Dassault Acquires Germany's Modelon

VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France, Apr 30, 2015 - Dassault Systems (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced its acquisition of Modelon GmbH, expert in “ready-to-experience” content for systems modeling and simulation which are strategic to transform the transportation and mobility industry. With this transaction, Dassault Systems reinforces its portfolio of industry-leading content, applications and services used in today’s age of experience.

In the context of the Internet of Things, smart, connected objects such as autonomous driving systems are increasingly showing their potential to profoundly change consumer lifestyles, yet their highly intricate and interconnected systems must seamlessly work together to do so. Electronics are expected to comprise 50 percent of vehicle development costs by 2030 and the number of electric vehicles worldwide is predicted to reach 12 million by 2021. Model-based systems engineering is an important facet of defining, imagining and shaping virtual products and user experiences that flawlessly mimic future ones in the real world.

Modelon GmbH’s proprietary, multi-physics modular and reusable content-based on the Modelica open standard modeling language-brings industries beyond digital mock up to deliver functional mock up, transforming the engineering and experimentation of connected vehicles. From electric power storage to electric power distribution, its portfolio delivers a unified picture of complex product subsystem interaction and performance, throughout the design process as well as during optimal system operations. This accelerates virtual product development and ensures the relevance and quality of transportation and mobility industry projects.

Dassault Systems' Dymola technology, along with content and help from Modelon GmbH in high added value service projects greatly improved efficiency in making the game-changing technology of next generation electrified and hybrid cars such as the BMW i3 and BMW i8.

“Since 2009, our industry-proven content implements the latest advances in Modelica tools and standards and, as a result, has enabled major industry milestones,” said Johannes Gerl, CEO, Modelon GmbH. “As part of Dassault Systems, we can expand the reach and impact of our assets to inspire electrified and ecologic product development that will be emblematic of the bright future of experience-based systems engineering.”

“We welcome Modelon GmbH’s team of experts and its industry-proven solutions in our mission to demonstrate the transformative power of 3D universes,” said Bernard Charlès, President and CEO, Dassault Systems. “With our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and strong and growing ecosystem of content partners, we now look to replicate Modelon GmbH’s success in other industries such as aerospace, energy, process and utilities, and construction.”

Dassault Systems has long supported the use of the Modelica modeling language for the complex systems engineering at the core of the company’s flagship brand CATIA. The acquisition of Modelon GmbH marks the latest step in reinforcing its commitment to design smart products in the age of experience, following the acquisitions of Geensoft embedded systems development solutions in 2010 and Dynasim’s Modelica-based modeling and simulation solutions in 2006.

About Dassault Systems

Dassault Systems, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, provides business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations. Its world-leading solutions transform the way products are designed, produced, and supported. Dassault Systems’ collaborative solutions foster social innovation, expanding possibilities for the virtual world to improve the real world. The group brings value to over 190,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com.

Jonathan Pickup Updates Training Manuals for Vectorworks 2015

COLUMBIA, MD, USA, Apr 30, 2015 - The release of Vectorworks Architect 2015 software by global design software developer Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. has prompted the availability of two updates to the company’s Vectorpress series of guidebooks, which are developed to help users make the most of their software. Expert trainer Jonathan Pickup has authored both titles, Vectorworks Architect Tutorial Manual, Seventh Edition and 3D Modeling in Vectorworks, Seventh Edition, providing new and experienced users alike with professional training tools at their fingertips.

Vectorworks Architect Tutorial Manual explains how to incorporate Vectorworks 2015’s tools into a design-based BIM workflow and how new ways of drawing can increase efficiency, all while taking readers through the basics of the software interface. Pickup’s manual breaks down each topic into three steps: read a section of text, watch a video and then complete an exercise. Sections begin with an introduction to the Vectorworks Architect platform and progress through the completion of a mock project for a residential client, including how to generate contract documents. Readers learn how drawing with objects, rather than lines and arcs, and creating projects using BIM principles can improve their workflows.

“What BIM means is that when you draw something in Vectorworks software, it’s more than just a plan representation,” said Pickup. “Many parts of a Vectorworks drawing are much more than they seem. A door, for example, has a model part to which you can attach information about the door, add door hardware or even indicate the supplier and cost of the door. This information can be generated as a report whenever you want it.”

The second updated tutorial, 3D Modeling in Vectorworks, is laid out in three parts. Part one educates readers on using the software’s tools to create 3D models on an individual basis. Part two reveals how to use the technology to create a freeform architectural project. Part three shows the workflow in action, allowing readers to learn to split up projects. The book also contains exercises that feature the new Deform tool, teaching readers the twisting, tapering, building and bending modes.

“Jonathan Pickup’s no nonsense books, with their easy-to-follow graphics and video tutorials, make his manuals the default standard for training on all the Vectorworks packages,” says Architectural Technologist Stephen J. Scaysbrook, MCIAT ACIOB, of Konstrukshon Ltd. “I love the way that Jonathan teaches both Vectorworks software and drawing techniques.”

The Vectorworks Architect Tutorial Manual and 3D Modeling in Vectorworks are part of Nemetschek Vectorworks’ self-paced training options. For more information and to purchase these manuals for $75 each, visit www.vectorworks.net/training/guides.php.

Books will also be available for purchase when Pickup signs copies of his books on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET in the Paris Foyer at the Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel. All registered attendees of the Vectorworks Design Summit are welcome to attend.

About the Author

Jonathan Pickup is an architect trained in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom with over 25 years of industry experience. Pickup is the author of several of the Vectorworks training manuals. Since 2007, he has been running an online training website that has a worldwide base of subscribers that get together virtually every month to improve their use of Vectorworks software.

About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. 

Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is the developer of Vectorworks software, a line of industry-specific CAD and BIM solutions that allow designers to easily capture, develop and communicate their ideas with accuracy and efficiency. With more than half a million users around the world, Vectorworks software is a global leader in 3D design technologies for the AEC, landscape and entertainment industries. Nemetschek Vectorworks was founded in 1985 and has been a part of The Nemetschek Group since its acquisition in 2000. For more information, visit www.vectorworks.net.

3D Systems Announces Global Seminar Series

ROCK HILL, SC, USA, Apr 30, 2015 - 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced a comprehensive seminar series to give businesses, entrepreneurs, educators, designers and other professionals a look at how 3D printing is changing manufacturing and to provide insights on the power of 3D printing in their own design-to-manufacture workflows. The seminars - hundreds worldwide with new locations posted weekly - will include demonstrations of the company’s latest 3D printers, design solutions and advanced materials that are at the core of a present-day manufacturing revolution. On the heels of last year’s seminars, totaling 600+, the 2015 seminar series consists of a number of regional events through December 2015 at reseller locations around the world. Each seminar will provide information pertaining to a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, healthcare, consumer products and more.

“Last year’s seminar series was a resounding success. By partnering with 3D Systems, we have access to the widest spectrum of 3D printing technologies for a broad range of applications, from desktop prototyping to full-scale manufacturing,” said Dale Ford, President and CEO of Hawk Ridge Systems. “Again this year, we’re pleased to be a part of this global effort to champion 3D printing and help our clients create 3D printing-enhanced workflows.”

This seminar series will provide a close look at the diversity and power of 3DS’ 3D printers, as 3DS authorized resellers demonstrate many new products such as industrial-grade, professional full-color, and desktop 3D printers as well as advanced materials. Attendees will see how 3D printing spans the entire design and manufacturing process, including its use in:

• Quick, vibrant full-color concept models to convey design intent
• Functional prototypes to test ideas and improve product quality
• Pre-production tooling and parts to quickly get to market
• Production parts that are lighter weight, higher performing, simpler and more reliable
• Personalized healthcare solutions, including surgical guides and medical models.

“Each seminar is a great opportunity to experience a technology that’s transforming how we make, how we manufacture, how we convey ideas, and even how we play and learn.” said Michele Marchesan, Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Professional Products, 3DS. “We want to help our customers find the right balance of 3D printing capabilities to drive them into a successful future.”

Register for the seminars and learn more about 3DS’ commitment to manufacturing the future today! Click here.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides the most advanced and comprehensive 3D digital design and fabrication solutions available today, including 3D printers, print materials and cloud-sourced custom parts. Its powerful ecosystem transforms entire industries by empowering professionals and consumers everywhere to bring their ideas to life using its vast material selection, including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. 3DS’ leading personalized medicine capabilities save lives and include end-to-end simulation, training and planning, and printing of surgical instruments and devices for personalized surgery and patient specific medical and dental devices. Its democratized 3D digital design, fabrication and inspection products provide seamless interoperability and incorporate the latest immersive computing technologies. 3DS’ products and services disrupt traditional methods, deliver improved results and empower its customers to manufacture the future now. For more information, visit www.3dsystems.com.

Altair, Cray Announce OEM Agreement

TROY, MI, USA, Apr 30, 2015 - Altair announced an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Cray Inc. PBS Professional is now Cray’s preferred workload manager and job scheduler.

The three-year agreement represents an expansion of Altair’s long-standing partnership with Cray, a global leader in supercomputing and high-performance computing (HPC) systems. Under the terms of the agreement, Cray can more easily integrate PBS Professional as the preferred scheduler on Cray systems, with the ability to bundle PBS Professional units with new systems shipped anywhere in the world.

“Our customers will benefit from this relationship as we will be able to more easily and cost-effectively deliver unique, integrated technologies, such as DataWarp I/O acceleration and application power management,” said Barry Bolding, Cray’s vice president of marketing and business development. “Altair and PBS Professional are established leaders in HPC workload management, and we look forward to leveraging this agreement for growth in commercial and other emerging market segments. Now Altair users can come directly to Cray for engineered solutions that are ready to meet their highest HPC requirements.”

“This agreement streamlines both the business and technology integrations between our companies,” said James Scapa, Altair founder and chief executive officer. “We are proud that Cray has the confidence in our PBS Works product line to invest in this manner, essentially naming Altair as the company’s premier workload management software supplier.”

Cray builds the world’s most advanced HPC systems, and offers a comprehensive portfolio of supercomputers, storage, and analytics solutions that deliver unrivaled sustained performance on a wide range of challenging applications. Today’s announcement ensures improved, out-of-the-box productivity for Cray’s customers.

Altair has served the HPC market for decades with award-winning workload management, engineering, and cloud computing software. Used by thousands of companies worldwide, PBS Professional enables engineers in HPC environments to improve productivity, optimize resource utilization and efficiency, and simplify the process of cluster workload management.

Together, Cray and Altair operate some of the largest supercomputers in existence, including many systems in the weather and aerospace industries. For more information about Cray and Altair collaborations, click here.

Customers can already access PBS Professional through Cray under the terms of the OEM agreement.

About Altair

Altair is focused on the development and broad application of simulation technology to synthesize and optimize designs, processes and decisions for improved business performance. Privately held with more than 2,300 employees, Altair is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA, and operates more than 45 offices throughout 23 countries. Today, Altair serves more than 5,000 corporate clients across broad industry segments. For  more information, visit www.altair.com.

Altair to Unveil VisSim 9.0 at PCIM Europe 2015 in Nuremberg

TROY, MI, USA, Apr 30, 2015 - Altair announces that the company will present its solutions for embedded systems development at PCIM Europe taking place May 19-21, 2015 in Nuremberg, Germany. Technologies to be showcased include the VisSim 9.0 product suite, the latest release of Altair’s powerful visual language for mathematical modeling, simulation, and model-based embedded systems development. Live demonstrations and VisSim development thought leaders will be on-hand throughout the event (Booth 7-316) to present how VisSim 9.0 can accelerate model-based design of embedded systems.

Released in March 2015, VisSim 9.0 provides an intuitive visual development environment for increased engineering productivity and broader support for the Texas Instruments (TI) C2000 product family. Now with deep support for motor control simulation and embedded development on TI C2000 microcontrollers (MCUs), VisSim 9.0 enables control engineers to develop embedded systems 100% graphically without the need to write a single line of C code.

“Since the PCIM (Power Conversion Intelligent Motion) show is one of Europe's leading trade shows for power electronics and related applications in intelligent motion, renewable energy, and energy management, it is a great platform to present our products,” said Michael Hoffmann, Senior Vice President, Math and Systems at Altair. “We are looking forward to presenting VisSim 9.0 in Nuremberg and expect a lot of interest especially for our embedded, digital power, and electric drives solutions from the attendees.”

Highlights of Altair's PCIM 2015 booth are:

• VisSim 9.0
• VisSim Embedded
• VisSim for digital power
• VisSim for electric drives

You will find Altair at PCIM Europe 2015 in hall 7 at booth 316.

About Altair 

Altair is focused on the development and broad application of simulation technology to synthesize and optimize designs, processes, and decisions for improved business performance. Privately held with more than 2,300 employees, Altair is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA and operates more than 45 offices throughout 23 countries. Today, Altair serves more than 5,000 corporate clients across broad industry segments. For more information, visit www.altair.com.

Nemetschek Launches 2015 Vectorworks Design Scholarship

COLUMBIA, MD, USA, Apr 30,  2015 - As part of its commitment to helping students succeed, global design software developer Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. has launched the 2015 Vectorworks Design Scholarship program. Students from across all design disciplines around the world are encouraged to submit their best individual or group work by Monday, August 31, 2015 for the opportunity to win up to $10,000 USD.

The submission process is simple; students submit their best project, which may include work completed for a class assignment, and answer three questions, each in 150 words or less. An esteemed panel of judges will evaluate submissions on the basis of design integrity, effective use of computer technology and originality, as well as the articulation and communication of a design vision.

“Today’s students are tomorrow’s visionaries, solving all types of design challenges that the Vectorworks Design Scholarship program lets us celebrate,” said Stewart Rom, chief marketing officer at Nemetschek Vectorworks. “We established this program to support their academic dreams by offering financial assistance, and we can’t wait to see the inspiring work that students submit this year!”

In its second year, the scholarship program supports the next generation of creative potential on two levels. First, regional winners receive $3,000 USD and advance to compete for The Richard Diehl Award in round two for an additional $7,000 USD. Winnings can be applied to tuition, housing, textbooks, studying abroad, conference fees or other educational purposes. Additionally, winners’ schools receive free Vectorworks design software, as well as free in-person or virtual training for faculty and students.

The Richard Diehl Award is a global award named for the founder and chairman of Nemetschek Vectorworks. Through the scholarship, Diehl strives to inspire young minds and give students the tools needed to develop ideas from concept to completion.

To apply to the Vectorworks Design Scholarship or to learn more, visit www.vectorworks.net/scholarship. Winners will be announced on October 15, 2015.

About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.

Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is the developer of Vectorworks software, a line of industry-specific CAD and BIM solutions that allow designers to easily capture, develop and communicate their ideas with accuracy and efficiency. With more than half a million users around the world, Vectorworks software is a global leader in 3D design technologies for the AEC, landscape and entertainment industries. Nemetschek Vectorworks was founded in 1985 and has been a part of The Nemetschek Group since its acquisition in 2000. For more information mail to academicteam@vectorworks.net or visit www.vectorworks.net.

Bricsys Releases BricsCAD V15.2

GENT, Belgium, Apr 30, 2015 - Bricsys announces the release of BricsCAD V15.2, a free update for BricsCAD V15 that offers major new and improved features. 

The major update includes the following highlights.

Quad Cursor Draws

The function of the unique Quad cursor is extended so that it now also draws entities. Users bring up the Quad by clicking the right mouse button to not only modify selected entities, but also place new ones in drawings.

Sheet Metal Junctions

A significant improvement to the sheet metal design facility creates junction features automatically, with BricsCAD supporting several types of junctions.

Junction gaps are automatically preserved, and can be controlled separately by the user. A new system variable defines the target CAM system for unfolding sheet metal parts.

Web Map Service

Map Connect adds correctly located maps to drawings through a connection to a web map service. One or more data layers can be selected for downloading as image files; users can specify the ground resolution and number of tiles into which the data should be divided. The ten most recently used connections are remembered for subsequent sessions. The Geographic Location dialog is redesigned so that users can define and store geographic location data in drawings.

Additional Features

Version 15.2 also offers users the following enhancements, and many more:

• Basic editing of 3D solid faces containing spline geometry
• Offset with preview faces of 3D solids as well as detected boundaries.
• Import 3D data from BIM and SketchUp files
• Stacked multi-line text settings dialog
• Support photometric IES files and web-style lights
• Auto-complete commands by searching for mid-string text

Pricing and Availability

This new update is free. All BricsCAD users with a V15 license can download this major upgrade free of charge from the Bricsys Website. The English language version is available now; translated versions will be made available over the coming weeks. 

New users can try BricsCAD for Windows, Linux, and Mac for 30 days at no charge by downloading them from http://www.bricsys.com.

About Bricsys

Bricsys is a global provider of dwg engineering design software brought to market under the BricsCAD brand. With relentless commitment to the success of the BricsCAD community, Bricsys is focused on providing an industrial strength CAD software platform and industry leading support at a compelling price to customers in the AEC, GIS, civil engineering, process and power, and mechanical CAD markets. Founded in 2002, Bricsys is a founding member of the Open Design Alliance. For more information, visit http://www.bricsys.com.

Nemetschek Localizes Vectorworks 2015 for China

COLUMBIA, MD, USA, Apr 29, 2015 - Global design software developer Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. has released the Chinese-language version of the Vectorworks 2015 line of design software, including Vectorworks Designer, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Fundamentals and Renderworks.

The Vectorworks 2015 software contains more than 100 updates and new features in the areas of architecture, BIM, urban planning and entertainment design. In previous versions, the power of 64-bit was only available in the platform’s photo-realistic rendering engine, Renderworks, but has now been integrated throughout the entire Vectorworks 2015 product line, providing designers with the ability to handle larger projects, as well as better performance and stability. In addition, designers will observe a revolutionary graphical experience from advances made to the Vectorworks Graphics Module (VGM).

“Updates for the 2015 Vectorworks software have been made with designers’ best interests in mind,” said Cecil Fung, managing director of Mad Macs Technology Distributions Limited, the Vectorworks distributor in China. “For instance, the 64-bit feature is beneficial when considering and adopting an improved design solution in China because the geographical scale of projects in the country and the common composition of multi-disciplinary teams often demand the computational and coordination efficiencies that the program provides.”

About Mad Macs Technology Distributions Limited

Mad Macs Technology Distributions Limited is the premier distributor of quality software to dealers, resellers, professional system integrators, as well as major government and educational institutions in Mainland China, Hong Kong and neighboring territories. Mad Macs specializes in 3D design, CAD, animation, visualization and special effects software. For more information, visit www.mmhk.com.

About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. 

Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is the developer of Vectorworks software, a line of industry-specific CAD and BIM solutions that allow designers to easily capture, develop and communicate their ideas with accuracy and efficiency. With more than half a million users around the world, Vectorworks software is a global leader in 3D design technologies for the AEC, landscape and entertainment industries. Nemetschek Vectorworks was founded in 1985 and has been a part of The Nemetschek Group since its acquisition in 2000. For more information, visit www.vectorworks.net.

IronCAD Announces FEA Integration Update

ATLANTA, GA, April 29, 2015 - IronCAD, a leading provider of design productivity solutions, announced an exciting upgrade of their integrated Multi-Physics (MPIC) solution from AMPS. The feedback from users and partners adopting the solution has been phenomenal. Real world experience with the combined pre- and post-processing environment has dramatically improved performance of "what if" analysis.

The integration also promises to speed up first time user acceptance and it provides existing users with an intuitive, unified interface. The newest MPIC version takes advantage of multi-core multi-CPU systems using an advanced lock-free multi-thread pool design which promises considerably faster analysis results. IronCAD's innovative design with integrated feature and direct geometry modification, tight FEA integration and tolerant meshing allows users to work with imprecise models thus reducing the time spent repairing minor design flaws. After evaluating FEA results, users can further optimize their models even if they are working on CAD data from a different vendor.

The latest MPIC integration employs Sefea (Strain Enriched FEA), a proven method developed by AMPS Technologies Co. and presently available only in AMPS products. This new technology promises reduced memory load and radically reduced analysis time.

Mr. Max Schautzgy of Speedy Engineering had this to say, "I am really fascinated with the analysis speed paired with high accuracy that I get by using the Sefea method. In other FEA programs, I have to use smaller elements with more nodes to achieve desired results. Sefea allows us to analyze much larger assemblies without having to wait for results – and all this without sacrificing accuracy".

Cary O'Connor VP Marketing for IronCAD added, "IronCAD's Innovative Design and tightly integrated FEA makes it easy for designers to test and verify design concepts during the development stage. Our MPIC solution is simple to learn and it does not require our users to spend hours preparing models for FEA. Users simply design assemblies and at a push of a few buttons can apply materials, loads/constraints, and perform the analysis while the system takes care of many of the tedious tasks in traditional FEA applications."

To download Multi-Physics for IronCAD,  click here.

About IronCAD
 

Based in Atlanta, GA, IronCAD is a leading provider of 3D Design Productivity Solutions that deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction and productivity. Individual components of this solution can be used standalone, complementary within an existing design environment, or can be used together to collaborate effectively throughout the enterprise to extend productivity. Its flagship product IRONCAD has won many industry awards for its innovative technology and leads the industry in its ease of use and design productivity. IronCAD products are being used successfully by thousands of customers worldwide. For more information on IronCAD, call 1-800-339-7304 or visit www.ironcad.com.

Delcam CRISPIN Releases ShoeMaker Pro 2015 R2

BIRMINGHAM, UK, Apr 23, 2015 - The latest release of Delcam CRISPIN’s ShoeMaker Pro CAD software for the design of all types of footwear includes special editing tools to adapt an existing sole to a new upper design. The 2015 R2 version also incorporates more efficient tools for upper design, such as edge gimping, stitch-down simulation and a new jewellery library, plus improvements to the KeyShot rendering and the ability to export models in Apple’s iBook Widget format for viewing on iPads and iPhones.

ShoeMaker Pro is the only CAD program for the footwear industry that integrates fully the 3D design of uppers and soles, so allowing the complete 3D CAD model of the shoe to be developed and visualised within a single system. This integrated approach benefits all footwear designers, but is particularly advantageous for companies making sports shoes and other designs that include complex soles.

In ShoeMaker Pro 2015 R2, it has been made easier to take an existing sole design and adapt it to a new upper design. Using an existing sole design can shorten the overall development process, while the new alignment tools make 3D modelling of the shoe quicker and easier.

Two new tools allow the shape of the sole to be edited, either by using the bending tool to match a flat sole to the profile of the upper or by using the box morphing tool to reshape the sole to match the last.

Another new option allows stitch-down construction to be modelled. As with the other stitching options in ShoeMaker, various types of stitching can be trialled, with different stitch sizes and spacing.

The main enhancement to the KeyShot rendering in ShoeMaker is the ability to produce a render of a pair of shoes by mirroring the design automatically to generate the second shoe in the image. Once they have been created, the pair exist as separate models within KeyShot so their positions and colouring can be altered independently. The new version also recognises any duplicated features in the model, such as a set of eyelets around the lace holes, and treats them as ‘instances’ of the same geometry. This gives a ‘lighter’ model that can be imported into KeyShot, and then moved within it, more quickly. For further details on the new release, please go to http://lz.delcam-crispin.com. 

For more information on Delcam and its products, visit www.delcam.com. 

Thailand's SIC Selects ZW3D for Auto Parts

GUANGZHOU, China, Apr 21, 2015 - ZW3D, one of the world's leading suppliers of advanced CAD/CAM solutions for the manufacturing industry, today announced that it has been selected by Sue Industrial Co., Ltd.(SIC), a leading manufacturer of brake parts for cars and motorcycles in Thailand.

Established in 1992, SIC is a motorcycle and automobile spare parts manufacturer in Bangkok, Thailand, providing a variety of auto accessories under the “YASAKI” brand in countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Iran, Dubai, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Dominican Republic.

The Need

To stay ahead of market, SIC highly values quality and efficiency. The need for improved efficiency was particularly urgent when manufacturing after-market products via CNC machining. Besides, higher requirements of mold design accompanied with the development of business when SIC tried to keep offering products with a value for money to their customers pushed SIC to find a better solution.

The Solution

With unique advantages, ZW3D stood out from other 3D design platforms and was finally chosen by SIC. “The hybrid modeling really simplifies design processes when creating products. And the all-in-one solution helps us to streamline and speed up the design and manufacturing cycle. ZW3D’s simple 2D drawing definitely accelerates our CNC programming,” said Mr. Somchai, General Manager of SIC. “We used ZW3D to replace AutoCAD and MasterCAM.”

Plus, with whole-process mold functionalities, like quick splitting, standard mold base library and BOM, ZW3D assisted SIC to boost mold design. It turned out that SIC benefited from not only the improved overall mold design efficiency but also the improved overall CAD design efficiency.

To improve user experience, ZW3D also provides valuable service and supports to help SIC maximize utility. “We are satisfied with the quick services all the time.” Atikom added.

About Sue Industrial Co., Ltd.

Sue Industrial Co., Ltd., as a local & overseas supplier and exporter who provides the quality products to customers, mainly produces brake shoes, disc brake pads, wheel hub (front/rear), brake & clutch lever and some accessories, as well as others aluminum-related products.

About ZW3D CAD/CAM

ZW3D is cost-effective CAD/CAM software for 3D modeling, mold design, and machining, which takes engineers from concept to finished product in one easy-to-use, single collaborative environment. For more information, visit http://www.zwsoft.com/ZW3D/ or follow ZWSOFT on Facebook.

COMSOL Multiphysics v5.1 Released

BURLINGTON, MA, USA, Apr 17, 2015 - COMSOL, the leading provider of multiphysics modeling and simulation software, announced the release of the COMSOL Multiphysics software version 5.1, the first and only integrated simulation environment for building multiphysics models and for creating and sharing easy-to-use simulation apps. Simulation experts can now benefit from a fully integrated environment where they can create models with COMSOL Multiphysics, build simulation apps with the Application Builder, and share these apps with non-experts via COMSOL Server. COMSOL software version 5.1 enhances user experience and productivity by allowing users to seamlessly combine model setup with application design from within a single interface. Major upgrades to the Application Builder include full integration between the Model Builder and Application Builder, improved layout tools for app design, and LiveLink for Excel capabilities in applications. Customers will also benefit from the flexibility of being able to run applications on multiple computers with COMSOL Server.

The Corrugated Circular Horn Antenna demo app lets the user modify the geometry of an antenna in order to optimize its radiation characteristics and aperture cross-polarization ratio at the frequency of interest. This app has been created with the Application Builder available in the COMSOL Multiphysics software.

Going from Model to App Is Quick and Easy

In COMSOL Multiphysics 5.1, the Model Builder and Application Builder have been merged into one unified and interactive environment. While building an app, an engineer can easily switch between the Model Builder and Application Builder and make updates to both the model and app simultaneously. The Application Builder is now accessible directly from the ribbon in COMSOL Multiphysics, where the user can simply switch to the app design environment and continue working in just one click. Additionally, both models and apps can be saved in the unified .mph file format.

“The Application Builder is the only application design environment where the user can create multiphysics apps not only within a single software environment, but within a single window using the same file format,” said Bjorn Sjodin, VP of Product Management. “This innovation streamlines the app design process and allows simulation apps to become a truly game-changing engineering solution that will bring powerful design capabilities to non-experts.”

This streamlined integration of the Model Builder and Application Builder allows model data to be exchanged between the two tools from within the same environment. For example, a function or feature available in the Model Builder can be quickly made available in the Application Builder for the application designer to use. There is no need to interface between different software packages and all tools needed are readily available. Additionally, for instances where the application designer wishes to implement highly-customized commands and operations, code generation is greatly simplified in version 5.1 and many template codes are provided.

“COMSOL today defined the standard for user experience in simulation application design by integrating model building and app design tools into a single environment,” said Svante Littmarck, CEO of COMSOL, Inc. “COMSOL 5.1 delivers additional features that provide our customers with highly productive tools to build and share their simulation applications with users everywhere.”

In the demo application Payload Capacity of a Truck Mounted Crane, a rigid-body analysis of a crane is performed in order to find the payload capacity for the specified orientation and extension of the crane. The application also provides the usage of hydraulic cylinders and highlights the limiting cylinder. This app has been created with the Application Builder available in the COMSOL Multiphysics software and has been shared and launched from COMSOL Server.

COMSOL Server also includes many improvements. It can now be run on multiple computers, allowing computations to be run on a separate machine from where the app is being launched. The updated Application Library in COMSOL Server features new grid, detail, and list views with information on which add-on products are needed to create a particular application.

To explore the new features, many new demo applications have been added to the Application Libraries and are available to run within the COMSOL software. “The demo applications include self-contained documentation and showcase many useful features,” said Littmarck. “You can run these applications to explore how to email simulation reports, create animations, perform optimizations and parameter estimation, as well as import experimental data and handle tables. All the demo apps are available for you to edit, and forms, form objects, and methods can be copied from these apps and used as a starting point for your own application designs.”

In the Biosensor Design demo application, the user can change the design of the sensor by altering parameters such as pillar diameter, grid spacing, and inlet velocity to investigate how the design affects the detection results. Also, manufacturing constraints, set by a minimum distance between pillars, are reported in the application.

Hundreds of COMSOL Multiphysics and Add-On Product Updates Available to Customers

COMSOL Multiphysics users can now browse models and applications without the add-on product licenses and can perform additional postprocessing on the available results. This update will have a major impact on productivity as users can now inspect any COMSOL file and, while the simulation cannot be solved again, can see which features has been used and easily work on models and applications created by others.

Version 5.1 also introduces numerous enhancements to the existing functionalities of COMSOL Multiphysics and its add-on products. Ready-to-use parametric geometric components are now available to use with any module and a library of dedicated parts have been created for the Microfluidics Module, Mixer Module, Ray Optics Module, and Structural Mechanics Module. The Ray Optics Module and Wave Optics Module will also benefit from the addition of a new Optical Materials Database.

To watch the release highlights video and download COMSOL Multiphysics version 5.1 now, visit www.comsol.com/release/5.1

Highlights of New Features and Tools Available in COMSOL Version 5.1

• Application Builder and COMSOL Server: Tighter integration between the Model Builder and Application Builder. Numerous productivity enhancements such as improved file handling, sending emails with attachments, string and keyword searches, custom toolbars for tables, and more. COMSOL Server can now distribute the workload of running applications on multiple computers. 20 fully-documented and ready-to-use simulation apps based on COMSOL models have been added to the Application Libraries.
• Geometry and Mesh: Face detection for imported meshes, surface simplification in mesh to geometry conversion, and domain and boundary selections for NASTRAN Property ID Numbers tools.
• Modeling Tools, Studies, and Visualization: A new matrix-free domain-decomposition solver. Visualization of a solution outside of the mesh (useful for far fields in electromagnetic waves and acoustic waves). Visualization of a periodic solution in a unit cell as a custom-sized array. Plots of geometric points or cut-points and their trajectory through time.
• Electrical: Multi-turn coil computation for coils with varying cross-sections. Surface roughness on lossy conductive boundaries for electromagnetic wave simulations. Hexagonal periodic structure handling. Special tools for handling ring resonators with the beam envelope formulation. New Optical Materials database. New Part Library for Ray Optics Module. Perforations feature for thin film damping (useful for MEMS). Demo application for computing and visualizing the color of an LED based on semiconductor physics.
• Mechanical: A new multiphysics interface for hygroscopic swelling has been added to the Structural Mechanics Module. Membranes can now have nonlinear materials. Trusses can be modeled to include nonlinear springs and plasticity. A Part Library has also been added for structural applications, which includes beams and bolts. A new Algebraic Turbulence model has been added to the Heat Transfer Module. A new multiphysics interface for heat transfer in porous media enables local thermal non-equilibrium simulations (useful for microwave heating, exothermic reactions, nuclear engineering, electronics system design, and full cells). New predefined impedance boundary conditions for acoustics. Ray acoustics for graded media and fluid models with attenuation.
• Fluid: Euler-Euler two-phase flow with turbulence. Fluid flow simulations can now combine porous media flow with turbulent flow, and porous domains are allowed to be unbounded with the aid of infinite elements. New pressure loss options for T-junctions, Y-junctions, and n-way junctions available for pipe flow simulations. New Part Library available in the Mixer Module.
• Chemical: Macroscale to miscroscale concentration coupling at pellet-fluid interface. Automatic computation of gas mixture viscosity for fluids and dusty gas model features. A new state-of-the-art multiscale tutorial model of a 3D packed bed reactor with two levels of homogenization.
• Multipurpose: New multiphysics interfaces for particle field interactions and fluid-particle interactions, inelastic collisions, and release sampling from velocity distributions for particle tracing simulation.

About COMSOL

COMSOL provides simulation software for product design and research to technical enterprises, research labs, and universities through 22 offices and a distributor network throughout the world. Its flagship products, COMSOL Multiphysics and COMSOL Server, are software environments for modeling and simulating any physics-based system and for building and distributing applications. A particular strength is its ability to account for coupled or multiphysics phenomena. Add-on products expand the simulation platform for electrical, mechanical, fluid flow, and chemical applications. Interfacing tools enable the integration of COMSOL Multiphysics simulation with all major technical computing and CAD tools on the CAE market. For more information, visit http://www.comsol.com.

PTC Announces LiveWorx 2015 IoT Conference; Launches 24 Hr. Hackathon

NEEDHAM, MA, USA, Apr 14, 2015 - The future of the Internet of Things is happening now. PTC (Nasdaq: PTC) announced LiveWorx 2015, the only conference to bring together hundreds of real-world success stories with the IoT. Hosted by PTC and ThingWorx and sponsored by industry leading technology and solution providers, the event will be held May 4-7, 2015 in Boston, MA. To learn more about LiveWorx 2015, click here.

LiveWorx 2015 is designed as a global industry event for IoT leaders who are shaping the future of this technology and are transforming businesses in order to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. PTC and ThingWorx are uniting industry pioneers and revolutionary ideas to feature groundbreaking technology demonstrations, offer keynotes from industry experts and invite business leaders to share stories of transformation.

Speakers include:

• Steve Wozniak, co-founder Apple and inventor of the Apple II computer
• Charles D. Baker, Governor of Massachusetts
• Dr. Michael Porter, Harvard Business School and co-author of Harvard Business Review article, “How Smart, Connected Products are Transforming Competition”
• Jim Heppelmann, President and CEO, PTC and co-author of Harvard Business Review article, “How Smart, Connected Products are Transforming Competition”
• Tom Hopcroff, President & CEO, Mass Technology Leadership Council, Inc.

LiveWorx 2015 will host its First Annual Internet of Things Hackathon May 2-3 at the Engineering Product Innovation Center (EPIC), Boston University. Participants will put their technical expertise to the test as they crack IoT challenges, wire up prototypes and devices, pitch groundbreaking IoT solutions and build apps for smart city, accessibility and smart agriculture on the ThingWorxIoT platform. Finalists will compete for cash prizes and will have the opportunity to present their innovations on stage to 2,000 event attendees. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak will award the ultimate prize as he crowns the LiveWorx 2015 IoT Hackathon champions. Entry into the IoT Hackathon is open to the public and free of charge. To register, click here.

Benefits of attending LiveWorx 2015:

• Learn new approaches to connecting, manufacturing, operating and servicing “smart products” through demonstrations of groundbreaking IoT technology and updates on the latest product capabilities and business models
• Access more than 50 sessions hosted by technology and business leaders sharing their challenges and success with a broad range of IoT topics, including analytics, big data, security, connected health, global connection and deployment strategies
• Connect with our partners, the industry experts who will share practical, implementable ideas for IoT success
• Build a community with fellow IoT industry pioneers as you shape the future of IoT

“The Internet of Things bridges the digital and physical worlds to enable a new reality that is fundamentally transforming the way we create, operate, and service products and systems,” said Jim Heppelmann, president and CEO, PTC. “Our goal is for LiveWorx 2015 is to bring together the community of industry pioneers defining the future of the IoT. This event will be the world’s largest gathering of companies, partners, implementers and visionaries dedicated to building and shaping the new IoT world.”

Registration for LiveWorx 2015 is open and can be found here.

About ThingWorx, a PTC Business

ThingWorx, a PTC (Nasdaq: PTC) business, provides the first platform designed to efficiently build and run the applications of today's connected world. ThingWorx, the centerpiece of PTC’s Internet of Things (IoT) technology portfolio, combines capabilities from Axeda to deliver the world’s first complete IoT Platform, which includes connectivity, device cloud, business logic, big data, analytics and remote service applications. The combination delivers a comprehensive IoT technology stack that enables companies to securely connect assets, quickly create applications, and innovate new ways to capture value. Companies already leveraging this technology to capitalize on the potential of the IoT represent a wide range of markets, including manufacturing, energy, agriculture, transportation, and government. For more information, please visit our websites at www.thingworx.com, www.axeda.com, and www.PTC.com.

About PTC

PTC (NASDAQ: PTC) enables manufacturers to achieve sustained product and service advantage. PTC's technology solutions help customers transform the way they create, operate and service products for a smart, connected, world. Founded in 1985, PTC employs approximately 6,000 professionals serving more than 28,000 businesses in rapidly-evolving, globally distributed manufacturing industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.PTC.com.

DP Technology Releases ESPRIT 2015

CAMARILLO, CA, USA, Apr 14, 2015 - CAM industry innovator DP Technology Corp. is pleased to announce the release of a new version of its pioneering flagship product ESPRIT 2015.

ESPRIT helps increase productivity for a full range of machine tool applications by generating more efficient toolpaths while also saving time by providing substantial improvements in computer numerical control (CNC) programming productivity.

Besides increasing productivity, the release also provides many new and improved features specifically in the areas of intelligent machining, strategic machining, CAD-CAM data exchange and Cloud-Enabled CAM.

Intelligent Machining

Intelligent machining features in ESPRIT 2015 accelerates the machining process by providing new and unique 5-Axis cycles that reduce cycle time. This makes it possible to completely machine blades in a single setup. ESPRIT’s 5-Axis Blade Roughing tool motion is morphed across the blade from any size stock shape to uniformly offset stock allowance so it can be immediately followed by a finishing cycle. “ ESPRIT 2015 offers unique features in 5-axis to make complex machining more efficient, allowing users to have more tool path options with features like blade roughing and chamfering.” said Cedric Simard, Global Marketing Director of DP Technology. “ESPRIT 2015 blade roughing enables users to remove material down to uniform stock around the blade and eliminates the need to follow semi-finish cycles. Users in the aerospace, energy, medical and automotive industries will benefit the most from these time-saving operations for precision parts.”

The Port Roughing cycle, another intelligent machining improvement in ESPRIT 2015, is a brand new 5-Axis cycle. It creates a 5-axis roughing operation to remove the material inside an area where the tool must enter through a restricted opening. The shape of the toolpath is an offset of the port surfaces, starting at the surface and proceeding inward at a constant stepover.

Productivity Boost

ESPRIT 2015 also includes features that increase machining productivity. The new Bottom Up roughing strategy helps take ESPRIT’s ProfitMilling high speed material removal cycle to the next level. The new Bottom Up strategy lets you attain a small residual stock height during the stock removal process. Even more, it can be combined with ProfitMilling - our unique high-speed machining roughing technology - for a major improvement in overall productivity. ProfitMilling optimizes toolpaths with engagement angle, chip load, lateral cutter force and material removal rate to massively reduce cycle time and increase tool life.

Strategic machining

The strategic machining capabilities of ESPRIT 2015 have been expanded with completely redesigned stock automation capabilities for multi—tasking machines with mill, turn and drill capabilities. Available for the Facing, Contouring and Pocketing milling cycles, the new stock automation function maintains awareness of the stock removed by previous operations to generate cutting passes only in areas where stock remains. This function greatly reduces air cutting which in turn drastically reduces cycle time.

Additional strategic machining improvements have been made by providing support for slot mill tools in the Port Milling and Composite cycles. Slot mill tools save machining time on operations as tee-slotting and square shoulder milling and their geometry generates lower cutting forces in soft materials and unstable setups which increases tool life. Barrel-shaped cutters are now supported in 5-Axis Blade and Composite cycles. Barrel-shaped cutters provide a much better surface finish than ball end mills because their geometry provides a larger effective radius of engagement, resulting in smaller cusps between toolpaths.

CAD to CAM

New data exchange features in ESPRIT 2015 make it easier ever before to move information from your CAD system into the CAM environment. Three new geometry types -- sketches, feature profiles and curves -- are now available through ESPRIT FX data exchange from Dassault Systemes CATIA, Parametric Technology Pro/ENGINEER and Siemens NX/UG. The additional information obtained from these geometry types can be easily manipulated to cover complex areas for roughing operations or extend surfaces to get a better finish on edges.

ESPRIT 2015 provides another important improvement to shorten programming time by increasing the accuracy of automated feature recognition. The enhanced Auto Chain support for solid faces, loops and edges lets you create chain features directly on solid models. In addition, a redesigned wall feature recognition command automatically recognizes the upper and lower limits of walls, even tapered walls, in a solid model.

Cloud-Enabled CAM

ESPRIT 2015 allows you to select tools based on the features of your parts in minutes - saving you the drudgery of flipping through catalogs to find ideal tooling. With the ESPRIT MachiningCloud Connection, programmers have access to complete and up-to-date tooling product data, cutting hours of programming time by eliminating manual tool creation. ESPRIT 2015 simplifies the selection of cutting tools and automatically obtains the recommended ones.

About ESPRIT

ESPRIT is a high-performance computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system for a full range of machine tool applications. ESPRIT delivers powerful full-spectrum programming for 2–5 axis milling, 2–22 axis turning, 2–5 axis wire EDM, multitasking mill-turn machining and B-axis machine tools, and high-speed 3- and 5-axis machining.

About DP Technology Corp.

DP Technology maintains its worldwide headquarters in Camarillo, Calif., and product development teams in California, Florence, Italy; and Berlin, Germany. Sales and support operations are located in Europe, Asia, and North and South America.

For more information about DP Technology and ESPRIT, call +1 805 388 6000, send an e-mail to esprit@dptechnology.com , or visit www.dptechnology.com.

EOS, ESCI Open Additive Manufacturing Facility in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD, India, Apr 14, 2015 - EOS, global technology and quality leader for high-end Additive Manufacturing (AM) solutions, jointly with the Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI) inaugurates the ESCI-EOS Centre for Additive Manufacturing at the ESCI-facility in Hyderabad.

Anand Prakasam, Country Manager for India at EOS states: “The technology offers a true value adds for industries such as aerospace, medical and tooling. We already see high market interest for it in India, yet market education is still key.” And he adds: “At the ESCI we will showcase technology capabilities based on a variety of application examples. We will also offer trainings with a focus on design rules for the Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) process, e.g. for the design of conformal cooling channels for tooling applications, to enable our customers to best unfold the full potential of this design-driven manufacturing process.”

Dr. U. Chandrasekar, Director of ESCI, concludes: "Through this joint collaboration effort we want to play a proactive role in building up design for additive manufacturing capabilities. Our organization can perfectly support EOS in creating more awareness among prospective users from various sectors and in understanding the role the EOS metal technology can play in their product development and manufacturing endeavors. The better a potential user or customer understands the basic functionalities and fundamentals of this manufacturing process, the better they can integrate it into existing manufacturing and prototyping eco systems. Together with EOS customers we also plan to develop some customer references.”

About EOS GmbH

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Germany, EOS is the technology and market leader for design-driven, integrated e-Manufacturing solutions for Additive Manufacturing (AM), an industrial 3D printing process. EOS offers a modular solution portfolio including systems, software, materials and material development as well as services (maintenance, training, specific application consulting). As an industrial manufacturing process it allows the fast and flexible production of high-end parts based on 3D CAD data at a repeatable industry level of quality. As a disruptive technology it paves the way for a paradigm shift in product design and manufacturing. It accelerates product development, offers freedom of design, enables the optimization of part structures, and enables lattice structures as well as functional integration. As such, it creates significant competitive advantages for its customers. For more information, visit www.eos.info.

Robert Schechter Succeeds Donald Grierson as PTC Board Chair

NEEDHAM, MA, USA, Apr 11, 2015 - PTC (Nasdaq: PTC) announced that Robert Schechter has assumed the role of chairman of the company’s Board of Directors. Schechter, a PTC director since 2009, is former CEO of NMS Communications Corporation, a provider of hardware and software solutions for the communications industry. He has considerable experience in the technology industry, currently serving on the boards of Tremor Video Inc. and EXA Corporation and previously serving on the boards of Unica Corporation and Soapstone Networks. Schechter succeeds Donald Grierson, who will continue to serve on PTC’s board.

“Bob brings a valuable combination of business strategy, technology and financial acumen to PTC’s board,” said Jim Heppelmann, PTC’s president and CEO. “We look forward to benefiting from Bob’s tremendous board experience and business insight as we focus on profitable growth and delivering shareholder value.”

Prior to NMS Communications, Schechter held positions of chief financial officer and senior vice president at Lotus Development Corporation and was responsible for all sales, marketing, customer service and product development activities outside of North America, as well as Lotus global consulting services. Both Lotus and NMS represented innovative paradigm shifts in Internet collaboration and wireless connectivity. Schechter’s experiences at those companies uniquely positions him to lead PTC’s board of directors as PTC pursues its own disruptive innovation in the Internet of Things. Previously, Schechter was a Partner at Coopers & Lybrand LLP and served as Chairman of the North East Region High Tech Practice.

“Having contributed to PTC’s strategic direction over the past six years as a board member, I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the opportunity to help PTC seize the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Schechter. “PTC has tapped into a massive wave of technology innovation, particularly in the area of the Internet of Things, and has made moves to place itself in a leadership position. The company is now appropriately focusing on how to capitalize on this opportunity to drive a new era of growth.”

Schechter assumes the board chair from Donald Grierson, a long-time director who served as Independent Lead Director from 2010 to 2012, and became board chair in 2012. Mr. Grierson will continue to serve as a director of the board and as Chairman of PTC’s Compensation Committee.

“During Don’s chairmanship, PTC moved boldly into new markets, helping differentiate the company and positioning us for growth, while at the same time increasing operating margins and driving shareholder value. We are grateful for Don’s leadership over the past several years, and we look forward to his continued contribution to the company’s success,” concluded Heppelmann.

About PTC

PTC (Nasdaq: PTC) enables manufacturers to achieve sustained product and service advantage. The company’s technology solutions transform the way products are created, operated, and serviced across the entire product lifecycle – from conception and design to sourcing and service. Founded in 1985, PTC employs over 6,000 professionals serving more than 28,000 businesses in rapidly evolving, globally distributed manufacturing industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ptc.com.

Altair Announces 2015 FEKO Student Competition

TROY, MI, USA, Apr 11, 2015 - Altair announced that engineering students from across the globe are once again invited to compete in the popular FEKO Student Competition. The competition is open to all under-graduate and post-graduate students who work on a supervised project in the area of electromagnetic engineering and make use of FEKO, Altair's comprehensive electromagnetic (EM) analysis software suite, included in HyperWorks.

The competition is an ideal opportunity for students to showcase their work in FEKO and some attractive prizes are up for grabs – a state-of-the-art laptop computer or attendance to an Altair ATC or ATCx, conference series, which are hosted around the world each year.

“Since FEKO is now part of Altair HyperWorks, the competition is being launched through the Altair academic website which provides us with a much larger audience so we are expecting the competition to be even more popular than in the past,” explains Gronum Smith, Marketing Director EM Solutions at Altair. “We receive entries from all over the world and have had winners from England, USA, Spain, South Africa and Italy since the competition began in 2003.”

"By using FEKO the students gain experience with a leading CEM tool that is widely used in industry. This experience will be very useful in their future engineering careers,” explains Altair Business Development Director of Academic Markets, Dr Matthias Goelke.

Gastón Ezequiel Perez, a final year electronic engineering student from the Universidad Tecnologica Nacional, Facultad Regional Buenos Aires, Argentina, won the 2014 FEKO Student Competition.

Mr. Perez' winning entry, entitled Design of a Patch Antenna Array for Beamforming Combined with Metamaterials at 5.8 GHz, described the systematic design of a planar array system and how each design decision was informed by electromagnetic simulation. The goal was to provide a solution for satellite applications that require the on-board antenna to be low profile, high gain, and dynamically orientable while adhering to strict weight and volume constraints. Phased signals were used for beam-forming, eliminating the drawback of requiring a change in mechanical parts to reorient the radiation pattern.

Students should register at www.altairuniversity.com. Once registered the participants will receive further details on requirements, links to support forums, and guides. Deadline for entries is 30 September 2015. More information can be found on the Altair University website.

“We are happy to announce that FEKO has now been added to the Altair Support Forum. Here students can discuss any issues they experience with FEKO, in real-time, whilst working on any of their projects. Our support engineers around the world are active on the forum so there is always someone available to answer any questions. This hands-on support is invaluable to students and we encourage them to register at http://forum.altairhyperworks.com/” adds Matthias.

About Altair

Altair is focused on the development and broad application of simulation technology to synthesize and optimize designs, processes and decisions for improved business performance. Privately held with more than 2,300 employees, Altair is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA and operates more than 40 offices throughout 22 countries. Today, Altair serves more than 5,000 corporate clients across broad industry segments. For more information, visit www.altair.com.

Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE R2015x GA - On Premise Installation Available

Apr 11, 2015 - Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE R2015x GA - on premise installation now available. This document covers Pre-requisite installation/configuration steps required for all services of 3DEXPERIENCE platform like 3DPassport, 3DDashboard with 3DSwym. In the troubleshooting section you will find common issues observed during installation.

To download the White Paper (pdf), click here. [Note: *DS Passport (Sign up) required!]

Permalink!

3D Systems Acquires China's Easyway

ROCK HILL, SC, USA, Apr 11, 2015 - 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced that it acquired Easyway Design and Manufacture Co. in China, including its wholly owned subsidiaries comprising the Easyway Group, creating 3D Systems China. Easyway is a leading Chinese 3D printing sales and service provider with key operations in Shanghai, Wuxi, Beijing, Guangdong and Chongqing. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
 

“We are excited to become part of 3D Systems, a leading provider of the most complete portfolio of 3D digital design and fabrication solutions available today,” said May Zhou, General Manager, Easyway. “We plan to leverage our collective knowledge and experience for the benefit of our customers by building a stronger local presence and immediately delivering the full range of 3DS products throughout China.”

Easyway brings to 3DS extensive and experienced greater China sales and service coverage, substantial service bureau production capabilities and long-term, key relationships with leading Chinese automotive, medical and consumer goods companies, including VW, Nissan, Philips, Omron, Black & Decker, Panasonic and Honeywell.

Concurrently, the company today announced the formation of 3D Systems China under the capable leadership of May Zhou, Easyway’s founder. The acquisition provides 3DS with a strong platform to scale its in-country Quickparts custom manufacturing operations and multiplexes its 3D printing reseller coverage.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Easyway and together expand our business in China,” commented Avi Reichental, President and Chief Executive Officer, 3DS. “With operations in key Chinese cities and well-established 3D printing sales and service bureau operations, Easyway represents the cornerstone of our expansion plans for China.”

“We believe that the strong relationship and strategic fit between our companies, combined with Easyway’s on-the-ground infrastructure, coverage and deep customer relationships, could present significant benefits for our customers, sizeable growth opportunities for us and long term value for our shareholders,” concluded Reichental.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides the most advanced and comprehensive 3D digital design and fabrication solutions available today, including 3D printers, print materials and cloud-sourced custom parts. Its powerful ecosystem transforms entire industries by empowering professionals and consumers everywhere to bring their ideas to life using its vast material selection, including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. 3DS’ leading personalized medicine capabilities save lives and include end-to-end simulation, training and planning, and printing of surgical instruments and devices for personalized surgery and patient specific medical and dental devices. Its democratized 3D digital design, fabrication and inspection products provide seamless interoperability and incorporate the latest immersive computing technologies. 3DS’ products and services disrupt traditional methods, deliver improved results and empower its customers to manufacture the future now. For more information, visit www.3dsystems.com.

Delcam CRISPIN to Launch ShoeMaker Pro 2015 R2 at Jinjiang Expo

BIRMINGHAM, UK, Apr 11, 2015 - At the Jinjiang Footwear Expo to be held in Fujian, China, from 18th to 21st April, Delcam CRISPIN will launch the new release of its ShoeMaker Pro CAD software for the design of all types of footwear includes special editing tools to adapt an existing sole to a new upper design. The 2015 R2 version also incorporates more efficient tools for upper design, such as edge gimping, stitch-down simulation and a new jewellery library, plus improvements to the KeyShot rendering and the ability to export models in Apple’s iBook Widget format for viewing on iPads and iPhones.

 

The Delcam CRISPIN stand will also display the winning designs in the company’s recent footwear design competition.

ShoeMaker Pro is the only CAD program for the footwear industry that integrates fully the 3D design of uppers and soles, so allowing the complete 3D CAD model of the shoe to be developed and visualized within a single system. This integrated approach benefits all footwear designers, but is particularly advantageous for companies making sports shoes and other designs that include complex soles.

In ShoeMaker Pro 2015 R2, it has been made easier to take an existing sole design and adapt it to a new upper design. Using an existing sole design can shorten the overall development process, while the new alignment tools make 3D modelling of the shoe quicker and easier.

Two new tools allow the shape of the sole to be edited, either by using the bending tool to match a flat sole to the profile of the upper or by using the box morphing tool to reshape the sole to match the last.

Another new option allows stitch-down construction to be modeled. As with the other stitching options in ShoeMaker, various types of stitching can be trialled, with different stitch sizes and spacing.

The main enhancement to the KeyShot rendering in ShoeMaker is the ability to produce a render of a pair of shoes by mirroring the design automatically to generate the second shoe in the image. Once they have been created, the pair exist as separate models within KeyShot so their positions and coloring can be altered independently. The new version also recognizes any duplicated features in the model, such as a set of eyelets around the lace holes, and treats them as ‘instances’ of the same geometry. This gives a ‘lighter’ model that can be imported into KeyShot, and then moved within it, more quickly. For further details on the new release, visit http://lz.delcam-crispin.com. 

 

For more information on Delcam and its products, visit www.delcam.com.

Nemetschek Localizes Vectorworks 2015 for China

COLUMBIA, MD, USA, Apr 10, 2015 - Global design software developer Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. has released the Chinese-language version of the Vectorworks 2015 line of design software, including Vectorworks Designer, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Fundamentals and Renderworks.

The Vectorworks 2015 software contains more than 100 updates and new features in the areas of architecture, BIM, urban planning and entertainment design. In previous versions, the power of 64-bit was only available in the platform’s photorealistic rendering engine, Renderworks, but has now been integrated throughout the entire Vectorworks 2015 product line, providing designers with the ability to handle larger projects, as well as better performance and stability. In addition, designers will observe a revolutionary graphical experience from advances made to the Vectorworks Graphics Module (VGM).

“Updates for the 2015 Vectorworks software have been made with designers’ best interests in mind,” said Cecil Fung, managing director of Mad Macs Technology Distributions Limited, the Vectorworks distributor in China. “For instance, the 64-bit feature is beneficial when considering and adopting an improved design solution in China because the geographical scale of projects in the country and the common composition of multi-disciplinary teams often demand the computational and coordination efficiencies that the program provides.”

Mad Macs will host launch events in Guangzhou (April 3, 2015), Shenzhen (April 6, 2015), Shanghai (April 9, 2015), Beijing (April 14, 2015), Nanjing (April 16-17, 2015), Hangzhou (April 27, 2015) and Chongqing (May 6, 2015), providing an introduction to new features in Vectorworks 2015 that will benefit architectural, commercial space design, landscaping and planning, and stage and exhibition lighting designers.

Members of the press, industry group representatives and those interested in learning more about the Chinese-language version of Vectorworks 2015 are invited to attend the launch events and will be joined by attendees from state-owned, private sector and academic institutes. To sign up to attend, email events.2015@vectorworks.cn or register online.

About Mad Macs Technology Distributions Limited 

Mad Macs Technology Distributions Limited is the premier distributor of quality software to dealers, resellers, professional system integrators, as well as major government and educational institutions in Mainland China, Hong Kong and neighboring territories. Mad Macs specializes in 3D design, CAD, animation, visualization and special effects software. For more information, visit www.mmhk.com.

About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. 

Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is the developer of Vectorworks software, a line of industry-specific CAD and BIM solutions that allow designers to easily capture, develop and communicate their ideas with accuracy and efficiency. With more than half a million users around the world, Vectorworks software is a global leader in 3D design technologies for the AEC, landscape and entertainment industries. Nemetschek Vectorworks was founded in 1985 and has been a part of The Nemetschek Group since its acquisition in 2000. For more information, visit www.vectorworks.net.

Delcam Launches PowerMILL Robot 2015 for Multi-Axis Machining

BIRMINGHAM, UK, Apr 9, 2015 - Delcam has launched the 2015 release of its PowerMILL Robot software for the programming of robots for multi-axis machining operations. The new release enables manual and CNC programming to be combined in a single program so providing the maximum programming flexibility. Other enhancements include improved collision checking, automatic avoidance of wrist singularities and the ability to generate robot programs from tape files produced in other CAM software. 

PowerMILL Robot also benefits from the many enhancements made in recent releases of PowerMILL, in particular the Vortex strategy for high-efficiency area clearance. In addition, the range of robots supported by the system has been increased so that it now includes KUKA, ABB, Fanuc, Yaskawa Motoman, Stäubli, Hyundai, Comau, Kawasaki Robot, Nachi and Universal Robots equipment, in all cases eliminating any need for third-party translation software.

The new functionality in the 2015 release allows users to duplicate in the virtual environment teach-and-learn programming of the robot for linking moves. The model robot on the computer can be ‘jogged’ between positions where machining is to take place, in a similar way to the movement of the arm in the real environment. The programmed linking moves can then be integrated with the cutting moves to give the complete sequence of operations.

This approach will be necessary in any cases where there are additional objects in the real world that are not included in the CAD model of the part to be machined, such as the clamps or fixture being used to hold the item. In other cases, the user might prefer to move up and over the part, rather than moving around it, even if that is shorter.

A singularity in robot operation occurs when collinear alignment of two or more axes results in unpredictable robot motion. Singularities must, therefore, be eliminated to maintain smooth, predictable machining. The new release avoids automatically wrist singularities, the most common example of this type of problem.

The improved collision checking in the 2015 release allows the complete NC program to be simulated in one operation so saving considerable time when compared to the previous method of checking each toolpath individually.

Finally, the ability has been added to import existing tape files from other CAM systems. Once imported, the toolpaths can be simulated and post-processed in PowerMILL Robot in the same way as toolpaths from PowerMILL.

PowerMILL Robot makes it as easy to program a robot for machining as it is to program a five-axis machine tool. As a fully-associated application inside PowerMILL, users have access to all the multi-axis machining strategies within PowerMILL and can use all the system’s project management options to manage, store and retrieve data.

With PowerMILL Robot, robots can be programmed for tool-to-part applications, making them ideal for machining large parts, such as composite panels that need to be trimmed, or for part-to-tool applications, such as grinding or linishing. The working area can be extended with linear tracks and rotary tables for even greater flexibility over the size and types of parts that can be manufactured.

To see how easy it is to use PowerMILL Robot, visit www.delcam.tv/cnc-polystyrene.