Capability: Wolfram Workbench helps users with technical software development. It's built on the Eclipse development platform and incorporates the Mathematica programming language as well as computation, visualization, and modeling features. The development environment makes it easy for Eclipse adopters to use Mathematica for their applications. Existing Mathematica-based developers gain access to more development tools.

Hardware: PC running Macintosh OS X or Linux.

Developer: Wolfram Research Inc., 100 Trade Center Dr., Champaign, IL 61820-7237; (217) 398-0700; fax (217) 398-0747.

Cost: $145.

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Estimate Job Costs

Capability: The PowerSHAPE-e estimating program is useful for toolmakers, contractors, and suppliers who want help drawing up a quote for their work based on customer-provided CAD models. The program gives suppliers an up-close understanding of a customer's CAD models. It's applicable for all types of toolmaking—plastic molds, rubber, ceramics or glass tools, casting equipment, press tools, and patterns for metal components. It can also help subcontract machinists estimate the time needed to manufacture short-run prototypes or longer production runs. The tool reads files from all the major CAD systems as well as neutral formats, such as IGES and STEP. Once they import the model, users can mark them up with necessary measurements. They can analyze the models with color-mapping tools that show the draft angle or wall thickness across the model. Other tools include curvature analysis, which determines the size of cutting tool needed to machine each feature in the model, and smoothness shading to check the overall quality of the design. Once contractors have done the analysis, a company can include the work needed to correct any problems in the quote. Any changes to the model introduced during the negotiations can be identified and highlighted quickly.

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

Developer: Delcam Inc., 3280 Electricity Dr., Windsor, Ontario N8W 5J1, Canada; www.delcam.com.

Cost: Free.

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Capability: Google Desktop Search indexes files on your desktop PC and displays the results in a Google search page. The General CADD Desktop Search Plug-In expands that search function to CAD, allowing you to search your computer for words contained within CAD files. Say you created a CAD drawing—using any common file format—that contains the words Ajax Builders somewhere in the drawing. When you launch the Google Desktop Search—with the CADD plug-in installed—and type in "Ajax Builders," the application shows you every desktop file that contains the phrase. It's particularly helpful in tracking down old CAD drawings that you may not view or need very frequently.

Hardware: PC running Windows 2000, or XP.

Developers: Google Inc.,1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy., Mountain View, CA 94043; (650) 253-0000; fax (650) 253-0001; http://desktop. google.com.

Cost: Free.

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Create Triangle Mesh

Capability: With the sketch-based, free-form 3-D mesh modeler called VRMesh 3.0, users can create triangle meshes. It takes only minutes on a standard PC to convert a point cloud of one million points into a mesh, the software developer said. The software is useful for reverse engineering, free-form modeling, and rapid prototyping. The upgrade includes functions for smoothing boundaries and marking edges to process or preserve them.

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

Developer: VirtualGrid, info@vrmesh.com, Seattle, Wash.

Cost: $695.

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CAD Questions Answered

Capability: This search engine for computer-aided design and graphics users, now in beta development but available for general use, includes more than 42,000 resources, such as tutorials and frequently asked questions on CAD and graphic use. Those who go to www.3DCADSearch.com can also type in a keyword at the site and be linked to many community user forums pertinent to the phrase. The site also gives search tips and suggests best keywords for searches.

Hardware: PC with Internet access.

Developer: eDocHelp Publications, 410 Shepherd Hills Rd., Cookeville, TN 38501; (931) 528-3532; fax (931) 528-6392; www.edochelp.com.

Cost: Free.

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