Check out this great review of the Objet Alaris30 3D Printer!

Anthony Lockwood of Desktop Engineering reviewed the Alaris30 and here's what he had to say: http://www.deskeng.com/articles/aaamkx.htm

It’s Here!!! - SolidWorks 2009

In case you have not
heard SolidWorks 2009 has officially been released!  Media will not be sent out for a few weeks,
but you can download 2009 from the SolidWorks Customer Center if you are ready
to try it out - https://customercenter.solidworks.com/

It is a great release
that we at CATI are all really excited about. 
It is filled with over 250 new enhancements that will really help you
design easier, faster, and better.  Here
is just a small portion of some of the new features you will see in 2009:

-
Major improvements in the speed of the software

- The
ability to load selected items into memory and not load others

- Lip
and Groove tool for molded components

-
RealView Appearances, Colors, and Textures all consolidated together

- The
ability to key negative dimensions and zero dimensions

-New
slot tool to create straight and curved slots

- Dual
monitor support

We hope you all find
numerous improvements in 2009 that improve your productivity and make your
design process easier.  We look forward
to you putting it into production and getting your feedback. 

 

Leslie Lougheed

Regional Technical
Manager

Computer Aided
Technology, Inc.

Complicated Designs

Since there are many users that are required to simulate
complicated parts and assemblies for marketing or validation, some have posted
their work on the internet. Mike J.
Wilson’s website stood out from the rest. The address is www.mikejwilson.com
. He has done great work like creating adjustable
curved helixes, which are controlled with mates. 

Another question I have received from customers is how to
simulate a heating coil
wrapped around a cylindrical ceramic insulator. Basically, this is a helical sweep turned 100 times along a helical
path. Unfortunately, you can spend a lot
of time trying to find the right constraints so that small coil that is turned
about the helical path stays normal to the path. Instead just download it; I’m sure it’s
faster. Mike has done a great job
posting many different types of parts and assemblies with videos.

Ketul Patel

Technical  Support

CATI

3D Printing takes another step forward

I was told this morning that CATI is now partnered with Objet to sell their new Alaris30 Desktop 3D  Printer.  I started doing my research and this stuff is outstanding!! This small desktop sized printer is capable of delivering very high resolution parts at high speed to get detailed parts quickly that can be used effectively for testing form and function.

The most exciting aspect of this, for me at least, is the ability to  generate that very fine detail that previously was only possible for much more expensive machines.  Take a look at the machine when you get a chance.  I think you'll be impressed.

Adrian Fanjoy

Technical Services Manager

Computer AIded Technology

Got an Engeering Project
…..now what?

Engineers everyday face the
challenge to remember design techniques. If the engineer is part of a design
team for a single product type, the design is repetitive, and hence he needs to
master the design technique once. But if you are working in design house, no
two projects are similar (atleast you hope ….). Now he is faced with referring
books and make sure he follows Design Standards. Situation is further
complicated if working with teams offshore. In this article I will try and give
all the reference websites that I am aware off. In my line of work I come
across different industrial products ranging from everyday steel to complex
composite material simulation. These are the websites that have helped me be
competitive and stay on top of my game.

• Engineers Edge (http://www.engineersedge.com)

Engineers
Edge should be every engineer’s safe haven of reference. Be it standard
formulas’, to material properties, to engineering principles all can be found
here. Engineering concepts for machine design versus product design,
incorporating thermal and electrical systems is well explained. Visitors to
this website can buy engineering books, download material databases. They have
some free CAD software for download. They also carry information about
different training sessions being held.

• CADDigest
  (http://www.caddigest.com)

CADDigest
is touted as reading room for engineers. They have sections based on software,
and technology. Users can read FEA simulation techniques they are interested
in. They regularly feature articles from different bloggers across the globe.
Many times vendors themselves will contribute to an article too. For e.g.
Technical Managers at SolidWorks frequent this website with their articles.
Hence works as a great resource to know industry experts and their take on
software.

• COSMOS Companion
       (http://www.cosmosm.com/pages/news/COSMOSCompanion-TipsTricks.html)

The
COSMOS Companion is a series of short subject presentations that provide
in-depth information on a wide range of topics to help SolidWorks Simulation
(previously known as COSMOSWorks) users design better products with more
insight and efficiency. Each presentation is available in video as well as pdf
format. It is assumed users understand the basic concepts. The companion series
is a great method to take analysis skills to the next level.

• Online Unit Conversion (http://www.onlineconversion.com)

Remember
hogshead, fathom, furlong, troy pounds…..If there is a unit system you can
think of and need to convert into units known to present day mankind…..look no
further. This is a great resource to get unit conversions.

• Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)

This is a great
website with tons of articles on engineering topics. What I really like about
this  website is the author
usually starts from a basic concept and builds on it. Terminology if not clear
is explained or can be searched for in the same domain. A word of caution,
since anyone can contriute to this website, users should always question
validity of information. On a positive note, I have yet to come across an
instance where information provided was incorrect.

• CFD-Online (www.cfd-online.com/)

CFD online is great website for information on Computational
Fluid Dynamics. Fluid Flow simulation topics are discussed by experts all over
the world. This website is not software product specific. I like the website
for its responsiveness. Users can get answers within a matter of few minutes,
giving hints on next step. Also, they have a section for reference books and
job positions available all over the world. So if you love the field you are in
but would like to relocate to Hawai…this might be a good place to start. 

• MCAD CAFE (www.mcadcafe.com)

MCADCAFE (as the name proposes) toutes itself for
information on CAD industry. They have forums to talk about new features in
software releases, how is one CAD company performing with respect to another. Current
offers run by software companies. Also a newsletter summarizing their
perspective on CAD industry. They also cover machine design shows and hence a
very useful resource for online information.

• Math World (www.mathworld.wolfram.com)

Many a times while
using SolidWorks users want to use polynomial equations to control a curve or
while using FloWorks see how one flow parameter effects the other. Users can
find information on building relationships between different parameters using
Mathworld’s resources’.

• Polymer FEM (www.polymerfem.com)

This is a great website if you deal with plastic material. They have
databases on different material types, in most cases can be downloaded and
plugged into the SolidWorks Simulation. Users can get stress-strain curves
giving material behavior upto and beyond yield. They also have information on
software training.

• Campus Plastics (www.campusplastics.com)

Campus Plastic works with plastic producing companies to
generate a database of material properties. Since they have information
directly from the manufacturer, they are very accurate, also they follow all standards required by different regions.
Users can download material databases for use in SolidWorks Simulation.

• Google (www.google.com)

It would be unfair to not mention the GOD of all search
engines. Thank God these geniuses came out before I graduated. Google is the
best place to start looking for information. It does not matter what you are
looking for, their page file search technique is always one step ahead of the
game, information users get is always relevant to the question asked.

 

Rajat Trehan

Product
Manager – Design Validation

Computer Aided Technology Inc.

Daylight Savings Nov.2nd get a Redneck Fire Alarm

Daylight Savings is Nov. 2nd you should change the batteries in your smoke alarm, unless you have the Redneck Fire Alarm, then no batteries needed.

 

Not only will this save your life but you will have a nice piece of art hanging on your wall.

You may also want to hang one over the couch & bed in case you fall asleep while smoking.

Josh Altergott

CATI Support Team Leader