3D CAD downloads drive component supplier selection

Do 3D CAD downloads help you get on with the job of designing faster and better? Does there availability affect whether or not you use a supplier?

One supplier who provides this service, J.W. Winco (jwwinco.com), found that 79% of its customers in a survey told it that 3D CAD download availability did affect their choice of component supply.

The survey was conducted for J.W. Winco by Catalog Data Solutions (catalogdatasolutions.com) of San Jose, CA (CDS), a provider of online product selection tools for industrial suppliers and distributors. J.W. Winco is a provider of metal and plastic, metric and inch size machine components and assembly hardware.

"Since implementing the CDS CAD solution in February of 2006, we are already seeing an average of over 850 downloads/month from our 18,000 CAD model library and over 10,000 sales leads already from CAD models downloaded by over 3000 registered users," said John Winkler, J.W. Winco CEO.

Design Product News wants you to put your hands on the 3D CAD downloads, too. Since November 2006, selected new product announcement and feature stories are being illustrated with linked 3D PDF content in the digital edition. Included, where available, are links to the downloadable source material. Please check out the new "3D Content" button on our home page or click on the image above. Your feedback is welcome!

Mike Edwards, Editor, DPN Magazine medwards@clbmedia.ca
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USEFUL SITES

Industrial automation. AutomationDirect has launched a video tutorial and training site with topics such as "Selecting a PLC" (learn.automationdirect.com).

Solid model service. TenLinks, Inc. has announced a service to create solid models in the Inventor, Pro/ENGINEER or SolidWorks formats. Cost is US$49 per model (innovate3d.com).

Metal alloys. The North American Die Casting Association has created i-Select Al software to identify the aluminum alloy chemistry needed to meet a specific set of casting properties (diecasting.org).

Interconnects. Phoenix Contact has redesigned its bilingual website to improve navigation for designers using electrical connection, electronic interface and automation technology (phoenixcontact.ca).

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                 DPN EXCLUSIVES

Slim line power supplies. IDEC PS5R-SB 10 W and15 W Slim Line power supplies measure 90 x 22.5 x 95 mm. Units are available in three output voltages – 5 V in 10 W and 12 V and 24 V in 15 W.

Powered roller conveyor. Interroll Corp. has developed a powered roller designed for use in conveyor systems that transport containers and boxes with individual weights of up to 300 lb.

Size 23 linear actuators. Haydon Switch & Instrument, Inc. has announced that its size 23 hybrid linear actuators are now available with a 0.9° step angle.

Digital dc speed control. Dart Controls, Inc. has announced the RoHS compliant MD10P digital dc speed control. Unit is a microprocessor based digital, closed loop speed control for dc motors up to 2 hp.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 1-3, 2007. Toronto. PLAST-EX 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of Canada's national plastics industry showcase (plast-ex.org).

May 8, 2007. Montreal. Experience the Possibilities Tour showcases the Autodesk line of software products. Also stops later in May and June in Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax and Ottawa (autodesk.com/live).

May 8-9, 2007. Markham, ON. 2007 Canadian RFID Conference covers developments in radio frequency identification devices, as well as tagging and tracking technologies (rfidcanada.com).

May 9-10, 2007. Cambridge, ON + Mississauga, ON. Risk Assessment and Prestart Health & Safety Review seminar and tradeshow presented by Vickers-Warnick (vickers-warnick.com).

May 9-10, 2007. 2007 APMA Annual Conference & Exhibition, Hamilton, ON. For further information contact Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association of Canada (www.apma.ca).

May 14-17, 2007. Montreal. ASME Turbo Expo 2007, the global conference addressing new developments in gas turbine technology (asmeconferences.org/TE07).

May 15-17, 2007. Montreal. Plant Maintenance and Design Engineering Show presented by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (sme.org).
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Now Available:

March/April 2007
DPN Digital Edition

• Bosch Rexroth & the Desktop Factory
• Locking fastener technology tips
• Volkswagen's clever twincharger diesel
• CAD flow simulation improves castings
• More 3D PDF content for DPN online
 
Click on the chair to see the
complete (12 MB download)
PDF of the March/April issue