digital tools and references
Capability: The CADWorx 2006 suite for plant design has been upgraded
with a feature that allows for real-time walkthroughs of your virtual
plant. Users can distribute their models to other walkthrough users for
markup or collaboration comments. CADWorx Plant Professional offers more
features than CADWorx Plant. Included in this version, for instance, is
a collision check feature. All clashes are marked for review. The professional
version also allows for stairs, ladders, and handrails to be included
in plant design.
Hardware: PC running AutoCAD 2000 to 2006.
Developer: Coade Inc., 12777 Jones Rd., Suite 480, Houston, TX
77070; (281) 890-4566; fax (281) 890-3301; www.coade.com.
Cost: CADWorx Plant 2006, $4,500 per license; CADWorx Plant Professional 2006, $6,500 per license.
Automated Publishing
Capability: Arbortext Advanced Print Publisher is an automated publishing engine that produces professional, high-quality print and PDF documents with complex layout requirements. Version 9.0, the latest Arbortext solution, allows its users to reuse the same design layout for multiple publications, boosting publishing efficiency and reducing production costs, according to the company. Improved features include three new programming tools. Format Stepper guides the user through the format process, Tracing allows the user to report on commands being processed, and Logging enables codes to be saved in a template and written to multiple locations. Enhancements provide the user more freedom to nest tables within tables. There is also increased support for OpenType fonts and XML-related standards.
Hardware: PC with a Pentium III processor running Windows 98, NT, 2000, or XP.
Developer: PTC, 140 Kendrick St., Needham, MA 02494; (781) 370-5000;
fax (781) 370-6000; www. ptc.com.
Cost: Starts at $45,000.
Click here to obtain information on this product
Capability: Mechanism analysis software Sam, version
5.1, is used for design-, motion-, and force-analysis of planar mechanisms.
Users design the mechanisms via design wizards—for common designs
like four-bar or straight-line mechanisms. Or, they can con- struct designs
from basic elements like beams, hinges, belts, and gears. Engineers can
then analyze their open loop, closed loop, multiple loop, and complex
planetary mechanisms within minutes. No knowledge of numerical analysis
is needed to analyze for velocity, acceleration, drive force, reaction
force, required power, and more.
Hardware: PC running Windows 95, 98, NT, or XP.
Developers: Artas Engineering Software, Het Puyven 162, 5672
RJ Nuenen, The Netherlands; (31-40) 283-7552; info@artas.nl; www.artas.nl.
Cost: $1,650 for a single-user license, $4,950 for a multiple-user license; $550 for a single-user educational license; $1,650 for a multiple-user educational license.
Compo- nent Thermal Design
Capability: The simulation software Flotherm 3-D is
used for the thermal design of electronic components and systems. It enables
engineers to create virtual models of electronic equipment, perform thermal
analysis, and test design modifications in the early stages of the design
process. The application uses CFD techniques to predict airflow, temperature,
and heat transfer in components, boards, and complete systems. The analysis
tool is specially designed for a wide range of electronic applications,
including computers, data processing equipment, semiconductors, aerospace
and defense systems, automotive systems, and consumer electronics. Built-in
automation minimizes the software's learning curve for mechanical
design engineers, according to the developer.
Hardware: PC running Windows 2000, XP Professional, XP Server 2003, or NT or the Solaris or HP operating systems.
Developer: Flomerics Inc., 4 Mount Royal Ave., Suite 450, Marlborough, MA 01752; (508) 357-2012; fax (508) 357-2013; www.flomerics.com.
Cost: $20,480 annual license to start.
See CAD Files
Capability: Slick! ViewPlus adds viewing and batch-printing
support to Autodesk drawing files. There is support for AutoCAD revision
12 through AutoCAD 2006. Viewing can be done via a number of raster file
formats, including tagged image file format and portable document format
files. Other features include one-click zoom, a print-to-black option
that prints all colors to black ink, support for drawing layouts, and
support for named views.
Hardware: PC running Windows 2000 or NT.
Developer: CAD Systems Unlimited Inc., 4936 Plaza Escuela, Santa Clara, CA 95054; (408) 969-0185; fax (408) 988-3677; www.slickwin.com.
Cost: $99 per end-user license.
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© 2006 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers