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Drafting software

CADKEY Workshop(TM) Version 20 Manufacturing Design Software reportedly allows 3D models and drawings to be developed, imported, and edited, given the Pure Geometry(TM)-based data structure providing advanced surface modeling support and total editing control. Compatible with Microsoft^(R) Windows^(R) XP/2000/NT4, the software includes assembly and entity management tools and dimensional accuracy assurance. CADKEY Corp., www.cadkey.com. Enter 640

Optical mouse

Mini Mouse, the company's miniature USB optical mouse, measures 3.5 x 1.5 x 1.75 inches, has no moving parts, and tracks movement 1,500 times per second. Requiring no mouse pad, its optical sensor tracks allow it to move on any surface. According to the company, the mouse is USB 1.1 compliant, Plug-N-Play, and Hot Swappable. IOGEAR Inc.; www.iogear.com. Enter 641

Student simulator software

The student version of SIMPLORER 5.0, offered free on the company's website, is designed for use in power electronics, control, and systems design courses. Users may design with electrical circuits, block diagrams, and state machines to create models on a graphical interface. Ansoft Corp., www.ansoft.com. Enter 642

Vector animations

Toon Boom Studio(TM) Importer (TBSi), made for Macromedia Flash(TM) MX, reportedly combines the technology of Toon Boom Studio and Macromedia Flash MX to develop interactivity with 2D animated content. With the addition of Toon Boom Studio, users may create vector content that occupies a small amount of disk space. Toon Boom Technologies Inc., www.toonboom.com. Enter 643

Analysis software

Designed for Autodesk Inventor, GrafiCalc 3.0 analysis software plug-in may be used early in the design stage to obtain information on fit, tolerance, and manufacturability. According to the company, users may define flexible tolerance models by extracting geometry. Capabilities of the software plug-in include worst case analysis, individual contributors' sensitivity analysis, fit and clearance analysis, min-max stackup, and tolerance budgeting. GEOMATE Corp., www.graficalc.com. Enter 644

Design tools

dePak is a collection of 31 toolkits, suites, and stand-alone programs for trueSpace 3D modeling and animation designs. The collection includes: trueMirror for real-time reflection modeling; true-Scape 2 with filter, drawing, and fractal tools; CK Modeling Suite with 11 plug-ins; MeshSize 2 for configuring and scaling an object's surface area and volume; PathAray, ConstantPath, and textPath tools; and vcTek2 for instruction kits on designing, building, and animating machines and vehicles. Caligari Corp., www.caligari.com. Enter 645

Mobile workstation

The ThinkPad A31p, the company's first mobile computer, reportedly offers a communications bay for wired and flexible wireless networking. Available with the Embedded Security Subsystem, the computer runs both 802.11b and Bluetooth on certain models. According to the company, it is the only mobile workstation with ImageUltra, the company's image management solution that helps network workstations. The computer weighs 7.1 lbs. and features 256 MB standard memory, 1 GB maximum memory, and ATI Mobility FireGL 7800 graphics technology. IBM, www.ibm.com. Enter 646

Drive

The USB Hexa Media Drive is designed for users to transfer multimedia files from the memory card to a PC or laptop, or vice versa. Drives reportedly offer more storage capacity with SmartMedia, MemoryStick, SD card, CompactFlash, MultiMedia card, and MicroDrive (340 MB, 1 GB) memory cards. The USB-powered drive is hot-pluggable for Windows and MAC OS and reportedly reads and writes 6 types of memory cards. LaCie, Ltd., www.lacie.com. Enter 647

Notebook computers

The Inspiron(TM) and Latitude(TM) C840 notebook computers feature 15-inch high-resolution displays, reportedly high-speed optical drives, NVIDIA's GeForce4 440 Go graphics controllers, and Mobile Pentium 4 processors from Intel. According to the company, faster optical drives allow for faster reading and writing speeds, while Intel's 845MP chipset reports 266 MHz of system memory and a processor bus speed of 400 MHz. Dell Computers; www.dell.com. Enter 648

Pressure vessel software

PV/Designer, software designed for pressure vessel models, features a stress linearization utility made for linear static stress analysis in chemical, petrochemical, and power generation industries. The modeling software reportedly provides 3D dynamic viewing with dimension display; parametric on-screen model updating; dynamic clipping planes to hide areas of the model; and a toolbar to define part, mesh, and thickness properties. Algor Inc., www.algor.com. Enter 649

Touch-based modeling

FreeForm Version 5 touch-based modeling system is designed to help users transform the traditional, physical process of developing products to a digital production process. Features include a Round Edge tool for adding radii; import/export improvements; a Wire Cut tool automatic draft option; and haptic guides that assist touch-modeling users with precise modeling. Applications include tooling design, rapid prototyping, and CNC machining. SensAble Technologies, www.sensable.com. Enter 650