Archive for January, 2008

U.S. CAD™ Chosen by David Evans and Associates as Official Autodesk® Reseller and Civil 3D Implementation Consultant

Major engineering firm taps U.S. CAD to speed transition to new civil engineering software standard.

Costa Mesa, CA (PRWEB) January 22, 2008 — U.S. CAD, Inc. (formerly L.A. CAD), the Western U.S.’s largest provider of computer-aided design (CAD) consulting, training and support services, and its largest Autodesk® solutions reseller, today announced it has been chosen by engineering firm David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA) as its official Autodesk reseller and Civil 3D implementation consultant. The multi-year contract puts DEA at the forefront of engineering firms transitioning to the new industry standard in civil engineering software, with U.S. CAD advancing the effort.

"We are very excited about our agreement with DEA, which enables us provide them the latest Autodesk solutions, as well as our advanced training and support services — all aimed at helping DEA and its customers be even more successful," said U.S. CAD CEO Danny Counts. "This agreement exemplifies our U.S. CAD strategy to expand our technical capabilities and reach, while maintaining our core focus on delivering superior technical solutions and customer service."

"Over the past two years, DEA has been embracing and leveraging the new Autodesk Civil 3D technology through a large scale, phased approach," said J.C. Davis, DEA corporate information systems and Civil 3D project manager. "U.S. CAD has the resources and expertise to handle the ongoing administration and management of this project, as well as the ability to meet our other ongoing Autodesk product, training and support needs. It’s a good match."

With offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New York, Oregon and Washington, DEA is ahead of most other large engineering firms in implementing the new Civil 3D standard, which for many large-scale applications is the next-generation to Autodesk’s workhorse Land Desktop software. "Civil 3D is far more than a new civil engineering software application; it’s a fundamental advance in the field — a new way of completing projects faster, more efficiently and with greater design consistency than previously possible," said Davis. He added that DEA’s time savings on production plan development thus far using Civil 3D has approached 30 percent, with greater savings anticipated with through product familiarity and U.S. CAD’s support.

"With its ability to dynamically connect design and documentation, enabling design development to occur simultaneously with data collection, Civil 3D requires an organizational commitment to workflow change that many firms aren’t yet able to approach," said Melanie Santer, U.S. CAD applications engineer, who specializes in Civil 3D training, installation, support and implementation. "This is where DEA’s forward-thinking and U.S. CAD’s Autodesk and Civil 3D expertise make the perfect pairing. The end result will be time and cost savings for DEA and its customers."

About David Evans and Associates

Since its founding in 1976 in Portland, Ore., DEA has become a recognized leader for progressive and sustainable design and management solutions for complex transportation, land development, energy, and water resources projects nationwide. DEA’s multi-disciplinary teams partner with clients to tailor solutions to meet the unique needs of each project. The firm has over 20 offices in seven states and employs more than 1,000 people firmwide. Its staff includes professional engineers, surveyors, planners, landscape architects, and natural resources scientists. DEA is an employee-owned corporation and consistently ranks among ENR’s Top 100 Pure Design firms in the U.S. DEA and its staff are committed to improving the quality of life, while demonstrating stewardship of the built and natural environments. For more information, visit www.deainc.com/default.aspx.

About U.S. CAD

Based in Costa Mesa, Calif., U.S. CAD, Inc. is a major provider of computer-aided design (CAD) consulting, training and support services, and Autodesk software solutions. Specializing in the civil, mechanical and architectural design, building-engineering and geospatial industries, the company provides technical expertise and customized training to deliver superior customer solutions. Customers value U.S. CAD’s quality instruction from Autodesk Approved Instructors, and its flexible training options, including modular mobile training labs. With Autodesk Authorized Training Centers at its Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, San Diego and Honolulu, Hawaii locations, U.S. CAD has become the Autodesk provider of choice for many of the West’s leading CAD-related companies. For more information, visit www.uscad.com.

U.S. CAD and L.A. CAD are trademarks of U.S. CAD, Inc.

High-pressure, hydraulically balanced, coolant pumps for machine tools reduce maintenance costs because there are no packings, cups, or seals, said the manufacturer

High-pressure MP-B series coolant pumps use a Hydra-Cell diaphragm pump. This patented, hydraulically balanced design reduces maintenance costs because there are no packings, cups, or seals. This rugged, fixed or variable volume pump is built to handle the abrasive particles found in machine tool coolant that can wear out conventional centrifugal, screw, or piston pumps.

* Lathes and milling machines – In lathe and milling machine applications, this pump effectively removes chips from even deep and blind holes and reduces ‘cyclic cooling’ in milling applications, said Monster Swiss to manufacturingtalk.com.

Cyclic cooling occurs when steam is produced and creates a boundary layer, which interferes with coolant effectively reaching the tool/workpiece interface.

In grinding, the MP-B’s high-pressure (1,000 lb/in2) keeps the wheels free of swarf build-up and optimally cooled, again by breaking the boundary layer created by the wheels high speed, and giving the successful result of increased wheel life and metal removal rates.

* Positive displacement – the MP-B’s positive displacement design allows users to adjust the flow rate by changing the speed of the pump shaft.

This is a helpful feature when using tools with different coolant flow requirements.

The unit is portable on sturdy locking castors, so that operators can easily move it when necessary, even with the 50-gallon reservoir filled.

MP-B pumps have electrical components manufactured by Sprecher + Schuh, a Swiss company, and are certified to the highest standards including UL, CSA, and CE.

All of the machine components, including twin filters, are housed conveniently and neatly inside the cabinet assembly.

hyperMILL® receives ‘Certified Gold Product’ award from SolidWorks

Für den Inhalt der folgenden Meldung ist nicht die Verivox GmbH sondern der Autor Open Mind Technologies AG verantwortlich.

(pressebox) Wessling, 15.01.2008 – The new hyperMILL® V9.7 from OPEN MIND offers CAD integration with SolidWorks®. SolidWorks Corporation, developer of the popular Solidworks CAD product has certified the integration of OPEN MIND’s complete solution and has designated hyperMILL® as a ‘Certified Gold Product’. This is SolidWorks’ highest award based on outstanding integration, quality and interoperability.

To receive the ‘Certified Gold Product’ award, the partner product must go through a multilevel certification process. The requirements include full integration of the software user interface within SolidWorks® and associative database linking of the geometric data of SolidWorks®. In addition, SolidWorks® reference customers must be able to use the software product effectively. In-house product tests are also conducted at SolidWorks to determine whether its high requirements are fulfilled. OPEN MIND Technologies released hyperMILL® V9.7, including the SolidWorks® integration in October 2007. And now hyperMILL® has successfully completed and passed the certification process.

Integrated process chains for CAD users

"Our CAD-integrated CAM solution hyperMILL® has the advantage of allowing SolidWorks® users to implement integrated process chains on their existing user interface," explains Frank Eckstein, responsible for hyperMILL® in SolidWorks® in the Application Technology division at OPEN MIND. "In our software solution, the CAD and CAM systems both access the same database. A uniform data model is used for the entire process. This helps ensure transparency and accuracy in the production process and prevents errors."

Additional information is available upon request or from our website at www.openmind-tech.com.

OPEN MIND Technologies AG is a leading developer of CAD/CAM software and postprocessors for designing and manufacturing complex moulds and parts. OPEN MIND offers an extensive range of products, from 2D feature-oriented solutions for milling standard parts through to software for 5-axis simultaneous machining.

With their hyperMILL® software, which is used in the automotive, tool and mould manufacturing, mechanical engineering and aerospace industries, OPEN MIND Technologies AG is represented in all the important markets in Asia, Europe and North America.

OPEN MIND Technologies AG is a Men and Machine company (www.mum.de).

EDM and milling machine tool builder, GF AgieCharmilles, recorded a 20% growth in UK sales during 2007, including a growth in 5-axis milling machine deliveries

GF AgieCharmilles, builder of EDM and CNC milling machines recorded 2007 UK sales figures of 20% growth, when compared with 2006, and a dramatic increase in total units sold – 170 units. Commenting on the sales figures, managing director of the UK operation, Steve Sylvester, said: ‘We have had a good year.

EDM and milling machine tool sales have increased substantially and our Customer Services Business (i e, consumables and after-sales services including wear and spare parts, preventative maintenance, training, etc), has also experienced double digit growth too’.

Particularly important has been the growth in sales of its 5-axis milling machines.

Sylvester commented: ‘Demand for our standard; high-performance and high-speed 5-axis milling machines has never been higher.

We have a 5-axis machine tool range that is second to none – and this is reflected in our sales figures.

Our 5-axis machine tool provision means that customers can source the optimum machining solution direct from us – and an increasing number of precision manufacturers are doing just that’.

Also worth mentioning has been the impressive sales of the company’s Cut 20/30 wire edm machines.

Only launched at EMO in September 2007 – sales of the Cut 20/30 machines have ‘gone through the roof’ – and demand shows no sign of abating.

Sylvester concluded: ‘With a company Open House already organised – 6 and 7 February 08 – and MACH 08 in April following hard on its heels, plus a number of innovative sales and marketing campaigns we’ve introduced and that are now being implemented for our EDM, milling and customer services business – we have everything in place to top last year’s performance.’

Two large horizontal twin pallet machining centres feature ‘Box in Box’ structural design for robust, high speed machining excellence, reliability and cost effectiveness

Matsuura has announced the arrival of two of the largest and most respected horizontal twin pallet machining centres currently available from Niigata, Japan – the SPN-701 and HN80D. Matsuura said that Niigata is a world leader for large capacity, multi pallet horizontal machining centres (HMC).

Niigata specialises in the design and manufacture of large capacity horizontal spindle CNC machine tools.

, The SPN series and the HN series have their own novel attributes, said Matsuura to manufacturingtalk.com, yet both retain the very high standard of craftsmanship invested into the whole of the Niigata range of HMCs.

Niigata’s renowned ‘Box in Box’ design series – the SPN – was introduced in 1993 and rapidly earned a formidable reputation for robust high speed machining excellence, reliability and cost effectiveness, said Matsuura.

The basic specification of the SPN-701 is as follows.

* Travel in X / Y / Z – 1000/950/850mm.

* feed rate in X / Y / Z – 60m/min.

* Pallet size- 630mm x 630mm (twin pallets).

* Maximum work load – 1,200kg.

* Spindle – 12,000 rev/min / BT50.

* spindle motor – AC30 / 25kW.

* Automatic tool changer (ATC) magazine – 60 tools.

* Maximum tool length – 550mm.

* Maximum tool weight – 20kg.

* CNC – FANUC 16i.

* Weight of machine – 20,500kg.

The HN Series are primarily heavy duty box way style machines that have the rigidity, balance and accuracy to take on the most arduous, heavy duty yet fine tolerance machining tasks.

Matsuura have installed and fully support a number of HN Series machines in the UK, most notably an installation of five-off HN80D machines at a leading global British aero engine manufacturer.

The basic specification of the HN80D stock machine is as follows.

, * Travel X / Y / Z – 1530 / 1230 / 1020mm.

* Feedrate X / Y / Z – 30m/min.

* Pallet size – 800mm x 800mm (twin pallets).

* Maximum work load – 2,500kg.

* Spindle – 6,000 rev/min / BT50.

* Spindle motor – AC37 / 30kW.

* ATC magazine – 90 tools.

* Maximum tool length – 610mm.

* Maximum tool weight – 30kg.

* CNC – FANUC 18i.

* Weight of machine – 25,000kg.

The HN80D and SPN 701 machines are fully commissioned, under power and available for demonstrations and viewings in Matsuura Machinery’s 4,000m2 air conditioned Leicestershire showroom.

Visitors at short notice are always welcome.

* Open House – both machines will feature at the forthcoming Matsuura Open House, May 13-15, 2008 – unless they are sold in the meantime.

A Derby man is facing up to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to illegally selling expensive CAD software at massively reduced prices.

The AceCad software, which has been used in high-profile projects like London’s "Gherkin" building, sells for thousands of pounds; Michael Walton was selling illegal copies of the software on eBay for just £12. He pleaded guilty on Friday to charges under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and the Trade Marks Act 1994, and will be sentenced on 1 February.

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) condemned his actions. Najeeb Khan, UK committee vice chair of the BSA, said: "Software piracy doesn’t just affect multinational and well-known brands; this latest case underlines the negative impact it can have on smaller, specialist UK companies. Auctions have developed into a marketplace where sellers feel they are anonymous and out of the reach of law."

Khan called for the BSA to take a tough stance against online sellers who "deceive end users and fuel the demand for [illegally] copied software".

Walton had cracked the encryption code on AceCad’s software to allow him to make copies. The fraud came to light when AceCad sales consultant Paul Bettany was browsing eBay for a gift for his girlfriend.

Wayne Rawson, director and general manager of Wyvern-based AceCad, said that his company would not tolerate violations of its software copyright.

"We can’t stand for things like this. International pop stars might be able to afford people copying their work but we can’t," Rawson told the Derby Evening Telegraph. "We’re lucky in that we managed to stop this before too many copies had been sold but, if it had carried on, we could have potentially lost a fortune."

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Low-cost 3D CAD is easier to use

Spaceclaim Corporation is releasing Spaceclaim LT (EUR470, $695) and LTX (EUR605, $895) 3D design products and, in the process, says that it has established state-of-the-art solid modelling as a companion to existing design workflow.

The company states that, for the first time, anybody can work in 3D without the hindrances of the traditional CAD learning curve and associated CAD costs.

Spaceclaim LT and LTX are targeted at designers, engineers and architects who already have efficient and cost-effective 2D tools, as well as hobbyists who would take advantage of affordable 3D design software. Spaceclaim’s general-purpose solid modelling adds value to existing processes, enabling customers to combine 2D and 3D techniques to enhance the vast breadth of use cases where 2D tools flourish.

Spaceclaim LT and LTX feature the ability to: quickly create 3D solid models; open, edit and document 3D solid models from colleagues, suppliers, and customers; and bring 2D drawings into 3D to improve communication and accuracy.

The two CAD packages leverage the identical software architecture and technology of the company’s flagship design system, Spaceclaim Professional 2007+, providing users with a solid modelling environment with a modern user interface.

Unlike traditional history-based modellers that require operators to be trained in feature programming, Spaceclaim is said to deliver a radical new paradigm for creating 3D solid models. Spaceclaim models can easily be moved into popular 2D and 3D packages, where they can be further documented, manipulated, and rendered.

Mike Payne, Spaceclaim’s chief executive officer, comments: “Spaceclaim is accessible to all designers, regardless of their trade, while traditional solid modelling systems tend to require dedicated operators running domain-specific, vertical applications. We are making 3D as straightforward to use as 2D and therefore we expect it to become as ubiquitous.”

The main differences between Spaceclaim’s products are import and export capabilities, as well as some options and services that are available with Spaceclaim Professional 2007+. Spaceclaim LT provides import of Step, Iges, DXF, DWG, BMP, JPG and PNG file formats and export of DXF, DWG, XAML, STL, VRML, BMP, JPG and PNG file formats. Spaceclaim LTX provides these capabilities as well as export of Step and Iges files for use in other 3D systems.

Spaceclaim LT and LTX customers can reclaim 50 per cent of the cost of Spaceclaim LT or LTX when purchasing Spaceclaim Professional 2007+ within six months. Spaceclaim 2007+ includes a range of modules such as 3D data exchange (including Rhino and other popular mechanical CAD formats), Catia, JT Open, sheet metal, Traceparts standard parts library, Ecad and Ansys integration.

Available immediately, Spaceclaim LT and LTX are offered in English, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese languages. They can be purchased online through Spaceclaim and its network of resellers. Regional pricing is available online.

Spaceclaim LT and LTX