upFront.eZine News Archives

Stabiplan targets European MEP designers, and DesignSpark is (mostly) SpaceClaim for free

Issue #792

 

Firms in Europe can do well when they adapt American software to local standards. Stabiplan is an example: its software sits on top of AutoCAD or Revit and does MEP [mechanical, electrical, plumbing] design specific to the standards of individual European countries -- despite the existence of the EU. Through a combination of TeamViewer and Skype, sales engineer Jos van Haaften and European sales manager Pascal Betten told me about the company and its software.

Stabiplan was founded in Holland in 1990, and today has 120 employees, mainly in support and product development. Its 8,500 users are at 3,500 customer sites mainly in Benelux [Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg] and France. The Dutch heritage shows through their 80% market share in Holland.

StabiCAD 9 runs on Revit and AutoCAD (2010 through 2014) as the engine, and can exchange data between the two. Updates to the software are released every four weeks. It handles ventilation, sewage, sanitary sewer sprinklers, lighting, power, communications, safety, and more; there is also support for building layouts, space management, and inventory.

Design, Build, Maintain, Operate

Mr Betten began by explaining the situation in the home country: "In Holland, we are in the midst of the BIM revolution. There are not enough projects at the moment for BIM, but our customers are getting ready for BIM. Most people use AutoCAD, and we don't want to force customers to Revit, even though Revit has more functions. So we exchange data between the two without loss." Stabiplan Services is their consultancy division.

MEPcontent.eu is the content source, housing 400,000 symbols from European manufacturers. It is free and open, meaning it can be used by any application that can read DWG and Revit drawing files; but StabiCAD users access more functions. A plug-in in Revit accesses the library directly. As the company enters a new country, the values are adapted to that country's standards.

Demo

Users start with StabiBASE, which is the dashboard for projects. Then they launch into AutoCAD or Revit. Mr van Haaften began with AutoCAD, which runs the colorful StabiCAD add-in as a palette.

Enter an item into the floor plan, such as an air grill: a dialog box pops up with all of its parameters, like type of grill, size, and flow pattern. At this early stage, the symbol is generic, and so lacks supplier name and other specific data. Symbols are dynamic blocks so that aspects can be changed, such as the vent type.

Once one air grill was placed, he used AutoCAD's generic Copy command to place more. He double-clicked the symbol to edit parameters, such as adding the manufacturer, whose names are included in the Stabiplan database.

The most exciting function is the Node Solver that draws ductwork for us: initially, it finds the shortest distance between the grill and the selected piping. Then it adds a flexible pipe to the end so that the pipe can be dragged aside to avoid beams and lighting. When more than one solution is possible, a dialog box pops up with a graphical list of available solutions.

When Mr van Haaften changed a pipe diameter, transitions were added automatically. He showed how the software recalculates all piping diameters to match a specified flow rate. A table is generated automatically to report pipe numbers and diameters, air loss, and so on. (By year's end, these calculations will also be available in Revit.)

A click switches the view between double-line, single-line, and 3D views. In most cases, you don't need to specify heights, as Stabiplan knows if things need to be in the ceiling, on the floor, or in the walls; you can, of course, override heights, including specifying a slope angle for pipes. (Sewers, after all, rely on gravity flow).

The symbols are linked back to Stabiplan's Web site so that up-to-date specs are available; it also stores the specs for obsolete parts.

Switching to Revit, he showed that the functions worked the same as in AutoCAD, for the most part. One change is that StabliPLAN adds its structure to the Revit project browser. It replaces Revit's default connectors with its own vendor-specific ones.

Q&A

Q: What happens when drawings generated by StabiPLAN in AutoCAD and Revit are passed on to clients who do not use Stabiplan?
A: It does not matter; they are plain AutoCAD and Revit models. The clients would use our MEPcontent browser to download content and access the product data. The blocks in AutoCAD are just AutoCAD blocks, and so it is possible to transfer data to another CAD package. Revit can export families as IFCs.

 

Q: What about other CAD systems, such as MicroStation, BricsCAD or Graebert ARES: do you plan to make StabiCAD work with them?
A: No. We focus only on AutoCAD and Revit.

 

Q: Is there a market in which your software is used the most?
A: No, it is used for large and small buildings with a mix of building types, hotels, offices, hospitals, airports, and so on -- just like AutoCAD and Revit are used for many kinds of buildings.

 

Q: What is the pricing?
A: StabiBASE is Euro 1,650. Then for Revit, the mechanical design portion is e2,500 and the electrical is e2,000.

 

Q: Why isn't Autodesk's own MEP software used in Holland instead of yours?
A: It is too generic for local users. We are focused on MEP in specific countries. Manufacturers supply us with their parametric data and it is their responsibility to keep it up to date.

 

Q: Do you worry Autodesk will mimic what you are doing, by adding country-specific content for European users?
A: No, not at all. Users start with info from Autodesk's software, and then add ours. We make both products stronger.

http://www.stabiplan.com

---

DesignSpark is (mostly) SpaceClaim for free

Readers last week alerted me to a new software package that seemed to be based on SpaceClaim:

"Have you seen this new kid on the block? . Apparently it's free. What's interesting, this video clearly shows it is actually a rebadged (dumbed down?) SpaceClaim. DesignSpark's Web site does not seem to mention it."
     - Normand Chamberland

"RS Components first released a hobby style PCB design software, now they released a 3D mechanical package. The EULA [end user license agreement] states, "BASED ON SOFTWARE ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED BY SPACECLAIM CORPORATION.' What exactly is the tie up there between SpaceClaim and this free download product?"
      - Gordon Rigg

 

Our readers have reason to be suspicious, because bootlegged CAD software and even purloined code (such as RaceCAD) have been offered free. In this case, it is, however, legitimate: RS Components is a British distributor of electronics and products, calling itself "the world's largest." DesignSpark Mechanical is meant for its customers to design the mechanical side of electronic components: housings, positioning PCBs [printed circuit boards], connectors, and the like.

A rebranded version of SpaceClaim is not unusual, as SpaceClaim has a robust API and in the past the company has licensed its code to firms like ANSYS, Flow International, and Ignite Technology. The difference this time is that the software is free, a savings of a couple of thousand dollars.

There is a catch: while the company boats that "This is not a cut down version of an expensive product," it is a reduced-function version of SpaceClaim. The first function missing noticed by most is STEP export; STEP import is included. No 2D or IGES import, and other SpaceClaim functions are missing, although a definitive list does not yet exist.

What Ralph Grabowski Thinks

RS Components makes its money from selling components; the software and related component libraries are provided free to make it easier for customers to attach themselves to RS. This is not a new marketing tactic.

What is new is that a prestigious brand like SpaceClaim is being offered free, albeit discretely; RS makes no mention of the source, except in the license agreement.

In the forums and even in reviews, however, customers and bloggers complain of missing functions. They expect all of SpaceClaim at the price of a bootleg copy; one reviewer enthused how this software could be used for 3D printing. This is not the point to what RS is offering. Autodesk ceo Carl Bass has found the same problem: users of free software being more demanding than those who pay.

http://www.designspark.com/eng/page/mechanical

 

---

Out of the Inbox

First out of the gate, Vectorworks updates its Nomad software to work with Apple's iOS 7 operating system for portable devices. (Not all iPad or iPhone apps work with the OSupdate.) Vectorworks subscribers can download the viewer app from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nemetschek-vectorworks-nomad/id506706850

Paul Seletsky departs the AIANY technology committee to be full-time with his ArcSphere consulting service.

Randall Newton steps back from his managing editor position at CADdigest to devote himself fulltime to his new Consiliavektor consulting service.

Following up on their plug-in for Revit, IMSI/Design ships their TurboSite plug-in for AutoCAD for viewing videos and photos taken at sites in the geolocated positions in AutoCAD drawings. Available through Autodesk's Exchange app store at http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/ACD/en/Detail/Index?id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com%3aturbositeplug-inforautocad%3aen

Quadrispace releases Share3D for downstream uses like project reviews, work instructions, part catalogs, and client reviews. The site does cloud-based distribution and collaboration service with native apps for iPad, iPhone, and PC users. https://www.share3d.com

NexGen Ergonomics updates HumanCAD v2.5 with new functions I can't understand, given my limited knowledge on things medical: custom anthropometry features; new somatotype feature; and more. http://www.nexgenergo.com

 

---

Letters to the Editor

Re: HP's Expanded Z Line
"You need to recheck your info on Tbolt. Lightning is not Tbolt and Intel's naming is not Thunderbolt."
      - Steve Sien

The editor replies: "Intel indeed calls its technology 'Thunderbolt', and 'Lightning' is Apple's name for its proprietary Thunderbolt connector. AMD's competitor is named Lightning Bolt."

 

"With Thunderbolt 2 specs being so close to USB 3s, I wonder if they can manage to gain enough foothold to last a few years. I remember that DRAM that failed to make inroads about 15 years ago; I had a Dell Precision workstation that would have cost a fortune to add RAM to because of it."
      - Ron Powell

The editor replies: "The USB consortium is this week showing USB 3.1 that doubles the speed to the Thunderbolt 1 level, which is already too fast for most peripherals. I've learned that Intel charges $10 for the Thunderbolt chipset (USB 3.0 chipset is free), and that Thunderbolt cables are typically an extra $30 each (USB cables tend to be nearly free). I have a feeling that Intel subsized HP to add Thunderbolt to its new workstations."

 

Re: Solid Edge License Numbers

"Solid Edge has 450,000 users now? Or did you mean to say SolidWorks?"
      - Thomas Teger

The editor replies: "It is Solid Edge that now reports just over 500,000 users, commercial + educational, while SolidWorks is claiming 2.1 million for the same mix of commercial and education."

Mr Teger responds: "Wow -- crazy numbers. Seems insanely high. I was working off numbers much smaller than that!"

The editor replies: "I use a ratio of 1:3 commercial:education. If you want crazy-high numbers, try Autodesk's claim of 130 million users."

Mr Teger responds: "The 1:3 ratio makes a lot more sense. I always assumed 150,000 commercial seats for SE, and according to your formula this would be just right on."

 

"You wrote, 'Now we need to know the split between commercial and educational licenses [of Solid Edge's 500,000 licenses]; typically it's 1:3.' I was at the SolidWorks 2014 roll-out. My notes/recollection/understanding/misunderstanding were:
     - 500,000 commercial users at 180,000 customers.
     - 1,700,000 educational.

"I assume 'users' means 'serial numbers,' but I don't know if this means 'known to be currently active' or 'all licenses ever sold'. 'There are lies, there are damned, lies, and there are statistics,' said Sir Winston Churchill."
      - Bill Fane

The editor replies: "The numbers you report confirm my 1:3 ratio. It appears that Autodesk wants to bump up its educational seat counts by making ALL educational software free. The trouble is that they stopped reporting seats, but maybe they will start again once they get numbers larger than those from SolidWorks."

Mr Fane responds: "At the SolidWorks media event, they were bragging that their educational sales are break-even, and they don't make any profit on them."

 

"You wrote, 'I am convinced that all this software that helps to test and predict product durability helps ensure products break one day after the warranty expires.' Glad to see someone FINALLY said it. Boy, would I like to see who's profiting from it and how much, eh?"
     - Chris

Re: Spin Doctor of the Moment

"You misspelled Van Gogh, twice."
- Kent Elrod

The editor replies: "You are right. Well, maybe I used the British spelling. Also, I got the newsletter issue number wrong (in the email subject line), should've been #791 not $191."

 

"My professional occupation has moved away from mainstream CAD/mechanical engineering, Enjoyed your letters, though, when I had benefits knowing about stuff."
      - Robert Fuchs

 

---

Notable Quotable

"Microsoft announces iPad amnesty for fanbois: Hand them in and we'll say no more about it. And heyyy, have a voucher."
      - Jasper Hamill, The Register
       http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/13/microsoft_offers_fondeslab_exchange_programme

---

 

* 11823

About Vectorworks in 2013, and HP's Expanded Z Line

---

Issue #791

 

For the media-launch of Vectoworks 2014, CEO Sean Flaherty provided a business overview of the US-based company (which is owned by Nemetschek of Germany). Among the regions of the world, sales are tilted far to the Eastern hemisphere:

• 53% - Europe, Middle East, Africa
• 28% - Asia Pacific
• 19% - Americas

However, the top-five countries with the most number of users is tilted differently: Japan, USA, Germany, UK, and Switzerland. Over 60% of customers use the Architectural software; Vectorworks also sells software specific to landscape and lighting design, a stand-alone renderer, mobile software, and a package that includes all titles. Even though the programs employ the MCAD-oriented Parasolid kernel, the company retired its mechanical design software a couple of releases ago.

Vectorworks says it provides software to 450,000 users [nearly the size of Solid Edge], and in a carefully-worded statement added that "more than half of licenses were delivered to subscribers last year."

Being a division of a larger company, Vectorworks doesn't hand out its financial details, but Mr Flaherty noted that over the last few years he had increased the number of staff by 50%. [This contrasts to the big MCAD vendors, some of whom have been laying off employees.] The company maintains programmers in USA and Bulgaria.

"We are working continually to bring design back into BIM." More than half of owners admit to being beginners when it comes to BIM, he says. "We believe open BIM is essential to the AEC industry," and so the company is working hard to make Vectorworks the best at IFC exchange [but then so is step-brother Graphisoft].

Q&A

Q: Does Vectorworks 2014 have explicit support for touch screens on Windows computers, or for Windows 8.1?
A: Our new visualization engine can be extended to mobile platforms, as well as touch screens in the future; but not now.

Vectorworks 2014 is fully compatible with OS X Mavericks [due in October], and we will also release a Mavericks-compatible version of Vectorworks 2013. Vectorworks Nomad will support iOS 7 [when it OTAs later this week].

 

Q: What was the biggest thing you fixed for landscape users?
A: Some of our workflows had gaps, and so we improved the usability of workflows. This year, the most important thing we did was expose our IFC implementation for landscape designers. IFC used to be only in Vectorworks Architecture software.

 

Q: How does the new visualization engine work with [Apple's] QuickTime?
A: The new engine unifies the visualization system and takes advantage of modern technology. It is more maintainable and provides better performance. For instance, the whole model uses the GPU the whole time. As for QuickTime, we are trying to get out of it, because it is 32-bit only; instead, we use OS X native display technology.

 

Q: Was Parasolid used to enable the new twisting and slicing functions?
A: Yes. In the future, we will be also adding bending and other types of distortions.

 

Q: Is direct xref'ing of AutoCAD files something that came through revised APIs, or is it in the Vectoworks codebase itself?
A: It is in the Vectorworks codebase itself. This is an improvement over the previous system of shuttle [sic] files. We now allow direct referencing, like for images.

 

Q: Is everything fully snappable when AutoCAD drawings are xref'ed?
A: Yes, and AutoCAD layers become Vectorworks layers, and so on. It is fully integrated.

 

Q: Can you elaborate on the new Python scripting support?
A: It allows developers to use Python 3 [http://www.python.org] to create scripts and plug-ins, to customize Vectorworks. Python is the backbone of our cloud products. Python uses the existing scripting environment, but is also extensible and more modern. We are not going to drop VectorScript.

 

Q: Will your company provide educational materials on how to use Python?
A: We will have tutorials and examples in the product, as well as on the Web.

- - -

Vectorworks 2014 has 130 new functions and improvements, It will be first available September 17 to subscribers as a download, and then a week later on DVD to everyone else. http://www.vectorworks.net

 

---

HP's Expanded Z Line

HP had a hit on its hands when last year it released its Z1 workstation, a 27" all-in-one desktop computer. (All-in-one computers stuff every component inside the monitor, except for the keyboard and mouse. ) This year, HP expanded its Z line to laptops, along with new models of Z desktop computers and monitors.

The company invited tech media from around the world for the unveiling in New York City. (See Figure 1.) Throughout the two-day event, HP marketing emphasized repeatedly that they are different from their competitors: HP isn't going private (a dig a Dell), isn't new to workstation design (a dig at Lenovo), and didn't go out of business (a dig at Sun, Indigo, and other failed workstation vendors). Naturally, they posted charts to show that HP is #1 in workstation sales.

 

Figure 1: HP's new 14" ultrabook workstation posing for the media

 

Yet, HP faces problems. Dell and Lenovo are strong competitors. Desktop workstations from all three share the same black rectilinear look, all use optimized hardware and drivers, and all are certified by most large CAD companies. Worst of all, workstation makers are dependent on the whims of Intel. For instance, we at the launch event could say nothing until a week afterwards, because HP had to wait for Intel to announce its new CPU line.

Thunderbolt

The #1 feature hyped by HP marketing at the event was the Thunderbolt 2 ports on most of the new devices. This high-speed port is promoted by Intel as an alternative to USB 3.

Thunderbolt (aka LightPeak) employs the mini DisplayPort connector, and then combines (a) PCI Express, (b) DisplayPort, and (c) DC power to connect to six peripherals at speeds of up to 10Gbit/sec. Thunderbolt 2 doubles the speed and so supports 4K displays, 3840×2160-resolution. (Lightning is Apple's implementation of Thunderbolt that uses a non-standard connector.)

HP this year added Thunderbolt to differentiate its workstation products from competitors. It may well be the deciding factor if your office needs to deploy Thunderbolt-compatible devices. The list is not long, but does include hard disk and solid state drives, docks and PCIe expansion chassis, a few audio and video devices, and external monitors. Thunderbolt, however, is not common like USB, which for most users is fast enough. While USB 3 is slower theoretically, benchmarking by MacWorld shows USB 3 to be slightly faster than Thunderbolt in 10GB read-write tests.

(In a footnote, HP warns that Thunderbolt is new technology and that some peripherals might not work with Windows: "To determine whether your device is Thunderbolt Certified for Windows, see https://thunderbolttechnology.net/products.")

At the event, HP and its invited users talked mostly about Thunderbolt's benefit to the movie industry and 4K digital cameras. They asked us in the CAD world if the interface would be useful in our work, but the only use I could think of is perhaps processing large amounts of 3D point data.

Apple has lost interest in the professional market. While the company did announce a new MacPro, the product suffers from Apple's current thinking: lock out the user from the innards, and so users cannot upgrade the RAM, change the dual graphics boards, or switch out the hard/SSD drives. Instead, a dozen USB and Thunderbolt/Lightning ports are provided as the upgrade path -- something I feel professionals will reject.

Indeed, both at HP's event this year and Dell's last year, both brought in movie makers to say they had switched from OS X to Windows, because Macs no longer have sufficient power to process digital film making.

New Laptops, Updated Desktops and Monitors

The new ZBook line is a trio of ultrabook workstations with 14", 15", and 17" screens. Specs: Intel dual- or quad-core Haswell CPU, nVidia or AMD discrete graphics, and tool-free upgrades. Bloggers at the event were frustrated by the lower specs of the 14" laptop, but they were due to the computer's smaller size that makes heat dissipation a problem. Here are some of the differences in specs:

• ZBook 14 has a touchscreen but with lower-resolution 1600x900 display, and no Thunderbolt
• ZBook 15 has an option for a 3200x1800 display that isn't a touchscreen, and Thunderbolt 1
• ZBook 17 has a 1920x1080 screen, also not touchscreen, and Thunderbolt 1

All come with USB 3.0 ports.

The updated Z Desktop tower workstations use Intel's Ivy Bridge Xeon CPUs with Thunderbolt 2 ports. The top-of-the-line Z820 workstation ($2,439 and up) has up to 24 cores, up to 512GB RAM, up to 15TB disk space, and up to two nVidia K6000 graphics boards.

The new top-of-the-line Z30i monitor ($1,329) displays 100% of the sRGB and Adobe RCB color spaces, important for digital photography but not CAD. Power consumption is 37% lower, and it is attached to a quick-release, four-way adjustable stand.

(Disclosure: HP provided me with air fare, accommodation, ground transportation, meals, and minor corporate gifts.)

Thunderbolt vs USB benchmarking: http://nofilmschool.com/2013/05/macworld-benchmark-battle-usb-3-vs-thunderbolt/

http://www.hp.com

 

---

Spin Doctor of the Moment

"The Van Gough Museum is working towards sustainable production and opposes child labour and all forms of discrimination. Made in China."
      - Van Gough Museum, label on gift shop item

---

 

* 11822

How Well Can a ChromeBook Run cloudCAD?

---

Issue #790

 

In upFront.eZine #782, I asked "Should CAD vendors target Firefox OS?" The answer was that they probably already do, as just about any Web page runs on this phone -- unless the CAD vendor relies on Flash, which Firefox OS will never support.

(FireFox OS is an operating system from Mozilla for mobile devices, and is based on FireFox Web browser, but then extended to boot, access hardware, and run native apps written primarily in HTML5. Even though Europe and South America are where the first phone companies are adopting FireFox OS phones, Mozilla says it is targetting third-world countries with poor Internet access.)

In the four months I've owned a Peak phone (from Span's Geekphone) and using FireFox OS, I like that it boots and runs apps faster than Android or iOS. But the number of native apps is insufficient (and most are immature), and so Mozilla is now offering free phones to anyone with an HTML5 app. OS updates are frequent, but are not installing on my phone due to a bug that Mozilla has not yet solved.

About ChromeBooks

Google has done the same with Chrome OS, an operating system based on their Chrome Web browser. So far Chrome OS runs only on notebook computers, of which I purchased the Samsung model ($250).

(While the Acer model is cheaper at $200, and offers the larger disk capacity of a hard drive, I wanted Samsung's higher CPU speed, lighter weight, and faster disk access offered by the 16GB SSD. To triple the storage, I plugged in Verbatim's extra-tiny but tough to find 32GB Store'n Stay USB thumbdrive.)

Google's Web site is discouragingly brief about the specs of all the hardware it offers, so let me list the complete specs for the Samsung ChromeBook, with commentary:

CPU: 1.7GHz dual-core ARMv7
RAM: 2GB
Disk: 16GB SSD, 8.5GB free disk space (plus 100GB on GoogleDrive, but free only for two years)
Display: 1366x768-resolution, 11.6" LED screen with a narrow field of view
Ports: Full-size HDMI, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0, headphone/mic socket, SD/SDHC/SDHC card slot (but card sticks out far)
Communications: dual-band WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, low-res 0.3-megapixel (VGA) Webcam with stereo mics
Physical: 1.1kg (first thing people say is how light it feels), 17mm thick, 4080mAh battery with 6-8 hours life, no user-replaceable parts

Printing is done through Google's CloudPrint service. Once I set it up correctly, it worked well.

Not all devices I attached to the ChromeBook are recognized. In general, anything that operates as an external drive or through Bluetooth works. Here is a summary of peripherals I plugged in:

• 160GB external hard drive (but not external DVD drive)
• 64GB USB drive formatted with NTFS
• Samsung digital camera (my new Canon digital camera was ignored, as was an external WebCam)
• Logitech wireless keyboard/trackpad (with dongle)
• Logitech wired and wireless (dongle) mice
• Targus remote control and pointer
• Android smartphone's file system
• Sony Walkman MP3 player

This means ChromeOS comes with a lot of drivers. It recognizes Bluetooth devices faster than anything else I own! Its Bluetooth worked with an external keyboard, mouse, and smartphone. (Don't tell Apple that ChromeBooks can access music on iPods without iTunes. Look in the iPod/iPod_Control/Music folder.)

Chrome OS Apps

Like FireFox OS, Chrome OS depends on apps running in Web browsers -- except for those that depend on Flash, which doesn't work. In this way, using a ChomeBook is no different from using a Chome Web browser on any notebook computer. It even uses the same browser extensions. For instance, to view your desktop computer back home, there is the Chrome Remote Desktop extension.

Even though ChromeBooks are supposed to operate with the cloud, this feature becomes debilitating when they have no access to the Internet, as we all know. And so Google is providing off-line apps, such as a modest video player and a rudimentary file manager, while third parties have a few dozen more apps at https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/apps.

At this point, I consider the ChromeBook ecosystem immature, but at least the frequent updates install effortlessly, unlike for me on FireFox OS. The ChromeBook boots fast, recovers from sleep mode instantly, and feels like it opens many Web pages quickly. Biggest drawback: no Skype, though Dropbox works.

Tip: While ChromeOS is simple to operate, it offers power users about a hundred shortcut keystrokes (press Ctrl+Alt+? to see them) and a host of toggles and system info (enter chrome://flags and chrome://system). Power users will, however, be disappointed that Ctrl+Alt+T's terminal mode is meant only for debugging, and does not properly access the underlying Linux OS.

Testing CAD Web Apps

When I reviewed the FireFox OS smartphone, I tested a number of Web apps that CAD developers offer. I retested them with this ChromeBook, and here are my results:

 

Figure 1: Running CAD model viewer TftLabs in ChromeBook's browser environment

 

TftLabs' Json3d Gallery (json3d.tftlabs.com) - works fully by dispaying rotating shaded 3D models; reacts quickly (see figure 1)

Sunglass.io (www.sunglass.io) - works with 3D models, though not speedily; transparent mode flickers annoyingly

AutoCAD 360 Beta (app.autocad360.com) - works with 2D drawings, but slow to load and react; no 3D views of 3D models

GrabCAD (www.grabcad.com/library) - 3D models attempt to load, but do not display

Revizto (www.revizto.com) - works for 2D images, but does not display 3D models because they require the Unity plug-in available only for OS X and Windows

TinkerCAD (www.tinkercad.com) - works in 3D, but is slow to react to user input

TeamPlatform (www.teamplatform.com) - works, including displaying 3D models, although complex ones fail to load

Some of these sites use Google credentials, making unique signups unnecessary.

What Ralph Grabowski Thinks

While I feel that FireFox OS will go the way of WebOS, there is hope in that Mozilla is a non-profit that benefits from volunteers, unlike Palm and HP.

As for ChromeOS, I see the appeal to system administrators providing a near-zero-support computing device to employees who have no say in the matter. The primary problem for me, however, is that I have never liked the Chrome interface and using it is as unpleasant as eating kale.

I will continue to stick with my ASUS Transformer tablet and its integrated keyboard, because (a) its Android apps are much more feature-rich than ChromeOS, (b) it has a touchscreen and keyboard; and (c) it works better offline.

Should you get a ChromeBook? No, unless you like to experiment with other OSes. A notebook computer running Android makes better sense, and I am puzzled that hardware vendor offers such as device, yet.

http://www.google.com/intl/en_ca/chrome/devices/chromebooks.html

 

 

---

Out of the Inbox

We tend to think of CAD behemoths (like Autodesk) and near-behemoths (like Vectorworks) as major cloud-dabblers, but there are others. Now, not being an expert in matters cloud, I find it a bit tough to work out the meaning of the lead sentence in this morning's press release: "Cloudpaging pioneer Numecent will be on-stage at CloudBeat 2013 with Parsons to discuss how the two companies partnered to create ParStream-Jukebox, which has delivered more than 4-million multi-vendor CAD and engineering application sessions on Parsons' private cloud since inception." As best as I can tell, ParStream-Jukebox delivers to employees 700 applications from 90 CAD/GIS/CAE vendors. From an article linked to the press release, it appears to be a case of pixel pushing: http://venturebeat.com/2013/09/04/chasing-the-pixel-streaming-dream.

Intergraph has a 50% discount going on right now for its CADWorx E&I software for electrical and instrumentation design. No mention of the deadline at http://icas.intergraph.com/EandIOffer

Autodesk's new Factory Design app for iPads provides many of the functions found in the desktop version of Factory Design Suite: start and edit designs in 2D on the Apple tablet, and then sync to the desktop for further editing in 3D. Free from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autodesk-factory-design/id657389678
      In other Autodesk news, the company today released pricing for its monthly subscription program, which starts at $95 for AutoCAD Inventor LT Suite. The press release begins with hype that's overenthusiastically under-accurate in its geography: "Today, SF-based software design powerhouse Autodesk...". The company continues to be headquartered miles away in San Rafael. http://www.autodesk.com/buy/us-prices

"Over 500K paid seats of Solid Edge (incl students) compared to 2.1 million of same of SolidWorks," reports Roopinder Tara (@rtara) on Twitter. Now we need to know the split between commercial and educational licenses; typically it's 1:3. Kathleen Maher has more about Siemens PLM Analyst Day at http://gfxspeak.com/2013/09/06/siemens-plm-claims-increased-market-share-in-automotive.

Randall Newton launches his new consulting service at http://www.consiliavektor.com.

Going with what they know: yjr ex-SolidWorkers at Belmont Technology are using Parasolid and D-Cubed in their stealthCAD software. I'd give the link to their site, but since Belmont has nothing to say, there's nothing to read.

Dassault Systemes acquires Safe Technology for its fatigue simulation technology and its 500 customers. I am convinced that all this software that "helps to test and predict product durability" helps ensure products break one day after the warranty expires. http://www.safetechnology.com

 

---

Letters to the Editor

Re: IntelliCAD Viewer for Android
"Thanks for the notice regarding ITC and the new ITC IntelliCAD DWG viewer on Android. CMS has already licensed it, and the ITC IntelliCAD viewer technology can be found at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.etoolbox.viewer so you can take a look at it. Actually, any developer can license the technology from ITC, asd it's not required to have a full IntelliCAD Commercial membership level. API membership should be enough, and that's pretty cheap even for an individual developer. Robert Berry at ITC is the right person to get the full news/information from at Robert.Berry@intellicad.org."
      - Vitor Neves
        CMS

 

Re: CorelCAD
"I encountered that problem [of CorelCAD lacking standard access to system variables] and called their support about it. They were not aware of what a system variable was or how to access one (it can be done in CorelCAD via Lisp)."
       - Lewis Balentine

The editor responds: "Maybe tech support didn't know about sysvars, but whoever at Corel set up the contract with Graebert would have specifically requested their removal, as sysvars are in DraftSight and ARES. Actually, there are some sysvars in CorelDraw, but they go under very different names."

Mr Balentine replies: "When I am in CorelCAD, I use the DraftSight help system for system variables. Then I use Lisp to change them. I no longer bother with Corel's tech support. They are pretty much pointless (or clueless) if you get beyond drawing a line or a circle.

"The last version of AutoCAD that I bought was version 12. It came with about 10 pounds of hardcopy professionally-prepared books. CorelCAD came with a simple help file and a tutorial. I do not believe that their help staff knows anything beyond what is in the help file and there is nothing about Lisp in the help file. Daddy said, 'You get what you pay for. Sometimes a bit more but more often a little less'."

- - -

"I'm pleased to see you're still publishing! It's been a few years since I left Autodesk to pursue interests in electronics and startups, but I look forward to reading about all the latest and greatest news from the CAD world. It's somewhat relevant to me still since I'm getting more and more pressure to add editing capabilities to circuitpeople.com."
     - Lee Harding

"I have read your newsletter for years and find it very interesting. However, I have now left the CAD-business and have no longer use for your initiated know-how about the business. I have especially appreciated your personal human touch angle to the subject. I have always found it refreshing to balance all the other superserious gurus in the business. Thanks a lot for a really entertaining and initiated newsletter."
      - Kenneth Brinkeby, PR consultant for SolidWorks for ten years in Nordic countries, but not anymore. Unfortunately. Keep up the good work!

 

---

Notable Quotable

"Oops That Embargo Time Was PST"
       - Techmeme Heds @nottechmeme 7 Sep

---

 

* 11822

Leap Motion 3D Controller: A Very Preliminary Review

Issue #789

 

by Warren Newhauser

When I first saw videos for the Leap Motion 3D controller a few months ago, it looked really cool. I got the sense that I had better get one, or else I might be left behind. I ordered one, the product shipped, and was delivered as promised. (US$80, plus shipping, plus tax.)

Trying it out on both my PC and Mac, I found it worked as shown in the videos. (Minimum system requirements: Windows 7 or 8, or Mac OS X 10.7 with 2GB RAM, USB2 port, and Internet connection.) After a couple of hours with it, here's my take:

It seems to me to be more of a creative device than something for engineering and design. I can move around a school of fish with my hand motions, or play Cut the Rope, or move 3D bones away from a skull by pointing, or turn lights on and off through an Arduino controller interface. But I don't see many precision input apps yet; at least Autodesk has has a plug-in for its Maya software.

The device can be used in place of a mouse to simulate a touch screen monitor. I was able to use it briefly with desktop CAD, but it would take a lot of practice to compete with a touch screen.

Most the apps in the AirSpace store are much like iTunes, and require purchase. Many are games; some are free. Other apps, like Google Earth, allow use of the Leap Motion controller natively. It definitely is something to watch going forward, but how it will be used with CAD, design, and engineering remains to be seen. https://www.leapmotion.com

[Warren Newhauser is founder of Mill Creek Systems, a custom software house in Arlington Heights IL USA. http://millcreeksystems.com]

---

About That Exploit in DWG Files: Readers Respond
"Thanks a bunch for the info re the Autodesk hotfix. But that begs the question as to why I had to learn it from your blog, and not from Autodesk. You would think they would have sent out a notice to their users."
      - Bob Price
        A*G*M

[After first posting the news of the DWG exploit on WorldCAD Access, I received these emails and comments from readers. http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/blog/2013/07/autodesk-discloses-security-vulnerability-in-all-its-dwg-based-software.html ]

 

"This has nothing to do with security of DWG files stored in the cloud. It is about ordinary DWG files given to you in an email, on disk, or whatever. Basically, it says that a bug in AutoCAD allows a DWG file to contain viruses.

"I haven't looked at it any further than your article, but in addition to all the common security holes in software (which often come from loading files which then overwrite RAM beyond the end of the memory range the programmer had expected), what immediately comes into my mind (other than embedded VBA code and embedded OLE objects) is a custom object which demand-loads an object-enabler from an Internet site. There are many options here for a hacker to search for actions that may trigger AutoCAD bugs.

"Since ODA uses their own code, this specific problem should not be in ODA-based software. There may be others, though."
        - Name withheld by request (and is unrelated to ODA)

 

"What relation would this have to cloud security? Are you thinking of the perceived security risk of the customer?"
       - Kevin Ellingson

The editor replies: "I made the mention of the cloud in my article on WorldCAD Access, because the NSA now reads data about pretty much all of our files, and so AutoCAD users might be concerned that the NSA could inject code into DWGs residing on Amazon's EC2 (used by Autodesk for most of its cloud services), which then infect the users' computers once back on the desktop."

 

"From the internal names used in Autodesk's hotfix patch script, it's apparent that the problem is a simple buffer overrun. Odds are pretty good that it's a run-of-the-mill case of a fixed buffer size, where the code doesn't check whether the actual number of bytes in the DWG file will fit into the buffer.

"The odds of it being technically possible to actually run malicious code from a given buffer overrun is extremely small (essentially zero if DEP is enabled), often depending on unpredictable particulars about the memory layout. The potential is there, yes, but I seriously doubt that it's even possible to cause anything more than a crash even in optimal circumstances."
      - Owen Wengerd
        ManuSoft

 

---

Out of the Inbox

LEDAS is a software development house near Novosibirsk Russia, and this week creative director Anna Kotova (love those Russian names!) reported that half of the firm's revenues now come from developing CAM software. http://ledas.com/group/press_releases/?press_num=187

And then there's ASCON, another Russian firm that for 25 years developed its KOMPAS 3D solid modeler with its own C3D kernel. The kernel is now commerically available, and so ASCON is pleased the first commercial product: ExtraCAD, a 3D solid modeling software for the ESPRIT CAM system. So why C3D and not ACIS or Parasolid?
      "The decisive factor here was the domestic origin of the company and, therefore, of the product, explains Andrey Lovygin of LO CNITI. "The level of technical support and response time to inquiries were by an order of magnitude higher than at the foreign companies. The additional benefits came in the form of flexible pricing policy of the Russian developer and real assistance provided by ASCON engineers in implementing the project." The job took a mere six months. http://www.espritextra.com

I've written in the past about Revizto for viewing and commenting on SketchUp and Revit models in Web browsers and on mobile devices. Version 1.3 offers faster synchronization with the cloud, visual and audible message notifications, and a smart installer that chooses only the program features you want. 30-day demo from http://www.revizto.com/store.

Rand Worldwide's Ascent courseware division updates official training guides for Autodesk's 2014 line of software -- plus now has a new one, 'Creo Simulate: Structural and Thermal Analysis'. http://www.ascented.com/courseware-solutions/creo-parametric/courseware/Creo-Parametric/Creo-Simulate/Creo-Simulate--Structural-and-Thermal-Analysis

Kenesto project collaboration and workflow software now can store files and folders in Dropbox. In addition, the company has changed its market strategy: it centers around key partners who white-label the software for customers. http://www.kenesto.com

Siemens PLM Software launches its software rental program: prices start at $130/seat/month for basic design and drafting, and go all the way up to $350 for all-in premium. Available in some countries, such as at http://store.plm.automation.siemens.com/store/siplm1/en_US/home?stc=usiia421234

Some CAD vendors whose software reads and writes DWG files have avoided writing a mobile app, because Autodesk's AutoCAD 360 is free and works on iOS and Android. Not so IntelliCAD Technology Consortium, which is proving it is doing well by releasing its IntelliCAD Mobile Technology for Android. At this point, however, it is available onto to ITC members -- but there is a video of it here: http://www.screencast.com/t/QT05l4w7AVt

Zuken is spending $30-$50 million over the next three years to expand operations in the Americas. http://www.zuken.com

And finally, Nathan Wiedenman is the keynoter at CIMdata's PLM Road Map 2013 (Oct 9-10) in Chicago, and he'll be talking about DARPA's Adaptive Vehicle Make Portfolio. http://www.picongress.us/home/plmroadmap

---

Letters to the Editor

Re: Notable Quotable
"I loved your comment in issue #785: 'The difference between MCAD and AEC software, is that MCAD designs one part of which millions will be made, while AEC software designs one thing made of millions of parts, which is a problem that's a lot tougher to solve through software.' Brilliant! I'll be using your quote around here. I'll give you the credit, unless you can find the source!"
      - Julian Hardy, chief engineer mining & metals
        Sinclair Knight Merz, Australia

The editor replies: "I figure it pretty much sums up the issue, although I have to credit someone else for the concept -- I just don't know who it was! I picked it up at last summer's Revit Technology Conference."

 

"I read your article from the Revit Technology Conference and the concerns that managers have of BIM. Your article brings up several key points that stuck with me. First being your comment about complaints of underperforming employees and the training they received outside the firm. I believe this is directly in line with what we have seen in speaking to our clients who use Revit and Civil 3D. The general consensus is that classroom training simply doesn't work. It is a one-time event that forces users to try to learn everything at once, and not necessarily in the context of what they are currently working on. The retention is low and costs are high including lost billable hours.

"Also, you mention the topic of processes. We see this as a major contributor to people not fully utilizing Autodesk products. Time and time again we speak to users who switched to Autodesk's BIM product, but continue to design like they did with Autodesk's 2D software. Not changing the workflow to take advantage of the new features of the 3D products leads to inefficiencies and comments like you mention ("BIM is slow", "BIM is complicated.")

"It sounds like many of those at RTC are experiencing problems that our Pinnacle Series was intended to solve. (It delivers multiple Autodesk implementation, training, and support resources in a single interface with onscreen workflow, cheat sheet, videos, unlimited live instructor-led training, and technical support.) In addition, since you wrote about this, I assume you thought your subscribers would be able to relate to these problems."
       - Kent J. Kraus, marketing manager
         Eagle Point Software Corporation

Re: 3D Printer Testing

"I am thinking it would be great to see some comparative reviews ($$$ ownership vs. production $$, features, benefits) of 3D printer technology in your e-zine -– a regular focus on this technology if you like? Surely it must be a big enough emerging market now to have an e-zine all to itself? Or maybe you know someone else who is focusing on this market area?"
     - Tim Elliot
       New Zealand

The editor replies: "Pro-grade 3D printers are hard to ship, so I doubt I could get any here, and I am not interested in consumer-grade ones. Terry Wohlers is a long time CAD guy who has specialized for many years in examining the 3D printer market. See http://wohlersassociates.com ."

Re: CorelCAD
"Has CorelCad crossed your path?"
      - Edward Hearn
       Canada

The editor replies: "It has, for I wrote the book about it, Inside CorelCAD. CorelCAD is a rebranded version of Graebert's ARES, which is the core code used also for DraftSight. Corel made some changes, such as removing access to system variables (huh?) and added a couple of commands to exchange files with their CorelDraw and other software."

 

Re: Retirement
"I looked forward to your newsletter with great anticipation every week. In addition to cash donations sporadically sent, I've tried to support your business by purchasing both printed and e-books. I've not been disappointed in a single one. But, it's time, for me at least, to devote more time to grandkids."
     - Rick Sierk

 

"After 30 or so years as an Autodesk dealer and Registered Developer, I am retiring and Looking Glass Microproducts has shuttered its doors. It's been great working with you, and upFront.eZine has been an invaluable source of information. I would like to keep my subscription active."
      - Phil Kreiker

 

---

Notable Quotable

"In the past there was this fear of breaking things that were culturally engrained. Now, there's a nuanced view that if you break something, perhaps that's good because you need to change something."
       - Michael Meeks, Document Foundation board member, SuSE staffer, Linux desktop architect
         http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/16/libre_office_hardware_acceleration/

---

 

* 11821