Registration has opened for the Basic Powder Metallurgy (PM) Short Course, the powder metallurgy industry’s longest-running course, which will be held August 15–17, 2016, at Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, Pennsylvania. The Basic PM Short Course will feature nearly three full days of programing focusing on an introduction to powder metallurgy ideal for…
Additive manufacturing takes center stage
When Avi Reichental departed 3D Systems, you could argue that this move shifted the focus of the 3D printing market. Investors and vendors appear to have turned away from consumer oriented, desktop 3D printers and are looking instead to additive manufacturing systems. The emphasis now is on how can these systems be used in a…
Optimizing manufacturing processes with lightweight data formats
The ability to access and share 3D CAD data is an integral part of design and manufacturing processes. When data must be shared between engineering and manufacturing departments within the same organization, or with the supply chain, translation between different CAD systems may be required. However, translating large amounts of engineering data can cause problems…
Better problem solving for math, science, engineering
Maple 2016 mathematical software makes it easy to analyze, explore, visualize and solve math problems. This release offers new abilities to educators, researchers, scientists and engineers to solve more problems, more easily. It solves more mathematical problems from differential equations, statistics, graph theory and other mathematical domains. It also provides a Clickable Math option for…
Autodesk and Siemens agree to increase software interoperability
It looks like software vendors are getting the message about ease of use, especially as it pertains to interoperability. For example, Autodesk and Siemens announced an interoperability agreement aimed at helping manufacturers decrease the costs associated with incompatibility among product development software applications and avoid potential data integrity problems. Through this agreement, Autodesk and Siemens’…
Additive manufacturing accelerated with introduction of PolyNURBS interoperability
solidThinking Inspire 2016 introduces PolyNURBS functions, which allow users to quickly and easily flow optimized designs into manufacturable products by wrapping topology results with NURBS geometry. The PolyNURBS toolset helps users create geometry from optimized results faster than traditional CAD modeling. Other key updates for Inspire 2016 include: • Results Comparisons—Easily compare results across multiple…
Faster mechanical design
IronCAD Mechanical add-on offers a library of intelligent tools such as standard fasteners, steel sections, pipes, flanges and a wide set of utilities aimed at increasing productivity in the design process. Because knowledge and rules are built directly into the tools, typical day-to-day tasks, such as bill of materials generation, component placement and sizing, are…
Build applications that integrate simulation and 3D design
The LiveLink portion of Comsol Multiphysics software supports application development for SolidWorks. LiveLink for SolidWorks connects Comsol software simulations and 3D design. This version allows users to build apps with the Application Builder. LiveLink gives design engineers a better understanding of how SolidWorks software designs perform in the intended operating environment by delivering an accurate…
CFD software saves 75% in prototype build costs
“Step-Change” developments in the accuracy and resolution of engine design company Ilmor’s CFD capability have slashed development times by around 50% while reducing prototype build cost for its 2016 Indycar engine development project by 75%. Ilmor’s engine design consultancy division has been responsible for the design of Chevrolet’s championship-winning Indycar engine that powered Scott Dixon…
Custom coil auger helps save dough
Newcomb Spring recently supplied large, custom coil auger components to a national food distributor. Working on-site at the distributor’s facility, Newcomb analyzed dough-mixing machinery and previous auger components, created drawings and customized their manufacturing process for the new parts. Previous parts in the customer’s dough mixing machinery frequently failed, did not fit properly and required…
Cloud-native CAD will disrupt the PLM platform paradigm
An illuminating blog post by Onshape engineering team member Ilya Baran revealed some fundamentals of how the new cloud-native CAD system works: “We are careful to distinguish several types of data: the User Interface (UI) state—for example, selection, camera view, current tab; the Part Studio definition—for example, feature list, part names and colors, import data;…
MecSoft releases VisualCAD/CAM 2016
VisualCAD/CAM 2016 is a stand-alone CNC programming software. VisualCAM runs integrated inside the VisualCAD base CAD platform and addresses the CNC manufacturing market with modules VisualMILL, VisualTURN, VisualNEST and VisualART. VisualCAD/CAM 2016 has been enhanced. These changes include: enhancements to geometry construction and design functions in VisualCAD enhancements to 2-, 3- and 4-axis milling methods…
Renishaw process control seminar heads to Houston
The Renishaw Process Control Road Show travels to Texas with two half-day sessions featuring metrology solutions to improve machining performance and increase manufacturing process capability. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16 at the Mazak Southwest Technology Center in Houston. The seminar will be offered twice, with the morning session beginning at 9:00 a.m.…
3D printers prototype winding body for MRI scanner
3D printing is becoming a common tool for the design of prototypes for medical equipment. This includes, for example, the development of components of a patient table for use in MRI scanners. The specific project for Popp Group involved the development of a winding body for a rotating device, which later had to be fitted…
Theorem’s product rebranding
In an effort to simplify and streamline the choices for CAD to CAD, CAD to STEP, CAD to Visualization or CAD to Publishing, Theorem Solutions has rebranded its product portfolio. The brands are now defined as follows: CADverter The CADverter brand has a product focus specifically on the direct translation of 3D data to or…
Software eases PCB manufacturing
Version 8.1 of the ODB++ intelligent product model is a single and open data structure that handles transferring printed circuit board (PCB) designs into data for fabrication, assembly and test. It provides virtual documentation capability that seamlessly translates all data files, drawings and documents from PCB design through the manufacturing flow. This open product model…
Users call the shots in CAD enhancements
SolidWorks 2016 is the latest release of Dassault Systèmes’ portfolio of 3D design and engineering applications. New capabilities of this software suite will make it easier to innovate, design, validate, collaborate and build, from initial concept to final product. User-requested enhancements include the ability to flatten any surface, visualize and validate design performance, more efficiently…
Structural analysis and design modeling software features 3D CAD modeler
Intergraph GT STRUDL 2015 structural analysis and design software includes a new 3D CAD modeler, plus 64-bit high-performance, multi-processor solvers. GT STRUDL is an integrated, database-driven system for frame and finite element linear and nonlinear static and dynamic analysis, as well as comprehensive steel and reinforced concrete design. The program includes all of the tools…
Additive manufacturing moves beyond the “cool” phase
Leslie Langnau – Managing Editor [email protected] On Twitter @DW_3Dprinting Change is a constant with additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing. The next trend you’ll find is the growth of additive services. Part of this growth is driven by customer need, part by the frequent acquisitions made by the larger vendors. Customer need turns…
CFD for accurate thermo-fluid system design
The newest version of Flowmaster 1D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software is for fast and accurate thermo-fluid systems design. This software features several key and enhanced functions including an improved multi-arm tank component, and integration with complementary 1D pipe stress products, such as CAESAR II and CAEPIPE for pipe fluid-force predictions. The physical modeling capabilities…
Easier CAD prep for CAE
The MSC Apex is a next generation computer-aided engineering (CAE) platform. It introduces a CAE Specific direct modeling and meshing solution, MSC Apex Modeler, that streamlines CAD clean up, simplification and meshing workflow. In this release is Smart Midsurface technology, a workflow to expedite the creation of finite element models for thin structures composed of…
Design optimization: Topology and much more
Topology optimization and its seductive biomorphic shapes are what many think of when they hear the word “optimization” in engineering design. But topology optimization is just one kind of structural optimization—and that, in turn, is only one of five broad classes of optimization technology available to engineers today. Equally if not more valuable, depending on…
3D CAD portal easier to use
Version 4.0 of the 3D CAD download portal, PARTcommunity, includes new features, an improved look and feel, and a download portal optimized for mobile devices. The search possibilities for 3D CAD models have been expanded. Thus, the comparison of 3D CAD models when looking for a suitable part is easier. The properties of two or…
The coupling CAD configurator makes getting the right CAD drawing easy
Baldor is excited to introduce the Baldor•Dodge Coupling CAD configurator to meet customer’s needs for 2D and 3D CAD drawings. This easy to navigate tool offers drawings for close coupled and spacer versions of all of our popular coupling styles. Drawings are available in imperial and metric dimensions, and are available in over 90 different…
Software puts CAD files in PDFs
One new program called Publish 3D lets engineers share 3D CAD information up and down the supply chain. One major snag with the traditional use of CAD files is that not everyone has CAD software to view, annotate, and edit the files — not even at engineering companies. This problem is increasingly limiting. Industry 4.0…