3D CAD Tips » PTC News

Ice Dream: Towing an iceberg for fresh water

Laura Carrabine — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:44:23 +0000

“With the world’s water resources projected to diminish by one third in the next two decades, providing pure water to an ever- increasing world population is vital,” Mougin explained. To Mougin and Mauviel, one solution would be to transport icebergs to areas that lack fresh water for drinking and even cooling purposes. The scientific challenges are impressive — capturing a large iceberg that can weigh up to 7 million tons, protecting it from melting while transporting it across the ocean, securing and optimizing the trajectory with respect to meteorological and oceanographic conditions, and breaking up the iceberg to turn it into drinking water.

Dassault Systèmes worked with Mougin and his team to simulate the iceberg’s trajectory and its evolution by taking into account data such as variations in ocean temperatures, wind force and direction, sea currents, and boat drag force. They inserted this data into a 3D model of the iceberg to simulate what would happen all along the voyage.

The critical challenge presented to Dassault Systèmes’ engineers was to demonstrate, using virtual technology, the technical feasibility of displacing the iceberg in a controlled manner while reducing its melting. The project, managed by Cédric Simard, Interactive Strategy & Marketing Project Director at Dassault Systèmes, involved a number of steps:

Model the iceberg with CATIA based on a cloud of points obtained by scanning a real iceberg with radar.
Calculate and simulate the way the iceberg would melt using CATIA Systems and SIMULIA.
Simulate the way the iceberg would melt if surrounded by a protective isothermal “skirt” imagined by Mougin to slow the melting process.
Calculate how much fuel the boats would consume depending on the winds and currents encountered along the way

Various scenarios were simulated, such as number of boats needed, different departure dates and climate conditions, and the behavior of the boats and iceberg in the event of a storm or turbulence. In addition to enabling the team to visualize these scenarios, the simulation also allowed the scientists to test how to deploy the isothermal skirt around the iceberg.

Dassault Systemes

www.3ds.com

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New software slated to change the workplace

Laura Carrabine — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:25:02 +0000

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 that does everything versus offering diverse programs with no connectedness. The strategy addresses its customer base and the trend toward solid modeling for the masses. Creo 1.0 is the result of that concept. The software currently has nine applications including Creo Parametric, Direct, Illustrate, Schematics, View MCAD, View ECAD, Sketch, and Layout.

The company focused on a group of traditional user problems and applied a core of technologies against them, specific roles having options for modeling modes with the click of an app. Simplifying a process that has plagued engineers and designers for decades makes using the software and being productive all the difference. The Creo GUI is much cleaner than the Pro/E GUI. According to those who have used the new product, the GUI strategy is most evident in Creo Parametric and Creo Direct. PTC leveraged the best features from CoCreate and made it easier to use. The company added features to Creo Parametric that will make Pro/E seem like ancient technology. Creo proves that a feature can live in a history-based and history-free environment keeping the parametric relation to features within each if needed.

Another 2011 debut was SolidWorks 2012 that also sports new features to help a more diverse audience. The software has improvements in assembly and drawing capabilities, built-in simulation, design costing, routing, image and animation creation, and product data management. Dassault Systemes says SolidWorks 2012 will help automate design functions, change product development processes, and extend support for collaboration and connectivity. This technology could change how the software is marketed and sold. The product helps users streamline design processes by removing traditional steps.

Autodesk’s AutoCAD 2012 and Design Suite 2012 series are available in a range of offerings including web and mobile applications. Thus more users have access to the technology and can stay connected to their work no matter where they are. In addition, AutoCAD 2012 and Design Suite 201212 are directly connected to the free AutoCAD WS web and mobility application.

With CAD pretty much saturating the engineering and manufacturing arena, CAD vendors are realizing that pumping out a redressed version of what went out the door at the last launch is not going to work much longer. They have to offer tools that appeal to other audiences. We have seen that starting to happen in the retail, hobby, and jewelry industries where non-engineering types are using 3D programs to crank out new products.

PTC

www.ptc.com

Dassault Systemes

www.3ds.com

Autodesk

www.autodesk.com

3D CAD Tips

Aerospace and defense companies standardize data management system

Laura Carrabine — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:05:08 +0000

The companies opted for PTC’s Windchill software for their engineering product data management strategy. To build on its strong history of delivering a range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces, BAE Systems is moving away from a number of disparate, disconnected databases.

Windchill delivers a platform for access to product data and design to enable collaboration across sites and partners, support effective change and configuration management, and improve CAD data management in order to quickly respond to customer requirements.

PLM systems enable digital automation of product development and program management processes, as well as complete visibility and control over program information for secure, collaborative product development.

PTC

www.ptc.com

3D CAD Tips

KHEA CONCEPT Realizes More Value Using Creo Elments/Pro

3DCAD Editor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:45:09 +0000

Working with 4CAD Group, an authorized PTC Reseller, KHEA CONCEPT adopted Creo Elements/Pro 5.0, the first and the most innovative 3D parametric modeling system, to create and analyze the complete 3D digital product definition.

Source: www.PTC.com

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Jaga Reduces Time to Market by 15% with Windchill PDMLink and Creo Elements/Pro

3DCAD Editor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:45:09 +0000

“JAGA is able to generate new product configurations and manage all product information in an efficient way thanks to the implementation of PTC solutions.” Eric Hermans, Product Development & Engineering Coordinator

Source: www.PTC.com

3D CAD Tips

Creo Parametric CAD/CAM/CAE Demonstrations

3DCAD Editor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:45:09 +0000

This series includes an Introduction to Creo Parametric and other Creo Parametric demos, as well as Creo Parametric Production Applications, Creo Simulate, and Routed Systems Designer & Cabling demonstrations.

Source: www.PTC.com

3D CAD Tips

Customer Success: PTC Congratulates Penske Racing Team for Unprecedented Weekend of Race Track Wins

3DCAD Editor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:45:08 +0000

PTC (Nasdaq: PMTC), The Product Development Company®, today congratulated its customer and performance partner, Penske Racing, whose cars are designed and developed with the help of PTC’s industry-leading design software, on its banner racing weekend.

Source: www.PTC.com

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Mikołajczyk Addresses Design Challenges with Creo Elements/Pro

3DCAD Editor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:45:08 +0000

“I chose Creo Elements/Pro to reduce time-to-market by eliminating system errors.” Mieczyslaw Mikołajczyk, Owner

Source: www.PTC.com

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Double R Racing Maximizes Innovation with Creo Elements/Pro

3DCAD Editor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:45:08 +0000

“Root Solutions quickly demonstrated to us the value that Creo will deliver above and beyond any competitive product. Our industry is dynamic and competitive, and we need both technology and a partner that supports this. Creo and Root Solutions fit this bill.” Anthony Hiatt, Principal Engineer

Source: www.PTC.com

3D CAD Tips

Creo Unleashes Creativity at JUMO

3DCAD Editor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:45:08 +0000

Working with 4 CAD Group, an authorized PTC Reseller, JUMO adopted Creo 1.0 for product development. This enables them to rapidly innovate and compete more effectively in the marketplace.

Source: www.PTC.com

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