High-tech tools for a cool ride
When Marcus Hays first heard about an electric bike, he was less than enthusiastic. Why load a bike with battery weight, turning the human motor into passenger in the process? That was 1995 and Hays was working with Lee Iococca to develop electric cars and bikes.Electric bikes use less than 1,000 watts of total power and can be used on bike paths. When Hays first encountered these... Read More
New software slated to change the workplace
CAD software vendors have touted product usability for a long time. However, they haven’t really delivered on that promise until recently. There were a few software debuts in 2011 that changed that premise. True user usability could lead to a broader CAD audience and a bigger market share.The product development team at PTC came up with the idea of a creating single program... Read More
Printer shifts from 2D to 3D
Voith Paper decided to improve its design process across its centers of competencies around the world. Each center specializes in particular parts of a paper machine: due to its massive size and complexity, a finished machine requires design input from several design centers. Voith knew that speeding up its design and manufacturing processes would mean aligning its dispersed design... Read More
Surface deformation software
Kickstand launched a campaign to evolve StretchMesh Surface Deformation software into Open Source technology – opening the door for artists working in Maya to incorporate the surface deformation technology into their 3D workflow. The initiative allows programmers and developers of software programs such as Autodesk 3D Studio Max and Softimage, NewTek LightWave, Luxology modo,... Read More
Racing team relies on suite of software products
Australia-based racing team, Kelly Racing, has been using Autodesk products for a range of uses – from precision design to validating new car components — all without hitting the track for physical testing. Given that the period between races is often a window of less than three weeks, Autodesk Inventor Professional, Autodesk Simulation CFD, Autodesk Simulation Multiphysics,... Read More
Analysis linked to CAD
Comsol’s latest update to its flagship multiphysics software Comsol 4.2a includes enhanced LiveLink capability. The new associativity to between Comsol and Creo packages means any changes to a feature in the Creo CAD model automatically updates the geometry in Comsol Multiphysics while retaining physics settings.All parameters specified in Creo can be interactively linked with... Read More
Colossal 400-ft truck completely designed in CAD
Perkins Specialized Transportation Contracting (Perkins) provides highway transportation services for long, heavy, and oversized objects. Its engineers recently used Autodesk Simulation software for the custom design of a 400-ft long truck specifically created to transport nuclear generators.The truck took almost three years to design and gives a safe and efficient way to transport... Read More
New, free CadFaster 3D CAD iPAD app
CadFaster, Inc. released its newest CadFaster application for the Apple iPAD available in the Apple iTunes App Store. (http://bit.ly/pTzM43) The application is ideally-suited for engineering, architecture, construction, mechanical, and plant design firms seeking the fast reading and smooth handling of complex and large CAD data files. CadFaster Collaborate lets you distribute, annotate,... Read More
2012 version of ShipConstructor CAD/CAM program released
ShipConstructor Software Inc. (SSI) has released a new version of its AutoCAD based CAD/CAM software. ShipConstructor 2012 enables users to work in the most advanced CAD environment by adding AutoCAD 2012 compatibility. AutoCAD 2010 and 2011 are still supported but the latest version of ShipConstructor empowers users... Read More
Autodesk launches AutoCAD products for the Mac OS X Lion
Autodesk debuted three products for the Mac operating environment: AutoCAD 2012, AutoCAD LT 2012, and AutoCAD WS. AutoCAD 2012 for Mac includes 2D and 3D tools, 3D free-form modeling, 3D visualization and rendering, network licensing, advanced customization of menus, and support for LISP, ObjectARX, and ObjectDBX. AutoCAD LT for Mac follows common Mac application UI guidelines with... Read More
