Capability: The same developer that created the compressed XVL 3-D format now offers an application that further reduces the size of XVL models. It automatically removes many background features from the 3-D models before they're shared or published. The method also protects companies' engineering property. The XVL Reducer is sold as a separate module or as part of the developer's XVL System Toolkit.

Hardware: PC running Windows 2000, XP, or NT.

Developer: Lattice Technology Inc., 155 Montgomery St., Suite 603, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 274-1670; fax (415) 274-1671; www.lattice3d.com.

Cost: XVL Reducer, $12,500; XVL System Toolkit, $30,000.

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Looks Like a Photo

Capability: Real-time rendering software Hypershot is used to create photorealistic images from 3-D data in a short period of time. The developer said the product's main selling feature is its ease of use and quick learning curve. It is said to run well on entry-level machines.

Hardware: PC running Windows 98, 2000, or NT.

Developer: Bunkspeed, 11400 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90064; (310) 445-8852; fax (310) 496-2881; www.bunkspeed. com.

Cost: $495.

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Capability: IMSL Fortran Numerical Library 6.0 builds numerical analysis applications for your software development projects. This library of mathematical and statistical algorithms combines the Fortran language with distributed-memory and shared-memory multiprocessing architectures. This version includes pseudorandom number routines and linear algebra. The Fortran-based mathematical library also includes parallel processing functions for numerical analysis. Other features are the dense linear programming optimizer and Scalapack, which lets users write parallel code without knowing parallel programming.

Hardware: PC running Windows 98, 2000, or NT.

Developers: Visual Numerics Inc., 2500 Wilcrest Dr., Suite 200, Houston, TX 77042; (713) 784-3131; fax (713) 781-9260; vni.com.

Cost: $1,495 to start.

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Plotting and Animating

Capability: Engineers can plot and animate simulation data with EnSight Lite. Data is analyzed via interactive rendering combined with multiple transient two-dimensional plots. Engineers can extract plot data from either probe-position-versus-time or along a line through the model space. Plots can be animated to show time and dependent value. An integrated view of plots and 3-D geometry is also offered. Layouts that have a common language and common templates can be reused. Results can be shared digitally or printed.

Hardware: PC running Windows, Macintosh, or Linux platform.

Developer: Computational Engineering International Inc. (CEI), 2166 N. Salem St., Suite 101, Apex, NC 27523; (919) 363-0883; fax (919) 363-0833; www.ensight.com.

Cost: $2,500 for a stand-alone license, $625 for an academic license.

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Move to Manufac- turing

Capability: The developer offers the capability to transfer models from its PowerShape-e CAD system into formats suitable for prototyping and manufacturing. The CAD program is a free version of the vendor's pay-to-manufacture design software. It saves all designs in an encrypted format and data is transferred only after you pay a fee. However, models can be circulated, marked up, and modified indefinitely until the move into manufacturing. Users can save partially completed models and return to them later, and can save design changes. A tutorial comes with the free download.

Hardware: PC running Windows 2000, NT, or XP.

Developer: Delcam plc, Talbot Way, Small Heath Business Park, Birmingham B10 OHJ, England; (44-121) 766-5544; fax: (44-121) 766-5511; www.delcam.com.

Cost: PowerShape-e is free from www. delcam.com; the transfer cost is $400 per model.

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Automatic Numbers

Capability: CustomWorks Xpress automates property management, number generation, and file-naming functions within the PDMWorks program from SolidWorks. It minimizes manual routines within the product data lifecycle package. There's no more typing, according to the developer.

Hardware: PC running PDMWorks from SolidWorks.

Developer: CadWorks Software Oy Ltd., Helsingintie 44, FIN-04430 Jarvenpaa, Finland; (358-50) 4686-367; www.cadworkssoftware.com.

Cost: $295.

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