The firm EDS strengthens the integration of CAD/CAM/CAE applications with the future intention of creating a single product

 
Improvements of I-deas 9

The firm EDS has announced the launch of Solidedge (r) 9, which is, along with Unigraphics (UGS), the main application of assisted by computer (CAD/CAM/CAE) design, manufacturing and engineering. To improve its software, EDS has chosen directly by listening to its customers and is for this reason that Solidedge 9 contains more than 500 improvements suggested by its users.

This CAD/CAM/CAE application makes the most computer possibilities for design and manufacturing of machined products, and to examine its structural integrity. In addition, the methodology of modeling that offers this program simplifies the workflow and shortens design cycles.

EDS has opted for integration and this has improved substantially "interoperability" between 9 Solidedge and Unigraphics, to the extent that the signature described the integration between both "unique" software packages.

As it communicates the company, the new version of Unigraphics will also incorporate these tools of "interoperability". Although it is still a long term project, the idea of the company is to end up offering a single product with the best of both applications.

Turning to Solidedge 9, signature has reinforced the functionality in the traditional "strong" from Solidedge areas, such as the collaboration, the user experience and digital validation.

The improvements included in Solidedge 9 are intended for advanced users who develop complex products of multiple systems.

Solidedge 9 significantly simplifies the workflow of the process of design through an initiative to improve modeling that includes three cycles of products and which will continue with the development and launch of the new version Solidedge 10. Solidedge 9 optimizes the structure of the models with a few commands that combine common tasks with very versatile additional functions. This reduction of steps within the process accelerates ostensibly the modification of the products.

Although it is still early to assess how the market will welcome this new version of Solidedge 9, the President of PLM Solutions from EDS, Bill Carelli, marketing has secured the first impressions of the customers are favourable, especially in what refers to "the revision and modification of complex designs."

Solidedge 9 contains a wide range of improvements that make it leading CAD/CAM/CAE. These include:

Collaboration. The tools and functions including enabling collaboration always have been a feature inherent in Solidedge. Solidedge 9 strengthens collaboration with several improvements in its performance. Solidedge Viewer XML has expanded to support more file types, which increases the benefits of this collaboration tool. Data converters have been expanded to improve collaboration with non-native data sources. The data in 3D on the products and the manufacturing, directly related to the solid model, favouring collaboration in electronic format. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (American Society of mechanical engineers) has announced the Y14.41 standard, which defines conventions for the annotation in 3D. Solidedge development team participated in the definition of this key industry standard, to which conforms Solidedge 9.

Solidedge Enterprise Release 2.0. Further expanding the levels of collaboration, Solidedge 9 will be fully compatible with Solidedge Enterprise Release 2.0. Solidedge Enterprise is a collaboration environment that offers users the possibility of working together in dispersed development teams geographically, allowing you to work together in many different types of end users through a single interactive environment. New improvements include a precise control of access to certain elements of data, notification of events, the expanded tools of data migration and compatibility with the Teamcenter Collaboration Foundation 2.0 environment. Solidedge Enterprise Release 2.0 will be available in early 2002.

Experience of the user. Solidedge 9 includes the option of a customizable user interface. Compatible with Microsoft Windows interface offers the possibility to customize the design of icons and the drop-down menus to fit the criteria of each company or of each process. As a result, Solidedge can be easily configured for all users whatever their level of experience, from the most novel to the more expert, since that comes ready factory with several typical options.

Validation digital. Solidedge 9 expands its benefits of falls and simulation with new tools of geometric abstraction. The function of section in meshing streamlines the validation functions digital, creating new models of finite element (FEM) in geometry imported from a wide variety of sources. Stereolithography files or the inherited FEM meshing can be used as a basis for the revised digital simulations, resulting in greater flexibility and allows to integrate digital validation more quickly into existing processes.

Functionality CAM driven by the customers. Solidedge 9 Generative Machining adds value to the manufacturers of tools with important innovations in die and machining of the structures of the dies. Important advances in the workflow of the linear machining show a special interest in ensuring the effectiveness by focusing on the experience of the user for each process. New or enhanced functions include mechanical simulation, cleaning of remains, connections of mechanized uniform of high-speed, edition of trajectories of interactive tools for graphics, automation of the creation of holes machining advanced curves and edges, and reprocessing improved for the trajectories of the tools.

Interoperability of the data. Solidedge 9 users will also have access to tools for interoperability between Solidedge and Unigraphics. These benefits of interoperability based on open standard technology Parasolid/eXT, allow combining effectively the benefits of Solidedge and Unigraphics. This expands the set of tools for Solidedge 9 and represents the first step in a process towards more long-term use and combine the best of Solidedge and Unigraphics in a single product. These interoperability tools will be available soon with the launch of Unigraphics version 18.

More information:
www.eds.com/

EDS PLM Solutions Spain
www.plmsolutions-eds.com/global/es/  

5) METALUNIVERS March 2002