Bruce Jenkins, Ora Research In his classic essay collection Profiles of the Future, Arthur C. Clarke identified two kinds of what he termed “hazards of prophecy”: failures of imagination, and failures of nerve. Today, nearly a fifth of the way into the twenty-first century, it’s striking how many engineering organizations—and how many technology analyst firms […]
Onshape launches sheet metal design tools
Onshape, a leading professional 3D CAD platform for Agile Product Design, introduces sheet metal design capabilities. The cloud-based design tools enable faster creation and refinement of sheet metal parts with simultaneous generation of editable, synchronized flat, folded and tabular views. “This has been one of the most highly anticipated enhancements requested by our customers,” says […]
Stratasys Launches F123 Series of Printers for Rapid Prototyping
The three-dimensional printer company Stratasys of Eden Prairie, Minn., introduced three new 3D printers for rapid prototyping, which company officials say remains a strong use of these printers. They’re integrated with CAD software, so designers can take designs from their software and nto the real world for testing, verification, or even everyday use, says Rich […]
Simulation Is Becoming Democratized—At Last (Part 3)
This third and final installment in this series focuses on a revolutionary new generation of fit-for-purpose, product-specific and often user-organization-specific simulation “apps.” By placing advanced simulation and analysis technologies “under the hood” from the user’s perspective, simulation apps are making unprecedented powers of automated design exploration, optimization, synthesis and validation accessible, usable and safe for […]
Fast SOLIDWORKS Workstation debuts at SOLIDWORKS World 2017
BOXX Technologies, a leading innovator of high-performance workstations and rendering systems, announced the APEXX 2 2403, which it claims is the world’s fastest workstation. This workstation is being demonstrated at SOLIDWORKS World 2017, Feb. 5-8, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. A Dassault Systèmes Corporate Partner, designated SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner, and […]
Tailor-Made SolidWorks and Comsol Interactive Apps
Comsol, which makes software solutions for multiphysics modeling and analysis and for app design, has updated its LifeLink for SolidWorks product. As an add-on to Comsol’s multiphysics software, the LiveLink tool allows simulation applications that synchronize with SolidWorks to be accessed, launch, and run. With the app, designers can analyze and modify SolidWorks geometry from the interface […]
Hexagon AB to acquire MSC Software
MSC Software Corporation announced it has reached an agreement to be bought by Hexagon AB. The acquisition is subject to clearance and standard regulatory filings and is expected to be complete in April of 2017. MSC will continue to run as an independent business unit within Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) division. MI’s main businesses are […]
Simulation Is Becoming Democratized—At Last (Part 2)
Two decades after software vendors’ first efforts to put simulation and analysis capabilities in the hands of non-analyst engineers and designers, a wealth of new technological avenues have opened up to finally make this a practical reality. By Bruce Jenkins, Ora Research In the December 2016 issue of Design World, Part 1 of this series […]
Build simulation apps that integrate with CAD
COMSOL, Inc., announced an update to its LiveLink for SOLIDWORKS product. As an add-on to the COMSOL Multiphysics software, LiveLink for SOLIDWORKS allows a CAD model to be synchronized between the two software packages. The latest version of LiveLink for SOLIDWORKS easily launches and runs simulation apps that can be used synchronously with SOLIDWORKS software. […]
Learning about the IoT at SOLIDWORKS World 2017
SOLIDWORKS World always has technical session for attendees. At this year’s conference, there will be a specific learning path for the Internet of Things. Seven sessions are available to help users accelerate their IoT product development process. If you attend at least four of the IoT sessions, you can earn a SOLIDWORKS IoT Certificate. Attending […]
Nano Dimension and FATHOM join forces for SOLIDWORKS WORLD 2017
Two 3D printing innovators, Nano Dimension and FATHOM, will be exhibiting together in Booth 118 at SOLIDWORKS WORLD 2017, taking place February 5-8 in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Visitors to the booth will get a first-hand look at Nano Dimension’s DragonFly 2020 3D Printer – a 3D printer dedicated to printing […]
Design for Composites Keeps Getting Better
To increase fuel efficiency and reduce structural weight the automotive, aeronautical, and other industries are turning from metal to composite materials, said Vinay Dayal, associate professor of aerospace engineering at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Dayal has worked with composites for the past 25 years on projects for the U.S. Air Force and Navy and […]
MecSoft Releases VisualCAM 2017 for SOLIDWORKS
MecSoft Corporation, a developer of CAD/CAM software solutions, announced the availability of VisualCAM 2017 for SOLIDWORKS, the latest version of MecSoft’s integrated Gold Certified CAM solution for SOLIDWORKS. VisualCAM 2017 for SOLIDWORKS now includes Feature Detection and Feature Based Milling. Machining features such as 3 Axis Pockets, Prismatic Pockets, Slots, Planar Faces, and Bosses can […]
Improve model development productivity
A new release of MapleSim, an advanced system-level modeling and simulation platform, enables engineers to take advantage of modern techniques in modeling and simulation, reducing model development time and risk while improving designs. The latest release provides tools that increase engineering design productivity during model development, as well as significant additions to toolchain connectivity that […]
COMSOL Days 2017, learn to create simulation apps
COMSOL, Inc. a leading provider of software solutions for multiphysics modeling and simulation, announced the COMSOL Days schedule for 2017. The COMSOL Day events are open to anyone who wants to advance their multiphysics modeling skills and learn how to build custom simulation apps. The day will consist of training, talks by invited speakers, and […]
MIT Class to Offer CAD Instruction for Boston Area Businesses
Because development happens quickly within the computer-aided design and manufacturing communities, MIT Professional Education is holding a one-week course this summer for those who want to learn more about those fields. The course offers an overview of what CAD and additive manufacturing is, what they can do, and gives a broad look at using the […]
Seamplex releases CAEplex: Web front end for open-source engineering modeling codes on the cloud
By Bruce Jenkins, Ora Research Seamplex, the latest entrant in the burgeoning market for cloud-based engineering modeling Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), is readying for release next month an offering it brands as CAEplex, a web front end for open-source engineering computational codes running on the cloud. The company describes its product as “the first platform designed from […]
Saving lives with a solar-powered bush plane
How do you bring emergency supplies into a place with no airport? Engineers at a company called Solar Ship have developed a new type of solar-powered aircraft that can reach more places and save more lives.
Learn how these aeronautical pioneers are re…
Collier Research joins aerospace experts focused on reducing aircraft development and certification time
Collier Research Corp., announced it has become a member of NASA’s Advanced Composites Consortium (ACC). Collier, the only software company in the ACC, is among the newest members joining the original group formed in 2015—NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, The Boeing Company, General Electric Company (GE), Lockheed Martin Corporation, […]
View, explore and validate product designs in immersive virtual reality
Dassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced that 3DEXPERIENCE platform users can now view, explore and validate product designs in immersive virtual reality at any stage of the product development process with support from the HTC Vive Business Edition virtual reality […]
Digital Factory Software Plans Real Factory Operations
Contrary to what it may sound like, digitizing the factory, as it’s sometimes called, doesn’t mean replacing all the workers in a plant with high-tech robots. Instead, digital factory software can help ensure that a product is manufactured in the most streamlined method possible. The software, also called digital manufacturing software, extends the uses of […]
SolidWorks World 2017 Keynote speakers
Industry visionaries, engineers and designers will provide new perspectives that will inspire you to reinvent how you approach design. Get inspired by speakers who broke the bounds of the “possible” to do something that has never been done before. Anousheh Ansari is Co-Founder, Chairwoman, & CEO of Prodea Systems. She is the first female private […]
As Metal 3D Printing Takes Off, Service Bureaus Add Those Capabilities
The metal 3D printing market is booming–as evidenced by GE’s purchase of printer manufacturers Arcam and Concept Laser GmbH. Also market research firm IDTechEx has reported metal 3D printer sales grew by 48 percent in 2015 and material sales grew at 32 percent. Those types of sales numbers should expand at similar rates of growth […]
ESI MINESET brings big-data analytics to virtual performance engineering
By Bruce Jenkins, Ora Research In February 2016 ESI Group acquired big-data visual analytics and machine learning specialist Mineset Inc. from SGI, terming the move a “disruptive approach to amplify ESI Group’s virtual engineering solutions, providing transformative processes for design and manufacturing, leveraging big-data synergies with existing virtual prototyping technologies, and offering major analytics and […]
Configurable 3D CAD product downloads from Miki Pulley
If you’re looking for Miki couplings, brakes, or clutches, Miki Pulley has CAD downloads available on its website: mikipulley-us.com. This 3D model interface delivers an intuitive, faceted search so customers can find a solution quickly. To select the correct product, you enter the product type. The search will provide varying degrees of performance criteria, sizes, […]