO [engineering change order] Manager product. Compare is not standalone, like ECO Manager, but runs inside of KeyCreator. It requires an additional license beyond what is needed with KeyCreator.
Senior Application Engineer Andy Beaupre added that other CAD systems typically perform comparisons only on their own file formats, and simply don't have the breadth of support for the many file formats handled by Compare.
Q: It seems to me that KeyCreator Compare would be useful on its own. Why is it not available as a stand-alone?
A: It could be standalone, but that is not a direction we are going right now. It is married to the direct modeler. The validation process is not allowed to change the data; only on the design side can you make changes. Hence, KeyCreator Compare runs inside KeyCreator: Compare shows differences; KeyCreator makes the corrections. It is tied to a CAD system so that the changes can be corrected directly, rather than having to request the corrections.
If you need to operate the software on other computers, KeyCreator Compare can be run using a node lock, floating or USB SIM license; floating or SIM's provide network flexibility in where you run the software.
Q: Is markup available?
A: We are looking at adding markup tools.
Q: We know that translation is not perfect. Say I import a model saved in SAT and another in Parasolid or JT format. How does Compare guard against showing differences in models that are actually differences due to translation errors?
A: Compare simply shows the differences. In some ways, it does not matter where the change came from -- from a design change or through translation error. Problems introduced by translation are outside the scope of this software, but Compare will identify the differences in any case.
Q: Your Web page says KeyCreator Compare can be used for quotes. How does it tie into a bidding or job costing system?
A: There is no link to quoting systems, although you can take exact measurements.
In the field, we found that customers had been quoting from a written description, but now they can make quotes from the actual 3D model. The mold making industry typically gets lots of changes. You would use this software to determine the volume of material, the complexity of the mould, the changes from the previous mould -- to visually see the changes.
Q: Does it generate reports?
A: No. It has a tree to see the relationship of parts. If you wanted printed output, you could take a screen grab. Otherwise, you would need to rely on ECO Manager for full report generation.
Q: I notice mention of flat assemblies, something I haven't heard of before. What are they?
A: These are models made only of solid bodies, in which all references collapsed. Compare handles these, as well as traditional models that have assemblies with internal and external links to part files. Since Compare runs in KeyCreator, it can break the links, and then relink them at will. This allows you to remove parts that are of no interest.
Q: What is the pricing of these products?
A: Our price is at approximately two-thirds of the mid-range CAD industry standard. KeyCreator with base translators is $3,700; maintenance is another 22% a year. There are additional costs for high end translators, such as for CATIA, which can add one or two thousand to the price. We haven't fixed the price of Compare; right now, we list it as $2,495, plus cost of KeyCreator.
http://www.kubotekusa.com/products/keycreator_sub/compare.html
[This article first appeared on CADdigest.com at http://www.caddigest.com/subjects/keycreator/select/compare_interview.htm. Reprinted by permission of Tenlinks.com]
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Out of the Inbox
War through press release:
Dec 9: "Dassault Systeme's Strength in Vehicle Design Continues to Grow: Over 80% of All LA Auto Show Vehicles Designed in CATIA."
Jan 20: "Siemens PLM Software Technology Used By Nearly All Companies Unveiling New Vehicles At North American International Auto Show."
Geometric reports Q3 revenues of Rs. 2.2 billion (about US$40 million), up 14.5% from a year ago.
Big surprise acquisition from my neck of the woods: Hexagon is acquiring Canadian surveying and mapping software developer, MicroSurvey, by buying up all its shares. Purchase price is being kept hush-hush. http://www.microsurvey.com
Theorem Solutions used Siemens PLM System's NX User Function API and PTC's Pro/Toolkit API to write their NX (up to V8) <--> Creo 1.0 translator. http://www.theorem.com
Matrox Graphics, the other graphics board maker, will now be licensing the source code of its M-Series drivers to approved OEMs. http://www.matrox.com/graphics
Siemens PLM Software appoints KC Yee as senior vice president and managing director of Asia-Pacific. Mr Yee is the former vp at Infor Global Solutions.
CTC releases BIMlist ($20) for organizing, locating and inserting Revit families into projects. http://www.cadtechnologycenter.com/index.php
RhinoParametrics ships RhinoParametrics v2.1 for Rhino 4 SR9 and 5 (32-bit). http://www.rhinoparametrics.com
Graphisoft releases ArchiCAD STAR(T) Edition 2012, its entry-level BIM software package. It's based on ArchiCAD 15, and now adds intelligent element connections, 3D design spaces, and updated DWG-DXF file exchange. http://www.graphisoft.com/products/acse2011/
The battle between the think3s continues. think3 of Italy ships ThinkDesign Suite v2011.1. To differentiate itself from think3 of USA (or is it UAE?), it desribes itself as "the historical Italian company present on the market since more than 30 years as CAD and PLM supplier of design and management solutions." http://www.tenlinks.com/news/PR/THINK3/011312_think_design_suite_v2011.1.htm
Visualization Sciences Group announces Avizo Fire v7, its 3D visualization and analysis software for nondestructive testing, industrial inspection, and materials research. New features include automated workflows and more types of image processing. http://www.vsg3d.com/solutions/visualization-and-analysis-software-solutions-industrial-inspection-and-rd
On the Twitter stream
ralphg (Ralph Grabowski): ""Matt Burns of Techcrunch asks, 'With MegaUpload Down, Who's Next? SoundCloud? DropBox?' Hmm... is AutoCAD WS safe? bit.ly/zutb3G"
SeanDotson (Sean Dotson, PE): "Who needs SOPA and PIPA. Apparently they can shut down sites at will."
On the WorldCAD Access blog
These were some of the news items that were posted during the last week at our WorldCAD Access blog <worldcadaccess.typepad.com>:
Letters to the Editor
"Surely the mostensibly annoying management term of the year, in fact of the last three years is 'In the current economic climate.' I hate hearing that!"
- MJ Smyth
The editor replies: "After all, the economic climate is always currrent. It's just a way to blame others for your problems."
"To paraphrase Bill Fane's 'There are three kinds of people in the world; those who understand arithmetic and those who don't.': There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those that understand binary, and those who do not."
- John B Moran
Boeing
"I fully expected Bill F. would add-in his 3 cents. Thanks continuing to produce of a very interesting, informative, and entertaining publication."
- Bob Rea, past president
Vancouver AutoCAD User Society
Spin Doctor of the Moment
"What you will see with me is rigour and flawless execution."
- Thorsten Heins, new CEO, Research in Motion
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/at-research-in-motion-a-new-ceo-vows-to-silence-the-doomsayers/article2310968/
Contact!
upFront.eZine is published every Tuesday, except during summer and Christmas vacation. Editor: Ralph Grabowski. This newsletter is read by 11,000 subscribers in 70 countries. Your comments are welcome at editor@upfrontezine.com! Deadline for submissions is every Monday noon.
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Entire contents copyright 2012 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 "WorldCAD Access" 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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