A farewell to the history tree? Engineers celebrate the prospect of more design freedom

BOSTON + TORONTO – Two conferences, one purpose: the announcement to the press and end-users of a breakthrough in solid modeling CAD software that addresses one of biggest stumbling blocks to efficient design.

History-tree demolishing synchronous technology from Siemens PLM Software will be in the next releases of its Solid Edge and NX suite of products. Users of parametric-based modeling software know the scenario only too well – plan your design out in detail far in advance, and woe to those that change their minds later, or inherit a model assembly from the scary past.

The CAD software industry has done yeomen work in simplifying the graphical user interface in most packages since the emergence of the Windows operating system and cheaper PC hardware. SolidWorks even introduced SWIFT Technology in its products to re-order the history/feature tree, a boon to designers who wanted to change the order in which they made part features.

However, synchronous technology (video) can make the history tree irrelevant because it analyzes the geometric relationships in the model and makes the appropriate inferences without "locking down" the creative process of design. It also has the added benefit of reducing file sizes and speeding up refresh/redraw rates significantly.

Designers and engineers can still lock down relationships in a CAD model with synchronous technology, but these constraints can be turned on and off at will. With such obvious benefits to end users and the potential for more rapid product development, will market acceptance follow?

Kevin Johnstone, president of Siemens PLM Software reseller Designfusion, is preparing for a business renaissance. "We're up to 32 employees" to support Designfusion's Siemens and non-Siemens CAD-related product offerings.

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

Mechanical components. Online store and CAD solid model file download portal from SDP/SI (sdp-si.com) features over 100,000 parts such as gears, bearings and brakes.

Fasteners. Small diameter machine screws, tapping and thread forming screws are available from Leland Powell Fasteners (lelandpowell.com).

Screws, bolts. Precision Screw & Bolt produces cold-formed, industry standard and semi-standard fasteners and provides in-house tooling (precisionscrewandbolt.com).
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Coming soon in the
June/July digital edition

Please click on the video (left) for a sneak preview of what's coming up, including clips from video links featured in the June/July 2008 edition of Design Product News.

• Hannover Messe trade show report and video

• Editorial Advisory Board: "link design with sustainability"

• Bill Fane on Maple 12 math software (video); Design Review

• Product Spotlights on Switches, Adhesives & Fasteners, Power Transmission, Data Acquisition

June/July DPN Cover Story Video:


Magnum Manufacturing helps printers cut paper costs with Myostat-supplied Cool Muscle servo-controlled roll sheeters

        DPNCANADA.COM EXCLUSIVES

Quarter turn actuator. Featured at the 2008 Hannover Trade Fair, Festo Canada has announced the Copar drive (compact pneumatic rotary drive) Type DRD (double-acting) and DRE (single-acting), a 90° rotary actuator.

Dewpoint transmitter. The Vaisala DRYCAP Dewpoint Transmitter DMT152 uses polymer sensor technology said to combine Vaisala's existing thin-film polymer DRYCAP sensor with an expanded range down to -112°F dewpoints.

Pressure regulator. The electro-pneumatic ED02 pressure regulator from Bosch Rexroth Canada measures 76 x 60 x 30 mm and is made with two directly-controlled 2/2-way proportional valves with an air flow of 3.5 SCFM.
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SPONSOR MESSAGE: SolidWorks

The following SolidWorks message is for the Quebec market only

DÉCOUVREZ COMMENT OPTIMISER CHAQUE MINUTE PASSÉE À LA CONCEPTION D'UN PRODUIT

La présentation interactive de SolidWorks Office Premium vous permet d’explorer plus de 30 vidéos de démonstrations des principales fonctionnalités de SolidWorks: conception, validation de conception, gestion des données et communication dont la plupart sont uniques à SolidWorks Office Premium.

La présentation interactive inclut également des centaines d’exemples d’utilisateurs à travers plus de douze industries.

Visionnez la présentation et voyez comment SolidWorks continue de repousser les limites de la CAO 3D…

www.solidworks.com/quebec_newsletters

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SPONSOR MESSAGE: alpha gear drives, Inc


Blue gearboxes from alpha gear drives, Inc. have become the industry standard in servo gear technology. As of July 2008, the blue gearboxes will remain but alpha gear drives, Inc. will change its name to WITTENSTEIN, Inc. to be consistent with the other business units of the company. Learn more online at www.wittenstein-us.com.

Get the same information that DPN Card Packs provide when you get them in the mail. Go to the DPN website or click here to get immediate feedback on the products you want to know about NOW.

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                    UPCOMING EVENTS

September 16-17, 2008. Detroit. HyperWorks Technology Conference presented by Altair for CAE and PLM professionals (altairhtc.com).

September 22-25, 2008. Rosemont, IL. National Manufacturing Week (manufacturingweek.com), including the Design Engineering Show.

September 23-24, 2008. Mississauga, ON. ENEX 08 energy management and efficiency conference (energyexcellence.ca).

September 23-25, 2008. Canadian Manufacturing Week presented by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (sme.org).