Product News 11497

Stepper Motor

The Spectrum^TM drive, designed for bipolar, can-stack, sub-fractional-horsepower stepper motors, delivers 30% more torque than constant current drives, and produces only 10% of the EMI and RFI of constant current drives. Spectrum drives feature an onboard or external step pulse clock, full step/half step control, onboard or external direction control, and output enable/disable control. The board is optimized for a regulated 15V dc linear power supply and 5V motor coils, with an output current of up to 1A per phase.

Haydon Switch & Instrument, 1500 Meriden Rd., Waterbury, CT 06705; www.his-inc.com.

Cabling systems

FutureFLEX Air-Blown Fiber Optic (ABF) cabling systems are fully compliant with all applicable industry standards for structured cabling systems, and can be designed to meet the specific needs of various user topologies (ring, bus, star, or hierarchical star). The system is currently used in a variety of campus networks, including government and military installa-tions, hospitals, and research centers. Each system includes an infrastructure of tube cable, used in place of traditional innerducts to form LAN topology, with up to 19 small, individual tubes within a tough outer jacket.

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Co., 78 Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; www.sumitomoelectric.com.

Software

Flowvent software is aimed at the building services industry. The software helps designers in assessing the performance of a proposed ventilation (HVAC) system by calculating the airflow, heat transfer, and contamination distribution in or around a building entered into the program.

Flowmerics Inc., 2 Mount Royal Ave., Marlborough, MA 01752; FAX (508) 624-0559; www.flowvent.com.

Adhesives

The medical adhesive 1000 Series MD^(R) cures upon exposure to visible UV light, resulting in cure time reductions of up to 50%. These single component, solvent-free adhesives possess unlimited pot life, and are capable of curing in seconds. The adhesive also brightly fluoresces, which will enable incorporation of automated vision systems for instant in-line inspection of the bond area.

Dymax Corp., 51 Greenwoods Rd., Torrington, CT 06790; FAX (860) 496-0608.

UV-resistant sleeving

Protecto expandable sleeving bundles and protects cables, hoses, and tubing from abrasion, while permitting water drainage. The sleeving comes in 1/4-, 1/2-, 11/2-, and 3-inch sizes that expand up to three times the original volume. Applications include those unaffected by sunlight and saltwater.

Venmark International, 148 Linden St. Wellsley, MA; FAX (781) 237-5862; www.intl-light.com.

CE development kit

The PC/104-based Windows CE development kit combines ELAN-104 processing boards, 16 mbytes DRAM, and 8 mbytes Flash with Windows CE 2.11 in a multi-function PC/104-compatible embedded PC for real-time applications. The kit includes a 5V power supply, ELAN-104 single board computer, sample code, demo applications, and documentation.

Arcom Control Systems Inc., 13510 South Oak St., Kansas City, MO 64145; FAX (816) 941-7807; www.arcomcontrols.com.

Foam sealant

Norseal V710 foam sealant tape will not twist or move when mechanical fasteners are inserted through the foam. The pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side holds the sealant in place for speedy installantion. The sealant's compression properties target it for use in sealing light, moisture, and dust. Used in conjunction with mechanical fastening, the swirl-free foam maintains its seal.

Norton Performance Plastics Corp., 150 Dey Rd., Wayne, NJ 07470; FAX (973) 696-4056; www.dymax.com

Conduit split system

Murrflex split-system of split conduit and fittings consists of type EWT split conduit, which features two overlapping halves that snap together to enclose any wires and cables. The split-type SVT end fittings, KFW bulkhead fittings, and UH universal holders make up the complete system.

Murrplastik Systems, 4030-B Skyron Dr., Doylestown, PA 18901; FAX (215) 340-9586.

Power meter

The IQ-1600 high-speed power meter is available with one, two, or four InGaAs or high-power Ge photodetectors. The meter features a short stabilization time, high sampling rate, external and internal power level triggers, analog input, and user interface by means of the IQ-200 optical test system. Applications include R&D, qualification or production testing of fiber-optic components, characterization or optical switches, and multi channel optical power monitoring.

EXFO E.O. Engineering Inc., Vanier, Quebec, Canada; FAX (418) 683-2170.

Toggle switches

T7 Series sealed toggle switches are for use under severe conditions found in heavy equipment, industrial control, and marine and appliance applications. The front panel seal is accomplished with an O-ring under the bat handle. The switches are offered in single- and double-pole configurations. A choice of models is available to handle power levels to 16A, 1/2 hp, and low-level electronic switching applications.

OTTO Controls, 2 E. Main St., Carpentersville, IL 60110; FAX (847) 428-1956.

Screw

Milacron MeltStar barrier screws replace the compression section of a conventional feedscrew with two channels that separate solid and melted material. The screw's geometry ensures that solids are held together and remain more fully in contact with the barrel surface instead of being intermixed with melted material.

Milacron Inc., Plastics Technology Group, 4165 Halfacre Rd., Batavia, OH 45103; FAX (513) 536-2441.

Rubber

Alcryn(R) melt-processible rubber^TM features durability in harsh environments, stands up to heat and cleaning agents, and withstands corrosion and UV deterioration. Applications include use in appliances, hand and garden tools, automobiles, marine, and boat and pool accessories.

Advanced Polymer Alloys, 3521 Silverside Rd., Quillen Building 2E, Wilmington, DE 19810; FAX (302) 478-8166.

Data acquisition recorder

The portable Dash 16u 16-channel data acquisition field recorder is equipped with universal inputs that accept isolated, single-ended and differential voltages, thermo-couples, pressure transducers, and load cells. The unit eliminates the need for any signal conditioning or additional front-end filtering. With a data sample rate of 0.2 to 200 kHz per channel, the system is targeted for use in applications ranging from process trending to transient capture.

Astro-Med Inc., Astro-Med Industrial Park, West Warwick, RI 02893; FAX (401) 822-2430.

Screen printer

SP28P-D high-speed screen printer uses a printing technique called "Thomas," which conducts a detailed analysis of the printing mechanisms involved in solder filling and pc-board snap-off. The machine offers a tact time of 8 sec plus print time, with a printing accuracy of 50.025 mm printing accuracy and a position repeatability of 50.0075 mm.

Panasonic Factory Automation Co., Create Group, 9377 Grand Ave., Franklin Park, IL 60131; FAX (847) 288-4592.

Knowledge management software

FirstSTEP Charter Version 3.0 brings process modeling framework and knowledge management into the Visio diagramming environment. Process maps created in FirstSTEP Charter 3.0 now use the complete spectrum of the FirstSTEP modeling schema including dynamic, multi-level hierarchical-mapping linkages to key performance indicators and model objects such as resources, materials, entities, and organizational units. This release also enables visualization of all linked documents enhancing knowledge sharing around process models. Charter 3.0 also offers additional process views such as multi-level function flow, as well as the flattened maps, permitting users to visualize and print large models with maximum clarity. All models in Charter 3.0 are fully web-enabled, allowing for model distribution, including all linked documents.

Interfacing Technologies Corp., 3333 Graham Blvd., Suite 101, Montreal H3R 1K1; FAX (781) 290-4810.

Operational amplifiers

OPA353 Series CMOS operational amplifiers feature rail-to-rail input and output and ac characteristics. All versions, including single, dual, and quad, are available in micropackages. This feature combination targets the amplifiers for use in driving sampling analog-to-digital converters. The amplifiers are also targeted for cell phone power-amplifier control loops and video processing, as well as audio and general-purpose applications.

Burr-Brown Corp., Box 11400, Tucson, AZ 85734; FAX (520) 746-7401.

Instrument

The CU-SCOPE^(R) CMP1A instrument uses the eddy current test method to accurately measure the thickness of the copper coating to within 50.03 mm. In a few seconds, this handheld unit lets the user know if the copper coating thickness inside the pc-board's through-holes meets required specifications. Results are read on the unit's LCD display.

Fischer Technology Inc., 750 Marshall Phelps Rd., Windsor, CT 06095; FAX (860) 688-8496.

Game controllers

Game controllers with G-Force Tilt are for the PC, Sony PlayStation, and Nintendo 64. G-Force enables game controllers to sense body motion in all directions and relay those movements on screen in real time.

Analog Devices Inc., Micromachined Products Div., 21 Osborn St., Cambridge, MA 02139; FAX (617) 761-7607

Network interface card

The P100-FX network interface card (NIC) for use with Apple PowerPCs enables users in video production, pre-press, graphic design studios, and other bandwidth-intensive, Macintosh-oriented industries. The NIC uses VF-45 interconnect technology to interface a fiber-optic network. The interconnect design is a standards-compliant, small form-factor fiber interface used in the Volition brand cabling system.

Phobos Corp., 2060 East 2100 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84109; FAX (801) 474-9201.

Jacketing products

Polyurethane (PUR)-based cable jacketing products feature mechanical resistance, twisting and bending strengths, and chemical durability. The outer jackets are rated to perform under continuous operating temperatures ranging from -50 to 90C. Polyurethane's durability against hydraulic fluids, fuels, and mineral oils target it for use in jacketing in machinery and robotics technology.

elocab, 258 McBrine Dr., Kitchener, Ontario N2R 1H8, Canada; FAX (519) 893-2766.

Karen Auguston Field on Adhesives

Karen Auguston Field, Executive Editor

For comments on adhesives, contact Karen at [email protected]

Pick of the Issue

Locking cotter pin

The Bow-Tie^TM locking cotter pin differs from hair-pin cotters in that it is not under constant tension. This zero-tension reduces wire fatigue and service life, says the manufacturer. A curved leg provides three contact points with the hole, keeping the cotter snug. Available in sizes to fit 3/16- to 1-inch shafts, the cotter pin is made from MB spring wire with a zinc plate finish.

Pivot Point, Box 488, Hutisford, WI 53034; FAX (920) 349-3253; www.pivotpins.com.

Bulb seats

Bulb seat has a conical shape with recesses at both ends and through holes. A precision radius inside the part forms a rounded cup for precise component placement. The part measures 0.280 inch diameter by 0.156 inch high. Tolerances are plus or minus 0.003 inch typical with some dimensions held to plus or minus 0.0015 inch. Applications include use in a fire sprinkler system head component.

Dejay Industries, 1701 Greenville Ave., Suite 1106, Richardson, TX 75081; FAX (972) 234-2490; www.dejayind.com.

Preload-indicating washers

Standard, preload-indicating washers offer an accurate method of measuring the preload (clamp force) in a bolted Designed for use under locknuts, the washers induce an average preload of 80% of the yield strength in bolts ranging from 80 to 260 ksi minimum ultimate tensile strength. Sizes range from #10 to 11/2 inch diameters in alloy steel, cadmium-plated to QQ-P-416, and corrosion-resistant A286 material, passivated to ASTM A967 specifications.

SPS Technologies, 301 Highland Ave., Jenkintown, PA 19046; FAX 215-572-3193; www.spstech.com.

Conductive epoxy

Master Bond FL901S silver conductive epoxy adhesive film and preform system can be stored at ambient temperatures and fully cured at 250F (125C) in one hour or at 300F (150C) in only 30 minutes. Volume resistivity is less than 0.0002 ohm-cm and thermal conductivity is 10 BTU/hr/F/inch. Bond strength measures more than 2,000 psi (aluminum/aluminum). Industrial uses include substrate attachments, heat sink bonding, and lid sealing.

Master Bond, 154 Hobart St., Hackensack, NJ 07601; FAX 201-343-8983.

Fasteners

Stainless-steel and silicon bronze standard industrial and specialty fasteners are available in a variety of sizes, diameters, and styles, and include lock, hex, jam, wing, coupling, cap, tee, castle, finish, and barrel nuts. Applications include machine screw uses.

Jamestown Distributors, Box 348, Jamestown, RI 02835; FAX (800) 423-0542.

Structural adhesive

The PROFORM^TM line of structural hot-melt adhesives attaches even difficult to bond substrates such as polypropylene and polyethylene. The adhesives are formulated to fill large gaps, curing rapidly as they cool with no post-reaction cure required, says the manufacturer, and offer high tensile and impact strength. The adhesives are available in metal cartridges and as pellets or sticks for use with manual and pneumatic dispensing equipment.

Loctite, 1001 Trout Brook Crossing, Rocky Hill, CT 06067; www.loctite.com.

EMI/RF shield assembly

The Mini-Shield Clip^TM measures just 0.04 @ 0.20 inches long, requiring only half the PCB space of the standard SMiT Shield Clip. The clip is packaged in EIA standard, 12-mm tape format and can be placed on either the top or bottom of the PCB without requiring holes. During a standard reflow process, the clip automatically self-aligns to the pad and wicks the molten solder into fillets. Applications include small mobile devices such as cellular phones and pagers.

Autosplice, 10121 Barnes Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121; FAX (619) 535-0275; www.autosplice.com.

Screw thread inserts

Heli-Tronic^TM Inserts prevent seizing of fasteners in threaded assemblies and are manufactured from a special 18-8 stainless steel and work-hardened to Rockwell C 43-50. The inserts reduce friction force an average of 35% when compared with standard tapped threads, says the manufacturer.

Emhart Fastening Technologies, 510 River Rd., Box 859, Shelton, CT 06484

Stopoff dispenser

Compact benchtop dispenser uses compressed air to apply stopoffs and similar materials in controlled amounts to holes, grooves, and other recessed areas in a single step. Features include an adjustable air regulator and precision timer. Typical uses include plating, anodizing, and refurbishing operations.

EFD, 977 Waterman Ave., East Providence, RI 2914; FAX (401) 431-0237; www.efd-inc.com.

Core pins

Custom-engineered stainless steel core pins can be produced in various lengths up to 8 inches with tolerances to 0.0005 inch and a variety of head types. Features include precision ground ends with radii, flats, and odd shapes and intricate, multidiameter details ranging from 0.02 to 1 inch with tolerances to plus or minus 0.0001 inch. The core pins can be precision machined from 300 series to heat treatable 400 series stainless steels.

Ross Tool Corp., 1000 Chestnut St., Warren, RI 02885; FAX (401) 245-2250.

Idler rollers

Cam Runner idler rollers are manufactured with a composite synthetic tread and stainless steel threaded mounting stud. The proprietary composite materials provide a 40% weight reduction over conventional cam followers and exhibit low electrical conductivity, says the manufacturer. Dimensionally, the assembly is a direct replacement for steel cam followers in applications involving ambient temperatures up to 250F that are nonabrasive.

Osborn International, 5401 Hamilton Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114; FAX (216) 361-1606; www.osborn.com.

Laurie Toupin on ManagementSoftware

Laurie Toupin, Associate Editor

For comments on computer software, contact Laurie at [email protected]

Raster processing

TracTrix 2000 provides AutoCAD and CAD Overlay users with a set of raster processing and conversion tools. The software provides scanner drivers, format converters, raster editing, text recognition, automatic raster-to-vector conversion, and high-resolution raster creation from DWG/DXF. The one-install-fits-all package can be used as an ObjectARX plug-in in any recent AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT application. A stand-alone version is included free of charge for use outside AutoCAD. TracTrix runs on Windows 95, 98, 2000, and NT4.x.

Trix Systems Inc., 68 Smith St., Chelmsford, MA; FAX (978) 256-9593; www.trixsystems.com

Pick of the Issue

Knowledge management

KnowHow! is a knowledge management system that serves as a framework for creating, managing, and publishing engineering data related to plastics part design and manufacturing via a company's intranet. The program has volumes of built-in molding knowledge including information about design, materials, processing, and trouble shooting. In addition, users can add their own expertise by dragging and dropping documents or simulations directly onto the KnowHow! icon. Molding expertise can be captured and shared throughout a company using a PC, a network server, and a web browser. This is not a PDM or an ERP program. Although KnowHow! also serves as a front-end to all C-MOLD simulation products, one does not need any of these products to use it.

C-Mold, 9625 Ormsby Station Rd., Louisville, KY 40223; FAX (502) 423-4369; www.cmold.com.

Printing CAD documents

Plot Station for DesignGroup enables users to print technical documents without having to launch CAD programs such as AutoCAD or Mechanical Desktop. Users can set plotting priorities, re-direct jobs to different printers or plotters, store and submit plots in ordered sets, and run batches at night. Also, the software allows users to capture, track, and report project and accounting data. Plot Station supports multiple file formats, printers, plotters, and networks, and mixed CAD environments.

Motiva, 12651 High Bluff Dr., Ste. 100, San Diego, CA 92130; FAX (619) 481-8482; www.motiva.com.

STEP database management

ST-Repository server application manages the growing number of STEP product databases inside mid-sized to large corporations who have ISO 10303 standardization. Anyone from engineers to market managers can view STEP models via the ST-Visualizer^TM, an interactive 3D visualization tool that displays STEP solid and wireframe models. With the STEP Tools On-line Data Translator, clients can utilize World Wide Web services for sharing product data with internal and external customers and suppliers. End users can translate and observe CAD models in any file format such as VRML, STL, and ST. An open server allows a company to add and customize their own tools and services. The data management toolset operates in concert with popular PDM systems. The product runs on SUN SOLARIS and Windows NT/9x platforms. UNIX platform versions will be supplied upon request.

STEP Tools Inc., 1223 Peoples Ave., Troy, NY 12180; FAX (518) 276-8471; www.steptools.com.

Linux support

VMEbus Pentium processor-based single-board computers now support an open source Linux OS. This operating system is available as a free download at www.linuxhq.com. Although the Linux kernel doesn't natively support VME access, drivers are available that provide this capability at no charge. A driver that supports the following VMIC SBCs: VMIVME-7587, -7588, -7589A, and the -7686, and all functions necessary for VMEbus access including both interrupts and DMA, is available at www.vmic.com as a free download.

VMIC, 12090 South Memorial Pkwy., Huntsville, AL 35803; FAX (256) 882-0859; www.vmic.com.

CAD for 2000

Visio 2000 delivers new drawing and navigational enhancements. The Visio 2000 Standard Edition targets general business diagramming needs, while the Technical Edition provides drawing solutions for process engineering, facilities management, AEC, and electrical engineering. Visio 2000 gives users the power to integrate Visio technology into their existing IT informa-tion infrastructures, reducing the cost of ownership when Visio 2000 is deployed enterprisewide.

Visio, 2211 Elliott Ave., Seattle, WA 98121; FAX (206) 956-6001; www.visio.com.

Product management software

WTC PortfolioCenter offers both the framework for analyzing the data gathered and a methodology for making qualified decisions that optimize product development. The software uses InfoHarvest's DecisionHarvest^(R) engine to generate decision-model templates for technology assessment, risk management, and strategic planning, and to extract product development metrics from WTC OpCenter, a deliverables-based program man-agement solution. WTC ExecutiveCenter for executives harnesses the collective engineering, financial, marketing, and manufacturing knowledge from a variety of enterprise systems and compiles these into a product portfolio.

Workgroup Technology Corp., 91 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 02421; FAX (781) 674-0034; www.workgroup.com.

Chip for Internet

The HPCC high-performance chip carrier supports chip speeds in the gigahertz range, increasing the reliability for servers and networking gear that make up the backbone of the Internet. Developed for manufacturers of servers and networking gear, the HPCC doubles the field life of similar existing chip packages, and allows the internal chips in equipment such as routers, hubs, and switches to transfer more data to the rest of the system. The packaging features a fluoropolymer dielectric material, which optimizes chip performance by speeding the flow of electrical current from the chip to the rest of the system. A flexible foundation compensates for the expansion and contraction that takes place as the chip heats and cools during use, preventing cracks and failures.

IBM Microelectronics Division, Internal Zip 92B, 1580 Rt. 52, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533; FAX (914) 892-5334; www.chips.ibm.com.

Point to NURBS

Geomagic Shape^TM v1.0 and Geomagic Wrap^TM v.3.0 automatically create NURBS models from scan data or polygonal models. Shape v1.0 features automatic line detection, automatic creation of watertight NURBS patches from polygonal models, UV parameterization with global connectivity, automatic preservation of shape topology, interactive accuracy verification, and seamless integration with an installed CAD system. Wrap v3.0 features automatic creation of polygonal models from point cloud data, universal input for scan data, extensive point editing operations, flexible model editing tools, interactive accuracy verification, 3D format translation options, decimation feature, and other performance improvements. Shape and Wrap run on Windows NT/95/98.

Raindrop Geomagic Inc., Box 12216, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; FAX (919) 474-0216; www.geomagic.com.

Designing algorithms

WiT, a CAD-like Windows-based software package aids users designing image processing and image analysis algorithms. Users create applications by using the mouse to link icons. No text-based programming is required. WiT-based icons represent an operation, such as reading an image, performing a convolution, or generating a look-up table. The software contains more than 150 built-in operators and is user-extendible, allowing developers to add their own C functions, data types, and even control hardware on a network.

Logical Vision, 6969 Trans-Canada Hwy., Ste. 142, St. Laurent, Quebec H4T 1V8; FAX (514) 333-1388; www.logicalvision.com.

CAD software

Vellum Solids 99 introduces photorealistic rendering, deformable faces, assembly modeling and the ACIS 5.1 kernel. In all, Vellum Solids offers more than 225 new features and enhancements. Some of the more significant include C2 continuous splines; enhanced lighting tools; integrated drawing compositions to automatically generate production drawings, create auxiliary, section and detail views; optimized file storage; crosshatching annotation; new dimension tools such as base line, chain, ordinate, center mark, and balloons, and updated DWG, DXF, and Vellum 3D translators.

Ashlar, 100 Saratoga Ave., 2nd Floor, Santa Clara, CA 95051.

Sparse direct solver

NE/Nastran V6.0 offers its fastest sparse direct solver yet with advanced hybrid FE formulations with give results regardless of shape, mesh density or irregularity, and initial distortion. For each error message, NE/Nastran offers an associate cause, action, and remark. The program is compatible with most finite element modelers and has linear and non-linear steady state heat transfer analysis capability. V6.0 is also bundled with FEMAP. A free demonstration copy of downloadable from www.noraneng.com.

Noran Engineering Inc., 12132 Emerald St., Suite B, Garden Grove, CA 92845.

Cost analysis software

Analysis software is going the way of CAD. COSMOS/Works^TM 5.0 design analysis, optimization, and simulation software embedded in SolidWorks 99 offers quite a few new features typically found in higher priced packages. AccuStress^TM, a new transitional mesher, automatically detects small areas of geometry of potentially higher stress and places a tighter mesh or smaller elements at these positions, transitioning the mesh smoothly to the global size. Users have a complete low-cost simulation and optimization tool consisting of SolidWorks, COSMOS/Works, and Dynamic Designer/Motion. Motion loads, from simulations performed within Dynamic Design/Motion, can be automatically transferred to COSMOS/Works for analysis. In addition, V5.0 software analyzes assemblies with contact, friction, and gaps.

Structural Research & Analysis Corp. (SRAC), 12121 Wilshire Blvd., 7th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90025; FAX (310) 207-7805; www.cosmosm.com.

Surfacing software

ICEM Surf 2000i, CDRS 2000i, and 3DPAINT 2000i are the newest surfacing elements in the PTC i-Series. ICEM Surf 2000i introduces ICEM Surf Clay, a modeler for scan data. Taking advantage of ICEM Surf's global modeling feature, the software can be used for feasibility studies, to provide new reference handles, and automatic local refinement during modeling. NURBS curvers, edges, and trimmed surface edges can be used as spline and profile curves. CDRS 2000i has a tight integration with Pro/ENGINEER so curves can be transferred between applications while maintaining their specifications. A new conceptual design tool, Warp, allows the engineer to manipulate a model early in the design phase by twisting, bending, stretching, and tapering.

ICEM Technologies, 1210 County Rd. E West, Arden Hills, MN 55112; FAX (651) 415-0919; www.icem.com.

Universal processor card

The CPN5360, a CompactPCI universal processor card, can be configured for either peripheral or system CPU slots and will support Intel's Pentium II processor-Low Power. The CPN5360 also supports two PCI mezzanine card (PMC) sites, which can be used to expand on-board I/O such as industrial fieldbus and high-end communication networks. The card features 512 Mbyte maximum memory, 2D accelerated graphics performance on a peripheral slot board, and an on-board hard drive in place of one of the PMC sites, which can run both the operating system and application.

Motorola, 2900 South Diablo Way, Tempe, AZ 85282; FAX (602) 438-3059.

Process modeling for Visio

FirstSTEP Charter for Visio version 3.0, part of a process modeling, simulation, and management toolset, offers additional process views such as multilevel function flow and flattened maps. Process maps created in Charter 3.0 now use dynamic, multilevel hierarchical mapping, linkages to key performance indicators, and model objects such as resources, materials, entities, and organization units. This release enables visualization of all linked documents. Model validation checks ensure accuracy and fewer modeling and data input errors. Models created in FirstSTEP Charter for Visio are fully exportable in FirstSTEP Designer for process modeling simulation and analysis.

Interfacing Technologies Corp., 3333 Graham Blvd., Suite 101, Montreal H3R 1K1, Canada; FAX (978) 589-2064; www.interfacing.com.

Single-board computer

MSC-1500V, a single-board computer, supports a wide choice of CPUs including Intel's Pentium P54C/P55C (MMX), and K5/K6/K6-2, Cyrix M1/M2, and IDT C6/Winchip 2, with clock speeds from 75 to 450 MHz. This half-size ISA Bus card supports bus speeds from 66 to 100 MHz, has an on-board VGA/LCD controller (up to 1024 x 768), two serial ports, EIDE mode 4 controller with up to 4 drives, and two floppy drives. Engineered for rugged environments, the MSC-1500V is geared for harsh industrial applications requiring desktop processing power.

Mitac Industrial, 42001 Christy St., Fremont, CA 94538; FAX (510) 656-2669.

Quick release CAD

Just four short months after the release of CATIA Version 5, comes Release 2 of CATIA Version 5, expanded into two different platforms. Platform 1 targets small- and medium-sized companies who want to grow towards large-scale digital product definition and position themselves for e-business. This platform allows existing customers to incorporate 3D modeling in many supporting areas where hardware or training overhead were a concern. Platform 2 targets traditional solid model designers. P2 offers several new products including Interactive Drafting, Sheetmetal Design, Wireframe and Surface and Generative Shape Design, Circuit Board Design, Generative Assembly Structural Analysis, and CATIA Team PDM.

Dassault Systemes, 9, quai Marcel Dassault, Suresnes 92150, France.

Analysis software

DesignSpace Version 5.0 adds assembly analysis functionally to the program. The software provides setup of an assembly analysis using new automatic contact surface detection and automatic surface-to-surface contact element creation. Users can specify one part in the assembly to be non-critical while dialing in the adjacent part to be critical. This ability to automatically generate completely dissimilar mesh densities on adjacent parts allows for more efficient analysis and more design iteration in less time. Also included is Design-Space Report II, an automatic report generator, delivering an HTML formatted document.

ANSYS, Southpointe 375 Technology Dr., Canonsburg, PA 15317.

Geometry detection software

GeometryQA detects and assesses geometry problems in CAD models. Aerospace, automotive, electronic, and other discrete manufacturing industries can, at the source, eliminate issues such as gaps and slivers, ensure smooth model surfaces, reduce model size and data exchange time, and decrease the computational hardware requirements and analysis duration time, says the company. GeometryQA standards are consistent with the VDA Recommendations established by the German automotive industry to address difficulties in manufacturing and translating CAD/CAM data from one system to another. GeometryQA is completely integrated with DesignQA^(R). GeometryQA is shipping for IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, and SGI-IRIX platforms.

Prescient Technologies, 245 Summer St., Boston, MA 02210; www.prescienttech.com.

Document management

ViewPort+ V7, a PC-based electronic document management (EDM) system, focuses on the needs of small and mid-sized companies. ViewPort+ supports all popular 2D and 3D formats and includes built-in database for more than 300,000 files. Network versions are available for Windows NT and Novell that allow remote offices access to documents over a WAN or via the Internet. It is Y2K compliant. Prices start at $595 for a single user. Demo disks are available.

Cadman Corp., 1413 Montgomery Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360; FAX (805) 496-2866; www.cadmancorp.com.

2D and 3D markup software

The 1-View^TM, integrated 2D and 3D markup software for drawing and model data generated in CAD applications, combines the 2D capabilities of the company's Drafting Apprentice^TM with the 3D capabilites of OnScreen into a single unified environment. Users can examine both models and drawings simultaneously. The software supports 3D data from SDRC I-DEAS, Computervision CADDS, STL, and VRML. Users also have the option of working in an assembly mode. Drafting Apprentice view-and-markup software is now an integrated component of SDRC's I-DEAS Web Access. The software provides native access to drawing data generated in CAD/CAM applications for distribution to engineering and non-engineering users.

CAD Centric Systems Inc., 840 Old Mill Dr., Loveland, OH 45140; FAX (513) 697-0958; www.cadcentric.com.

Electronics optimization

CIMBridge 3.6 process optimization software for electronics manufacturer allows users to program and optimize heterogeneous surface mount assembly equipment. A new scripting feature allows users to add or modify data througout the line programming process to customize the software. CIMBridge 3.6 offers optimizers for Universal's GSM 1 and GSM 2 SMT equipment. The panel feature now supports mirrored panels that use identical machine programs and setups to build both the top side and bottom side of a panel. There is an optional Fuji CCIMF Machine Program Generator (MPG) for Fuji IP, CP, NP and QP series of modular SMT equipment.

GenRad, 7 Technology Park Dr., Westford, MA 01886; FAX (978) 589-2064; www.genrad.com.

Software

VIA^(R)-S200 Windows-based archiving and transmittal software lets a user store images, transmit them over the Internet or LAN, measure samples, annotate details, create comparison templates, or record a series of measurements for use in other applications to make reports, charts, spreadsheets, and presentations. The software also allows users to share images during discussion, consult with colleagues over long distances, document images and build an audit trail, and measure images used in industry and telemedicine.

Boeckeler Instruments Inc., 4650 S. Butterfield Dr., Tucson, AZ 85714; FAX (520) 745-0004.

Software

ARCHIBUS/FM Version features a completely new architecture. Autodesk tech-nology embedded in the software enables users to seamlessly "round trip" between ARCHIBUS/FM 11 and AutoCAD R14, since any drawing saved in AutoCAD R14 format opens in ARCHIBUS/FM 11 and vice versa, eliminating the need to save drawings in R12 format.

ARCHIBUS Inc., 100 Franklin St., Boston, MA 02110; FAX (617) 338-1012.

Rick DeMeis on Electrical/Electronics products

Rick DeMeis Senior Editor

For comments on electrical/electronics, contact Rick at [email protected]

Pick of the Issue

Terminal strips

The 739 Series terminal strips are available in pitch sizes from 3.5 to 7.62 mm (0.138 to 0.3 inch). These strips are for applications where conductor introduction must occur parallel to the other conductors and perpendicular to a PCB. Press-in-Technique circuit board terminals cover all pitches and require low insertion force. Series 739 strips are oriented perpendicular to the board, and are available in a variety of European and North American pitches. The terminal strips are also available in standard PCB pin style and are available from stock in 2- to 12-pole configurations with others attainable.

Wago, 9085 N. Deerbrook Trail, Brown Deer, WI 53223.

Mini load cells

MDB load cells come with a mini gold-pin connector system with a 10-ft, four-conductor cable. The series is a high-accuracy load cell for use in space limited applications. The MDBs are compliant in tension and compression, as well as single direction tension or compression. Combined accuracy of non-linearity and hysteresis is 0.1% of full scale, and non-repeatability is .05% of full scale. Output is 2 mV/V nominal via full wheatstone strain gauge bridge. Load cells are supplied with calibration certificate traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Transducer Techniques, 43178 Business Park Dr., Temecula, CA 92590; FAX (909) 676-1200; www.transducertechniques.com.

Terminal blocks

The X-com 759 system allows pre-assembled modules to be plugged into DIN 35 rail-mounted receptacle terminals, and has base receptacle terminal blocks with two connections for either two plugs or one plug/one cage clamp and two-way jumping. The X-com system has expanded with a variety of pc-board headers and chassis-mount connectors. This allows greater use of pre-assembled modules while being able to branch with single conductors and female plugs.

Wago, 9085 N. Deerbrook Trail, Brown Deer, WI 53223; FAX 414-354-1268.

Design software

Version 3.0 of Icepak CFD-based thermal analysis software adds parametric design capabilities, so a user can automate the software to consider several design options. The new version includes multiple units, local and global coordinate systems, and a user-editable spreadsheet summary tabl