PTC
is joining the handful of design tool companies offering a digital
human modeling component with the introduction of Manikin, which works
directly with its Pro/ENGINEER suite.
Manikin, available in two modules,
lets design teams using Pro/ENGINEER add a digital human model to an MCAD
design to simulate and communicate human interactions with products. Engineers
can leverage the tool to explore any human reach and vision limitations that
may exist in a design, catching potential problems earlier on in the design
cycle when it is easier and less expensive to initiate changes. Digital human
modeling programs like Manikin can also be leveraged to evaluate human
ergonomic factors like worker-related fatigue and stress injuries when
designing assembly operations and manufacturing work stations.
While companies like Dassault Systemés and Siemens PLM Software offer
Manikin-like capabilities as part of their digital product design and
manufacturing suites, PTC officials say the direct integration with the
Pro/ENGINEER environment makes the technology more accessible to mainstream
mechanical engineers-not human factor specialists. "This is an important part
of the Pro/ENGINEER story," notes Michael Campbell, PTC's senior vice
president, product management. "We're allowing users to do more virtual
exploration of human factors, which is traditionally reserved for high-end
analysis tools. Here, it's a part of the core design environment."
Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Extension
lets users insert accurate, standards-based 3-D human models into a design;
Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Analysis Extension provides the ability to simulate and
optimize manual handling tasks for safety and ergonomic concerns by validating
them against published standards and guidelines.
Starting in December, PTC will also be adding
basic Manikin capabilities into Pro-ENGINEER packages at no additional charge
for those customers on the latest maintenance release of Wildfire 4.0.
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