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Simplifying Product Development
Software tool upgrades improve morphing and blend formats
Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor -- Design News, July 16, 2006
Delcam USA has upgraded its CAM packages, adding capabilities for drawing and mold making. The company is also broadening its reach with a free program that will be given to universities.
The upgrades to the PowerSHAPE package add capabilities that simplify product development. For example, Smart Surfacing frees users from the task of picking the approach they need, automating this process. "PowerSHAPE 7 decides which technique will provide the best surface. If the user doesn't like the results, they can try a different technique," says Stuart Watson, CAD development director.
The new version, PowerSHAPE 7, also enhances morphing capabilities, which let design engineers alter shapes and sizes without impacting overall volume or other critical parameters. Morphing also helps in the development of molds for manufacturing, assuring that parts can be removed easily.
Sheldon Yourist, senior engineer at Graham Packaging of York, PA, uses the feature to shorten design cycles for bottles and other containers. "With PowerSHAPE 7, we can start mold designs before the product is done and get updates daily. When we get new models it's color coded to show which bits have changed," Yourist says.
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 Shapes can be altered quickly using many different shapes Delcam's PowerSHAPE. |
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PowerSHAPE has also been upgraded with Total Modeling, in which users blend wireframes, surface models and other formats, with improved cut and paste between compatible programs. The developments augment the philosophy behind the product: "Simple to create, easy to modify."
Total Modeling simplifies the addition of logos, textures and other decorations into CAD models.
The company is also upgrading its ArtCAM package with a standalone package, ArtCAM for Designers. It lets designers and artists import 2D formats into 3D files, while also making it possible to import hand-drawn paper sketches and other images using a scanner. Delcam is increasing its marketing efforts in the U.S . following its acquisition of FeatureCAM last year.
For more information on Delcam's PowerSHAPE, go to http://rbi.ims.ca/4928-513.
