In today’s highly competitive markets, the ability of a manufacturer to develop successful, innovative products often hinges on how well it fosters, fleshes out and evolves new ideas and concepts into new products. The problem with this conceptual design phase of development is that engineers and designers often struggle with what tools are best to […]
Kubotek Ships KeyCreator 2014 v12.5 Direct CAD Software
We’ve talked a lot on 3D CAD World about the various 3D modeling paradigms, history-based and direct modeling. Last week, we took a closer look at SpaceClaim’s direct modeling software, SpaceClaim Engineer 2014. Another 3D CAD software that’s known for its direct approach to modeling is Kubotek’s KeyCreator software. Now a new release of the […]
Siemens Releases Parasolid v26.1
Quietly working behind the scenes of every CAD/CAM/CAE software is a 3D geometric modeling kernel, basically the brains behind the software that enable it to perform the complex modeling commands needed by its users. As such, end users typically don’t focus on buying CAD software based on what kernel the software uses, but on the […]
Looking Under the Hood of SketchUp 2014
Engineers and designers have always struggled with which design tools are best to use to capture concepts during the early conceptual phase of product development. The concept design is one of the most important phases of the entire product development process. It is here when new product ideas are tossed around, flushed out, vetted, discussed, […]
Preparing Models for Simulation: Which 3D Modeling Paradigm is Best?
Simulation technology has its origins in the labs of universities and specialists groups within the aeronautics and automotive industries. Today, however, simulation software has moved from research labs into mainstream product design and engineers and designers are increasingly using simulation tools to guide their design choices. How simulation tools are used today As designs progress […]
5 Surprising 2014 Worldwide CAD Trends
An interesting study has just been released by Business Advantage Group, a B2B research and consultancy based in the U.K. I thought some of the results of the survey were surprising and worth sharing. The company surveyed 409 CAD users and decision makers with the goal of identifying key trends in the CAD sector, both […]
The Challenges of Model Editing in the Multi-CAD World
In today’s world, most engineers and designers are now accustomed to dealing with CAD data created in other CAD systems. With design collaboration with suppliers, partners, and customers being a key component of today’s product design, the use of multiple CAD systems has become the norm. As a result, companies must become proficient at working […]
Taking a Closer Look at SpaceClaim Engineer 2014
Last week Design World hosted a very successful webinar entitled, “The Pros and Cons of 3D Modeling Paradigms,” during which industry experts discussed the benefits and downsides of each modeling paradigm–history-based and direct modeling–and areas of product development each are best suited. Though most of you already know the basics of each approach, here’s a […]
Behavioral Changes Needed to Switch from History-based to Direct Modeling
Participants in yesterday’s “The Pros and Cons of History-based and Direct Modeling Paradigms” webinar heard from three leading experts on the strengths and weaknesses of both modeling approaches as well as where each modeling approach shines throughout the product development process. We learned that both tools are useful though some are better suited for particular […]
Kenesto PLM Platform Re-launched
Yesterday I had to opportunity to be reintroduced to the relaunched Kenesto, the company headed up by Mike Payne, one of the more renowned and revered figures in the CAD world, having started PTC and SolidWorks (then SpaceClaim). Pretty much anything that Mike is involved in draws interest from the industry and Kenesto is no […]
Delcam Releases PowerSHAPE for Re-engineering
Out in Anaheim, show attendees at the Pacific Design and Manufacturing Show are getting a glimpse of Delcam’s PowerSHAPE Pro software for design, modeling for manufacture and reverse engineering. On top of the list of new functionality is the software’s ability to facilitate and speed up the process of re-engineering complex parts from scanned data. […]
ReverseEngineering.com Releases 3D Scanner Point Cloud Tool for SolidWorks
Product design today is largely a digital effort. Paperless design has been something that we’ve been writing about for years, but the reality is that though designs can be tested, verified and validated digitally, physical parts and prototypes remain a reality for most manufacturers. As a result, capturing data from physical objects and putting that […]
NVIDIA Introduces Shared Virtual Computing Appliance
As CAD software becomes more and more powerful and resulting models become more complex and large in size, it requires more and more horsepower under the hood of engineering workstations to run effectively. Enter NVIDIA, the somewhat undisputed leader in the 3D graphic cards market. You could find NVIDIA cards working quietly behind the scenes […]
Dassault Updates 3DEXPERIENCE Portfolio with Release 2014x
One of the CAD giants, Dassault Systemes, announces the latest release of its 3DEXPERIENCE platform’s on-premise and on-the-cloud portfolio of solutions. Release 2014x of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, available to all customers on February 24, includes an on-premise portfolio of 41 industry solutions and their 183 processes, plus a dedicated cloud portfolio of 14 industry solutions, […]
PDF3D Developers Release ParaView Plus for Visualizing Complex Data
For many years, engineers and designers have struggled on the best way to safely share design data with others. Security is an issue. Bandwidth limitations yet another as files containing engineering data are often gargantuan. Yet another roadblock is all the various types of file formats that engineering data is saved in. On the CAD […]
SolidWorks Debuts Mechanical Conceptual
The biggest announcement made by SolidWorks at this year’s SolidWorks World was the upcoming release of SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual, software that enables users to quickly capture and develop their concept ideas digitally to compress cycle time and get products to market faster. The concept design phase is one of the most important phases of product […]
Autodesk Partners with FOX Sports on Wind Simulation for Super Bowl Broadcast
To give fans an idea of how tough the conditions will be on the field for this year’s Super Bowl on Sunday, FOX Sports has partnered with Autodesk to use simulation software to calculate possibly adverse weather conditions–specifically wind–inside MetLife Stadium during the big game. The New Jersey Meadowlands, home of MetLife Stadium, has long […]
Mark Forg3D’s Mark One: World’s First Carbon Fiber 3D Printer
Software companies spend a lot of money trying to create excitement at their user conferences, but it was newcomer, Mark Forg3D, that clearly generated the most buzz at this year’s SolidWorks World with the announcement of the upcoming release of its Mark One 3D printer. The Mark One is the first 3D printer to print […]
Stratasys Debuts World’s First Color Multi-Material 3D Printer
Making its official debut at SolidWorks World 2014, Stratasys unveiled the Objet500 Connex3, the industry’s first and only 3D printer that combines colors with multi-material 3D printing. The system combines droplets of three base materials to produce parts with virtually unlimited combinations of rigid, flexible and transparent color materials as well as color digital materials–all […]
Autodesk Unveils Fusion 360 V2.0
During a noon-time webinar today, Autodesk unveiled V2 of its Fusion 360, a tool that combines mechanical, industrial and conceptual design into one easy-to-use, cloud-based tool. The company reports that Fusion 360, which is purchased on a monthly subscription basis, now has over 30,000 users. Getting started in Fusion 360 is relatively simple. Users start […]
GrabCAD Workbench Rolls out New CAD File Management Features
After the successful completion of its beta program, GrabCAD announces the general availability of its Workbench cloud-based CAD file management solution. With its cloud deployment and affordable pricing plans, GrabCAD Workbench provides a cost-effective and easy-to-implement PDM/PLM alternative for small- to mid-sizes businesses. The beta version of Workbench, which launched in November of last year, […]
Autodesk Goes with the Flow, Releases New Simulation Tool
It wasn’t too long ago that simulation was viewed as a complex technology, best left to so-called “experts” or analysts with extensive experience. Product manufacturers, however, are increasingly incorporating simulation into their product development cycles to speed the development of products and get them to market faster. Digitally simulating product designs speeds development time by […]
Kenesto Takes an Un-PLM Approach to PLM
Though the company name might not necessarily ring any bells, a small company with some big-name backers, is posed to change the way the industry views–and implements–PLM. The company name is Kenesto and one is its co-founders, Mike Payne, might be better known for his leadership positions at PTC, SolidWorks and SpaceClaim. The product Kenesto […]
Aras Releases Innovator 10 PLM Platform
Aras Corp. today announces the debut of Aras Innovator 10, touted to deliver a new level of PLM platform scalability for enterprises with global supply chains. The software also features an HTML5 browser that greatly increases its ease of use, making PLM more accessible for business users. Designed for businesses that need to re-platform their […]
CFD Simulation Reduces the Complexities of LED Design
Manufacturers are striving to drive down costs by reducing material use, while at the same time, consumers are demanding smaller and smaller form factors packed with more and more functions. In many applications—from electronics to lighting—thermal management is challenging since the integrated circuits (ICs) that control devices generate more heat trapped in ever decreasing spaces. […]