Nearly a year after its introduction, Siemens PLM Software has
released a sequel to its Solid
Edge software with Synchronous Technology, extending the history-free,
feature-based modeling capability deeper into the product with improved part
and assembly modeling in addition to intelligent sheet metal design.
Part of Siemens' Velocity
Series of software aimed at SMB companies, Solid Edge with Synchronous
Technology 2 also includes a new, built-in finite element analysis (FEA) tool along
with enhancements to the embedded Insight design data management platform.
Synchronous Technology, a hybrid
modeling technique also featured in Siemens' NX 3-D CAD platform, combines
the speed and flexibility of a direct modeling approach with the precise
control and automation of traditional parametric or dimension-driven design
platforms.
This new release illustrates Siemens' commitment to apply
Synchronous Technology to all components in its MCAD series over time. "We're now in the process of building out and
incorporating Synchronous Technology to the point that this is becoming a
mature version for parts and assemblies," says Bruce Boes, vice president
for Siemens Velocity Series. "As a result, many more customers will move to
Synchronous Technology as a primary means of operation." Siemens plans to
incorporate Synchronous Technology as a mode of operation in all the other modules
of Solid Edge over time in subsequent releases, he adds.
The application of Synchronous Technology to sheet metal
design will have a wide impact on the Solid Edge customer base, Boes says.
Nearly 60 percent of Solid Edge users employ sheet metal as part of their product
development process, and with Synchronous Technology they can create models
with less pre-planning, make changes more readily and reuse and edit supplier
data more effectively, Boes says. Synchronous Technology delivers the
flexibility of working with a feature collection, not a history tree, in
addition to live rules and the ability to import sheet metal parts from other
CAD systems with some intelligence – not just as dumb geometry. "With Synchronous
Technology, if you import a sheet metal design, the system understands it as
sheet metal parts," Boes says. "We go a lot further in incorporating elements
people have built in without having to bring in the overhead of a history
tree."
As applied to parts and assemblies, Solid Edge with Synchronous
Technology 2 extends the modeling architecture for complex feature creation and
advanced sketch editing tools, the goal being to reduce overall design time.
The software improves 2-D to 3-D data migration and also supports Live
Sections, which let users edit 2-D cross sections cut through any part of a 3-D
model, updating the 3-D model in real time.
Solid Edge Simulation is a new optional FEA tool embedded in
the main CAD system that is based on the
Femap
finite element modeling and NX
Nastran solver technology. This module enables engineers to perform simulations
for stress and buckling on assemblies whereas the earlier versions could only
be used for simulating individual parts. The last main feature of the new
release is enhancements to the built-in Insight data management tool, including
leveraging the latest Microsoft SharePoint platform for improved collaboration,
faster release workflows and enhanced security capabilities.
Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology 2 is slated to ship
this summer.
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