Almost every engineer uses CAD or other engineering software these days. And many CAD suppliers—38 in all—will be showing them their stuff at the National Design Engineering Show during National Manufacturing Week, which begins March 3.
Exhibitors will be demonstrating new products and new features in existing products, and talking about the strategic partnerships they've established with computer hardware and other suppliers. Here is a preview of some of the exhibits:
After much fanfare, PTC (www.ptc.com) will showcase its Pro/Engineer Wildfire software. Wildfire takes Windchill, PTC's product life cycle management application and Web technology and incorporates them into Pro/Engineer. With Wildfire, Pro/Engineer and Pro/Desktop users can operate a Web interface to communicate with the data stored inside Windchill. It also allows two Pro/Engineer users to collaborate on the same file.
AutoDesk (www.autodesk.com) will showcase Streamline 4, the latest version of its hosted collaboration service for small and mid-size manufacturers. Streamline 4 allows better access to AutoCAD data and new texture maps allow you to identify part materials more easily. You'll also get a peek at the latest version of the company's 3D modeling package, Inventor 6, based on AutoCAD's ShapeManager kernel.
As part of its SolidWorks 2003 solid modeling program, SolidWorks (www.solidworks.com) will present CosmosXpress, an integrated five-step finite element analysis wizard that guides you through the process of finding out if a part will break. Other highlights of SolidWorks 2003 include Multiple Bodies—a feature that lets you create multiple disjoint bodies and then Boolean them together later—and a new 3D Content Central web site that gives users access to millions of downloadable parts.
Better shape.
Do your consumer products scream for unique shapes? EDS (www.solidedge.com) will unveil Solid Edge 14, the latest release of its mechanical CAD program. The release includes the company's new Rapid Blue Technology for designing unique product shapes, uninhibited by the CAD program. Other enhancements in Solid Edge 14 include capabilities for modeling complex parts, collaboration, and managing large assemblies as well as increased interoperability with EDS' I-DEAS CAD program.
Do you dream of an easier way to manipulate surfaces? In Version 7 of its VX CAD/CAM software, VX Corporation (www.vx.com) adds enhancement that lets you create more complex shapes. Now you can deform surfaces of the CAD model by pulling on any point on a face in any direction.
For cutting edge analysis and simulation, MSC.Software (www.mscsoftware.com) will have on hand four of its products. In MSC.Pastran 2003, the latest version of the company's finite element analysis package, a new Mesh on Mesh feature lets you edit an existing mesh. Inside the desktop simulation program MSC.visualNastran 2003 for Windows, is a new integrated feature for complex linear analysis. Other new products include MSC.visualNastran V5i gateways, which gives CATIA users bi-directional access to various embedded simulation software, and MSC.visualCollaboration for online collaboration.
Other exhibitors at the show with computer software tools to demonstrate include 3 Dimensional Engineering, auto.des.sys Inc., Axio-matic Design Software Inc., Cadalyst, Comsol Inc. Corel Corporation, D-Cubed Ltd., EMC Corporation, Fluent Inc., IBM Corporation, ICEM, The Mathworks Inc., Nasco Technologies, Noran Engineering Inc., RG Consulting, Rolta International Inc., Spicer Corporation, Standard Register Company, Stankraft Inc., Tekscan Inc., and Vistagy Inc.
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