This version of Solid Edge offers more than 350 enhancements, most of which are customer-driven requests focusing on new technology. One of the most noticeable is smart use of wizards. Their major contribution is to streamline work and add flexibility in editing models. A wizard, for example, can be used in part dimensioning with variables that can be modified explicitly or using math functions.

The user interface now features the EdgeBar tool window on the right side of the screen. Think of the EdgeBar as a top-level interface under which several other interfaces are consolidated. That is, depending on the environment you are working in-part, assembly, or draft-the EdgeBar combines dialog boxes and tools in the same area. For example, in the Part environment, the EdgeBar incorporates the Feature PathFinder and Library along with the Design Assistant.

Part Modeling. In part mode, Solid Edge includes the SmartStep rule bar to steer you through the four basic steps of creating a feature. Starting from the plane definition, a profile that will be extruded or revolved is created. Before finishing the feature portion, any of these steps can be edited.

Solid Edge's strong emphasis on associative relationships can be seen in its interpart methodology where, if you change the geometry of the parent part, the child part is updated automatically. The extensive use of variables in defining features allows you to associatively paste variables from a table into a part and control several parts with that same variable. Features that appear in many parts can be saved in the Feature libraries and from there they can be placed by cut/paste or drag/drop methods. A nice part of the Feature library is that you can combine a number of features as one entity and then proceed with their placement.

Assembly. Solid Edge offers improved technology that can handle large assemblies with minimal impact on performance. Cognitive Assembly tools add intelligence in the placement of parts in two ways: Flash-Fit or Capture-Fit. Flash-Fit is a single-click part placement. Identify any face, edge, or cylinder and Solid Edge will match it to a similar feature. Using Capture-Fit, on the other hand, can save you repetitive work and provide a significant reduction in mouse clicks. Simply go over the placement procedure that "teaches" the parts for reuse and all the information is captured.

Design Assistant Sensors (DAS) are perhaps the star enhancement in this version of Solid Edge. As the name implies, DAS are sets of key rules that drive the design in the Part or Sheet Metal environment. With DAS, you have continuous feedback about the rules you have for design variables and dimensions. A warning prompt is given if the rules are violated or are close to the threshold values.

Simply Motion. New in this version, Simply Motion is a subset of Mechanical Dynamics' (MDI's) Dynamic Designer. Using part and assembly constraints, Simply Motion allows you to add other joints, springs, and motion generators to fully check the functionality of your designs. In addition to the interference checking capability, Simply Motion can be used to create animated sequences of a moving assembly showing part binding and collision.

Drafting. New enhancements in drawing include: Draw-in-view, where you can add or edit geometry in a drawing view regardless of how the view was created; SmartSelect, a tool that allows the selection of drawing entities based on type, layer, color, line width, and type; Hide, which lets you hide all occurrences of a part in a drawing; and Quick view, which uses Snapshot view to create a view of an assembly complete with parts lists.

With emphasis on usability and enhanced performance, Solid Edge version 8 is a milestone release. Using industry-first technology like sensors in the Cognitive Assembly approach reduces repetitive tasks and makes it an easy choice for a solid modeling package.

SPEC BOX

Solid Edge v. 8.0

Version 8.0 of Solid Edge is a 3D feature-based solid modeling package that features more than 350 enhancements. Minimum requirements are: an Intel PII with 128+ Mbytes of RAM and 250 Mbytes of hard disk space; and Windows 98, 2000, or NT 4.0.

List Price: Classic-$4,995; w/Tube Environment-$5,995

Unigraphics Solutions, 13736 Riverport Dr., Maryland Heights, MO 63043; Tel: (800) 807-2000; www.solid-edge.com.

Product Code 5121 or Circle No. 517

A similar product:

SolidWorks-SolidWorks Corp., 300 Baker Ave., Concord, MA 01742; Tel: (800) 693-9000; www.solidworks.com.

Product Code 5122 or Circle No. 518

To speak with a company representative call 1-800-826-6344 x011 and enter the product code, or circle the appropriate number on the Reader Service card.