Computer Productivity Tools 12047

DN Staff

April 3, 2000

6 Min Read
Computer Productivity Tools

Web-based 3D CAD

GS-Design is a high-end solids modeling 3D CAD system designed for use over the Internet. This aerospace-grade system can model ultra-large assemblies, and manage a huge number of design configurations. And its web-based, three-tier (client/server/database) allows collaborative design between team members.

CollabWare Corp., 477 Shoup Ave., Suite 105, Idaho Falls, ID 83402; FAX (208) 552-4703; www.collabware.com.

For Information, circle 628

Load force calculator

The Static Calculation Arm/Manipulator program calculates the vertical and lateral forces created by cantilevered loads. It uses a designer's system parameters to figure the correct combination of components to counteract these offset loads. The software can calculate data such as: hanger spacing and loadings; plain view drawings; vertical and lateral loading values; specifying end truck combinations; and more.

Mannesmann Dematic Corp., 24541 Maplehurst Dr., Clinton Twp., MI 48036; www.dematic-us.com.

For Information, circle 629

PCB data processing

CheckPoint BOM (Bill of Materials) Manager software is designed for processing data at the front end of the printed circuit board (PCB) assembly process. It imports, parses, analyzes, and archives BOMs and approved vendor lists under electronic revision control. The software operates on Access(R)or SQL Server(R), and imports data from sources including collimated ASCII files, CIM project files, Microsoft(R)Excel spreadsheets, and ODBC databases.

Aegis Industrial Software Corp., 980 Harvest Dr., Suite 230, Blue Bell, PA 19422; FAX (215) 646-5427; www.aiscorp.com.

For Information, circle 630

Drawing collaboration program

Brava! 2.1 is a Java(TM)-based drawing and document collaboration application designed for business-to-business commerce. It allows users, collaborators, and contractors to share information and exchange ideas without requiring the same hardware platform, native software application, or browser. Users can view and share CAD and image file formats and documents over intranets and the Internet.

Informative Graphics Corp., 706 E. Bell Rd., Suite 207, Phoenix, AZ 85022; FAX (602) 971-1715; www.infograph.com.

For Information, circle 631

Industrial automation

HyperKernel version 5.4 is used in discrete and process control to empower Windows NT for factory floor control applications, and real-time applications such as telecommunications, CNC, aircraft simulation, machine design testing, conveyor control, and product sorting. This new version supports Windows NT-Embedded, so users can develop real-time applications for systems with no hard disk or other rotating media, as well as headless and keyboard-less systems.

Nematron Corp., 5840 Interface Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48103; FAX (734) 994-8074; www.nematron.com.

For Information, circle 632

Geographic information software

ArcInfo 8.0.1 is geographic information system (GIS) software designed for creating, managing, disseminating, and applying geographic knowledge. It is hardware and software independent, running on both the UNIX and NT operating systems. And it includes applications such as ArcMap and ArcCatalog to help new users learn the program quickly.

ESRI, 380 New York St., Redlands, CA 92373-8100; FAX (909) 793-5953; www.esri.com.

For Information, circle 633

Data acquisition

Model 2518/19 is a combination of Smart A/D for sensors with a 10-base-T interface, allowing Ethernet-connection data acquisition of eight or 16 channels of thermo-couple, RTD, strain gauge, thermistor, voltage, 4-20 mA, or resistance data. The Smart A/Ds attached to the Ethernet board provide sensor excitation, linearization, software filtering, auto standardization, and alarm monitoring.

Sensoray Corp., 7337 SW Tech Center Dr., Tigard, OR 97223; FAX (503) 684-8164; www.sensoray.com.

For Information, circle 634

Web-based document collaboration

The eScanner Series is a 40-inch wide color scanner equipped with web-enabling scan and view software packages, allowing online, real-time large-format document collaboration. Each eScanner comes with 25 Mbytes for image hosting on the web. So designers can scan their images directly to the intranet, wide area network, or Internet, where other users can retrieve them from anywhere in the world via a web browser.

Ideal Scanners & Systems Inc., 11810 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, MD 20852; FAX (301) 230-0813; www.ideal.com.

For Information, circle 635

Interface driver

The ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) Interface Driver allows the use of nearly any reporting tool to access customized Clarion applications. Users can access data from customized databases with programs such as reporting tools, word processors, and spreadsheets. Enhancements in this version include: Level 2 API support, expanded ODBC datatypes, and true BCD arithmetic support.

TopSpeed Corp., 150 East Sample Rd., Pompano Beach, FL 33064; FAX (954) 946-1650; www.topspeed.com.

For Information, circle 636

Solid modeling kernel

ACIS 6.0, the latest version of Spatial's flagship solid modeling kernel for CAD/CAM/

CAE systems, features improvements in surfacing and tolerant modeling operations such as skinning with guide curves, mapping curves, incremental skinning and lofting API for interactive control of surfaces, surface blending enhanced to allow fillet between disconnected surfaces, and improved net surfaces. Translator and healing features include support for CATIA format files and improvements in stitching, healing of analytic and B-spline surfaces, and rejection of small, spurious edges within the healing husk. Cross curvature control on curve and link constraints, isolated deformations, and enhanced constraint points are new with the deformable modeling 6.0 husk.

Spatial Technology, 2425 55th St., Suite 100, Boulder, CO 80301; FAX (303) 544-3001; www.spatial.com.

For Information, circle 637

Shop floor programming

Gibbs SFP (Shop Floor Programming) version 5.1 allows users to program and edit machine and control types from a wide range of CNC control and machine tool vendors, through a single user-friendly interface. With new enhancements it can: apply dimensioning and annotation at the shop floor; machine complex open wall pockets; calculate multiple pocket island/multi-height island with material only tool path; and dynamically rotate views.

Gibbs and Associates, 323 Science Dr., Moorpark, CA 93021; FAX (805) 523-0006; www.gibbscam.com.

For Information, circle 638

Touchscreen iMac

TouchStation is a touch-enabled iMac, based on Apple's new iMac DV with a 400-MHz PowerPC G3 processor, and featuring CleanScreen, the touchscreen with antimicrobial protection technology. This iMac uses the ClearTek 3000 capacitive touchscreen sensor, which retains the computer's full aesthetics, performance, and viewing area.

MicroTouch Systems Inc., 300 Griffin Brook Park Dr., Methuen, MA 01844; FAX (978) 659-9100; www.microtouch.com.

For Information, circle 639

Archive management software

The echive(TM)series of electronic archive management software products brings active and legacy documents and drawings to the desktop, allowing visual data organization, document search, and retrieval. Clients use echive Organizer to capture property data from files stored within a predefined Organizer database, and arrange electronic archives into Microsoft Access compatible database files. It incorporates full content indexing and searching of CAD and Microsoft Office files, as well as scanned documents using the Open Archive SurroundSearch(TM)Engine.

Open Archive Systems, Inc., 25 Indian Rock Rd., Suite 24, Windham, NH 03087; FAX (603) 421-0033; www.openarchive.com.

For Information, circle 640

Sign up for Design News newsletters

You May Also Like