Dassault Systèmes Unveils V5 SOA Strategy

Open architecture for collaborative online PLM services

Dassault Systèmes, a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced its V5 SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) strategy. This strategy demonstrates DS’ commitment to extend the benefits of PLM solutions to new markets and new types of users and communities. V5 SOA is the cornerstone for DS and its partners to deliver fully collaborative PLM services on demand.

"I am delighted that DS fully endorses the SOA strategy and standards for its applications and extends it to match customers’ PLM needs," said Robert LeBlanc, General Manager, Websphere, IBM. "Together with DS, we will service our customers and partners with the unique value of our combined complete PLM solutions to collaborate and innovate."

"With our V5 SOA strategy, DS extends current CAA V5 architecture with best in class web technologies and introduces the unique power of 3D collaborative applications for networked innovation," explains Dominique Florack, Executive Vice President, Strategy, R&D, Dassault Systèmes. "DS demonstrates once again its commitment to secure and leverage customers’ investments while continuously delivering breakthrough applications and services to speed up and extend the PLM business transformation."

"V5 SOA increases our ability to develop next-generation PLM solutions and solve the challenges at the core of our customers' businesses," says Yoshikazu Niwa, Executive Corporate Officer, Nihon Unisys Solutions Ltd. "SOA architecture allows us to rapidly integrate our solutions based on an existing application framework, with a unified user interface, bringing added flexibility to the supply chain. It will drive innovation and ensure that our customers remain competitive."

V5 SOA is the technical foundation for DS’ PLM brands and partners’ solutions moving forward. It bridges the gap between PLM solutions and existing enterprise middleware, by providing services in five key domains:

• V5 SOA collaborative user experience
• V5 SOA business process modeling and execution
• V5 SOA IP modeling, integration and management
• V5 SOA Enterprise foundations (search, collaboration)
• V5 SOA openness (web services, 3DXML,)

DS will leverage its strategic technological partnerships with IBM and Microsoft to optimize V5 SOA on their respective platforms.

The V5 SOA strategy will be unveiled at the annual CAA V5 DEVCON Conference in Paris on June 27-28, 2006 where customers and partners can network and learn the latest information on the CAA V5 development platform for PLM solutions.

Granta and ANSYS Apply Materials Data to Empower Product Design

ANSYS, Inc. a global innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, and Granta Design Ltd. the leader in materials information management, announced the interoperability of their systems.

ANSYS Workbench users in engineering design now can easily import and apply critical materials data from GRANTA MI, Granta's powerful 'material intelligence' system. This allows engineers in industries like aerospace, defense, energy and medical devices to use the best available information in product analysis and design. The technology enabling this integration is bundled with all GRANTA MI installations.

"This collaboration addresses a requirement for our customers," said Mike Wheeler, Vice President and General Manager at ANSYS, Inc. "Companies seeking to improve design, safety and reliability and reduce cost want to manage and use their material property data more effectively. These users want to use this data within their well-established workflows and have direct access to it from within their ANSYS Workbench applications."

Granta and the Material Data Management Consortium (MDMC) developed GRANTA MI to enable enterprise management and application of materials data. Consortium members include ASM International, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, NASA, Los Alamos National Laboratories, and the U.S. Navy. GRANTA MI lets materials experts create and administer a corporate materials information resource, combining and maintaining data from in-house tests, proprietary sources and external references. Other engineers can easily access and apply any data that they have permission to use. ANSYS users now can import this data quickly to their familiar ANSYS Workbench environment. GRANTA MI ensures data consistency, accuracy and traceability across the enterprise.

ANSYS users also will benefit from GRANTA MI's unrivalled third-party reference data collection, including: MMPDS aerospace metals and fasteners (formerly MIL-HDBK-5), MIL-HDBK-17, composites, ESDU aerospace metallic materials data handbook, ASM data, CAMPUS and IDES plastics data, RAPRA chemical resistance data, NIST lead-free solders and Granta's broad MaterialUniverse database.

"This development widens access to Granta's unique material intelligence," commented Dr. David Cebon, Managing Director at Granta. "We are delighted to work with an industry leader like ANSYS in combining the benefits of high quality materials information and computer-aided engineering simulation."

Multiaxis Toolpaths and Mastercam X Art

CNC Software announces the release of Mastercam X Maintenance Release 2 (MR2). This release is available to all Mastercam Maintenance customers. MR2 introduces significant new capabilities, including a suite of new advanced multiaxis toolpaths, Mastercam X Art, and much more.

New Advanced Multiaxis Toolpaths

A new engine has been added to the advanced multiaxis toolpaths. This engine provides a customized, streamlined interface that is fine-tuned to specific applications, such as impellers and turbine blades. Depending on what toolpath is being used, Mastercam’s parameter pages display only parameters applicable to the specific toolpath type.

Advanced controls for gouge-checking allow full control of the tool motion. And users are not limited to retracting only along the tool axis; they have several options to select from. Full roughing capability is also available for all of the advanced multiaxis machining strategies, including an option for plunge roughing.

Mastercam X Art

Mastercam Art is now available with Mastercam X. Version 9 Art features and functions have been upgraded and integrated in the Mastercam X interface, including text menus, hot keys, toolbars, and Help. A new Art Manager tracks Art surfaces and operations.

New Additions to Mastercam X Art :

• Art Manager - A new tab located in the Operations Manager puts all the major Art commands right at your fingertips and makes Art easier to use than ever before.

• Wrapping – Mastercam Art lets you wrap your art around a cylinder and cut it. Specify your cylinder dimensions and Art automatically creates an unwrapped cylinder for you to create on.

• Toolpaths – A new toolpath includes roughing and finishing options for the Cylinder Milling Spiral toolpath.

Also new to Art are Art surface generation speed improvements, Art surface quality improvements, the ability to process large files, Art chaining, and much more.

Additional MR2 Enhancements

• A new Rest Roughing high speed machining toolpath provides support for multiple previous operations, as well as external STL/CAD files.
• Modified AutoCursor function improves programming efficiency (FastPoint mode, XYZ mode).
• New Toolpath Manager Display options identify what geometry belongs to each operation.
• User-defined Feeds and Speeds deliver better machining control.
• Wirepath Editor is now available with a right-click option in the Toolpath Manager.
• Block drilling enhancements.

Software manages and produces data for EDM machining

Charmilles' new SIGMA software offers users the total package for managing and producing specific data for EDM machining. The new system provides increased productivity and stability in process management.

Designed with maximum efficiency at its core, Charmilles SIGMA aids in the organization of jobs and orders, job management, status control of all objects in the process chain, off-set management, magazine position assignment and data transfer to machines. The software connects EDMs, machining centers, CMMs (Coordinate Measuring Machines) and workchanging systems to a central programming station, simplifying the coordination of resources and increasing productivity.

At its most basic level, Charmilles SIGMA stores information from individual orders, such as order and part numbers. The software also retains data on job management, including machining operations required by a part and the NC programs required by these operations. Off-set information is automatically imported through interaction with a CMM.

Charmilles SIGMA also carries out complicated tasks, aiding with the creation and organization of work batches. A batch represents a complete program for the machining of one or several work pieces, consisting of subprograms, magazine positions and off-set values. Magazine assignment can be entered manually or automatically.

For the highest level of automation, an optional identification system can be implemented with Charmilles SIGMA. By attaching unique ID chips to pallets and electrode holders, the system automatically identifies a pallet or electrode holder and brings up all relevant stored information on the item. This adds a high level of security, ensuring that jobs consistently run with the correct NC program, electrode, off-set values and magazine position.

About Charmilles
Charmilles, a Swiss company, is the North American leading supplier of wire EDM, CNC die sinking and manual EDM systems. For more information on the Company's other products and services and those of its sister company, Mikron, supplier of high speed and 5-axis CNC milling machines, contact Gisbert Ledvon, Charmilles, 560 Bond Street, Lincolnshire, IL 60069-4224. Tel: 1-800-CTC-1EDM. Fax: 847-913-5340, or visit http://www.charmillesus.com.

DSM Somos Drives SL Innovation, Application Development with 2006 Product Introductions

During Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing 2006, North America’s largest annual Rapid Manufacturing event, stereolithography resin leader DSM Somos officially introduced its line-up of new materials for 2006.

"This year’s new resin offerings reflect DSM Somos’ commitment to driving the market forward with both material innovation and application development," says Somos Marketing Manager Eva Montgomery. "In particular, we’ve continued our focus on materials that will move the RP market closer to direct manufacturing."

Somos NanoTool
NanoTool is the third resin to be introduced within DSM Somos’ line of reinforced composite materials for conventional stereolithography (SL). In 2003, ProtoTool 20L delivered novel capabilities to the RP market including stiffness up to 300% higher than unfilled resins, ultra low shrinkage and standard-setting thermal properties. In 2004, NanoForm 15120 provided the SL industry with the first 100% nano-filled material, offering enhanced stiffness and accuracy with the processing ease of unfilled resins.

This year, NanoTool successfully combines the best features of these innovative Somos composite resins into one new material. Enhanced processing speeds ( >30% increase) and ease of secondary processing further advance the use of composite SL resins in applications such as wind tunnel testing, rapid tooling and metal plating of structural composites.

Somos 18120 ProtoGen O-XT Clear & 18420 ProtoGen O-XT White
Based on Somos’ oxetane chemistry (the Oxetane Advantage), ProtoGen O-XT Clear & White resins offer high dimensional stability via low water absorption and high green strength. Other advantages of these new multipurpose materials include faster processing speeds with higher accuracy and heat deflection temperatures (HDT of 70°C with UV-only post-treatment and >100°C with thermal post-treatment).

Somos first harnessed oxetane chemistry more than four years ago in order to move ahead of traditional SL acrylate and epoxy chemistries in producing the standard-setting dimensional stability of its ABS-like WaterShed 11120 and Somos White 14120 resins. Today, Somos’ next generation of oxetane SL materials is designed to further expand the performance parameters of multipurpose SL resins.

Somos 19120 ProtoCast AF
Targeted for the investment casting industry, ProtoCast AF is a completely antimony-free version of Somos’ new ProtoGen O-XT Clear resin. The material boasts extremely low ash content and is targeted for use with both fused silica and alumina refractory shell systems. Like ProtoGen O-XT, ProtoCast AF is also formulated with Somos Oxetane Advantage chemistry, for high dimensional stability and green strength.

All four of Somos’ 2006 product introductions are currently in beta testing, with full commercialization expected later this year.

FARO specifies Delcam’s PowerINSPECT software

Delcam is pleased to announce that FARO Technologies, Inc., the world’s single source for a complete line of portable CAM2 solutions, has specified PowerINSPECT as the software for the new FARO PowerGAGE – a new measurement device that adds CAD-to-part analysis capability to the FARO Gage product line.

"The FARO PowerGAGE serves the unfulfilled market need for on-machine inspection (OMI) estimated at $1.5 billion,” FARO President and Co-CEO Jay Freeland said. "It is a tremendous opportunity, as this is the only portable measurement device that enables manufacturers to verify that a part meets the CAD file’s specs to within .0002 of an inch – right on the machine that’s producing the part.

"The PowerGAGE is different from its FARO Gage and Gage-PLUS counterparts in that it can perform CAD-to-part analysis,” he added. "Whereas the FaroArm enables users to reverse engineer and use more than 60 different software platforms, the PowerGAGE runs exclusively on a version of Delcam’s PowerINSPECT – software already used by the majority of the OMI market.”
When equipped with both of PowerINSPECT’s Programmer and Play-Only modules, PowerGAGE users can:

• Create inspection programs/routines offline for anyone in the facility to run


• Import all major industry CAD formats


• Perform surface inspection against master CAD files


• Receive on-screen instructions including images and videos


• Access a full suite of geometric inspection tools


• Automatically optimize the viewing angle of the part as they measure


• Save all inspection data and run customized report

The PowerGAGE, which resembles a short, metallic arm, is a high-tech, yet user-friendly manufacturing inspection device. Instead of taking the part to an expensive fixed CMM in a climate-controlled room, users can mount the PowerGAGE directly to the where the part is being made. As the user traces the arm’s tip over the part’s entire surface, the system’s laptop computer verifies all of the part’s 3-D measurements against the original CAD file – the digital "blueprint” – to see if it was made correctly and, if not, where it needs to be corrected, thus reducing scrap, re-work and labor costs.

"We developed the PowerGAGE as a direct result of input from customers who wanted the high, .0002 inch accuracy of our FARO Gage-PLUS, but needed expanded capability to handle CAD-to-part analysis,” Mr. Freeland said. "When you consider the low introductory cost of around $34,500, the value to the OMI market and the fact that an entire department can be trained to use both the PowerGAGE and the PowerINSPECT software in only two hours, the return on investment is substantial and almost immediate.”

"We are delighted that FARO has specified PowerINSPECT for its new PowerGAGE,” commented PowerINSPECT Product Manager Chris Lawrie. "This is another important step for the strong relationship between our two companies as well as being an additional route towards consolidating PowerINSPECT’s position as the world’s leading hardware-independent inspection software.”

Technology and Future Trends in CAD Data Translation

By Todd Reade

The 3D CAD market is rapidly changing and maturing. Less than 10 years ago 80% of the manufacturing market was still designing in 2D. Now, 2D drafting is quickly becoming obsolete. Software companies are creating new products and new 3D file formats on a regular basis, hoping to find a silver bullet that will be the next Universal File Format (*.uff ?). The IGES and STEP formats were once thought to be ‘universal’ but their many drawbacks often overshadow their benefits as data translation formats. Consumer confidence in CAD data translation is low. Every company has toiled over the ‘IGES file from Hell’ with missing surfaces that takes a week or more to get into a usable form. For years to come the need for 3D file translation and compatibility will become more complex, not to mention the need to read and write new file formats. What common CAD data exchange challenges face the manufacturing industry today?
• Most manufacturing companies spend a significant amount of time trying to transfer files between different CAD/CAM/CAE programs.
• There are fundamental interoperability barriers between most 3D software packages. For example, different levels of precision, which increases the complexity and difficulty of data exchange.
• Many 3D software products output poor quality IGES and STEP files with missing surfaces and edges.
• New 3D software products with proprietary file formats are being introduced.
• Time wasted on poor quality translated files can impact delivery schedules and reduce profits.
• Companies consume valuable human resources to manually re-draw important models for use in their software programs.
• Some large companies have several different internal systems that can not communicate with each other without first re-drawing the CAD model.
• Companies that change CAD platforms face the daunting task of migrating whole libraries of parts and assemblies.
• The inability to read specific file types can cause lost job opportunities.
• The cost of maintaining multiple CAD systems can be prohibitive and does not solve the problem.

Many companies do not realize that CAD data translation products are available today that address all of the above issues and can quickly save a manufacturing supplier thousands of dollars in outsourced translation costs or hundreds of man-hours. The return on investment for a company using CAD data translation software can be as short as a few months.

Best practices for CAD Data Translation:
• Avoid using IGES files whenever possible. Think of IGES as a last resort.
• Whenever possible always use the original native CAD file.
• Understand the usefulness of robust file formats, such as Parasolid and ACIS, which "natively" support a vast number of applications.
• "Roundtrip then zip." Avoid sending corrupt files to customers or vendors. Test files before sending them. Re-open files in the originating CAD system to make sure they are good and then zip files before attaching them to an email to avoid file corruption.
• Avoid translating files multiple times. Instead, go back to the original file and translate it to a different file format.
• Invest in CAD data exchange products from companies that specialize in CAD file translation. An important realization is to understand that data exchange is not the specialty nor the objective of the major CAD software developers. To make matters worse some old school CAD developers attempt to hold customers captive to their product line by routinely encrypting their file formats in an attempt to prevent interoperability.

What should you expect from a CAD data translation product?

1. High quality file translation.

– This means a good usable solid-to-solid translation of any model created in any 3D software.

1. Semi-automated geometry repair technology that improves productivity.

– End users need the ability to increase model tolerances so data is usable as a solid model in their target system.

1. Affordable multiple format support.

– In today’s competitive market, companies need to be able to read and write a wide variety of 3D files formats.

1. Good visualization capabilities.

– Powerful communication tools help avoid errors, save time and cut costs. A picture is worth a thousand words.

1. Ease of use.

– Data translation software utilities should be intuitive and quick to master. Companies do not have time for long learning curves with peripheral software products.

1. "Missing surface" replacement tools.

– A missing surface means that a model will not be "solid". In many CAD systems, the model must be ‘solid’ or it is unusable.
7. High speed unattended batch file translation capability. Jobs can be done overnight and not tie up company resources.
8. Mass properties and other useful tools for quoting manufacturing jobs.
– Many companies rely on quick access to customer models from different sources to win new business, even though they do not have the same CAD software as their customers. A quick turnaround is paramount in this competitive world.

Where is the technology going from here?
As manufacturers and CAD products continue to evolve, it will become commonplace for companies to include all the data required for manufacturing a product in a single CAD file. CAD interoperability products will have to lead the way to support many types of data.

Things to look for in future CAD data exchange/translation products:
1. Enhanced support for product manufacturing information (PMI) including GD&T materials, color, and other manufacturing meta data.
2. Elimination of 2D drawings as a method of representing 3D models (except maybe in the sheet metal industry).
3. Increased ease of use and speed.
4. Smart automated processes for repairing geometric errors and replacing missing surfaces that reduce the need for user intervention.
5. Conversion of design history and auto-recognition of model features.
6. All direct file formats for major CAD systems will be available in one simple product interface.
7. With the proliferation of high-end translation products, there will be fewer translation service bureaus.

In conclusion, while the problems are great, there are excellent solutions available today from companies who specialize in CAD translation products. These products create opportunities for innovative companies to reduce manufacturing costs and improve competitiveness.

3D Systems Announces a Molded Polycarbonate -Like Material

3D Systems Corporation a leading provider of rapid 3-D Printing, Prototyping and Manufacturing solutions, has announced the immediate availability of Accura 60 Plastic, a new stereo lithography material that simulates the look and feel of molded polycarbonate. Accura 60 plastic is designed for use on most solid-state laser SLA systems, including the Viper, SLA 5000, SLA 7000 and new Viper Pro SLA systems.

“A cornerstone of our stereo lithography materials’ strategy is the development of a range of products that simulate the look and feel of engineering plastics, “said Abe Reichental, 3D Systems’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our recently released Accura 25 plastic simulates polypropylene, while Accura 50 plastic simulates ABS. The launch of Accura 60, which simulates a common high-performance engineering plastic, completes our comprehensive stereo lithography materials’ portfolio.”

“Accura 60’s stiffness, durability and clarity make it ideal for diverse applications in the automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical industries. Typical applications include automotive headlamps, medical equipment components, aircraft and missile components, electrical insulators and connectors, jet pump impellers and diffusers, flow visualization models, and rugged housings for cell phones, pagers and laptop computers,” Reichental continued.

Early user feedback for Accura 60 has been excellent. Scott Turner, President of Scicon Technologies, said “Accura 60 has exceeded our customers’ expectations in every aspect. It has great physical properties including durability, reliable and consistent shrinkage behavior. Best of all, when we polish Accura 60 parts they very closely resemble molded polycarbonate.”

Ron Clemons, Director of Business Development at Harvest Technologies, added, “From a production standpoint Accura 60 is very efficient. It has very low viscosity, which makes it easy to build and easy to clean up, which ultimately results in good parts and rapid turnaround. The parts we have made so far have been impressive, with excellent accuracy, detail, rigidity, functionality and finish, and it has excellent optical clarity when clear coated.”

While Accura 60 parts can be used as functional prototypes, they are ideal for use in manufacturing applications as master patterns for molds and expendable patterns for metal investment casting. David Yarnell, Director of Rapid Prototyping at Dynacept, commented, “Accura 60 offers a great combination of durability, clarity and accuracy. Its ease of finishing, durability and silicone compatibility make it an excellent choice for master patterns for soft tooling.” Added Kendall Hemish of Carley Foundry, “At Carley Foundry, we have burned out and made castings from hundreds of QuickCast patterns. In working with Accura 60 we found that the material casts well without any concern and produces excellent metal parts.”

“We are dedicated to providing our customers with materials and systems that improve their bottom line and deliver to them the features they require. Accura 60 plastic and its wide range of applications represents yet another significant step in providing our customers with solutions that reduce their time to market and improve the quality and value proposition of their products,” Reichental concluded.