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Kurt:l., color swASh:and XLP:.are registered tr.Ktemarks of Kurt! Corp. WIfldoo.\:oo is:l registered lr.KJerrwk of Micr'cl5ofi. Corp AOI is .. registered lr~ of AurOOesk Inc IBM is a regisIered lr.ldemark of International Business Machines. Summagr.lphics Summa$ketch is :I registered u-Jdcmatk of SufTllTl38J""dphks Corp CIRCLE CARD 239

CailMlIlp'S Bra r® 9 titlles faster than iDlQet. Two plotters battled it out in Day Package which includes: CalComp at I-S00-932-1212 ext.S front of the cameras producing • Free Casio Electronic Organizer for the reseller nearest you. final plots on vellum. (an $80 value) with demo We call it Judgment Day. • New low prices (up to $3000 ~drawon You can see this epic confron­ less) on DrawingMaster plotters your imagina1ion:" tation at your local CalComp • Plus rebates of up to $500 reseller until April 30, 1993. Call your participating And when you do, you'll be CalComp "Value Add Vantage" ~CalComp eligible for our special Judgment Reseller for details. Or call A Lockheed Company

© 1993 CalComp. Amounts are in U.S. Dollars. DrawingMaster and We draw on your imagination are registered trademarks ofCalComp. FEBRUARY I MARCH 1993 Vol.1, No.3

IT ALL COMES CADKEY® B New Features by Fran k Simpson 11 TOGETHER WITH How Does CADKEY® B Stack Up? by Robert Martin 14 CADKEY® B CADKEY® 6 / ACAD 12

Aud igo by Paul Bergetz 20 A model concurrent eng ine er in g project CONCURRENT with CADKEY & CUTTING EDGE ENGINEERING Solving A Design Problem : A Coin Press by Martin Fa ulkner 30 SOLUTIONS Students / st aff at Cranfield Inst itute of Tech nology reso lve a design problem using DeMec

Students + CADK EY 1.4 = Learning and Results by Frank Simpson 42 Un ivers ity of New Hampshire design a Plankton Samp ler

Concurrent Engineering Workshop - Part One by Cra ig Storms 62 Design ing a Cyl inder Bracket and Ken Fortier

ISSUES Industry: Where Do We Go From Here? by Brian Carlisle 26

Education : Teen-Agers Blow Away .. . by Ron Shea 56 S.O.S. - Save Our Schools by Robert Martin 59

PRO DU C T Selecting A CAD Platform by Kenneth Billing 32

F 0 C U S Local Bus and Other PC Speed Enhancers by Claudia Martin 36

New Generation PCs for Cad 38

DOS or UNIX : The Best of Both Worlds 41 OPUS SPARCard br ings Un ix ca pab ility to the PC

ReVIEWPORT 44 A br ief look at hardware and software productivity too ls

COLUMNS Editorial 5 AND KeyNotes 6 DEPARTMENTS CAD KEY FORUM 10 New Products 16 CADKEY Corner 64 CADL Toolbox 70 Advertiser Index 72 Solution Mart 74 Tech Tips 54 User Group News 73 SOME OF OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Concurrent Engineering for the 90's Paul Bergetz is president of CAD PRO Chicago, Inc., a Cadkey dealer EDITORIAL VAR specializing in computer based systems for mechanical engineer­ 5091445-1748 ing and design. Prior to forming CADPRO, Paul spent eleven years Managing Editor Claudia Martin designing, building and selling professional audio systems for video and audio production. Earlier, Paul was a Tool and Die maker and designer Technical Editor in the metal working business. Dr. Robert Martin Cadkey 1 Key Solutions Relations Frank Simpson, Manager

Brian R. Carlisle, co-founder, Chairman and CEO CONTRIBUTING EDITORS of Adept Technology, Inc., is also the current Presi­ Ron Shea, Frank Simpson, Craig Stonos, AI Torizzo dent of the U.S. Robotic Industries Assoc. , Co­ Chairman of the Automation Forum ofthe National DESIGN Electrical Manufacturers Assoc. , and a member of Art Director the National Science Foundation Advisory Board on Meli88a Clark Computer Science Research. Mr. Carlisle directed PRODUCl'ION the design ofthe AdeptOne, the world's first direct­ 5091928-5169 drive robot. Production Manager Gayle Simpson

ADMINISTRATION 5091928-5169 Busine88 ManagerlCEO Kenneth W. Billing is West Coast Manager of Steve Radford PacifiCAD, Inc., a CAD consulting and services ADVERTISING SALES firm with offices in Portland, Oregon and Spokane, WESTERN REGION Washington. He has been involved in the CAD JamieBohn industry since 1984 and has authored or co-authored Ph: 8181543-0206 several books and numerous articles on network­ Fx: 8181240-3234 ing and related topics. EASTERN REGION Susan Barbash Ph: 9141941-0195 Fx: 9141941-8659

Martin Faulkner is a Design Instructor at the Customer ServicelSolution Mart JoSchmidt Cranfield Institute of Technology, School ofIndus­ Ph: 509/445-1748 trial and Manufacturing Science, in Bedfordshire, Fx: 509/445-1146 UK. He also undertakes personal consultancy, BDITORIAL POLICY: Key Solutions is an solving problems, and designing machines and independent publication withoutobliption to ~ Software or hardware dealer, vendor or products for industrial sponsors. Earlier in his di8tributor,~aa indicated. Artieleenoted career he worked extensively in the auto component ,.. newa or features are written without Imowledgeablebiaa. Articleanotedaaeditorial industry developing special purpose production represent the opinion ofthe author. Technical lIriiclee represent the opinion of the author machines. He has also taught engineering in both and are selected by virtue oftheir educational the UK and Africa. value. BVBSCRJPnON CORRESPONDENCE: (orders, chanae of address, etc.) should be directed to Key Solutions, P.O. Box 11978, Spokane, WA t9211-1978. Allow six weeks for processing.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE should be di­ ncted to Managing Editor, Key Solutions, On the Cover: P.O. Box 11978, Spokane, WA 99211-1978. ~ Solutions encourages readers to submit :articles, letters, questions and technical tips. A collage created by Christine Sweeney, graphic designer at Cadkey, ;KeySolutions, Copyright () 1993,(lSSN 1064- Inc., from CADKEY, CADKEY ANALYSIS, and CADKEY® NC (formerly 2146) is published hi-monthly by Value Engi­ Maring Associates. Microsoft and Windows CUTTING EDGE) fi les. You can also see this design on the Version 6.0 are registered trademarks of Mic:roaoft Cor­ package and promotional posters and T-shirts. JIOI'Btion. mM is the registered trademark of the International Business Machines C0rpo­ ration. CADKEY is the I'8Idatered trademark of Cacikev, Inc. AutoCAf) is the registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.

4· KEY Solutions' February/March 1993 KEY TALK AWYSIWYG RENDERING

Exciting things are happening for Cadkey and Key Solutions. The relaunch of Cadkey and the release of CADKEY®6 top the list, of course, but if you've read Frank Simpson's letter on page one, you know that Key Solutions and Cadkey have formed a closer relation­ ship and that Key Solutions is taking the place of 3-D World.

Key Solutions will maintain editorial and publishing independence. However, the results of the stronger communications link between the cr.n"'~'i \\0'11 il\\\lot\sr.1l\. \ileS\ two companies is already evident in this issue. For example, the \\ealite solidS C complete section on CADKEY®6, the increased number of pages, the expanded number of articles on how to use CADKEY--none of this REALIZE rendering tool !!> is the first rendering tool available under DOS could have been accomplished as easily without Cadkey's assistance offering true What You See Is What You and support. Get control over the rendering process.

The real advantages of this relationship are for CAD KEY users and Sounds too easy, but its true . And REALIZE has " virtual reality" viewing to Key Solutions readers. You are, in fact, the very first to read about allow realistic wa lk CADKEY®6. In the magazine business this is called "scooping the throughs. competition." Over the coming months, you will also have access to in-depth information about using Cadkey products as concurrent engineering tools. Key Solutions will print articles that would have appeared in 3-D World. Subscribers of 3-D World will now receive six issues of Key Solutions per year instead of four issues of 3-D World.

This very special issue was made possible by the concerted efforts of Key Solutions and Cad key, Inc. Many thanks to -

Charles Ferrucci, Cad key V.P. of Marketing for providing the Other Features: necessary editorial and technical resources. • Full-featured animation • Resolutions up to 1024x768-256 colors Frank Simpson, Cad key/Key Solutions Relations Manager • FAST! for coordinating communications. • Renders any model size • Icon driven user interface with on-line help • Dynamic wire frame display Stas Mylek, CADKEY Product Manager for providing pre­ • Phong, flat, and gradient shading with release and technical information on CADKEY®6. textures • Dynamic color image editing Jay Hirth, CADKEY®NC (CUTTING EDGE) Product Manager • Imports all 2-1 /2 and 3-D DXF'" entities for providing technical product support. • WindowsT" compatible pex output • Runs on any 80 x 86 DOS machine with Craig Storms, Cad key Training Coordinator for supplying Standard or Super VGA CADL Toolbox since the first issue.

Many others have contributed to the success of Key Solutions. To all at Cad key who helped, but who are not mentioned due to space limitations, heartfelt thanks. And thanks to Cadkey dealers, third­ party developers and advertisers who have provided support. And finally, thanks to all the readers who have sent letters of support. Your letters let us know if we're doing our job and are real morale boosters for the Key Solutions staff.

Stay tuned! Bigger and better things are yet to come! ~;(/ [ f//,/{) L ../ Robert Martin

Technical Editor o 1992lllnar Graphics, Inc Rutize Renderino Tool isa trademark of lunar Graphlcs,lnc All other trademarks and copyrights acknOwledged. Made In the U.S.A

CIRCLE CARD 235 February/March 1993 • KEY Solutions· 5 PC'S CADKEY in the News Intel Continues Growth Intel Corporation will spend more on new plants and equipment in 1993 than any 3-D World other semiconductor company, marking the third consecutive year Intel's invest­ Cadkey, Inc. and Key Solutions, the inde­ ment level will have led the world's chip industry, Intel, America's largest chip pendent publication for concurrent en­ maker, has been the world's fastest growing major chip company for the last fiv e gineering in the 90s, have entered into an agreement which expands Key years, with chip revenues expanding about 32 percent per year 1987-91. Solution's coverage of Cadkey's prod­ This is partly explained by the high demand for Intel486 microprocessors that ucts. Key Solutions remains an indepen­ were expected to push Intel's fourth quarter revenues to up to 25 percent or more from dent publication, but will feature in-depth those of the third quarter of 1992, articles about CADKEY and CUTIING EDGE and receive editorial and techni­ Mainframes Continue Decline cal assistance from Cadkey. To avoid The outlook for IBM's mainframe computers are dim at best. IBM still gets more duplicating efforts, Cadkey has ended 3-D World as its corporate publication. than $22 billion of its annual revenue and 60 percent of its net income from Frank Simpson, previous editor of 3-D mainframes, but mainframes are rapidly being replaced by smaller computers, World, will function as Cadkey's liaison especially personal computers. The outlook is good for midrange computers. IBM will with Key Solutions and be a contributing sell 58,000 AS/400 midrange computers this year, up 12 percent from last year. editor to Key Solutions along with his other duties at Cadkey. HP Takes DEC's Number 2 Spot Developer Wins A ward For the first time, Hewlett-Packard has surpassed Digital Equipment Corp. in Robert Bean, P.E " M.E . , and president of revenues in the U.S, market for midrange computer systems, giving HP the number Baystate Technologies was awarded the two ranking behind IBM. Recently HP has experienced a double digit, year-to-year "Enterprise Award" in the 1992 "VISIONS growth rate, while Digital's growth has declined slightly over the past fi ve years. 2000 Leadership Project" for his develop­ ment of DRAFT-PAK , a Cadkey produc­ Flash Memory tivity tool for mechanical design. Spon­ Flash is one of the faster growing semiconductor technologies, with sales esti­ sored by Worcester Telegram & Gazette, mated to grow 10 times in the next five years, from $200 million today to $2 billion the award is given annually to an indi­ in 1997, according to DataQuest and other sources, Flash is the most advanced form vidual in Central Massachusetts " "for an invention, idea, or technological ad­ of non-volatile memory available today, with the advantage of being erasable and re­ vance that has produced measurable writable cost effectively, even when installed in a system. NAND flash introduces positive results during the past year." cost effective electronic mass storage, replacing low and medium density hard disk Founded in 1989, Baystate develops and drives, NOR flash provides for user upgradable firmware in PCs, communications, markets a range of enhancement prod­ and automotive devices. ucts for desktop CAD systems in a design and manufacturing environment. Who's Who in PC's CADKEY'93 Channel Marketing Corp.'s new list of PC manufacturers tells "Who's In, Who's Spring Show Schedule Out and Who's Still Around" for 1993. Left the market in '92 (OUT): Goldstar, National Design Engineering Show March Magnavox, KLH, Smith Corona, Emerson, Samsung, Sensor, Tandon, Wang, PC 8 to 11 , Chicago IL - CADKEY Version 6.0 Brand, Everex, New in '92 (IN): Canon, CMC , Leading Edge, EasyData, EiSys, Apple, will be the highlight at the Cadkey booth Compaq, NEC, AT & T, Hewlett-Packard, Were in, left, then returned, all in '92 (IN/ at NDES. The Cadkey User Group meet­ OUTIIN): ESP, Laser, PC Partner, Emerson, First in the channel and still around ing will be held at 6:00 PM March 9 at the (STILL AROUND): Packard Bell, Acros/Acer, AST, IBM , May be thinking of entering McCormick Center Hotel. Call Danielle (TO WATCH): Sony, Epson, Panasonic, Toshiba, CMC predicts just as much turmoil Cote at 203/298-6424 for free tickets. in the retail channel during 1993, but personal computer sales will continue to soar. Cadkeywill also be atthe following shows during the spring quarter: WESTEC '93 - March 22-25 - Los Angeles UNIX Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA. Atlantic Design Engineering Show - April Sun Combines Operations 22-25 - Garden State Exhibit Center - Sun Microsystems, Inc. said it intends to compete more aggressively in the Somerset, NJ. personal computer networking market by combining the operations of two of its businesses: SunS elect and Sitka Corp. The combined business unit integrates (continued on next page) SunSelect's open client-server networking and emulation product families with peer­ to-peer and mobile networking product lines from Sitka.

6 • KEY Solutions· February/March 1993 CADKEY in the News

Novell Moves Into Unix CADKEY in Eastern Europe Novell gained a weapon in its battle with Microsoft Corp., agreeing to purchase Cadkey is continuing to build long­ American Telephone & Telegraph Co.'s Unix System Laboratories for about $360 term, free-market partnerships with million in stock. The deal gives Novell control of Unix. In return, AT&T gains a 3 manufacturing, government and percent stake in Novell, the second largest supplier of PC software after Microsoft. education in Eastern Europe. Coop­ This also sets the stage for a new round of com peti tion between Novell and Microsoft. erative agreements are now in place ext year, Microsoft plans to introduce an operating system called Windows NT and Cadkey software has been in­ aimed at fans of Unix. Novell and Microsoft already compete in networking software stalled in automotive and aerospace applications, enjoying full production where Novell holds a wide lead, and in PC operating software where Microsoft dominates with DOS and Windows. status. Cad key' s place in Eastern Europe was KnowledgeWare and Unix firmly established before the fall of the KnowledgeWare, Inc. announced plans to expand into the Unix market with a Communist bloc. Despite COCOM version of its Application Development Workbench(R). This version of the popular regulations which restricted the sale of ADW integrated CASE product line will offer familiar features and functions. Western high-technology products such as CAD/CAM, Cadkey (based Unix Wordperfect 5.1 Available on its strengths for an industrial manu­ Two new versions of the WordPerfect word processor for Unix began shi pping in facturing environment) was allowed December 1992; WordPerfect 5.1 for SCO Unix for System 5 Release 3.2.4 and 100 to sell software to Hungary, Czecho­ percent compatibles and WordPerfect for SCO XENIX. slovakia, Bulgaria and Armenia from 1989-1990. In 1990 the former Soviet ODDS AND ENDS Union's Ministry of Construction pur­ chased DataCAD to assist in rebuild­ Drunk Detection Computerized ing areas of Armenia devastated by the 1988 earthquake. Cadkey training Alcohol-impaired pilots or professional drivers can now be identified through centers are currently in place at the micro-chip technology at a very rapid speed. Deep-lung air is the substance analyzed University of Miskolc, a technical uni­ instantly by devices such as the Intoxilyzer manufactured by CMI to determine versity in Hungary, the University of blood alcohol co ntent. This advanced micro-chip technology and computer software Wroclaw and the University of Tech­ can detect and record alcohol content to a degree of accuracy that stands up in court. nology Warszawa in Poland. the Tech­ Fire Trucks to Get Faxes nical University of Zlin in Czechoslova­ kia , and several technical centers in Three fire trucks in Scarborough, Maine will be equipped with fax machines next Russia . year. The faxes will be used to give fire fighters floor plans of burning buildings and information about hazardous waste. Richard Kretzmer, Cadkey's V.P. of sales, has extensive experience among Russian Changes Tracked on Software the people of Eastern Europe and the With the Russian Parliament on a rampage and economic changes wreaking Commonwealth of Independent havoc across Russia, a Louisiana company has released "Who's Who In Russia," a States (CIS). He has published several software product designed to keep up with the rapid changes in Russia. A spokesman artic les in business planning, sales and for D.N. Young & Associates Inc., said the software is maintained by a staff of 20 marketing to assist fledgling Eastern programmers in Moscow and gives users instant access to approximately 50,000 European entrepreneurs launch free­ Russian decision makers. market enterprises successfully. CADKEY is available in 12 languages, CNN Transcripts On-Line including Czech, Magyar (Hungarian). Daily transcripts of 50 CNN programs are now available electronically via and Russian . CADKEY is becoming the DataTimes' online service. Journal Graphics transcripts of "Larry King Live," preferred design/manufacturing solu­ "Prime News," "Moneyline" and other CNN shows join 1,700 network news, news­ tion for Eastern Europe and the Com­ paper, wire and financial database services on DataTimes. monwealth of Independent States.

February/March 1993 • KEY Solutions' 7 Only one company today can offer engineers unprecedented flexibility puter-based training . Hundreds of engineers fully integrated computer­ and control early in the design process. third party solution partners. And at aided design, analysis and manufac­ Opt to add CAM with CADKEYQI NC, $3,495 CAD KEY 6 offers an excep­ turing for desktop concurrent and product designs can be moved tional price/performance advantage engineering : Cadkey. into manufacturing rapidly and with with a money back guarantee. Visit significant time savings! your authorized CADKEY dealer, or Introducing CADKEYe 8 call Cad key for more information and CAD KEY 6 takes the design-to-man­ nII comes together with CIIIley a free CAD KEY 6 poster. ufacturing cycle to a new level of per­ Cadkey offers everything a design formance never before available in a engineer could possibly want: Tech­ ~ Cadkey, Inc. desktop environment. To an award­ nical superiority. Complete data 4 Griffin Road North, Windsor, CT 06095 winning 2-0/3-0 CAOO product, exchange between other CAD sys­ (203) 298-8888 0 FAX: (203) 298-6401 Toll-free 1-800-394-2231 CAD KEY 6 now adds analysis, giving tems. Direct customer support. Com- CADKEY" and CADKEY" NC are registered trademarl

CIRCLE CARD 202

Cadkey Forum Cad key Names New Marketing! Sales VPs Two members of the Cadkey manage­ The Secret is Out! Cad key Relaunch Underway ment team have been promoted to vice presidenti al posilions: Charles Ferrucci to V.P., marketing and Richard Kretzmer to by Malcolm Davies, President-Cad key, Inc. V.P., sales. Ferrucci was previously marketing Cadkey, Inc. is a revitalized manager, a positi on he assumed last year after joining Cad key company! We have officially be­ from the Entrepre­ gun the relaunch that I announced ne uria l Resource in October when Ijoined Cadkey. Group. There he was Since last summer I have been a consultant special­ telling everyone that Cadkey's izing in management a na lysis of fast products were the best kept secret growth companies. in the industry. When I joined In hi s new post, Cadkey I saw my first job as presi­ Ferrucci is respon­ dent to be that oftakingthe wraps sible for worldwide off the secret. Now the secret is marketing which in­ out. Our relaunch is underway. cludes product man­ Charles Ferrucci agement, coll ateral materi als, pricing, training, promotions, and Our mission is to become the marketing communications. He began hi s Number One provider of desktop career at Southern New England Telephone Company where, over an 18 year period, he concurrent engineering and AEC was promoted to a variety of management software worldwide. We will positions. Ferrucci was also the first director achieve this mission by meeting of marketing for SONECOR Systems. customer requirements, by deliv­ Malcolm Davies Richard Kretzmer was elevated to V. P., ering the highest value in the in­ sales from sales manager. As sales manager, dustry, by providing full interna­ Our corporate objective is to hi s primary focus was establishing and rein­ tional support, by marketing cre­ achieve "best-in-class" status in forcing international di stribution channels. He now assumes responsibi lity for world­ atively and aggressively, by the industry's leading competitive wide sales, strategic alliances and related working smarter not harder, by benchmarks: products, documen­ acti vities. Kretzmer joined Cad key last year improving continuously, and by tation, service and support. after 26 years in senior domestic and inter­ exemplifying honesty and integ­ national sales management positions wit h rity. Gerber Systems Technology, a division of The responses of our users are Gerber Scientific, Inc. also an important benchmark. There are two phases of the Please feel free to communicate New VP and Tech' Manager for relaunch of our integrated set of with me through Key Solutions. Asia/Pacific Operation CAD/CAE/CAM software prod­ Bobby Cheng has been appointed V.P. of ucts for concurrent engineering Cad key's AsiaJPacifi c operati ons based Send your comments and questions and manufacturing. Phase One in Singapore. Mr. Cheng brings a wide to: va ri ety of computer industry experience begins in March 1993 with the Malcolm Davies, President to Cad key (Texas In strument s, DEC, release of CADKEY® 6. Many of Computervision and Autodesk) especiall y the details are described in this Cadkey, Inc. in marketi ng CAD/CAM software to in­ issue of Key Solutions. c/o Key Solutions dustries in the Pacific Region. CADKEY®6 builds on and vastly Wee Phuay Hoon has been appointed P.O. Box 11978 enhances the capabilities of CAD­ regional technical manager and Christine Spokane WA 99211-1978 KEY 5 -- greatly expanding its Png, office manager. Both report to Mr. Cheng in Singapore. Wee Phon Hoon is a usefulness as a concurrent engi­ mechanical CAD/systems engineer. Before neering tool. The second phase Or, send comments to the Cadkey joining Cad key, he served as Autodesk's will involve the introduction of section of CADDVEN Forum on technical manager in Singapore. DataCAD®5 targeted for 1993. CompuServe®.

10· KEY Solutions· FebruarylMarch 1993 CADKEY

Shape Recognition / Shading and File Compatibility Top List of New Features

CADKEY®6, released this TURE IT also provides output that is write DWG and DXF files directly, month, is bigger and better from compatible with many popular, combined with the existing start to finish. It's loaded with photorealistic rendering packages CADKEY Dynamic Extensions™ , powerful new innovative features. and for stereolithography. CADL® (CADKEY Advanced It also includes excellent major Design Language), and the enhancements to the user interface CADKEY® IGES Translator, DWGIDXF Translators and other basic operations. Always expands development capabilities the tool of choice for mechanical Here's another totally unique so essential in a system dedicated CAD, CADKEY 6 is a testament to CAD first. CAD KEY 6 can read and to mechanical engineering and Cadkey's commitment to the write AutoCAD® DWG and DXF manufacturing. mechanical engineering and files directly - as easily as loading a manufacturing market. Here's an CADKEY part file without any Bi-Directional Part Files overview of what you'll experience. exterior translation. More impor- tant, there is no degrada­ Remember when changing tion of geometry. This software versions could create feature has incredible chaos because earlier drawings potential as a productiv­ couldn't be read by the new ity tool; for example, if software and visa versa? No more! you work in a mixed-CAD The CADKEY part file database software environment; if has not been changed in CADKEY you receive DWG or DXF 6. This binary compatibility files from vendors or insures a seamless part file others; or if you are exchange between CADKEY 6 converting to CADKEY and CADKEY 5. This database from other CAD packages integrity is critical for precision such as AutoCAD. manufacturing. rrV

FebruaryIMarch 1993 • KEY Solutions· 11 User Interface Enhanced With Increased Windows­ Like Dialog Boxes

On-Line Tutor and Help to CADKEY 6 be smooth for those drives without ever having to leave Help is only a menu away in who upgrade? Will getting up to CAD KEY. You can sort files by CADI(EY6. speed with CADKEY 6 be quick name, extension, size or date of and easy for new or novice users? creation. File attributes such as CADKEY Tutor is still the only The answers are yes and yes. date, time, etc. are also displayed. PC on-line learning tool completely integrated into a PC CAD product. For "upgraders," the familiar CADKEY Tutor consists of short commands and basic structure of Printing and Plotting CADKEY 5 have not changed. twenty-minute lessons on a variety In CAD KEY 6 all printing and Changes in the user interface make of topics designed to reduce the plotting information has been some previously complicated learning curve. The Tutor can be combined into separate boxes. You functions simple. selected from the APPLICATIONS can print with "portrait" or "land­ menu. New Windows-like dialog boxes scape" orientation. Hypertext HELP is easily simplify and speed up everyday accessed, comprehensive on-line functions like documentation. Simply select file manage­ HELP from the Status window and ment, print­ choose the function you want to ing/plotting reference. You may use the HELP and masking. Index or type the word to display These dialog the desired information. boxes consoli­ date informa­ CADKEY 6 has many powerful tion and new features, but familiar software operations is comfortable. In real life, learning that previ­ new software or software upgrades ously required can be extremely inconvenient and a number of uncomfortable. Will the transition menu steps.

File Management File management is now Another Windows-like feature is handled right inside CADKEY . the ability to "drag" a piece of 6. This includes everything paper (which includes your paper from copying, deleting and settings) over a drawing and place moving files, to reading a part it over the area to print. Of course, file without a .PRT extention CADKEY 6 will still automatically in the file name. You can center your paper if you want. roam freely through different subdirectories and change disk

12· KEY Solutions· FebruarylMarch 1993 CADKEY ANAL Y

8 , 957£-1-04 8 , )27E't04

7 .046E+04 / 6 . 4CJ:5E-t04 S . 7SSE+04 S.124E+04 Other 4.494E+04 Enhancements -- :3 .203E*04

1 , 922E+04 1 . 28IE+04 VON MSES STRESS PLOT II ::::::~ 2-D Plane Stress Elastic Analysis

Masking You can select entities, mask simplifies a previously complex software tool based on the Bound­ entities or display all entities, from operation. New options in Detail ary Element Method (BEM), was the options displayed in a single Set include the ability to substitute released last year as a separate dialog box. A Selection List lets you any ASCII character for the stan­ package. Now ANALYSIS is an select groups of entities, making a dard dot in dimensions, as well as integral part of CADKEY 6 and can complex multiple step selection a the ability to set the spacing be invoked as easily as a spell single step. between the end of the witness line checker in a word processor. and the object line. CADKEY ANALYSIS gives engi­ neers an easy-to-use, powerful, Cross-Hatching quick and accurate way to analyze Layout Mode Cross-hatching boundary parts. It can handle single, isotro­ recognition and capabilities have CADKEY 6's drawing layout pic, and homogeneous materials been greatly enhanced. It's no mode continues to have true 3D within their specific elastic limits longer necessary to break bound­ mode/layout associativity, but also for both 2D and axisymmetric aries for simple cross-hatching. All includes instance scaling, rotation, bodies. Modules included are cross-hatch patterns are now alignment and blanking. Instance Thermal Elastic (Steady State Heat displayed in dialog box format as ghost boxes scale to the displayed Transfer), Elastic (Linear Elastic icons which let you identify the entities. Any object can be linked to Stress), and Thermoelastic analy­ patterns before use. In addition to an instance so that it moves and sis. aligns with the instance that has an increased number of default The CADKEY IGES translator, been added. hatch patterns, you can define which also used to be a separate customized hatch patterns. Any software module, now operates cross-hatched area can be edited Levels seamlessly from inside CADKEY 6 and the cross-hatching will reflect A Levels dialog box lists Level interface. This allows CADKEY any changes made to geometry names for a Motif®-like interaction. users to import and export IGES within the cross-hatch boundary. A count option has been added that files directly. There is no longer Inside the cross-hatched boundary can list the types and numbers of any need to run an external IGES you can even add or subtract entities on a level, including translator. islands (non-cross-hatched areas). CADKEY Surface types and For example, notes and dimensions Collectives. can now be treated as islands if Slides they fall within a cross-hatch CADKEY 6 produces slide files boundary. View List in CompuServe's industry-standard You can now switch views by GIF® (Graphics Interchange Format) format. Detail Drafting selecting from a list of user-defined view names. CADKEY users can now save all settings for Detail Drafting as a Unix Template file for repeated use, and ANALYSIS and IGES The Unix version of CAD KEY 6 the settings for all detailing now Operate Inside 6 supports Sun Microsystem's appear in a single dialog box. This CADKEY®ANALYSIS, the SOLARIS® operating system.

FebruarylMarch 1993 • KEY Solutions· 13 An Engineer's

CADKE~6 and AutoCA~12

by Robert Martin

Comparing CADKEY®6 and literally "saved our bacon." tools for the mechanical engineer­ AutoCAD®12 is a little like My experience, while not ing market." From the beginning talking about apples and oranges, unique, does illustrate some Cadkey, Inc. focused on the needs but I'm going to give it a try. essential differences between of this market. CADKEY is and Based on my experience I'm totally CADKEY and AutoCAD. The always has been a true 3D pack­ convinced that CADKEY is the products as they exist today are age with features specifically for best mechanical CAD / concurrent extensions of the profoundly the mechanical engineer and engineering package around, and I different developmental philoso­ designer. think it's important to understand phies and marketing strategies. The release of CADKEY 6 with what the two programs are all Recent corporate statements from PICTURE ITTM, the integrated about. both Cadkey, Inc. and Autodesk DWG and DXF translator, the I'm a consulting mechanical make this clear. integration of ANALYSIS and the engineer and an ex-Auto CAD user In their AutoCAD 12 Feature shared database with - writer - teacher for more years Summary Document, Autodesk CADKEY®NC (formerly CUT­ than I care to admit. Late in 1988 stated that their goal was "to TING EDGE) just strengthens and I became involved in the B2 provide a product which is fa st, lengthens CADKEY's lead as a bomber program when one of my looks good, is easy to use, ad­ concurrent engineering tool. clients was subcontracted by dresses new markets and enhances Autodesk, in an attempt to Northrup to produce a subsystem. current AutoCAD capabilities. " catch up technologically and Right out of the starting gate there Nothing's changed! AutoCAD was capture a bigger share ofthe was trouble. When we attempted originally developed as a generic mechanical market, recently to translate drawings sent in graphics engine that could be bought Micro Engineering Solu­ IGES format into AutoCAD, turned into any type of CAD tions (MES) of Novi, Michigan. I strange arrays of lines that did not application using third party feel that they're a day late and a meet at the vertices or corners software. It was an adequate (not dollar short. Even though MES is appeared on the screen. Curves great) 2D and 2 1I2D drafting a high-end CAD/CAM company were represented by a series of package, and it was inexpensive with NURBS surface for machin­ straight lines that made very little and well marketed. In the early ing and twelve years experience in sense. And that was just the CAD market AutoCAD had few the automotive industry, that beginning of the mess. competitors and so Autodesk sold doesn't mean that AutoCAD is We began a frantic search for a lots of software. going to be able to incorporate PC CAD product that would This broad focus coupled with NURBS surfacing in the near translate the IGES files. The marketing strategies that targeted future. By the admission of one of answer turned out to be CADKEY the AEC market hindered develop­ MES's own marketing people, 3.5. Not only could we translate ment, especially in the mechanical "NURBS surfacing integration the drawings with great accuracy arena. It also led to the situation into AutoCAD is at least 12 to 18 and relative ease, but CADKEY let that Autodesk finds themselves in months away." Besides, AutoCAD us manipulate the resulting today, with the AEC market going has other deficiencies as a me­ entities just as easily. Needless to flat and the mechanical being the chanical package, not the least of say, the entire subsystem was only growth market. which is that it's accuracy just designed using CADKEY and CADKEY, on the other hand, isn't good enough for most NC molds for the parts were machined never tried to be all things to all work. via CADKEY CADL files. Even people. Their published goal is "to There are three primary areas though it couldn't save the B2 provide a robust, easy to use and where CADKEY outperforms project from limbo, CADKEY cost effective set of productivity AutoCAD:

14 • KEY Solutions · February/March 1993 A Summary of Features

Function CADKEY®6 AutoCAD®~2 Dimensions Dynamic Yes No View- Auto Align Ordinate Yes No Move & Place Yes No Edit attributes"on fly" Yes No Dynamic tole renee addition Yes No

Display Features • 3D Wireframe Construction Predefined Views 7 4 User definable View Po rts Yes No • Advanced geometry creation (up to 20) • Dimensions Immediate Command Mode Yes (42) In general, CADKEY's ability No to work in 3D space remains far 3D Functions superior to AutoCAD. The ability Wireframe to solid Yes No to define construction planes on Wireframe to multi ple views Yes No the fly while performing true 3D Bi-directional data exchange Yes No transformations is one of between models and 20 views CADKEY's strongest attributes. This capability remains archaic, at Shape Recognition/Shading Yes Shading best, in AutoCAD. View manipula­ Only Assembly drawing support for Yes No tion and multiview layouts are multiple 20 drawings still not inherent features in Wireframe hidden line Yes No AutoCAD. representation or removal Since its inception, CADKEY Wireframe fill & Shading Yes No has used sophisticated geometry types such as conics and splines Supported Complex Geometry Conics Yes and helix construction which No Splines Yes NO,Pline AutoCAD still does not support. Approxi- The polyline surface approxima­ malions only tions in AutoCAD are virtually Point Meshes Yes No unusable for machining. The fact Line Meshes Yes No that these defici encies have Spline Meshes Yes No, Pli ne continued for twelve years without Approxi- change attests to Autodesk's lack mations only of concern for, and dedication to Polyline Meshes Yes No Polygon Meshes Yes Yes (lim ited & the mechanical CAD market. ' inaccurate) Dynamic dimensioning is another of CAD KEY's strongest features. All dimension attributes can be changed on the fly ; the decimal precision of dimensions revealing. These small issues may monly performed function in a can be automatically aligned and not seem critical, but their cumu­ drawing session) you must leave edited; dimensions can be moved lative effect can dramatically the command you're in and slog and placed; and ordinate dimen­ impact the efficiency and speed of through layers of menus and sions can be automatically aligned a CAD operator. mouse picks before you can define and edited -- all of which is non­ I find AutoCAD slow and the window. In CADKEY all you existent in AutoCAD. "clunky" even for simple drafting do is press ALT-W and you're ready to define the window -­ In addition to these global operations. The Immediate Mode without exiting the current differences, AutoCAD does not commands in CADKEY may be old command. fare well in a micro-analysis of hat, but they still deserve "honor­ operations and raw commands (or able mention" in my book because The chart above contains an lack thereof). Even asking obvious of the advantage they provide the overview of some of the differences questions, such as how many user. AutoCAD does not have between AutoCAD 12 and keystrokes, mouse clicks, menu anything close. For example, in CADKEY 6. Upcoming issues of layers, and/or steps are required to AutoCAD just to do a Window Key Solutions will analyze these perform common functions, is Zoom (probably the most com- and others in detail.

February/March 1993 • KEY Solulions • 15 accepts standard monochrome product management which now INPUT compressed or uncompressed TIFF supports DXF files. Features images, enhances captured data include multilevel bills of material New GTCO Digitizer using raster and vector editing and a purchasing list function that GTCO Corp. offers a 12 x 18 inch tools, and outputs data in several groups parts by each vendor for digitizing tablet, the Ultima, with standard interchange formats. easier purchase order preparation. the UltraVu 16-button cursor. The DEED allows users to store detailed tablet is compatible with Contact Genasys at 303 / 226-3283 or Fax 303 /226-0869 data specifications and track Summagraphics changes for any type or MM1201, Windows class of part or object. and mouse drivers. It A find/edit function has an accuracy rate Maxi Switch allows users to select +/- 0.01 and can and edit parts across operate without an type categories. DEED external power supply is available for PC and or batteries by plug­ Sun SPARCstations. A ging into a serial port network version fea­ of a computer. tures record locking and Contact GTCO at 410 / password protection. 381-6688 or Fax 410/ Prices start at $2995. 290-9065. Contact Bionic at 919/ Maxi Switch's Tucson 101-PRO 847-1531 or Fax 919 / Fully 847-3182. Programmable Keyboard Maxi Switch, Inc. announced the HARDWARE New Project Planner Features Tucson 101-PRO, a new 101-key Primavera Systems has added new keyboard. It has the same full­ New Graphics Accelerators features to its Project Planner programmability of the company's STB Systems, Inc. has introduced management and control system. 124-key keyboard, at $30 less than two new graphics accelerators for These include resource allocation its top-of-the-line counterpart. ISA bus computers and one for the and leveling, custom reporting, Keys can be remapped to match the new VESA Local (VL) bus. The integrated scheduling, cost control user's personal working habits or to WINDIX Pro, PowerGraph X-24 and presentation graphics. Using perform special functions. The (lSA), and PowerGraph VL-24 (VL­ HP-GL files, the Project Planner Tucson 101-PRO is compatible with bus) are based on graphics control­ can create banded bar charts, pure PS/2 and IBM-compatible PCs and lers from S3, Inc. All three support logic diagrams and time scales; comes with a 3-year parts/service true color (16.7 million colors) cumulative curves; and resource warranty and is priced at $95. Pro drivers at 640x480 resolution as and cost profiles. Users can TOOL-I, a keyboard software well as top-end resolution of schedule multiple projects, bring in utility providing on-screen display 1280xl024. Each comes equipped predefined network segments to of user-programmed "macro" and with a full 1MB of RAM. The assemble complex networks, and "remapped" key settings is also PowerGraph X-24 has a suggested create reports with the custom available. list price of $249; the local bus VL- report writer. List price for single­ Contact Maxi Switch at 602 /294- 24, $299. The higher performance user is $4000; for three-user LANs, 5450 or Fax 602 /294-6890. VRAM WIND/x Pro lists at $399. $9500. Contact STB Systems, Inc. at 214 / Contact Primavera at 215/ 667-8600 Raster-to-Vector Conversion 234-8750 or Fax 214 / 234-1306. or Fax 215/ 667-7894. Genasys offers Genarave, a tool for raster-to-vector conversion of SOFTWARE CAD/CAM C Libraries scanned maps and drawings. Source Code Genarave uses the Motif-based Object-Oriented Database Building Block Software now offers Genius graphical user interface and Bionic Knight Software offers source code for all of its CAD/CAM operates under X-Windows on a DEED V1.3, an object-oriented Developer's Kits™ (CCDK). The variety of UNIX workstations. It database for engineering and kits are C function libraries which

16' KEY Solu1ions. FebruarylMarch 1993 support standard CAD/CAM GDSn Stream to DXF. This allows color AutoPlotter XP offers five line operations such as reading and designers to implement semi­ widths, HP emulation, a replot writing DXF files, and constructing, conductor circuits, thin-film sen­ function, and tri-mode media editing and displaying 2D and 3D sors, or optical-style designs in the handling. The 20-color OmniPlotter CAD geometry. With this source PC-CAD environment and then supports multiple users and has a code, CCDK users can debug more transfer the data to the semi­ variety of interfaces, seven line effectively by tracing into CCDK conductor tools for final processing. widths and built-in roll and manual routines, port their applications to Contact Silicon Mountain Design at cut sheet feeding. any platform using an ANSI­ 719 / 576-4800 or Fax 719 / 576- Contact JDL at 800 / 899-8709 or standard C compiler, and satisfy 4170. Fax 805/ 388-8708. government contracts which require delivery of systems in full source Math Software for SPARC Plot Spooling Software format. Source code prices for the The MathWorks Inc. offers Matlab Eclipse Software, Inc. now offers three CAD/CAM Developer's Kits Version 4.0 numeric computation three new versions of its plot­ range from $998 to $1998 for the and visualization software for Sun spooling software which allow users Personal Edition; prices range from SPARCstations. This version to print or plot files in the back­ $1998 to $3598 for the Professional features sparse-matrix support, ground while other programs run Edition. object-oriented graphics and sound­ as foreground applications. The Contact Building Block Software at output and graphical-user-interface memory-resident programs run on 617 / 899-4350 or Fax 617 / 899- control. Matlab merges a program­ any MS-DOS PC-compatible 4399. ming language, graphics, numeric computer. PLUMP ($125) plots to a computation software and an single serial device. PLUMP-Rx Sun/PClMac Link extensive family of application­ ($175) supports simultaneous Pacific Microelectronics, Inc. specific toolboxes. Matlab Version background spooling to both a serial offers Common-Link Plus, a soft­ 4.0 is priced at $2995 for a single­ and a parallel printer or plotter. ware utility that enables a Sun seat license. Education and quan­ PLUMP Professional ($225) can SPARCstation to read or write tity discounts are available. spool simultaneously to an unlim­ Macintosh or PC files from its 3.5 Contact The Math Works Inc. at ited number of printers and plot­ inch, 1.44MB floppy disk drive or 508 / 653-1415. ters. format a high density diskette as Contact Eclipse Software at 206/ Macintosh or PC. In addition, OUTPUT 676-6157 or Fax 206/ 676-0921. Common-Link Plus enables the SPARCstation to read/write Macin­ JDL Price tosh data from SyQuest and Reduction Bernoulli removable drives and Japan Digital Sony optical drives. This allows Laboratory Co., trading oflarge files (over 20MB) Ltd. has an­ without interfering with network nounced a $1000 operation. Information created on price reduction on Macintosh and DOS systems can be its A- to C-size transferred directly to the AutoPlotter XP, SPARCstation's local system files. now listed at $2495 Contact Pacific Microelectronics at and a $1500 price 800/ 628-3475 or 415/ 948-6200. reduction on its A­ to D-size

Design Data Bridge OmniPlotter, now JDL OmniPlotter Silicon Mountain Design, Inc. has listed at $4995. released DXF/GDS Design Tools Both plotters support vector and Flexibility in Printer Buffers which automates the exchange of raster plotting, and output draw­ Kansai Electric announces its EDB design data between PC-CAD ings with resolutions up to 360 x series of printer buffers which offer systems and semi-conductor 360 dpi and incorporate the propri­ printer-sharing capabilities through industry design tools. The Tools etary protocol, JDLPlot, which three, four, or five parallel ports. convert DXF to GDSn Stream and increases transfer times. The 14- The buffers feature three SIMM

FebruarylMarch 1993· KEY Solutions ·17 TS ......

sockets that accept memory mod­ features include roll feed with firmware that meets ANSI and ISO ules in increments of 1MB or 4MB automatic cutter, color palettes (256 standards. (expandable to 12MB). Direct colors--vector, 16 million colors-­ Contact CalComp at 800 / 932-1212. Memory Access architecture, raster), long plot capability, white available on all boards, allows the I space management, RS 232 and CAD KEY UTILITY user to receive data at up to 280Klsec. A serial RS- GEORGE/QUIKSEC 232C modular jack and a Price Reductions modular-to-25-pin Pooled Design Quorum is now adaptor cable are also developing and marketing available. Multiple GEORGE and QUIKSEC buffers can be linked to (formerly developed and mar­ support an unlimited number of computers and keted by Denco, Inc.). Both are printers. CADKEY CADL utilities that address recognized CAD bottle­ Contact Kansai Electric at necks: GEORGE can create 408/377-7062 or Fax 408/ workable 2D drawings from 3D 377-7085. wireframes; QUIKSEC gener­ ates cross sections from New Generation Pencil wireframe models. Together Plotters they can save 30-60 minutes for Mutoh America intro­ each drawing. GEORGE is now duces three new models of its XP-500 Series, the XP- priced at $295 and includes a 511, 510 and 510R. All free copy of QUIKSEC. models have a maximum QUIKSEC, sold separately, is now $95. Prices for both have plotting speed of 50 ips ENCAD's SP 1800 and SP 2800 wide-format pen plotters and an acceleration rate been reduced from $495. of 4.2 Gs. Other features include a Contact Pooled Design Quorum new automatic pencil lead feeder Centronics interfaces, and a 4MB at 302 / 998-1716. which can hold up to 720-0.2mm buffer expandable to 14MB. In pencil leads, combinations oflead sizes addition, ENCAD has lowered and hardnesses, a plotter carousel prices on its SP 1800 (now $2995) capable of mixing pen ink and pencil and SP 2800 (now $3995) wide­ Computer-Controlled lead within the same drawing, and format pen plotters normally used Laser Systems increased pen response time of 40 in CAD applications. Universal Laser Systems, Inc. times per second. All XP-500 Contact ENCAD at 800 / 356-2808 offers ULS computer-controlled plotters include 1 MB buffers with or Fax 619/ 578-4613. laser systems that are directly replot capabilities, a user selectable compatible with all CAD software. pen force of 15 to 450 grams, an CGM Compatibility for The systems will cut plastics and wire LCD display with 16 characters by 4 Electrostatic Plotters stripping, mark tags and produce lines, and a standard RS-232C serial CalComp has announced the gaskets by setting laser parameters interface with 19.2 bps support. availability of CGM (computer and downloading a CAD drawing. Contact Mutoh America at graphics metafile) compatibility for Features include velocity adjust­ 708 / 952-8880. its current line oflarge-format ment, 1MB of memory, software­ electrostatic plotters. The CGM controlled laser power changing Plotter Price Reductions option is priced at $995 with no and a work area of 17 x 11.5 inches. ENCAD® (formerly Enter Com­ installation charge when ordered The ULS line includes 20-, 100-, puter, Inc.) has lowered the price of with a CalComp Model 67436 and 200-watt C02 systems and 50- its ENCAD NOVAJET 300 dpi E/AO monochrome or 68000 Series color watt YAG systems. color inkjet plotter/printer to $9995. electrostatic plotter. Existing units Contact Universal Laser System s at It has HP-GL, HP-GU2 and HP can be field-upgraded. The CGM 602/483-1214 or Fax 602 /483-5620. RTL (raster) emulations. Standard option also includes plotter-resident

18 • KEY Solutions' FebruaryiMarch 1993 2tAnlericas Fastest 486 CAD Stati",,'

CAD Intel 486 Microprocessor with Integrated Coprocessor 17" HiRez Color Monitor 1280x1 024 NI .28dp 256k 20ns CACHE with Superior Write-Bock Architecture 24Bit Color Orchid Fahrenheit 1280 8MB High Speed 32Bit RAM (expandable to 64MB) (16.7M colors with Hardware Pan and Zoom) 215MB 15ms Hard Disk Drive with 64KB CACHE Panacea Turbo Display List Drivers 3.5in. and 5.25in. High Density Floppy Disk Drives 101 Key Quality keyboard 1 Parallel Port/2 Serial ports 12x12 Digitizer with 4 button Cursor Xi desktop / deskside case with double fan Microsoft-DOS 5.0 VIDEO ADAPTER UP-GRADE MONITOR UP-GRADE HARD DRIVE UP-GRADE #9GXi TIGA Level 21 Xi5221 Tl34020 1280 x 1024 NI 21" MultiFlat 1280 x 1024 NI S 595 S 895 Xi Certified to run AutoCAD & Microstation Many Options Available! Call for Up - To - Dote Pricing! CALL TOLL FREE IN CA: (714) 498-0858 USA & CANADA 1-800-432-0486 FAX : (714) 492-6571 ® International: (714) 498-1926 Warranty: Xi One Year Parts and Labor with free I VISA I France: 45865644 Xi On -Site replacement parts program. 30 Day Switzerland 91 58 1579 money back guarantee. Life time toll-free tech Italy: 131 81 5334 support. Same day express shipping service. ~ · 980 Calle Negocio. C omput er C orporat IOn SanClemente.CA92673

As re\liewed in CADalyst. May 1992 Autocad 11 VGA index All Prices and specifications subject to change without notice. Prices do not inClude shipping . More info about Xi products & services in our 1992 calO!llog . call or write to Xi Computer COfPOf"lItion for a free copy Software in the above screens: Autocad11 by Au lodesk Inc. & MicrostaDon 4.01 by Int~rgraph Corp. have to. be purdlased separately Xi is not responsible for photo &. typo errors. Xi. the Xi Logo. Workstationer and Netserver are trad emar1cs &. reg. trademar1cs ~f Xi Computer Corp. Intel. 1486 end the lntellnSlde Logo are registered trademerks of In tel Corporation . All other trademtlr1cs of their respective companies. Co ri ht c) 1992 Xi Computer Corportlti on All Rights reserved. In July 1991 Silicon Graphics announced IndigoTM, a new computer that offered visual processing at an afford­ able price. Paul Bergetz, owner of CADPRO Chicago - a value added reseller of Cad key products, Silicon Graphics and Euclid-IS® - was drawn to its impressive digital audio capabilities. He was also looking for a way to channel his eleven years experience in the audio recording systems industry.

W hen I first learned about expertise of a network of col­ models; CADPRO Chicago handled the Indigo I thought, "Why not leagues. The second goal was to testing, concept design and mar­ build a set of near field monitors demonstrate that concurrent keting. As the design and testing that complement Silicon Graphics' engineering can be implemented moved past the first concept Indigo styling and audio capabili­ even in the smallest manufactur­ milestone, other companies joined ties?" They would be small and ing and design groups with cost in. Kevin Coughlin, President of compact, the size of the Indigo, effective tools. CAE Associates, analyzed the and yet present the sound field of Four companies were involved. LFM8 motor (woofer) and Dave large studio monitor systems. Ted Karson, President of Kinetic Plahm, President of Design Thus the Audigo speaker project Audio in Chicago, handled the Facets, was responsible for all was born. As the project devel­ acoustic R&D and first concept phases of manufacturing. oped, I also saw an opportunity to turn the undertaking into a model concurrent engineering project using state-of-the-art software. ,------, The first goal was to create a world class product with limited resources, similar to those that CAOPRO Chieago r c':':s:::'ci ~~' many small American manufac­ I turers have, by drawing on the I I i 1'/'- Test SItes (Recording~ st'-s a"" Production \. Facillles)

Actual Fax Output of change A BBS provided instant communication

20 • KEY Solutions. Febru8IY/March 1993 Concurrent engineering requires careful attention to communica­ tive skills between all involved in a design project. The four companies in the Audigo project needed to communicate in as

A MODEL CONCURRENT ENGINEERING PROJECT USING STATE-OF-THE- ART SOFTWARE close to real-time as possible, since they were all working from the same 3D CADKEY model. So the companies were linked to a password protected area on Sectional view of a solid model of the LFMB created in Euclid-IS our Bulletin Board

Solid model of completed Audigo front assembly created in Euclid-IS

Cutting Edge toolpath of Audigo front

FebruarylMarch 1993 • KEY Solutions· 21 Kevin Coughlin, President of CAE Associates studying ACUSTOM WOOFER Magnetic analysis plot of motor output. Mter testing twenty-five inches. The combinations of mid-range and flux density high frequency drivers, we found and mag­ a good mix in a D54AF from Dyn netic field of Audio in Denmark and a Morel the motor MDT33 from England. The real was opti­ problem came with the eight inch mized by CAE Associates after woofer. In order to attain the low eight iterations, eliminating costly frequency response and maintain pole piece prototypes. All compo­ a tight clean bottom end response nents in the 18 lb. structure are we required, we had to design epoxy bonded into a cast epoxy and manufacture our own low basket. An optional 6 lb. iron frequency driver (woofer), the shield is used to stop passive LFM8 (low frequency motor 8 magnetic radiation. The entire inch). This driver is capable of motor is magnetically lubricated front and rear excursions of . 700 and vented.

System using 19.2 Kb modems. modeling. Dave Plahm's expertise us to generate the capital necessary The BBS was linked in real-time in materials as well as model and to build hard tools. Conventional via NFS to CADPRO Chicago's moldmaking was put to good use. wood patterns were made instead design network. When changes Dave decided to use prototype of using SLA models because ofthe were made, the master files were tools made of hard epoxy instead large size and detail of some of the on the BBS within seconds so any of rubber. The advantage was parts. All of the patterns were of the "AUDIGO" team could parts that were dimensionally machined using CADKEY CUT­ access them. At the same time, more stable and the tool life was TINGEDGE. the network fax was used to extended from a dozen parts to Testing was accomplished transmit changes to everyone's several hundred at only 25% using a TEF® analyzer from terminal. increase in cost. This would allow Techron®, a division of Crown All phases of the AUDIGO project, from planning to manu­

1.1.0 , , , , , , facturing, were handled using · . , ... , , ..., , , , , , , • , , , 1 . , • , . • · .... , , , . , , . advanced engineering software. · . , ..., , , .. , . , · .... , . , , , ...... , . , 1.05 ••• ~.""~, •••• :.. ••• ,~ A •• ~ , ••• ~, •••• ,: ••• ;, ••• .: •••• ,~ ••• : ••• : ••• All component profiles were · , . , , , , , ., . .., , · , . ., , . , , , , , · . , , , , , . , ... designed in CADKEY and sent to • , •••• , , , I , • Euclid-IS for solid modeling, 1.00 interference testing and proper­ ties analysis. Mter all param­ 95

eters were tuned on the screen in "aI Euclid-IS, the profiles were sent 1:l 90 " back to CADKEY for manufactur­ w ing. Dave Plahm from Design § 85 Facets took the concept data of ..~ ..J Q. 80 the four cast epoxy parts inthe I: LFM8 basket and manufactured

22· KEY SoMions. Febru8IYlMarch 1993 Digitizer Performance for under $100

CADKEY users - Four revolutionary Commands can be picked without devices from ProHance Technologies, moving the cursor off your drawing, I nco can improve your productivity up to clicking through layers of menus, or 2 hours a day or more for a fraction of going back to the keyboard. In addition, the cost, size, and bulk of a digitizer. cursor motion can be included within commands, making every command a simple "drag-and-drop" type operation.

·12-,17-, and 40-button models

Components such as the Indigo front were reverse • Up to 6 functions per button (using engineered using CADKEY CopyCAD shift keys) for expansion room up to 72 , PowerMouse and PowerTrack have 102 or 240 total functions user-programmable buttons that allow you - with one button press-to backup, • Not just a CAD product. Adds one­ pick windows, return to the main menu, click control to virtually all your DOS, execute immediate mode and other International, Inc. This analyzer Windows and Gem programs. Win­ commands, and take shortcuts through dows TOP 100 award winner. allows the operator to make the hierarchical CAD KEY menu struc­ anechoic measurements in a non­ ture. Macros do the work instantly, and • IBM-compatible, serial COM port, anechoic environment. All tests without error. The buttons are grouped DOS 2.1 or greater, 15K RAM were performed at 1 meter using on a single keypad for convenient and easy access. Because the "button ba r" a B & K 4007 Microphone at a is on the pointer, you gain unprec­ • Only $99.00 to $175.00 Optional level between 90 and 100db. The edented speed and ease of use. CADKEY PowerPak $39.95. listening area was 20 x 14 feet in size with the Audigo speakers ProHance Technologies, Inc. located in the center of the 20 foot 1558 Siesta Drive, Los Altos, CA 94024 (415) 967-5774 wall approximately 6 feet apart. The ambient room noise was less CIRClE CARD 206 than 39db. The Tef analyzer saved an estimated 500 hours in tuning the performance of the Audigo. In the end, concurrent engi­ neering methods proved effective in networking off-site experts into a successful team. The project worked so well that the final Don't Tie Up Your drawings were not made until PC For Plotting! after the initial production run was complete. Everyone worked pSERVER drives your plotter from the 3D model. from plot files on diskette, so you keep full use of your PC while plotting. Use it stand alone· or For more information, connected between your PC and contact CAD PRO Chicago plotter for optional direct at 708/640-1853 plotting too. The LCD front • Offline Plotting panel displays disk directory for • Plotter Sharing file selection, plot status and pen • Interactive File Selection change requests. • Multiple File Diskettes pSERVER keeps you in control of both your PC and plotter. Works with HI, HP, Calcomp s~ and other CAD supponed FAR MOUNTAIN plotters. CORPORATION 1420 NW Gilman Blvd. Suite 2163 Issaquah, WA 98027 (206) 392·6541 Paul Bergetz at the controls of test equipment CIRClE CARD 238 AutoCAD Release 12, CAD KEY, Personal Designer, MicroStation SPARC, and more than 5,000 other applications.

There are those who believe that to concede everything is to live life poorly. For those people, we offer a machine for the soul. The Sun" SPARCstation~ system. It has the uncompromised power and performance to run not only your favorite software like AutoCAD® Release 12, CADKEY, ~ MicroStation®SPARC ~ and Personal Designer~ but thousands of other popular tools, too. Like Lotus® 1·2· 3 ~ Word­ Perfect ~ And dBASE IV® And while you'd expect a Sun SPARCstation to run these programs better and faster, you can also experience the power of running them and others all at the same time. Thanks to true multitasking. But why not speed-dial 1-800-426-5321, ext. 560 right now for more information, or the name of your nearest authorized Sun reseller. Because at just $3,995· for a Sun SPARCclassic;' and $7,995 for the Sun SPARCstation'" LX, you'll find you won't have to com­ promise on price, either. (~Sun

Sun Mlcrosystems Computer Corporation A Sun Microsyscems, Inc. Business

CIRCLE CARD 204 To get my design through committee, I thought I'd have to change it. (I was right.)

To get my project approved, I thought I'd have to modify it. (Right again.)

To get a workstation on my desk, I thought I'd have to give up some software.

Turns out, there are some places you don't have to compromise.

·S3,99~ ~ach for quantities of 12. © 1993 Sun Microsystems. Inc. Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystcms, Sun Micros)'Sccms Computer Corporation, and the Sun Microsystcms Computer Corporation logo arc trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun MicrosysceTnS, Inc. All SPARe trademarks, including the SeD Compliant Logo, arc~ trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARe International, Inc. SPARCclassic and SPARCstation arc licen~d exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. ProductS ~a r ing SPARe trademarks are b~d upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other produCt or service names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. ere! by Brian Carlisle

These days you often hear a problems facing U.S. manufactur­ Japanese had 300 robots per lot of doom and gloom talk in ers and to look for solutions. The 10,000 workers, while the U.S. business circles about the state of following presents a brief analysis had approximately 25 per 10,000. American industry. The talk often of Japan's successes and a plan for The Japanese liad several sound focuses on the fact that other what many of us believe the U.S. reasons for their rapid assimila­ countries (especially Japan) are can do to turn the situation tion of robots and automation sweeping the field. Indisputably, around. Basically I see two technology. According to Shigeaki the statistics and numbers are themes: 1) the Japanese have Yanai, research manager of the alarming and should be taken concentrated on the manufactur­ Japan Industrial Robot Associa­ seriously. The robot industry is a ing process (robotics, qualit-y tion, these include rapid economic good case in point. Industrial control, inventory management, growth and forecast labor short­ robots were invented in the U.S. in CNC machine tools, and indus­ age; a need to improve productiv­ the early 60's. When Unimation, an trial automation) and 2) the ity due to oil and yen crises; a early U.S. robot company began Japanese government has aggres­ shortage of skilled workers in selling to Japan, the Japanese sively provided extensive support small to medium size companies; quickly adapted and expanded on to their manufacturing busi­ a need for accident prevention the robotic concepts. There were 30 nesses. But they're not doing and improved job conditions; to 35 U.S. companies making anything we can't do. In fact, a technical advances which made robots in the 1980's compared to handful of top companies such as robots cheaper and easier to use; one today. Japan currently has Motorola and Hewlett Packard are and generous government 250. leading the way. They have begun incentives to promote the use of During the decades following extensive programs of employee robots. World War II, Japan took the lead training in world-class manufac­ Japanese government pro­ in many manufacturing areas. By turing, design for ease of manufac­ grams related to robots are the 1970's and 80's, American ture, quality control, continuous extensive and economically industry realized they were in improvement and automation. beneficial to all concerned. In trouble and began analyzing At the same time most small to direct R&D support alone, $120 Japanese techniques. This led to medium size American companies million was allocated for ad­ the U.S. recognizing such tech­ are woefully behind in industrial vanced robot technology from niques and concepts as World Class automation. To succeed they 1983-90. Currently $200 million Manufacturing, JIT, design for either need low cost, skill,ed labor is earmarked for micro robots for manufacturability, etc. As excellent or precision automation. Since 1992-95 and $100 million for as these concepts are, they have finding a low cost, skilled labor robot sensors. Then there are tax been erratically and sparingly force in the U.S. is not very likely incentives, including an R&D tax applied and now it's truly catch-up at this point, the basic challenge credit of 20% (limited to 10% of time. Still, I don't believe for a becomes devising methods for tax liability) and a mechtronics minute that the race is lost. building precision products that investment promotion tax system As president of the Robotic we design, and utilizing efficient (7% of investment, limited to 15% Industries Association and CEO of and cost effective manufacturing of tax liability). Accelerated Adept Technology, a manufacturer process technologies. depreciation (1 to 5 years) is 30% of industrial robots and automation Let's get back to the example for robots during the first year equipment, I have made it a of Japan and robotics. It was and up to 100% in one year for priority to understand some of the estimated in 1991 that the semiconductor equipment.

26 • KEY Solutions' February/March 1993 MANUFACTURING FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY: include VCRs, camcorders and TVs. TURNING IDEAS INTO JOBS (Clinton/Gore) Third, the U.S. lacks a technol­ ogy education infrastructure, particularly in the area ofmanufac­ -170 Market·Driven Extension Centers. turing technology. And finally, Create 170 market-driven manufacturing centers to help small- and medium-sized access to capital has been limited. manufacturers choose the right equipment, adopt the top business practices, and learn Not only is it expensive, but it has cutting-edge production techniques. been generally unavailable, espe­ - Targeted Centers for Conversion. cially to small businesses. Help convert our economy with manufacturing extension centers targeted to areas hard America's industrial malaise can hit by defense cuts and staffed by our former defense personnel. seem overwhelming looked at as a whole. According to the National • A Manufacturing Training Initiative with Guarantees to Center for Manufacturing Sciences, Employers. we take an average of 55 years to Fund private sector-led training centers that guarantee employees the skills they need fully assimilate a new manufactur­ for a high-wage future. ing technology, while Japan takes an average of 25 years. When you - Civilian DARPA. break the problem down into its Institute a civilian DARPA to invest in advanced manufacturing techniques and individual components, it becomes promote market-driven industry consortia. apparent that the solutions are not impossible and are well within the - Investment incentives and Regulatory Reform. Reform anti-trust laws and government regulations so that companies here can work range of our capabilities. They do together the way others do abroad. Create a targeted investment tax credit, exempt however require aggressive action. from certain taxes, to stimulate growth. At the 1992 NACFAM conference in Washington D.C., I recently pre­ • Expert Promotion and Streamlined Export Controls. sented recommendations from the Streamline East-West export controls and expand export promotion for small and Robotic Industries Association and medium manufacturers. the Automated Imaging Association for stimulating U.S. industry. These recommendations address To complete the picture, the Association there are four basic the issues of education, capital cost of capital in Japan is low. Ten reasons. First, there has been an availability, taxesltax credit, and year loans were available for robots overall lack of interest in manufac­ technology advancement. They are in 1992 at 5.3%. The cost of equity turing. Several interrelated factors all based on the tenet that govern­ capital was 3%-5% in 1990. The have contributed to this lack: senior ment and business leaders must long term capital gains tax is 5%. A management has not focused on publicly support the importance of small business infrastructure manufacturing; most small/medium manufacturing in the United support for robots was established companies have poor manufactur­ States. The RIA also endorses the in 1980 and is still in effect. ing engineering skills combined Clinton/Gore document "Manufac­ Interest free loans are available up with a lack of awareness of how to turing for the 21st Century:Turning to $240,000 and there is a lease apply new technologies. These have Ideas into Jobs" released September rate of 4.5% up to $160,000. been compounded by a desire to 8, 1992. The following briefly General small business support limit risk. outlines these recommendations. in Japan is also extensive. The Second, an infrastructure for Education Fiscal Investment and Loan technology commercialization has The U.S. must improve its Program was $29 billion in 1989 not existed. Research, education manufacturing education and and credit guarantee association and capital are the keys here. For technology dissemination infra­ loans were $56 billion in 1987. example, the United States govern­ structure. This means expanding There were 185 public testing and ment traditionally has funded beyond the traditional university, research centers in 1985. By basic, not applied research (except trade school environment. Engi­ comparison, SBA loans in the U.S for defense industries). Our trade neers, technicians, and managers in in 1989 were $47 million and U.S. competitors have systems for small to medium size businesses federally guaranteed loans to SB sourcing and commercializing need knowledge in a hurry. There were $3.6 billion. Japan provides technology from the U.S. With are two ways to address this about 20 times the level of U.S. these systems they have been able problem - businesses helping financing. Small businesses in this to take our inventions (we're a businesses and government tech­ country do not enjoy these advan­ creative lot), make them better, nology centers. Both should be tages. produce them more efficiently and expanded. Why has the U.S. been so slow then sell them back to us -- often Motorola offers a model of in the assimilation of technology? dominating the market for these business helping itself. Motorola According to the Robotic Industry products. Well known examples has an extensive vendor training

February/March 1993. KEY Solutions· 27 THE INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT, INVESTMENT IN PRODUCER'S DURABLE EQUIPMENT AND THE EMPLOYMENT/POPULATION RATIO

Producer's Producer's Employment/ Our. Equip. Our. Equip. Pop. Ratio Outlays Ave. Annual Ave. Annual Year/Quarter % Change Growth Rate Growth Rate Date of Change in ITC

1957:1-1961:4 2.70 0.60 -0.70 ITC not yet instituted 1962: 1-1966:3 63.90 11.60 0.60 ITC of 7% effective 1/62 1966:4-1967:1 -3.80 -14 . .40 -0.80 ITC suspended 10/66 1967 :2-1969: 1 11.40 6.40 0.70 ITC of 7% reinstated 3/67 1969:2-1971:1 -5.60 -3.20 -1.20 ITC eliminated 4169 1971:2-1974:4 27.50 7.20 0.50 ITC of 7% reinstated 4171 1975:1-1985:4 64.00 4.70 0.90 ITC increased to 10% 1/75 1986:1-1992:2 13.60 2.10 0.30 ITC eliminated 1/86

Calculations by the American Council for Capital Formation Center for Policy Research 1750 K Street N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20006 (202)293·5811

program. They currently offer over must be creditable against the ments and promises. There will be a 135 courses, ranging from Q.C. to alternative minimum tax. The flurry of new legislation regarding JIT, to their vendors. This ap­ current system is counter-produc­ these matters in the next six proach has been valuable to them tive. According to Andrew Lyon in months. We must get involved by and bears imitation and expansion. "An Analysis of the Alternate telling our elected representatives Regional manufacturing technol­ Minimum Tax," AMT firms now our needs, wants, and concerns. ogy outreach centers should be have 17% higher cost of capital The solutions are at our fingertips expanded. A handful currently when installing robots. but we - America's industries, exist. Japan has 185. Conclusion business leaders, legislators, and Investment Capital This is a very crucial time. It is educators - must commit and work The RIA feels it is critical to also a time for action. The new together toward a common end. improve capital availability, administration has made commit- especially to small and medium size businesses. Small business loans have been nearly impossible to get, but a system of "guaran­ NACFAM teed" loans could help get money where it's needed. These "guaran­ The National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM), a non-profit, industry-led teed" loans might be partially or association headquartered in downtown Washington, D.C., is a rapidly growing coalition of wholly guaranteed by larger firms, centers and associations committed to action at the national level to facilitate the modernization of America's industrial base. Specifically, NACFAM advocates: the creation of businesses who are customers for a national industrial extension program to assist small and medium-sized manufacturers; a small businesses. They don't fundamental reprioritization of the $76 billion federal R&D budget to increase funding for necessarily have to be guaranteed advanced manufacturing process technologies; closer cooperation between industry and national by the government. labs; a targeted investment tax credit for industrial machinery and equipment and related Tax Credits implementation costs; and greater federal support for vocational-technical education, skill RIA supports a targeted standards, apprenticeships, "Tech Prep," and other programs to improve the skills of industrial investment tax credit CITe). The workers. As the focal point in Washington for industrial modernization, NACFAM has enjoyed a chart above shows how historically high success rate in securing new federal policies and programs to help achieve these goals. the status of the ITC has stimu­ NACFAM's record of success in transforming public policy options into concrete change owes lated investments in production much to the size and strength of the coalition. NACFAM has 220 member organizations; 50 equipment and employment. This corporations (including several Fortune 500 companies); 150 centers of manufacturing technol­ tax credit should be retroactive to ogy extension, education and research (making NACFAM the largest association of such December 4, 1992, per centers); and 24 national trade and technical training associations - representing between them Rostenkowski and Bensten, and over 70,000 firms and 25,000 technical education and training institutions. should not be offset by additional For more information contact NACFAM, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Suite 1500-North business taxes. This tax credit Tower, Washington, D.C. 20004-1703, (202)662-8960.

28· KEY Solutions · FebruarylMarch 1993 Introducing a new evolution in product design, Digitize single points or polylines. Measure very large reverse engineering, and coordinate measuring objects with our unique "Ieap frog" technique. machines... The Metrecom is portable, durable, and gives you The Metrecom by FARO Technologies Inc. convenient, affordable precision in an instant! Call today and discover this amazing device for yourself. The Metrecom's articulated arm measures points and orientations of objects in complete 3D for direct serial port input to AutoCAD, CAD KEY and other leading software packages. Custom interfaces are available. Simply connect the Metrecom to your system like another mouse! Solving A Design Problem:

A Coin Press by Martin Faulkner

he staff and students of funded by the Cranfield Institute of Science and Engi­ Technology's School of neering Research Industrial and Manufac­ Council and the turing Sciences work Department of Trade closely with industrial and Industry. manufacturers to solve real-world The goal was to engineering problems. A good example produce a coining is an analysis project recently com­ press with a target pleted for Verson Wilkins Ltd., speed of 1200 Wednesbury, West Midlands, United strokes per minute Kingdom, a member ofVerson Interna­ with a peak load tional Group. The company was capacity of 160 tons designing a coining press for the Royal force. A group of Mint which provides twice the 600 students looked into stroke per minute speed of its current possible designs and coining presses. came up with what The most critical design issue was seemed to be a configuring the links between the reasonable ap­ crank and die to obtain sufficient dwell proach. The bottom time at the bottom of the stroke so that die lifts the blank a new blank could be inserted without coin into a collar jamming the press. Using traditional where it meets the hand calculations and conventional stationary top die. CAD, the institute's staff and students Then, as the bottom were only able to limit die movement die comes back to 1.0 mm within 120 degrees of travel. down, the top die is Then they heard about a personal given a kick to eject computer based kinematics package the coin. Another Model of the press mechanism with the crank at top center. The most called DelMec which uses a new blank is moved into critical design issue was configuring the links between the crank and die technique called Genetic Optimization to obtain sufficient dwell time at the bottom of the stroke so that a new position along a slot blank could be inserted without jamming the press. to optimize mechanism parameters. by a pair of fingers Modeling the mechanism and running while the bottom die is in the lower mechanism and thus provide an optimization routine made it dwell position. About 2/3 of the maximum reliability during high possible to reduce die movement to 0.2 cycle time is required for lifting speed operation. mm within 140 degrees of travel while and forming the die leaving 113 for A kinematic package was avail­ maintaining crankshaft throw and blank insertion. It was considered able on the mainframe computer centers to minimize modification cost. critical that the bottom die rest as . based CAD/CAM system used by the Cranfield Institute of Technology still as possible for as long as school. However, building and offers a unique combination of theory possible in the bottom position so altering the model took so much time and practice. Each year graduate the blank could be inserted without that the students had to augment students and staff of the institute form jamming. It should be noted that the computer output with purpose­ groups and tackle practical engineer­ the drive mechanism consists written software programs, as well ing problems in partnership with entirely of fixed links thus ma,king as hand calculations. They at­ various industrial concerns. The it impossible to achieve absolute tempted to maximize dwell by groups have the same kind of objec­ cessation of movement during lengthy and elaborate calculations tives, budgets and deadlines found in dwell. A fixed link drive was on a series of designs using different real-world engineering. The project considered to be essential to avoid link lengths and crank throws and mentioned previously was partially springs or hydraulics in the drive centers. It soon became obvious the

30' KEY Solutions' February/March 1993 number of possible combinations was components which it was allowed to reduced the actual movement of the so huge that only a very small vary. This was accomplished with a die from 9 mm to 6 mm. This should proportion could be tried. After a Genetic Optimization technique in be acceptable since new tooling considerable amount of work, the which DelMec examines thousands of which has recently been designed students found a configuration that possible alternatives within the will require a lower compression would hold the bottom die position specified constraints. The program allowance. The first prototype will be fixed to within 1 mm over 120 recorded the results of each iteration completed according to the original degrees of travel. Students and staff and compared it with previous runs design. Once the first prototype is members were disappointed that the to see if improvement was shown. If completed, tests will be performed to design had not been optimized but the change was effective, the pro­ assure that the 6 mm die movement felt that this was the best that could gram would continue moving dimen­ of the new design is acceptable. If it be achieved within the time and cost sions in that direction. If not, another is, the second prototype of production constraints of the project. Verson tack would be taken. models will incorporate the opti­ began prototype construction. The optimization continued until mized link parameters. It was at this point that a staff the goal was met or execution was Aside from convincing several member heard about the DelMec stopped by the user. A series of confirmed skeptics of the value of program. Like conventional kinemat­ optimiza tions ics packages, the program allows a were run on mechanism to be modeled and its the same operation to be simulated on a model which computer. The unique feature of the produced program is its ability to automati­ different but cally optimize a design according to generally constraints selected by the user. The consistent user defines a set of target criteria designs. The consisting of any combination of program was positions and angles. These target set to run criteria are to be achieved by system over several components at a particular time evenings to within the mechanism's age. The optimize the user can also specify the maximum problem. Out and minimum values for the length of the 8 of each component which serve as designs that constraints during the optimization resulted, the Part of Cranfield Institute of Technology's School of Industrial and Manufacturing process. In addition, selected compo­ two most Sciences campus. nents can be held to a fixed size. promising Mechanism pivot points can also be were selected for further optimiza­ computer-aided optimization, the Del held within a specified spatial region tion runs with the goals significantly Mec program has also demonstrated during the optimization process. increased. One of these optimization a number of other benefits. Force, Cranfield staff and students runs resulted in the best overall torque and power results from the modeled the drive mechanism and design. It had only 0.2 mm move­ analysis can be exported in ASCII set up an optimization routine which ment within 140 degrees of travel. form and then imported into a would affect only the lengths of the Compared to the original design, the spreadsheet to generate bearing load link while the crank throw and new design is expected to offer plots. CAD geometry and user center, and link pivot positions on substantially easier feeding and a defined loading functions can be the fixed frame were held constant. reduction in the risk of jamming imported into the program. All in all, The reason was to minimize the cost which is especially critical in high the program has proven to be an of changes to the prototype which speed operation. essential addition to the design was already under construction. It is interesting to note that in toolkit. Minimum movement of the lower die each of the optimized designs, the For more information contact: in terms of position and time was two horizontal links driven by the Desktop Engineering International, Inc. specified as the goal of the optimiza­ con rod were driven over center into 1200 MacArthur Blvd tion. an inverted vee. This was acceptable Mahwah, NJ 07430 Once the goals and constraints because there were no external loads Phone: 201-818-9700 were specified, the program was set to lock up the press. The design Fax: 201-818·9707 up to optimize the dimensions of the generated by the computer also

February/March 1993· KEY Solutions· 31 by Kenneth Billing

The operating systems war dying. The fact is that DOS, as it future. If you are happy with the continues to rage and confusion was originally designed, is nearly performance and productivity you over selection is everywhere. From dead today. The bulk of leading­ are getting from DOS machines the smallest shop to the Fortune edge application development takes today, after looking at the possibili­ 500 company, many CAD profes­ place under DOS extenders and ties provided by the other plat­ sionals are unsettled about what windowing systems. Cadkey, for forms, then there is no reason to operating system or platform they example, has said farewell to 640K worry about alternatives. should use for CAD. Nothing seems DOS and uses the Phar Lap DOS Windows is the big news of the to be a safe bet. Yet budgets, Extender for its DOS products. nineties. Windows 3.0 was an futures, and careers are at stake. If it were not for the abilities of unexpected success, Windows 3.1 The choices are many and technologies such as DOS extenders convinced some skeptics, and attractive. DOS machines are and Windows to kludge DOS, it Microsoft is betting the farm on cheap, plentiful and getting stron­ would not have survived as long as Windows NT. Nearly all software ger daily. Unix workstations are it has. Microsoft even announced, developers are writing for Windows, powerful and getting more economi­ years ago, that it would cease and Windows is more popular than cal. Will there be a dominant DOS was in its "Wonder Years." platform by the year 1995? 2000? The installed number Even though CADKEY will prob­ Should you switch to a different of DOS machines will ably not have a Windows version in CADKEY platform now to be in a continue to keep DOS the foreseeable future, CAD KEY better position later? How can you alive for many years users will continue to be confronted benefit from one of the alternatives? to come. with Window's existence at every Choosing a platform for turn. Just the fact that some third CADKEY needn't be a frustrating development of DOS, only providing party packages run under Windows search. The right answers lie in incremental bug fix updates. It has and hook into CADKEY make it basing your decisions on sound only been because of its need to important that CADKEY users business goals and common sense. enhance DOS's support for Win­ learn to deal with the phenomena -­ Let's take a reality check, a history dows and to compete with Digital even if they choose not to do lesson, and a business pulse to put Research's DR DOS that it has Windows. things in perspective. With a basic continued to slowly evolve. I say First, don't expect the Windows survey of platform benefits you can slowly, because there is only so gushing to subside anytime soon. easily make a wise platform choice. much you can do with an 8-bit, Microsoft has the marketing, single-user, single-tasking, restric­ developer, distribution, and media tive memory architecture. support to keep the parade going But fear not. The installed for years if not seriously challenged. Everyone is at least familiar number of DOS machines will However, in its simplest form, the with DOS. The large majority of continue to keep DOS alive for current Windows product is a DOS CADKEY users work on DOS many years to come. Not everyone power-user's bag of tricks all rolled machines, but many are unsure will migrate to something else into one package. Windows is a about the future and how long DOS anytime soon. And Microsoft has graphical menu system, DOS will exist. I've been criticized in the apparently recanted and will extender, virtual memory program, past for suggesting that DOS is release a 32-bit DOS 6.0 in the near programming interface, and

32 • KEY Solutions. February/March 1993 common application memory space, multitasking, multi-user programs same logic to your choice of plat­ all piled on top of meager old DOS. for a variety of windowing and forms for CADKEY, and you won't It provides I6-bit program execu­ character mode interfaces portable go wrong - at least not as far as tion, limited multi-tasking, and to practically any computer. Yet it anyone of us can see into the future much more memory space to the is Unix's flexibility and origin that of an industry that eclipses itself single user. haunt it with no binary standard with progress every several years. It's the equivalent of an exotic for programs across different The key is to choose a platform sports car kit - the beauty and computers, resulting in thousands on the basis of the tools needed by trimming of a high performer built of only nearly compatible products. the particular user. Drafters who on a makeshift framework and a Unix as a whole has never spend the majority (80 percent) of junkyard engine. Pretty enough to enjoyed successful marketing and their day producing working fool most of the people most of the standardization by one manufac­ drawings don't need sophisticated time, but not good enough to really turer. Its different versions are race. And there don't appear to be scattered over dozens of competing Each of the various Unix any competitive challengers workstation vendors - Sun platforms has benefits around. Or are there? Microsystems, Digital Equipment for the CAD user. Corp., Hewlett-Packard, Silicon OS/2 AND UNIX Graphics, and others. If they were multitasking machines to get their all united under a common stan­ work done. They run CADKEY IBM has squarely positioned dard, they would make a powerful alone most, if not all, of their day. OS/2 to compete with Windows and, adversary. In fact, several alliances They also represent a high number to some degree, Unix as the next­ have been attempted, but none of CADKEY users, as opposed to generation operating platform. And have succeeded. And some say that engineers and designers, in most if you view OS/2 from a technical Unix's opportunity to succeed DOS organizations with dedicated perspective, it is clearly a success. has passed. drafting departments. Therefore, it The entire architecture of OS/2 is a makes the best business sense to generation ahead of both DOS and As it now stands, each Unix equip them with the highest Windows. Its 32-bit preemptive version has its own dedicated performance single-tasking comput­ multi-tasking, multi-threaded following. Each of the various Unix ers available - DOS. You can outfit power, object-oriented work place platforms has benefits for the CAD a drafting work group with more shell, and ability to integrate DOS, user. For example, Sun performance for less money in DOS Windows, and OS/2 programs are a Microsystem's products have machines than any other platform. potent combination. Many in enjoyed high popularity from a good And your investment will provide corporate America have committed price/performance value, software productivity for more years. Five­ to OS/2 and stand loyally with IBM. support, and open standards. DEC users enjoy compatibility with year-old DOS machines are still at Digital's high end systems, long­ work (albeit probably in a lesser The entire architecture standing support, and aggressive capacity), while many five-year-old of OS/2 is a generation new PC and DEC station 5000 Unix workstations are collecting ahead of both DOS series offerings. The Silicon Graph­ dust. and Windows. ics Iris Indigo represents a presen­ Designers and engineers, tation graphics and multimedia however, pose a different opportu­ Sadly though, IBM is no match for dream machine with high-powered nity. They typically spend about 30 Microsoft in marketing. 24-bit graphics and stereo sound. percent of their day actually And CADKEY runs on them all. documenting their work graphi­ In addition, a great deal of time, cally. The remainder of the time is energy and resources were wasted spent producing other documents, in I6-bit versions before 2.0, and CHOOSING A PLATFORM performing research, calculating, in people's confidence in IBM is not The compass for steering your meetings, on the phone, and so on. what it used to be, especially in organization straight through Their expense to the organization is light of IBM's partnership with platform selection confusion should higher in terms of compensation Apple in developing the PINK be basic problem-solving logic, the and benefits. Their value to the operating system. same logic that made computerizing organization is higher in terms of your drafting department sensible. Unix represents the only other producing revenues. And their That logic is to apply the right tool viable option for the engineering numbers in the organization are for the job. Computers have become desktop. Unix offers a 32-bit, often lower than drafters. Such the right tool for most types of programmer-friendly environment diverse activities need the flexibil­ drafting and design. Apply the for building virtual memory, ity of a multitasking environment.

February/March 1993 • KEY Solutions· 33 Their value demands optimum performance in order to be produc­ tive. And their numbers and Users Speak Out for UNIX expense justify the higher cost of premium computing tools. - hy Paul Bergetz ------For the DOS user unwilling to take on the complexities of the Uni: Today workers are required to pro­ Ray Johnson of Uarco, Inc. purchased operating system, an OS/2 system cess more information in a shorter time a Unix based system recently. "During may be in order. If Unix poses no frame. With Unix workstations, complex 1990 I was considering the purchase of threat to the designer or engineer, and commitment to Unix applica­ problems can be handled simultaneously, Uarco's next CAD system. We had tions from the organization is allowing the worker to be more produc­ CADKEY on a 386 DOS platform and assured, then one of the popular tive. For example, a designer may want to while we liked CADKEY, the 386 was not engineering workstations would fit have multiple copies of a design on the adequate for our needs. I felt Uarco well. The old rule of thumb for system. One may contain an assembly needed something beyond even a DOS buying computers applies here to with other windows having the individual 486, so I chose a Unix based workstation. Unix platform selection as well: piece parts available while running analy­ The main reason for switching to Unix choose the needed applications first, then buy the computer they run on. sis programs in the background. This kind was its ability to handle multiple process­ Find the design and analysis of productivity is not possible on DOS ing. The Unix based system we purchased software tools you need, then look platforms. Also workers have a greater can print, plot, and run a (MS-DOS com­ for a workstation that supports them. capacity when networked. While tolerat­ patible) network in the background. All Make the most informed deci­ ing DOS hassles, people have begun to this while you're working on a job. Also we sion you can based on your look for better solutions. Unix, a multi­ get superior graphics and the ability to organization's business objectives tasking, high speed operating system, upgrade. Our productivity increase was and your user's needs. And you can be the answer. Unix has been around well over 50%." don't need to standardize on only one, either. Connectivity options for many years, but hasn't shared DOS's Another case is the Middleby Marshall abound to network most types of popularity: the hardware platforms were Cooking Group Inc. According to Loren computers today, and CADKEY considerably more expensive, the learn­ Veltrop, the Silicon Graphics worksta­ operates among them easily. ing curve was very high, and the number tions they purchased allows CADKEY of general applications was limited or just Choose the needed users in his department to share draw­ weren't available. Most of these limita­ ings and patterns at speeds equivalent to applications first, then tions are changing. Indisputably the Unix local hard disk drives. "The most impor­ buy the computer operating system is complex, but it pro­ tant benefit is the ability to have multiple they run on. vides several very powerful features in­ windows open at the same time. A user All such choices represent a cluding speed, multi-tasking and excel­ can have several copies of CADKEY open time/opportunity risk anyway. At lent graphics. simultaneously and copy from one draw­ any particular time, you can seize Over the last five years the Unix envi­ ing to another.. . and the word processor the opportunity provided by the ronment has been changing dramatically. can be active at the same time for prepar­ choices, leverage the productivity they give, and profit from them. Or Hardware and software developers have ing engineering change notices. On a you can lose time, miss opportuni­ designed new intuitive GUls (Graphical DOS system they had to complete one ties, waste productivity, and suffer User Interface). This means users no operation, shut down the application and financially by procrastin, ~ting. Use longer need to master Unix's esoteric start another application to do the next reviews to educate yourself on the intricacies. The operator can use the point, task. Another benefit of our system is the possibilities. Take the marketing click, and drag methods without entering ability to run DOS programs in a DOS hype with a grain of salt. Then see involved commands. Also during this time, emulation window. This is important be­ a CADKEY dealer who supports thE equipment you're interested in. See the price of Unix workstations have been cause not all software we use is available it in action for yourself and arrange coming down and are now affordable for on the Silicon Graphics. With Soft PC, an for an in-house evaluation if you smaller businesses. I'm a VAR and C8dkey application like Lotus 123 and Microsoft can. Then make a decision with dealer and here's what two of my custom­ Word can be used on the SGI." confidence and the knowledge that ers recently told me about their Unix sys­ there are very few vindicated tems. fortune tellers in the CAD business.

34 • KEY Solutions· FebruarylMarch 1993

LOCAL Bus AND OTHER PC SPEED ENHANCERS

32 BIT 18MHz 32 BIT I 33MHz

Th e Loa" Bus provides a \Vider roadll'a." alld operates at CPU speeds, Optill/al Local Blls ArchitecflIre allm!',,' speed critical peripherals· graphics,

disk and network -to illtelface directly H'ilh the Local Blis moping data al CPU speeds. II/lI.\rrtlf;Ol/ -("(lIIr/('.,y (~I A//'itlll Technology II/C".

by Claudia Martin

If you're after optimal CADKEY transfer rate. Common bus configu­ Then in August of 1992, the performance on a PC, it's important rations are ISA, EISA and Local. Video Electronics Standards to understand the complex compo­ ISA-based systems are locked into a Association or VESA, the industry's nents that affect system perfor­ 16-bit bus configuration operating committee for PC graphic stan­ mance, Although speed and perfor­ at 8.33MHz. EISA-based systems dards, established a VESA stan­ mance appear to be a homogenous have a 32-bit bus, but like ISA are dard for local bus computers. A issue from the user's standpoint limited to 8.33MHz. VL-Bus-based flurry of development followed as (how fast can I draw, autoscale the systems, on the other hand, have a computer, graphic accelerator, and screen, revise and plot), a system is 32-bit bus running at up to 33MHz. peripheral manufacturers raced to more than the sum of its parts. In practical terms, this means that be first with the most. Last fall only CPU speed, graphic cards, and bus ISA and EISA cannot take total a handful ofVESA bus computers capabilities affect processing, advantage of the new crop of 32-bit and graphic cards could address the graphics, and data transfer speed in graphic accelerators; the VL-bus VESA-VL 32-bit standard; by this separate ways. can. fall nearly all major manufacturers will be (pardon the pun) on board. BUS ARCHITECTURE Local bus technology has existed for some time, but until recently The VESA VL-Bus architecture ISA - EISA - LOCAL? there was no industry standard -- a has many features to improve Local VL-Bus technology real problem for the consumer. performance levels: 32-bit hard represents the biggest price perfor­ True, a few proprietary versions drive bus mastering can increase mance breakthrough for PCs to were produced, but making or data transfer rates for things like date and is probably the most buying proprietary "anything" in plotting and file operations; true confusing and least understood the PC world can be like shooting 32-bit graphics accelerators provide option. A "bus" is the pathway for yourself in the foot. For the user, it revolutionary graphic performance data transfer within a computer limits the peripherals available and even at 1280xl024 resolution; and and from the computer to its limits upgrade options. In fact, capabilities for future processor and peripherals (for example, from the peripheral manufacturers (for BIOS upgrades are expanded. CPU to the monitor, keyboard, example, high resolution graphic Do you need a local bus for digitizer, plotter, printer, etc.). A accelerators) waited. Wisely, they CAD KEY? That depends on your bus is rated by the number of bits of were not ready to invest in develop­ needs and your budget. If your data it can transfer at a time. The ment for a potentially restricted drawings are very large and/or you higher the number, the faster the market. see the need of radically speeding

36' KEY Solutions' FebruarylMarch 1993 up design and drawing productivity, performance. For example, although you should consider the option a math coprocessor is built into A Wish List seriously, especially since the PC every 486, special FPUs like the .. for a Top-of-the-Line price wars have made even top-of­ Intel RapidCAD can improve CPU PC Workstation for CAD KEY the-line equipment reasonable. 386 or 486SX performance signifi­ cantly. Changing from Super VGA • 486DX processor CLOCK DOUBLERS to a 32-bit graphics accelerator with • VESA local bus For years Sun and other RISC a large-screen , high-resolution • Hard disk speed - as fast as workstations have run their CPU's monitor can the you can afford

• Hard disk capacity depends on your needs; allow room to grow

• At least 8MB of RAM . more if you have very large drawings

• High speed graphics accel­ erator with high resolution (at least 1024 x 768 but 1280 x 1024 is better)

• Monitor - flat non-glare screen (at least 17"; bigger is better)

• Networking capabilities

• Rich Upgrade path producing 486/50Mhz and 66Mhz world. DX2 CPU chips that incorporate Operating on the likelihood, SCSI . RAM . Slots/ Ports clock doubling technology. that those who purchase a 486 If you can't have everything system now may not be ready to MISCELLANY on your wish list, a good rule of switch horses soon, manufacturers thumb is to get the best and/ Other factors like disk access of high-end 486 systems are begin­ or fastest you can afford and speed, type of math coprocessor and ning to include a Pentium ready make sure upgrading is easy graphics accelerator affect system socket on their mother boards. and affordable.

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ORa..E CARD 209 FebruarylMarch 1993 • KEY Solul ns ' 37 Kev Solutions evaluated four CAD-configured 486s for this article. Our goal was not to perform board-level or hardware performance b ench marks , but subjective assessments involving how well CADKEY performed from a user's perspective -such things as speed of loading drawings and performance of complex operations. We used the standard CADKEY drawings Tractor and Analvsis, because both are over 400K and quite complex. In addition to basic CADKEY operation, svstem considerations included graphics resolution and qualitv, options in the upgrade path. and ease of set up with CADKEY.ln general. we found all these high-end 4865 excellent in speed and performance. AnV would be an invaluable tool in a high production environment. You just have to select the feature set and price that most c10selv fits vour needs.

TRI-CAD ZX-350

The TRI-CAD VESA 486/66 (and CAD's integrated 32-bit VL-Bus all Tri-Star systems) combines the IDE controller can have a 32-bit VESA VL-Bus standard with several SCSI II controller capable of Bus other new technologies. The TRI­ Mastering which offers signifi­ CAD systems are based on a direct cantly faster data transfer than processor-to-video 32-bit linkup, a EISA It also has support for up true 32-bit VL-Bus graphic accelera­ to seven SCSI devices including tor and DX2 486 processor clock SCSI-II hard drives from 210MB doubling. to L 7GB. "Upgradability" is one TRI -STAR uses the new ATI ofTRI-CAD's strengths. The Mach 32 graphics accelerator which modular system board includes eight can actually operate at top speed slots (six ISA and two VESA VL) and TRI-STAR designs, assembles, with the VL-Bus. The AT Mach 32 room for four 5.25" exposed and four markets and supports high perfor­ also provides non-interlaced 1280 x 5.25" internal devices. There is an mance microcomputers and hard­ 1024 resolution with 256 colors. The Intel Overdrive socket and an Intel ware products. They specialize in VL-Bus can also improve hard drive Flash EPROM BIOS. CAD and LAN applications. performance. For example, TRI-

PowerDraft 486/50VLB

The Auto-Draft, CAD configura­ now available which are tion offers solid and serviceable comparable to the other units CADKEY performance. Even though described here. Auto-Draft it's not quite as fast as the local bus also has a complete range of 486s when dealing with huge configurations and prices. CADKEY drawings, it's basic 486 Auto-Draft has unique and 50Mhz, ISA bus is much fa ster than extensive service/support a 386. It also has a simpler feature­ capabilities. These include a set, but if you don't need something, 30 day Customer Satisfaction why pay for it? The price range on program and free remote the Auto-Draft systems is lower and diagnostic service through S.O.S. seven U.S. distribution points. A their expandability quotient is high. Software from Landmark Interna­ complete catalog comes with every It works well with CADKEY as is, tional via the built-in internal system. An Auto-Draft CAD Services and you can upgrade as your needs modem. In addition to direct support division provides national coverage grow. of the CAD systems, Auto-Draft for customers needing plotting and At the time of the evaluation, offe rs many other services to CAD scanning services. Auto-Draft had not completed their customers. They sell software for VESA local bus configuration. Auto­ multiple disciplines, CAD specific Draft local bus 66MHz computers are peripherals and supplies through

38 • KEY Solutions ' February/March 1993 CAOStation 486

Appian makes high performance for most CADKEY CAD stations. Period. This means users. The features which are options on many CADStation is other 486s are standard on the optimized for Appian. These include dual monitor 1280xl024 resolu­ support, networking interfaces, and tion and speed. built-in network and disk security. Even the base The small CPU 3"-high pizza box configuration design looks like a traditional Apollo comes with a TI or Sun workstation, but it has a 34020GSP, large capacity SCSI or IDE hard coprocessor-based graphics control­ system to be taken apart and put disk, a high end graphics card, a bus ler. Super VGA on the local bus lets together quickly. Even major mouse, and two built-in ethernet you have high performance 1024 assemblies snap out and can be ports built around sophisticated resolution on a second screen. replaced without tools. architecture. The only real conces­ Network, disk interface and graphics Appian was formed from the sion to space is that there is only one are all placed on the local bus for merger of Renaissance, producer of 3.5" internal floppy drive. maximum speed. Expansion slots the high performance graphics card We found the graphics display are EISA. Renaissance GRX, with ZyMOS especially fine and fast with Servicing is simple. Appian has a Corp., a major developer of PC CADKEY. It is a little slow with unique modular, "snap-together" controllers and system architecture. Windows, probably not an obstacle construction that permits the entire CA l:l' Xi Netserver 466EL T

Although we looked at Xi's top-of­ interfaces, the the-line, Xi offers a complete range of Xi466EL reaches affordable 386 and 486 machines -­ the bus mastering all completely upgradable. Even the data transfer rate etserver 466EL, which is a real 132MByte/sec, power platform, has an amazingly about 15 times the low price tag. It is based on EISA 16 bit ISA. In architecture with a VESA Local Bus addition, the four extension. Clock doubling is already EISA slots on the part of the standard configuration, mother board and by the time this is in print, Xi allow the installa­ systems will be shipping with an tion of multiple Intel Pentium socket on board. network cards and hard disk control­ benchmark results on their system of The performance was very fast lers at the standard 32MBytes/sec. interest to compare with the bench­ and the graphics resolution and EISA transfer rates are 4 times the marks of their competitors. They are performances provided by the Orchid ISA performance. also proud of the fact that all their card was great. Technically, by Xi is so proud of their speed and systems are "Made in U.S.A." and providing two Local bus extensions components that they will mail or exported all over the world. for video and networklhard drive fax potential buyers a complete set of

February/March 1993. KEY Solutions . 39 486 PC Workstations

CADStation 486 PowerDraff 486/ 50VLB Tri-CAD ZX-J50 Xi466EL Netserver Appian Technology Auto-Draff TRI-STAR Computer Corp. Xi Computer Corp.

$5295 - $6295 $3585 - $4385 53300 - $6000 53799- $4139 32-bit Local bus ISA VESAjVLocal bus EISA + VESA Local bus Intel 486DX2 33-66Mhz Intel 486DX 50 Intel 486DX2 5O/66Mhz Intel 486DX2 66Mhz FLASH Flash EPROM AMI 210MbiDE or Maxtor 213IDE(15ms) or Maxtor 210MB 15ms SCSI! 215MB Maxtor (420MB 213 or 450MB SCSI 213MB SCSI Fuji / 12ms) 540MB SCSI EISA available 0/1 1/1 1/ 1 1/1 16MB/ 128MB/8MB/32MB 8MB/ 16MB/32MB/ 128MB 8MB/64MB 8MB/ 128MB 128K 256K 256K 256K write back Slim desktop/3" high Full Tower Full Tower Full Tower 145 W Autoranging 250W 230W 300W 1/ 2/bus mouse 1/2 1/ 2 1/2/ bus mouse opt. Rendition TMS34020 Stealth 24 VL 32-bit ATI 32-bit VESA-VL 2MB VRAM S3 86C805 VL-B 17" or 21 " flat 1280x1024 17" flat 1024x768 20" MPR-I! Flat 1280x 1024 IDEK 2317/ 1280xl024 Yes optional Yes Optional

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional 2 built-in ethernet ports Available Optional card Optional card 2/ 1 Eisa 2/2 2VL-bus 3/5 n/a 4 61SA 16-bit 6/8

Ethernet & disk on the Internal modem lifetime tall-free EISA bus w / 2 VESA local bus 3-button mouse tech support & lobor compliant local bus ext. Pentium socket

One year parts & labor Two years 30 day return/24 Month limited One year parts & labor 30 day money back One year/ free One year available Free 1 year NCR On-site free replace- ment 24-hr parts Overnight parts 48-hr parts 24-hrs parts Yes Yes-lifetime Yes Yes M/F 8-5 PST M/F 8-5 PST M/F 7-6MST M/ F 9-6 PST

Appian Technology Inc . Auto-Draft TRI-STAR Computer Corp. XI Computer Corp .. 477 N. Mathilda Ave. 3100 Airway #106 120 S. Weber Dr. 980 Colle Negocio Sunnyvale. CA 94086 Costa Mesa. CA 92626 Chandler, AZ 85226 San Clemente, CA 92672 800/737-7426 800/ 733-7238 800/729-7488 8OO/432-D486 408/730-5473 fax 714/ 751-5208 fox 602/961-40 10 fax 714/492-6571 408/730-5400 714/ 751-8501 714/498-0858

Snake Oil? No! CK-Synergy! ~ ~~~~~I~~~N~~~Ii:~crIS ADDED CALL FOR FREE WORKING COPY -- 11.0. 08....82 THREE,ABOVE DIMENSIONOR FOUR PLACETEXT PREWITHC ISIONTWO,. 1. PASSIVATE PER QQ-P-35, TYPE '" oa::Il1a=_:-__~_11I111I1J I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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~~A- 125; -" fol14V2 \~ $195 ALSO INCLUDED:(§)@ ® ~ ~ ~~ v /~ ' MOVE LINE EIilPOINTS U SPEll CHECK ALL DRAWING TEXT! HANSEN DESIGN CO. MEDIUM AND BOLD HELVETICA FONTS XxxX x~ x~x 6107-105TH AVE N.E. SMOOTH INTEGRATION INTO CADKEY MENUS ~ D SET NEW DEFAULT PATHS FROM WITHIN CADKEY KIRKLAND, WA 98033 HAVE ENTITY ATTRIBUTES MATCH A SELECTED ENTITY ~ 1:;\../ 1\ CHANGE CIRCLE DIAMETERS TO MATCH A SELECTED CIRCLE !...1.:::,.1 SET SYSTEM ATTRIBUTES TO MATCH ANY SELECTED ENTITY ~ v- ~ PH OR FAX 206-828-9863 CIRCLE CARD 228

40 • KEY Solutions · February/March 1993 The Dilemma: DOS or Unix?

that provides a 15.8 MIPS SPARC print, and mass storage resources workstation inside the PC and on an NFS network. In addition, SPARCard 2 is a 40 MHz board Unix data files and applications are that delivers 28.5 MIPS to the available to OpusFS PC users. desktop. With SPARCard Unix system control through plugged into your PC, MS­ Windows 3.0 interface relieves the DOS and Unix run simulta­ PC user from having to learn the neously on your existing arcane command language of the hardware, each in native mode Unix system. Cut-and-paste on its own processor. This setup capabilities exist between DOS and lets operating systems share the Unix applications, just like within M any PC's existing keyboard, monitor, any single operating environment. companies are mouse and floppy disk drive. Since facing the same both DOS and Unix run native quandary: DOS or Unix? PCs mode on their own processors, there SPARCard System Architecture or workstations? Critical questions is no loss of performance. include: how to maximize the SPARCard 2 is a complete investment in existing hardware A touch of a hot key or mouse SPARC main-processor board laid and software while taking advan­ click switches you between DOS out as a PC add-in card. It includes tage of new computing capabilities; and Unix. Jobs started in one a custom ASIC which allows how to continue to rely on the tried­ operating system environment SPARCard to communicate directly and-true DOS spreadsheet, word continue to process after you switch with the PC/AT bus. The board processing, database, communica­ to the other environment. Imagine layout includes an Ethernet™ tion, and internally developed the benefits of processing DOS and interface, SCSI interface port, software, while also taking advan­ Unix applications concurrently. dedicated floppy drive interface, tage of the powerful graphical SPARCard 2 includes software expansion capability for up to interfaces, multi-tasking, network­ for file transfer between environ­ 64MB of main memory, SBus ing, and sheer processing power ments; existing data is accessible expansion slots, two RS-232 serial offered by SPARC and Unix? from both DOS and Unix. A user ports, keyboard! mouse port, and audio 110 port. Optionally included One alternative is to install a with an Opus SPARCard and Opus FS software can share information is a video frame buffer that can be workstation beside each PC. But used with nearly any VGA, Super this is costly in terms of purchase and resources with high perfor­ mance workstations, minicomput­ VGA, Extended VGA or Sun­ and maintenance dollars, not to resolution monitor. mention precious desktop real ers, and mainframes running Sun estate. Another alternative is to Microsystem's Network File System SPARCard is certified SCD­ replace PCs with workstations. But (NFSTM) protocol. With OpusFS compliant by SPARC International, simply switching hardware is just software, DOS and Windows users assuring compatibility with thou­ the beginning. You also have to can take advantage of the compute, sands of SPARC applications. migrate applications, data, periph­ erals and users to a new environ­ ment. What about the cost of PC willi SP,.IICenI replacing existing DOS software with comparable Unix applications? Who is going to migrate internally­ developed DOS applications? What about the loss of productivity as users load new software and learn a new system?

SPARCard Solution The Opus SPARCard™ is an add­ in board that can provide powerful RISC SPARC-based workstation capabilities to ISAJEISA PCs. SPARCard-enhanced PCs running OpusFS provide PC users with seamless SPARCard 1 + is a 25 MHz board access to corporate-wide mainframe, minicomputer and workstation resources.

February/March 1993 . KEY Solutions · 41 STUDENTS + ADKEY 1.4

1-- LEARNING a d RESULTS

by Frank Simpson

When Cadkey, Inc. donates software to schools as part of its educational grant program, Version 1.4E is the A tool normally sent. Some CADKEY purists and hot shots might think this older version couldn't be adequate, but students at the Univer- sity of New Hampshire Sophl'st l' cated debunked that idea by producing a sophisticated plankton sampler for oceano- graphic research using Plankton CADKEY 1.4 and some good old-fashioned Yankee ingenu- ity and talent. Before their successful REPPS (REmote Program­ mable Plankton Sampler) Sampler project, no satisfactory method existed for gathering Getting the REPPS (REmote Programmable Plankton Sampler) ready for submersion. zooplankton samples signifi- cant enough for aquatic food chain sampling system. The specs were comparison and analysis. The research. Zooplankton, a special tough. Mechanically it had to be backbone of the final design se­ variety of the free-floating organ­ fully automated, programmable, lected is a manifold that distributes isms common in fresh and salt submersible to a depth of at least water from an intake pump to 12 water, forms a crucial link in the 100 feet, able to operate continu­ individually programmable collec­ biological food web of aquatic ously under water for periods from tion chambers that are lined with systems. 24 to 48 hours, and require only two 75-micron nytex mesh. A solenoid A multidisciplinary team of four people to operate. Scientifically, the valve controls each collection students led by professors Kenneth system needed to be able to collect a chamber and a thirteenth solenoid Baldwin (mechanical/ocean engi­ variety of samples and other critical controls a purge valve that flushes neering) and Randy Olson (zoology) research data with minimal effort the system before every sampling took on the challenge in 1990. The and maximal research flexibility. operation. students were Jeffrey Chace Based on the failure of an Tattletale Model IV, a battery­ (zoology), Jonathon Miner (com­ earlier 1988 UNH design attempt, powered, single-board, date logger/ puter science) and Kevin the 1990 team decided that their controller, operates the solenoids. Landerman and Christopher Quinn plankton sampler should contain no As the Tattletale performs its (mechanical/ocean engineering). moving parts - or at least as few as sampling program, each sample The team's goal was to design possible. Several initial designs taken into a collection chamber is and build a portable plankton were created in CADKEY for preserved by a formalin sponge at

42· KEY Solutions · FebruarylMarch 1993 the bottom of the tube-like cham­ ber. The Tattletale also records environmental data critical to the plankton population being sampled. Flow, temperature and conductivity data are recorded from a flow meter mounted in front of the intake pump; probes mounted next to the intake pump monitor temperature and conductivity. Prototype to Production With a design on paper, the students then built the prototype with polyvinylchloride (PVC) plumbing parts and parts machined at UNH. They tested the REPPS three times at three varied loca- Hi]aak converts ...· U«i5"'" tro'~l~~!!E~~()f~f1a HiJaakgivesyou The team used good, your drawings. accurately to or from old-fashioned Yankee WMF, WPG, PIer ingenuity and talent cion "flavors". tions. It worked so well in prototype that the four not only earned "A" grades for the project, but the following summer the University of New Hampshire, Northeastern University, and Brown University jointly commissioned the manufac­ ture of three production models. Janco, Inc. of Dover, New Hamp­ shire, a manufacturer of custom industrial plastic and electronic products won the project. Janco hired Kevin Landerman to handle the job. Kevin took time off from school, but when the REPPS were delivered to the Universities for final testing, he returned to finish his degree in mechanical engineer­ ing in December 1992. Kevin gives a final report on the success of the plankton sampler. "In September, Northeastern Univer­ sity successfully deployed the REPPS to a depth of 100 feet for 48 hours and brought back loads of plankton. I really had a lump in my throat as I thought about how much time and effort I put into this. It really works!"

SPECIAL OFFERI Call us and ask for Editors Note to Kevin: Those are our catalog of graphics the "perks" and what engineering's all tools, and luSt for mentioning this ad about! By the way, Cadkey is pleas..ed (#031), we will to have contributed to the education of a free gift. a good engineer. Congratulations! ORClE CARD 258 February/March 1993 • KEY Solutions' 43 GOLDMINE 2.5 by Claudia Martin

When the GoldMine contact letters, reports and memos are set manager arrived, it seemed up for a sales organization. Not to unlikely that a program normally worry! It can all be easily custom­ advertised as a sales tool could ized and it doesn't really take have value for Key Solutions long. In addition to the 20 pre­ readers because concurrent defined and 15 user-definable engineering professionals and fields, you can add an unlimited projects have special needs - number of fields and/or create especially on a network. I was your own entry screens, form wrong! Obviously, "hard-core" letters, labels and reports. On a "Remote transfer synchroniza­ engineering and manufacturing network this means each depart­ tion" is a unique GoldMine feature issues and expertise are the core ment can have a personalized that can update remote GoldMine of any concurrent engineering setup, but use the same system systems with changes, merging endeavor, but communications, and data. the changes on records at the field organization and scheduling are We were able to use this level. This means even remote equally important. That's where program quite proficiently in a notebook users can transfer data GoldMine can fit in. It is a power­ couple of hours, although it's so electronically, allowing them to ful productivity tool for anyone powerful we were discovering update and be updated with the who needs to keep track of people, exciting features for days. The home office. activities and schedules. pull down menus are logical, clear Security and uncluttered. The In a multi-user setting security excellent documentation is always an issue, but GoldMine (a rarity) has a well has this base covered too. It has a thought out and unique two-tiered system for more flexible indexing system, helpful access control in which each illustrations and is contact record can contain an logically organized and optional "owner" or can remain a well written. Context "public" record. It also provides sensitive on-screen help five levels of security for the is also available. network. The system administra­ Network Features tor can quickly and easily upgrade While other contact a user's security settings without managers offer similar manually changing various menu­ features, most were level access settings. In addition, originally designed for sophisticated record curtaining the single computer allows the system administrator user. Based on the to hide information on a contact Basically a relational database, Groupware principle, GoldMine's record from users who do not GoldMine lets you keep track of networked version offers superior possess ownership. features for staff and department people (names, addresses, phone Output numbers) with detailed history interaction - its real advantage for Output options are many. a concurrent engineering environ­ (contacts, outcomes, comments) and They include mail merge, fax ment. notes. It lets you schedule meetings, merge, an unlimited number of phone calls, and other activities and The group scheduling features forms (letters, memos, fax forms), display them on a weekly or monthly rival stand-alone network custom reports, direct faxing via calendar. You can set an alarm to schedulers. It lets you quickly CAS Fax board or shared Fax remind you of any scheduled item. schedule users and resources, server, and document manage­ Many contact managers do these finding available times automati­ ment tracking. On a system with a things, but GoldMine does more. cally -- all with R.S.V.P. verifica­ modem, GoldMine will dial calls When it comes out of the box, the tion. You can delegate tasks and and faxes for you. The built-in text fields, screens and resident form track results automatically. editor is clunky and rudimentary,

44· KEY Solutions. FebruarylMarch 1993 Using a FAX-Modem with GoldMine

but GoldMine lets you link to your Fax-modems compatible with favorite word processor and import are wonderful pro­ millions of Group text files from anywhere into your ductivity tools 3 fax machines documents. User chat and message which let you send In use. It senses taking is available for network faxes directly from the speed (from users. The program is dBASE files In your com­ 300 to 14.400 compatible and can import/export puter. bypassing bps) of the send­ ASCII, DBF, and SDF files. the sometimes Ing or receMng temperamental unit and adjusts. GoldMine is an integrated mechanical and Th is feature program that takes full advantage of scanning pro­ worked great the networked environment. Cur­ cesses of standard from ourend. but rently available for DOS, GoldMine fax machines. We after transmitting 2.5 runs on any IBM-compatible found one incred­ SupraFAXModem V.32bis to contacts with portable, desktop or networked PC. Ibly useful during older. slower A Windows version in the works the GoldMlne evalutlon. We used the modems. we suggested that they definitely should be released later this year. SupraFAXModem™ V.32bls from Supra Corpo­ look at new. faster models. GoldMine has a suggested U.S. list ration. GoldMlne dialed the fax numbers. trans­ Versions are available In Windows'" . DOS'" price of $295 for a single user, $895 mitted the faxes. and took care of the entire and MaCintosh'" packages. Voice capabili­ for each network five-user incre­ process transparently. Setup was relatively easy ties and caller ID can be added later this year. ment. Site licenses are available. and the software and hardware functioned The 14.000 bps version costs 5399. the 9600 bps smoothly together - a good combination. version 5299. Contact ELAN Software at The SupraFAXModem features 14.000 bps data transfer rate for sending and receiving For more information call 800/654-3526 or faxes. supports Class 1 and 2 commands and Is Supra Corporation, 8001727-8667. Fax 818/999-9903.

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3100 DUNDEE RD. SUITE 202 • NORTHBROOK, IL 60062 • PH:(708)498.9600 • FAX: (708)498.9725

CIRClE CARD 238 FebruaryiMarch 1993 • KEY Solutions' 45 PROTOTYPES ON THE D ESKTOP

"E conomical, expeditious, A vice supplied with the mill The Software small prototype" used to be a holds the raw stock. The cutter is CAMM-3 comes with Roland's double oxymoron and there were no zeroed using a simple mill ma­ Basic CAD/CAM Software and G­ good alternatives. The smaller NC chinist edge finder. This is easy to Code Driver, but CADKEY and units available were pretty flimsy accomplish because of the detach­ CADKEY®NC users won't nor­ with marginal to questionable able pendant control attached to mally need (or even want) to use it. accuracy, so most companies did the front of the mill by permanent CADKEY®NC has more complete not use them. Prototype production magnets. The control has four post processors, drivers, and on a full size NC machine or in a categories for controlling mill features for the CAMM-3 , and model shop took a l-o-o-o-n-g time movement: jog, positioning, data CADKEY is by far a more full­ and was(is) very expensive. The input and control. Three thumb featured 3D modeler. With the Roland Digital CAMM-3 3000 mill, wheels control movement in the CAMM-3 / CADKEY®NC combina­ released late last year, changes tion you can perform standard all that. straight wall pocketing, hole The CAMM-3 is touted as a drilling, peripheral straight "desktop modeler," but don't be wall milling and surfacing put off by the terminology. The from simple to complex CAMM-3 is the real thing, a contours with NURBS sur­ solid, well-engineered, profes­ faces. sional 3-axis milling machine - Hands On definitely not a toy. It's just We primarily experimented diminutive, which is the with machining in plastic and advantage. Key Solutions staff wax because both provide an just ran the CAMM-3 Model excellent, inexpensive alterna­ 3000 through its paces with tive to stereolithography for CADKEYandCADKEY®NC prototypes. Not only is (CUTTING EDGE). stereolithographyexpensive, The Hardware it's far from perfect. When a The two CAMM -3 models part comes back from have similar features. Both cut stereolithography, additional wax, plastic, wood or other non­ cleanup machining is often ferrous materials, provide a necessary. Machining wax mechanical resolution of models for investment casting 0.0004", serial and parallel is one of the fastest prototyping interfaces, an LED display, and methods we know. CAMM-3 accept a maximum tool size of machines wax well and Roland 0.375". The larger 3000 mea­ supplies ample quantities of (AMM·3 Model 3000 sures 19.5" x 23" x 23". It has model makers wax. the larger cutting range with We tested the CAMM-3 an axis travel area of 7" x 6" x 6" with aluminum, brass, wood and an X-Y table size of 19.5" x three axes. Buttons labeled +X, and plastic. It can also cut machin­ 6.5". The 3000's maximum cutting +Y, -X, -Y, +Z, and -Z allow the able ceramic. We had to slow the speed is 0.79 ips and spindle speed user to rapidly traverse in any of feed rate down with metals to range is 3,000 -10,000 rpm. Slightly these directions. To position the avoid breaking the carbide end smaller, the Model 2500 measures "z" axis, an LED sensor switch is mills or put too much load on the 14.17" wide x 17.72" high x 15.75" placed on top of the material and spindle bearings. Nevertheless, we deep. The 2500 has a cutting speed sensed in the "z" axis movement, were pleased with the speed and of 1.18 ips and a spindle speed stopping at a preset distance from efficiency with which we were able range of 3,000 - 12,000 rpm. Other the material surface. Spindle to accomplish our task. Once we 2500 specs include an axis travel speed is set from the pendant started sending data, the chips area of 4.72" x 3.9" x 3.9", and an X­ control; feed rate is set from the started to fly. We could stop the Y table size of 14" x 5.3". G-code file. cutter movement using the pause

46. KEY Solutions· FebruarylMarch 1993 button on the pendant. All in all, the G-code can CAMM-3 acted like a full sized NC output machine. designs to CAMM-3 comes with an afford­ CAMM-3 for able price tag of $10,000 to $12,000 proofing and and a precision unmatched in this review, price range. We were impressed eliminating with its overall price/performance the need for and envisioned several practical expensive applications. Engineers could create CNC ma­ small prototypes and finished parts chines. Best right at their computer workstation of all, a or it could be a thrifty choice for design light to medium production of engineer finished parts. Other applications with this Pro totypes created on the (AMM-3 could include PC board drilling, 3- type of setup axis machining, and other processes in his work area can produce many For more information, contact normally requiring expensive types of prototypes similar to the Roland Digital at stereolithography or NC production production part without tying up 714/975-0560. machinery. It also has a place in costly production equipment and education; students learning to edit NC staff time.

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CIRCLE CARD 257 Call 203-644-2557 today _. . Information Technology International Corporation Test drive a Free working model! Copyright © 1993, Information Technology Intern ational Corporat ion. CA DView is a trademark of Infonnation Technology Intern ational Corporation. All other product names are trademarks of thei r respective companies.

February/March 1993 • KEY Solutions. 47 CADKEY Gets 12x Performance Boost with Vibrant Graphic Device Drivers!

DL-Xpress/CKTM is the new high Vibrant has been doing good Vibrant Graphics-A Closer Look performance graphics device driver things for CADKEY for several Vibrant Graphics, located in for CADKEY®6. Expanding on years. Pro Res CADKEY, the first Austin, Texas was founded in 1989 to Vibrant's ProRes™ CADKEY driver, CDE driver for CADKEY, eliminated create a software-only display list DL-Xpress/CK features a 32-bit the need to preload a driver before driver for AutoCAD®. When the first display list using Vibrant's TRUE CADKEY could execute. It listed 131 version of Soft Engine for AutoCAD ERASETM. TRUE ERASE ensures different graphics boards with was released, Vibrant immediately the use of minimum system overhead options for selecting any color depth became recognized as a significant with maximum graphics performance or graphics resolution that each player in the driver business. They on any DOS-based PC graphics board supports. Newer versions of quickly expanded beyond the board. Real-time panning is also Vibrant's graphic drivers for AutoCAD business. Even in the available in DL-Xpress/CK by using CADKEY are available to users via beginning a principal software the SHIFT key in conjunction with the Cadkey BBS. Check the BBS developer of Soft Engine (a consult­ the cursor positioned at any screen first if you're having driver problems ant to Vibrant at the time) was edge. DL-Xpress/CKTM is included in or if your driver version doesn't continuing independent development every copy ofCADKEY®6 at no support your graphics board. Vibrant of a CADKEY driver. Then in 1991, charge. Graphics has a commitment to the company changed hands and the Soft Engine™/CK will begin support every major graphics board principals decided to greatly expand shipping in May 1993 to all new or graphics chip set in the industry. the Vibrant vision and product line. CADKEY®6 customers and New drivers are released often. They began actively developing CADKEY Maintenance Contract owners. Soft Engine/CK extends DL­ Xpress/CK by adding advanced user interface features such as Birds Eye, Worms Eye, and icons. Birds Eye provides an overall view of the C HELVETICA LIGHTC: current drawing which can be attached to any viewport(s), allowing 5 ERAS LIGHT CARTA 0 ~ real-time dynamic zooming and m ~ TYPEWRITER :z: ~ < panning within the viewport. Worms LLlCl m-m Eye is like a magnifying glass view <~~ ~~::a within a drawing, allowing the user OQ~ m en to examine drawing areas at a very deep zoom level without zooming the entire drawing. The icons are ~~~ ::!~m graphical entities which can be ~ ll~ ~ ~ ~ assigned user-specified functions or a W ~ c..:> :z: ::D series of functions, so repetitive n ~ tJ:j m (f) ~ operations can be executed with a :z: single button press. N ~~ ~ r Soft Engine/CK delivers improved Y18 SYH 3 'JNIH91M improvements from 30 percent to up r2 "II~)N~I~I~S NVWO"M S3WIL to 30 times. A demo of all Soft lM N TW Emulations of . trademarked fonts by Adobe , ITe , linotype'fM, FTNSA Engine/CK features is included on every DL-Xpress/CK.

48. KEY Solutions· February/March 1993 CIRClE CARD 245 , drivers for CADKEY, all of With Super VGA Autodesk's DOS protected-mode products, and MicroStation. And ProRes Cadke 163 220 436 820 Vibrant grew -- from five people DL-Xpress/ CK or 40 32 36 108 in 1991 to 24 as of January 1993. Soft Engine/ CK The CadkeyNibrant Alliance With 53 Early on, Vibrant realized ProRes Cad key 154 202 402 756 that success as a driver company DL-Xpress/ CK or 34 15 9 58 depended on strategic partner­ Soft Engine/ CK ships with major CAD companies CADKEYNibrant Graphics Benchmarks show up to 44X speed gains. All times are in seconds. All and graphics board manufactur- benchmarks done on a 486125 MHz with 1024x768 resolution at 256 colors. ers. With that goal in mind, Vibrant Graphics, Inc. and Cadkey, driver. Soft Engine/CK was the products and dedicated customer Inc. formed a strategic partnership result. support. In short, all parties win as in March of 1992. Vibrant became Cadkey, Inc. realizes some real third party vendors enter the the driver development company for advantages through the Vibrant CADKEY product mix. Cadkey, Inc. Vibrant's first goal was alliance. By assigning graphic driver Vibrant Graphics Inc. is excited to develop a Cadkey Dynamic development to the experts in the about future driver products possible Extensions (CDE) based "base level" industry, Cadkey frees a tremendous within a 3D CAD package such as driver to ship with every CADKEY amount of its engineering resources CADKEY. The Vibrant engineering and CADKEY®NC. Pro Res to focus on core CADKEY product staff is already gearing up for the CADKEY was the result. Their development and enhancements. challenges that lie ahead. Soft second goal was to develop an Vibrant's history shows they can and Engine/CK is the first major step .... advanced high level display list will provide state-of-the-art driver and the future is wide open! PLOTTERS • PLOTTERS • PLOTTERS • PLOTTERS BUY. SELL. TRADE • SUPPLIES • REPAIR DEPOT 3 Tier Pricing On Parts· No Expedite Fee, Drop Ship To Any location 7 Days, 24 Hour Emergency Service. 5-10 Day Turnaround· leasing Available

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• 12"x12 " or 12"xI8" high-accuracy tablet • 2-switch pen and programmable 4-button • 406 x 406 dpi • Up to 4 times faster than competitive models cursor • 24 " and 36" • Includes HP-GU2 plot language to create highly • An integrated mouseJADI TM driver with • "Archive " quality plots ideal for diazo compact plot files auto-toggle between mouse and AD! modes or photo reproduction. • 512K standard memory, expandable to 4 MB­ and a Windows®driv e in absolute mode • Connects up to 4 PCs, workstations or equivalent to 16 MB on competitive models • Test, Set-mode and Reset utilities mainframes • Immediately harnesses the plotter's power in • Unlimited free technical support • No toner, ribbons, pens or chemicals. AutoCAD® with real and protected mode ADI® • Lifetime Warranty!.. • Automatic Media Cutter with drivers • Embedded RISC-based rasterizer for • Affordable SCAN-CADT" turns the plotter into a "screaming hot " throughput wide format scanner (Optional) "IT'll " W ililY • I yea r warranty Call TMS 1714i'58Z-5007 ~ lEASE PLANS & RATES. TRADE-IN'S AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT I .. '" ~ Woman Owned Small Business· 26061 Merit Circle, Suite lOS, Laguna Hills, California 92653. Fax (714) 582-0793 ~

• CIRClE CARD 215 February/March 1993 • KEY Solutions. 49 Zeta Provides High End Pen Plotting Capabilities

Pen plotters are alive and well and drive paper. Tractor feed for power take-up stand for continuous, are expected to remain competitive for sprocket-fed paper assures straight unattended plotting. Converting many years because of their multi­ paper feeding on plots up to 120 ft. between cut-sheet mode and roll color output quality, large format, long. operation takes less than one minute. media versatility, software compatibil­ PS models include the optional We did an 11ft. plot on the Zeta that ity and overall price/performance. But, would have choked most inexpensive they're not all created equal. While plotters. The Zeta handled it with some manufacturers are shifting their relative ease. pen plotter focus to the low-end market, the Zeta E-size 936 and D­ All Zeta plotters support GML, HP­ size 924 offer a wide range of versatile GL, Tektronix Plot 10, and CalComp features for the most discriminating 960 plotting languages. An optional pen plotter user. built-in 32170 coaxial interface is available for direct connection to IBM Two features that make the Zeta 900 mainframes. It also supports a variety series easy and efficient to use are of international character sets, includ­ paper handling and pen/ink. ing U.S., German, French, Spanish, PenMinder™ is an optional system Swedish, Danish and JIS ASCII. that uses an infrared beam to sense when a pen has run out of ink, then The Zeta, being a workhorse of switches to the next available pen or plotters, is relatively maintenance free. suspends printing until the pen is Therefore it has tremendous market replaced. The plotters support eight acceptance. pens and a full range of pen types. For more information contact Zeta All standard media may be used Graphics Corporation - 510/372-7566 Zeta 936is Pen Plotter with PenMindef''' Ink including cut-sheet, plain roll and pin Sensing System or fax 510/372-7431.

~.- - _. =.=.------= -==~u._------==== 1'5 =: -=_ ® ~.= =-= -== .= Bill of Material Database Generator Now create Bills of Material for CAOKEY®-produced designs quickly, easily and accurately without risk of error from redundant data entry. • Fully integrated with CADKEY's menu trees • Userilefinable template formats The Bill of Materials Database Generator ex­ tram data from CADKEY pari files and compares and dialog boxes, and with DRAFT'PAK's • Automatically generates accurate port them to your external datobose. The result is fasteners and mechanical elements files from BOM data then farmatted by a user-defined template into • Exports data to lotus, Quattro, Microsoft • Supports on~ine viewing, editing and a Bill of Material, which can be placed anywhere EXCEl, dBASE or Paradox files for interface modification of text and database files on the CADKEY pari file as on ASCII note. with compatible MRP systems • Defines and automatically updates :l4YliAii iiCl-lllOI..OGliCl • Creates single-level or indented BOM structures dBASE or Paradox database files 170 Goddard Memorial Dr., Worcester, MA 01603 USA • Supports and organizes geometry into • Automatically creates and updates 1't1one: (508) 755-1t72 rox: (508) 795-1301 CADKEY groups and collectives balloon labels Contad your 'o(a' authorized CADKEY/Dralt-PAK dea'er lor detai's.

IIrd1-i'Al . ore . • 01 ITod ....~ 01 So ,Ie Ted> ies Inc . CAOKEh,,, ..red t"'''''~ 01 (olk Inc. AI ,the, rodlXlS •• _nuks ,nd ",ed ,oI,,,,,rks" the" " ,;e,. CIRCLE CAAD 247 50 • KEY Solutions· February/March 1993 YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 85,500 ERROR THAT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN AVOIDED.

CAD I CAM data incompatibility complete verification of the tool path and transfer errors are big prob­ before cutting - reduces material lems for automated machine waste . A choice of 100 post proces­ shops. A recent NTMA * study sors assures maximum flexibility. found that 51% of companies surveyed experienced data Cadkey's family of desktop translation difficulties, and concurrent engineering tools 25% had to completely now make the seamless re-create data. Every integration of all design, "miss" costs between analysis and manufacturing $4,000 and $5,500 in functions not only possible, scrap, rework and del iv­ but affordable. ery delays, not to mention CADKEY is easy to learn and a reduction in competitive position use. A common data base makes it and lower profits. possible to integrate reverse engineering , Why take chances? With CADKEY®and inspection, rendering, Cutting Edge®you 'll have 100% failure-free solids and surface CAD to CAM data modeling tasks into transfer. You can also any design and manu­ transfer files from facturing operation. another CAD with Get the most flexible 3-axis machining with 100% IGES, DXF and CADL® and versatile CAD I data transfer reliability. utilities included with CAM system you can buy. Call your nearest Cutting Edge features simul- C tt' Ed taneouslyactive viewpoints U Ing ge. Cad key dealer or contact Cadkey today. (tool path shown here). Cutting Edge can also be used as a stand alone CAM system for ~ CUTTINC E*E 3-axis milling , drilling , boring , reaming , slot­ Cadkey, Inc. ting , pocketing , tapping and contouring . 4 Griffin Road North , Windsor, CT 06095 Tool path prove out - the immediate and (203) 298-8888 • FAX: 298-6401 • 800-654-3413

CADKEY. Cutting Edge. CADL are reg istered trademarks of Cadkey. lnc. 'A 1991 study done by the Detroit Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Assoc iation found that dataset errors cost tool and die shops an average of 8% in excess costs per tooling job; $4.000 to $5.500 lost PERJOB in scrap and rework and a 23%to 27% increase in lead times.

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~~ Ez Fonts for CADKEY®. Works with CADKEY®v3.S,4.X,5.X, 6.X,386®, DOS, UNIX, and Light®• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Ea. $49.95 All 17 Fonts(FONTPAC) •••••••••••••••• $299 Additional FONTPACs 1/2 Price ($149) All FONT ORDERS Come With 17 DIFFERENT STYLES TO CHOOSE. a FREE CADKEY FONT MANAGER PROGRAM Call for Catalog AND SYMBOL LIBRARY (Loads FONTS Automatically IN/OUT of CADKEY) CADKEY is a trademark of CADKEY, Inc. \11 prices US$. ' RI CES SUBJECT TO CHANGE VITHOUT NOTICE . UNCONDITIONAL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE All our products for CADKEY carry a Full, Money-Back Guarantee. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, then you may return it for a full refund. (703) 177-8520 HLB Technology ~ We accept MasterCard, VISA, '1J AmericanExpress & Corporate P.O.s PO Box 527 Site Licenses on most CADJET products available. Blue Ridge, VA 24064 CIRClE CARD 250 Here's a grab bag of tips to make using CADKEYa little easier. This batch is from Dana Seero of Computer-Aided Products, a Cadkey VARin Marblehead, MA.

SOLIDS grouped. When you output the CADL the CADL file in a blank part file, then file, be sure to output the group table resave it as SOLIDl. • If you are trying to process a part (first) as well as the geometry. • If you want to output a solid file to a through SOLIDS, and repeatedly get a If you just want a shaded represen­ stereolithography system, you must graphical error file, even though the tation of the part, you can treat the load CDL2STL.EXE from the CADKEY geometry appears correct, there are input model as a solid object. This will disks. several steps to take. First, check in not compute the volume or mass the SOLIDS configuration defaults to properties, but will process as a shaded make sure that the segmentation limits image. are not too high - start by setting them With SOLIDS/386, you can now at eight and four (minimum! • You can access CADKEY's powerful maximum). Once the model masking features within any processes, start increasing the command. Hit ALT-M, and the levels until you get the masking menu will appear. appearance you want. You can select multiple items If the geometry is so to mask on by hitting ENTER complex that a wireframe is after each selection. Select ambiguous, you can surface DONE when you have finished each complex boundary with a the selections. polygon mesh. Then, by • If you want to select an selecting only lines and entity from the midst of a polygons to output to CADL, complex assembly, you can use you will have defined the the MASK controls to make fig 1 volume more precisely. For selection easier. Use the corners and other intersections of three process very complex models for immediate mode command ALT-M. or four curved segments, you MUST use hidden-line removal, mass properties, Select the feature you want to mask on this technique to define the wireframe. or shaded images. (color, entity type, etc.). You can select Use CREATE POLYGON MESH, then • Part SOLIDl.PRT, used for the more than one filter by pressing select the appropriate options to apply 4.06 SOLIDS tutorial, is corrupt. To ENTER after each selection, so that the "skin." (See Fig. 1) correct the problem, output a CADL you can mask on green circles, etc. If you have more than one part to file using FILES CADL OUTPUT process, make sure that each part is SELECT LEVEL (1) DONE. Execute

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hen we turn on the "NEWS", we are repairman, mason, auto body repairman, jeweler, chef, bank teller, painter, etc.? I know I would barraged by SENSATIONALISM laced be in a world of hurt. with a lot of negativism about young I'll tell you exactly what voca­ w tional education really is or should be -- the training of our future work p~ople. We hear about gang killings and how a force and not a "special" class for dumping the problems. The stereo­ small minority can rule neighborhoods; about how type of the vocational student was more than apparent on the January drugs are killing our children and the robberies, 6th airing of 90210. Shown on the opening screen was a sign in the burglaries and deaths that occur to support the background of the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA). money flow; about the dead teenager on the However, one of the main characters was on his way to detention. It was obvious that this was a classroom in road due to alcohol; and about schools that are the automotive area, but the under­ tones present were typical ofvoca­ required to have armed security for the students to tional education everywhere. The truth of the matter is that get their basic education. teens must be given more recogni­ tion for the successes that occur as a What will it take to have our graduate be able to do when direct result of their efforts. While society recognize the efforts of entering the job market?" If you're many in the U.S. only see them, as responsible students? They exist like I was when my son graduated, shown on the 90210 show and in the and are actually the majority. We the answer is NONE. What are you news, as car racing, irresponsible must start recognizing the GOOD doing as teachers and parents to children, the reality is that many that these young people do. Yet, ensure the success of your children? students display extremely profes­ most of us are not willing to get Are they learning a vocation? sional and reliable behavior. For involved. VOCATION? I remember what a example, those belonging to VICA A large part of the problem lies vocational class is! That's the class (Vocational Industrial Clubs of in our educational system. When they put all the "special" students America) compete against peers in you look closely, you find that while in. Like wood shop, auto repair and their chosen profession within each it's geared for the college bound industrial arts. And to this day, state. The first place winners then student, only 20% of our work force vocational education is still stereo­ compete against each other at the will be required to have a college typed in a negative way. Well, it's U.S. Skills Olympics. The best of the degree. Why then are we failing to time for us to THINK! Which best. In fact, there are 35 contests at meet the needs of the 80% majority? people actually get things done in the International level. They include Ask yourself, "What skill, trade or this country? Where would you be Fitting, Instrument Making, Turn­ occupation will my high school without the carpenter, nurse, TV ing, Construction Steel Work,

56 • KEY Solutions' FebruarylMarch 1993 Electric Welding, WalVFloor Tiling, Sheet Metal Work, Industrial Elec­ tronics, Commercial Wiring, Brick­ Trade Up ToA Zeta! laying, PaintingiDecorating, Cabinet Making, Carpentry, Ladies' and When your pen plotting application requires the Men's Hairdressing, Automotive extraordinary, get a Zeta. Our trade up program Mechanics, Waiting (restaurant), makes it easy for you to afford a brand new unit Agricultural Mechanics, Milling, Engineering Drawing, Computer with the following features: Aided Drafting, Graphic Design Cookery, CNC Machining and the list * High Speed goes on and on. * High Quality Even industry does not recognize * Compatibility these dynamic young adults. Chris * Versatility Hennessey, for example, was the * Long Axis Plotting Silver medalist at the International Youth Skills Olympics CAD competi­ * Ink Sensing Pen Minder tion. While Chris did not use * On-Site Service CADKEY, his efforts are admirable. * One Year Warranty Do you see people like him on the * Full Line of Supplies Arsenio show? NO WAY! Yet Chris, to date, has not received a job offer. WHY? He is second in the entire Each member of the Zeta family of world! Wouldn't you like to have this plotters has over twenty years of employee? computer graphics experience built in. VICA is advised by the Youth Sales: (800) 735-3456 Development Foundation. This For sales and trade-up organization consists of 22 business Main: (510) 313-5900 leaders from all areas of business. information please call TODAY! Fax: (510) 372-7431

They include Caterpillar Inc., Sears, CIRCLE CARD 262 Black & Decker, Allied-Signal Aerospace Co., Chrysler Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, GET the POWER OF General Motors Corporation, Miller l\AousTABTM Electric Mfg. Co., AM Multigraphics, NOW BRING THE POWER OF A TABLET TO YOUR GRAPH ICS SCREEN Ii PAC CAR Inc., PPG Finishes, . MousTAB, with CADKEY's macro and cadi format, allows the SERVISTAR Corporation, Shouvlin user to glide thru the menus as much as 5 times faster! ! Associated Inc., Snapon Tools Corpo­ ration, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Also special HOT-KEYS for commonly used MousTAB has functions!! a DRAFT-PAKTM Westinghouse Electric Corporation overlay that opens and my company Quality CAD, Inc. FROM: TO: AID INCLUDING: DRAFT -P AJ(TII DRAFT-PAK CDE Our cooperative efforts raise money, CREATE DELETE files and executes lllE "" GInE _~_ >EOVEi.EIt , Dl teoSllIVTlL U1 IL lTY visibility, and exposure. Last year we DRAFT-PAK / q' ~~ ~ .~J lIl~r :;w..~ raised approximately $6.5 million §J~ 1ii1 0 '" ~~ A~ functions up to A It IJIe - ~ i lE~ ~ /"~D . " dollars which allowed more than 1. 1a~ ~ 0 r\~~~ l lI' 100% faster. 7'kf Gl I(T' IIIII Q) 9 ~ 8 §J[tIf 1~1~1l\ll~}= • 7000 student competitors to "show ~ ~~ ir'Jl !i ~§JGll! I ~ ~ 3 1dQ ~ "'E @.II!'.!!l~ their stuff' at the U.S. Skills Olym­ - p~ ir." l41 0h "Il I},f"., ~ I~~ ! J .;.~ ..~;:Po. pics. In addition to money, VICA receives considerable volunteer time I H f. " 11l"llflM Ir'>lt l.?!!: 1 ~lgl'; JC:I;;!;; ~~ Ig l ~IVJ ! ,,! from people in industry to set up the +L I,;1 Fi OEjblJltltl! contest rules (a special thanks to z z z Z TIRED of waiting for your PLOTTER? Paul Mailhot of Cad key, Inc. for his BZZZZZZzz z z Add up to ~ more design time dedication), judge the competitions and donate equipment. ~=~~ with : KEYPLOTTM So unlike Phil, Sally Jessie, and Call : CADTech Systems Geraldo, who raise controversy but do 28 Canal Street not tell the viewers how to change it, Plainville, CT. 06062 I offer these suggestions: Ask about: PATH OAT - directory organizer PHONE (203) 793-8366 1) GET INVOLVED! OISKSAVE - compression utility FAX (203) 747-6931 2) Ask your schools if they

CIRC LE CARD 249

February/March 1993 • KEY Solutions' 57 I..as8r & Pa/rtJ8/ PrlnletS ~ 1m !PI ...... 3995.00 Digitizer Blowout! HP PaitUei X1.300 ...... 239J.00 00 DlIa PrOIlJc:a LZR 1565 ...... 2Il96.oo Vour Choice $269. DlIa PrOllJcls LZR 1560 ...... 2Il96.oo Ollar ...... Cal VALUE ADDED DIIlEt:T MAIlI(ETING ScnIn $UIIIII'Clleoll, One Of The Natlont Largest AuthorIzed Deale ... Of Digitize .... PIotIt ... 12 II 12 ~1tIz. W/Cmor 12 II 18 Dliltlz••• $495 =.~HouIIGn::: : :::: : ::: ...... : :: : ::::::: ::~ JeIPro V50 ...... 1366.00 CIIIComp 36 x 48 • , $1470 /dint CII/Comp 24 x 36 , , $1270 ~~~~g_Q-~_~2-;.Q.4~~ 4000 ~ CI$ ...... 3S00.oo 1111d1112r12 •• 215.00 5000 ~ CI$ ...... 6200.00 KiI1I XLI 231.00 SlIdio1Yf ...... _00 KiI1IIS1 _ 335.00 RoIIIIIII¥II -Hewlett-Packard- New ~ EIHIII_ CII PNC 100020" ...... 1925.00 IkInmi"'*'" CIIId. Draftpro series DraftMaster series Deslll1jet series PNC 110024" ...... 3195.00 241311 _._. 1215.00 PNC 1800 48" ...... 899S.oo 311148 _ .. _ ••••••••___ ._._ 1.00 7575 'DXL' 3055 00 ~595 :SX+: ...... 5149.00 Des!gnJ81 Cl~3 ~ ...... 4950.00 GSX 4000 ...... 6195.00 7576'EXL' ········· 3975· 596 AX+, ...... 6550.00 De~91600 ,0, C2847A .... 5750.00 AlIOAv ...... 00 7599 "MX+ ...... 7580.00 Des9IJet 600 E C2848A ..... 6750.00 Skeldlmllt AlB ...... fi85.oo 0IrM. "-'IIca M PICIIIrS & ~ ...... Cal leIBr Art SoftWn 7.5 ...... Cal EIICAD 19 LM 29 Truc:du ...... 1375.00 51' 1800 A·D ...... $2DI!6.oo lEW 19 LM 10111112 ...... Cal -Houston Instruments - 51' 2800 A·E ...... 2585.00 ArtlllUloo NEW SO 11Hz ...... Il96.OO OMP 60 series DMP 160 Series 51' 482lA·D ...... 3888.00 MIl XJS Il!fHS6 ...... 1750.00 51' 4830 A·E...... 39110.00 An Uln Pro 2MB ...... !iQS.00 DMP 61 Free 8 Pen Changer" ...... 2050.00 DMP 161 ...... cal NovIJII ...... 7986.00 An Uln PI!.- ...... Cal DMP 62 Free 8 Pen Chinjjer" ...... 2875.00 DMP 162 ...... cal I'IIdIIc DIIIJ""" ...... • Wtile Ouamties Las1 DMP 162R ...... cal 512!( ...... 1029.00 HIacN 2187M 21' ...... 2295.00 5MBMPGI...... 15!iO.00 tbhl21 rr Xl 21' .28 DP ...... 2410.00 JDL HIacN 208!iM 'if! ...... 1325.00 ~ .:::::::::: ::::: ::::::: : :::.~~ =~l~ :: :::: : :::: : :::::: : :::: :: : : :: l= --Calcornp-- ~ PIoIIar "A-D ...... 6750.00 Nno T660 'if! ...... 2475.00 Design Mate (TM) Paoesetl8r (TM) New Classic Exp.-PIoIIar Only ...... $1992.00 2024A-D ...... ? DInond SINIfl!~.c=oo ...... :125.00 i~~. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::. ~oo From calcomp 2036 A-E ...... ? Nfl S3 ...... 425.00 NEe 6FG 21' ...... 2275.00 DrawingMaster (llI) Nfl 150 ...... Cal IIIsJtistj DIamcind Pro 17 ...... 1075.00 c.JI For Your Pricel HercUes Gold 16+2 ...... 395.00 ..... 6966 'if! ...... 17915.00 HeraHs 0Iher1 ...... Cal ..... 7965 20" ...... ~oo VIol! VIdeo X·S ...... lfi85.oo PanasaIIc NEW 17' ...... Cal 1804S 1r IIanItDr __ 1030.00 Bl'AC C\.8ltIII C

CIRCLE CARD 243

participate in leadership organi­ been an advocate of vocational Robert Cathy, a favorite high school zations such as VICA and FBLA education for years. I am not beyond teacher who inspired me to "be all (Future Business Leaders of calling the governor and giving him that I could be". Do you remember America) and if not, why not? my two cents worth, nor my legisla­ your special teacher? Isn't it about time we recognize the most impor­ 3) Ask your sons and daughters tors, nor my U.S. representatives. I hear some say, "One person cannot tant professionals in the if they participate and if not, why make a difference." BS! BS! BS! Get world ... THE TEACHER! not? on the phone and make your voice 4) Contact the national VICA heard. Enough is enough! We sit To GET involved contact: headquarters to see if you can help. around in this country and complain NATIONAL VICA 5) GET INVOLVED! about how bad everything is. Write P.O. BOX 3000 6) Use the VICA employment a letter to your legislators. Better LEESBURG, VA 22075 services to hire deserving students. yet address them all to Bill Clinton. PH (703)777-8810 After all he is the President of this 7) GET INVOLVED! FX (703)777-8999 8) Ask your employer to be a corporation we call the United sponsor. Contests are held at the States of America. All cartoons in Key Solutions were regional, national and international One final note. Remember drawn by Cory Malone, a high school levels. The help of many companies NEGLECTED TEENAGERS DON'T senior at N ew Market Vocation Skills is needed. GO AWAY THEY JUST BLOW AWAY! Have you hugged your Center. Cory's dream is to work for 9) Host a VICA competition at Darkhorse Comics, but he currently your work area or be a judge. children today? Have you recog­ nized them for their successes does freelance work and can be con­ 10) GET INVOLVED! today? Have you hugged their tacted at (206) 943-9465. I have a final suggestion that teacher? Remember the future of will cost you the most. It will cost our children is in the hands of their you time and money but increase teachers. Teachers are with YOUR your self esteem. Contact your CHILDREN more each day, than legislators! They really do work for most family members. I am 40 you! In Washington state we are years old and I still remember lucky to have a governor who has

58' KEY Solutions' FebruarylMarch 1993 • - --• Save Our Schools By Robert Martin, Technical Editor

Not long ago a unique presi­ beginning in urban areas like and discipline and deportment are dential candidate said, "We need to Phoenix Prep in Arizona and New good. base our economy on computer chips, Market Vocational Center in Puget • They are located a long way from not potato chips." Right on, Ross! Sound. We immediately notice that an urban center. Technology truly is one of the most these programs are in cities. Subur­ • The economy of the community is important issues of the 90's and it ban and rural school districts have in transition as the timber needs to be addressed in our schools. been overlooked. The rule seems to industry falters, the mines close, However in 1993, vocational educa­ be - if they're small and quiet -­ and the unemployment rate, one tion in most public schools is out­ ignore them. It may be true that the ofthe highest in Washington dated and rarely relevant to the real squeaky wheel gets the grease, but state, hovers around 10-12%. job market. Sometimes it's nonexist­ it's not fair. The needs are great ent and schools are in a catch-22. everywhere. Since we published a • The vocational curriculum is due Even though most educators are few short paragraphs about the for an overhaul. For example, dedicated professionals who realize school project in the last issue of Key forestry and agriculture are still the urgency of teaching technical Solutions, we have received requests major curriculum items even skills, their hands are tied by for help from many non-urban school though the reality is that the few shrinking funds and escalating costs. districts across the United States. available jobs in these fields are These facts provided the stimulus Obviously, we tapped a nerve! becoming fewer every day. for the S.O.S. (Save Our Schools) • They desperately need equipment, program, an experimental technicaV technical advise and money. vocational education project spon­ The S.O.S. School Currently they only have a few, sored by Key Solutions Magazine and S.O.S. has selected Selkirk High over-used computers for the Cadkey, Inc. The goal of S.O.S. is to School in Metaline, Washington as business education classes and form a voluntary alliance between the first test case. Located in the library, and a well equipped the business/industrial community, extreme northeast corner of Wash­ machine shop that gathers dust concerned individuals and public ington state, 100 miles north of and cob webs because the annual schools working together to shift the Spokane and 10 miles south of the vocational education budget of focus of vocational education to Canadian border, Selkirk is a small $2,000 (two thousand - we're not technical fields, and provide schools district with 200 students in grades 7 kidding) just doesn't stretch. with the materials they need to -12. They have eager students, a • Community involvement is high. teach. The beneficiaries of this plan supportive administration, intense A Vocational Advisory Committee will be the industriaVtechnical community involvement, and an meets regularly. community which will gain a pool of enthusiastic and capable vocational • The staff, administration and well-qualified entry-level technical education teacher. The problems and community advisors are willing to employees and non-college bound needs at Selkirk are typical of make major changes to the high school graduates (80%) who will thousands of small school districts curriculum in both the vocational have a chance to gain real skills for a from coast to coast. Specifically, the area and the core subjects that "head start" in the changing job selection was based on the following relate to technical training. market. criteria: I believe that to reach the maxi­ • They are incredibly poor, but are mum number of students, "heavy­ not eligible for special federal Selkirk's Plan duty" technology must be incorpo­ and state funds because the A committee of community rated into the regular curriculum. academic achievement level, leaders has already been formed. Some outstanding public school while less than the national They have written a two-year plan ~ chnical education programs are average, is over the border line and assigned tasks. Dr. Charles

FebruaryiMarch 1993 • KEY Solutions' 59 Taylor, owner ofOmni Link Com­ tion, students will begin with design account for donations which will be puter Services, a state approved and drafting in 1993 and progress to jointly monitored. Progress reports retraining center, will provide input producing a cost efficient machine, and tax credit slips will be provided on curriculum and instructional tool or device by June 1994. The first to all who donate. I am the technical techniques. James Collin, Superin­ group of students will complete the adviser, but one of the primary rules tendent of Seattle City Light, will program by June 1994. A complete is that the school administration and provide technical assistance from the copy of the Selkirk plan is available. staff must take the initiative to plan engineering department of Seattle and administer the program so that City Light and assist in procuring _ ---.!he N_e~!. Steps__ the program can eventually be self supplies and material needed in the perpetuating. machine production of the project. The Pend Oreille River is scenic. There are still many things that James Taylor of the U.s. Forest A PE class (for non-athletes) called need to be done, but they require Service will assist in developing a Life Skills goes fishing several days equipment or cost money. Compa­ layered map-making program based each semester and freezes the catch nies, individuals, advertisers, hard­ on CADKEY applications, with local for a big school barbecue. But the ware/software vendors, and Key and regional informational displays students and the staff want Life Solutions readers are being invited to for integration into the Natural Skills to include much more than support the program with equipment, Resources, Geography and Science fishing. What they need is CAD, materials, volunteer time, and curriculum. Larry Jungblom, Selkirk machine shop, electronics, etc. and money. If you can help or would like vocational education teacher, is the other classes to provide job skills. more information, please write project leader and Robert Martin, The plan is taking shape, the Robert Martin c/o Key Solutions, P.O. technical editor of Key Solutions, is students are ready, but computers Box 11978, Spokane WA 99211-1978 the technical adviser. and other equipment still need to be or fax 509/445-1146. The base plan revolves around acquired. Key Solutions and the CADKEY. In a phased implementa- school district are setting up a trust

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CIRCLE CARD 210 CONCURRENT PART 1 ENGINEERING Conceptual Design with CAD KEY WORKSHOP by Craig Storms and Ken Fortier This is the first in a multi-part series designed to familiarize you with several Cadkey concurrent engineering tools. You will learn methods for taking a part from design concept to reality.You will use CADKEY, CADKEY ANALYSIS, and CUTTING EDGE. In this session you will create a simple conceptual design of a cylinder bracket in 2D and learn the intricacies of the TRM command. Basic assumptions are made regarding the cylinder diameter -- slightly less than three inches. Mter the 2D geometry forming the top view of the part is finished it will be extruded to create the 3D model. The 3D transformation completes the model. This 3D model can be used to obtain mass properties and solid rendering using CADKEY SOLIDS.In future installments we will perform a stress analysis on the part using CADKEY ANALYSIS and redesign the part for greater structural integrity and savings in material. Then we will create a detailed drawing layout and finally, in the last installment, create tool paths with CUTTING EDGE.

" .ZD...U DESIGNING A lKJlIIIL ..-,.. srrLD '011" ...... CYLINDER BRACKET ., M'ft.IC"""

fut- I IXn Steps 1 thru 4 VI.l 1. Begin by drawing a rectangle ~...... ,...... • Choose CREATE, LINE, RECTANG, WIDIHT from = ~ : the main menu. ....- • Enter 6 as the width and 2.5 as the height. (Inches) • Choose the KEY-IN menu option to position the lower left corner of the rectangle and enter 0,0,0 as 5. Trim the circles the position. • Use the autoscale option ALT-A to center and resize • Choose EDIT, TRMlEXT, DOUBLE. the display. • Select the left side of the smaller circle as the entity to trim. Select near the top and bottom of 2. Mark the center of the lower line for a refer­ the right hand vertical line as the trimming ence point for a later mirroring operation entities. • Trim the larger circle in the same way. • ESC to the main menu and choose • Continuing the DOUBLE option, trim the right-most CREATE, POINT, POSITION, CENTER. line to the upper and lower-most endpoints. • To place the point on the center of the lower line, move the cursor near the line and click the left mouse button. .ZDn... " JIIMIL i'- nil! 3. Draw a circle at the right end of the rectangle rn.. ' "011 ...... • ESC to the main menu and choose ...... """ CREATE, CIRCLE, CTR+RAD. Step 5 • Enter 2 as the radius. • Choose the CENTER option to position the circle. Select the right hand vertical line to place the circle at the midpoint of the line. II'S . ~ " ....,.~O"' .. INIID'U ..t ... 4. Draw a smaller circle inside the first circle

• BACK-UP once, and enter a new radius of 1.5 • BACK-UP once and choose the DIVIDE option. inches. Select the left-most arc as the entity to trim, and the • Again use the CENTER option to position the upper and lower lines of the rectangle as the trim­ smaller circle at the center of the larger circle. Pick ming entities. the circle to indicate the position. • DIVIDE the right rectangle line as shown. • ESC and autoscale the display with ALT-A.

62 • KEY Solutions. February/March 1993 • ESC to the main menu and delete the remaining left lines using CTRL-Q. Use care to select near its center since overlap occurs in other regions.

FIG IlACM -ur Step 5 I'Ilt'"'- ''''''''llttOO $ , 1.2"1""" 8. Erase the reference point cont. GII,, :orr :;M/' :orr u[ltStL:orr L- nr[' 1 L- IiI D- 1 • ESC to the main menu. Pot, ! 08 :"'0 Choose DELETE, SELECT, WINDOW, ALL-IN and window around the point.

'" - e . Z3JO& Select c-Uly t o too; .

I S IItGU l atA ... l lll" DOW BACK-UP once and choose the First option. .~­

'. ''''''~ Select and trim the two horizontal lines to the , ..... "" left-most arch. Select each line in the region you want to keep.

5 <1 .21 1161 Step 8 GIIID :orr Sl'lAr :orr u[ItS[l :orr I CIt£llU L- TY7'[ ol l Ull 1 KtAIL iIC- mIII S TILlS b DISPUiIY 7COIn llOL 8 D[L[f[ 'JAPrllC )(P 1 .i1lHl't'J.",.._.,,-______-\ Y' - 8 .J7'.ti1 ChooR:opUIMI Step 5

S I.l H464 cont. 61111 :orf ~ : OFF UEIISD.:OfT FROM 2D TO 3D L- fYrr:_1 L- III. ; t "'"" ; flIP 1. Extrude the 20 geometry 1IH -•.....• JI8OOIlG fUlCY11I'I • Choose X-FORM, DELTA, JOIN, ALL DSP, ALL . Enter 1 copy. • Enter dXV=O, dVY=O, DZV=-2 (negative 2). The 6. Mirror the right side of the geometry geometry appears unchanged as we are in view 1, the top view. • ESC to the main menu. Choose • Pick VIEW in the status window and enter 7 to switch X-FORM, MIRROR, COPY. to the isometric view. • Choose the top-most arc to start the chain, and • Autoscale the display (ALT-A) and ESCAPE to the indicate a chaining direction by cursor, picking main menu. anywhere near the upper right corner of the screen. • Save using CTRL-F. Name the file CELL • End the chain by selecting the lower-most arc. Inspect the highlighted selection and press to accept the transformation. • Choose the 1 PT V mirror option. Make POINT the active menu option and select the point centered on the lower line. rtOMeILUP '"'''''''' Fino/3D Inspect carefully before continuing! IIlLr Mode/ Crl.M[ ~ 1 OW" Use the UNDO feature if needed. .... ",,","'''- ' --al'lSf :lI (D)U:W '''4I .99OCIe&

I ( JirAtr; Z ElII SlAntS 11111lI0II 1 DUAIL <___ I ) 1.- f'OMI 5 rilES lo11 . SPLAY 7 aJ1tlQl 8KLU[ ')""rliC

Step 6 5 " 1. 7.111b1 ~ : ~~~ vt:lsn. :orr L- ''''[I L WIlI ""N ·""., r.1 8 .J8OII08

FtlCtlll'l.."" Choose M I"IImJ OfO t iooo

7. Trim the left side of the geometry

• ESC and choose EDIT, TRMlEXT, FIRST • Trim the two horizontal lines by selecting the part you want to keep and trimming to the two large arcs.

Febru8ry1March 1993 • KEY SOIu1Ions '113 things, including used as a utility, an you will need while in MODEL LAYOUT organizer of drawing variations and mode. •••••• part modifications, a control for Associativity is our first tool here . Plot Organizer, Engineering drawing updates, and so forth. This What you change on the model is is where you can really apply your Tool and More also changed on the layout. This logic and creativity to meet your remains true for each of the 200 particular CADKEY needs. For layouts you can make. However, The LAYOUT feature in version example, your layouts are more what you change in the layout does 5.0 simply appears to provide a easily organized than the 3D model not affect the original model. Here's quick, visual method for assembling part file because LAYOUT allows up your first tool and safe haven. And, drawing files for final plotting. to 20 letters for the file name and a there are more "neato" tools. You can However, it is much more than that 42 letter description. easily (and wisely) make a copy of and generally under utilized. I your layout while in the LAYOUT hope the following gets you excited mode to protect your work. about LAYOUT's strengths and capabilities so you can integrate it Another related feature. On final layouts, you can make into your everyday CAD scenario I ' I further changes called as needed. Wo "modelizing". Each view called up First, here's an overview of the from the model and placed onto situation. CADKEY 5 has two your layout is called an instance. major modes in which you can Modelizing breaks the associativ­ work - MODEL and LAYOUT. ity between the model and that Previously, MODEL mode was particular instance. When one of used for designing and also for these instances is worked on in final output of hard copies. Now LAYOUT mode, it must first be LAYOUT provides an interactive A typica//ayout drawing. "modelized". Doing so locks the option for laying out, planning, particular view from being af­ arranging, compiling, and saving fected by any changes done if you In my world, the phrase "never the entire finished drawing from the go back to the model in MODEL means never" translates into the part file created in the MODEL mode. You don't have to be afraid to reality "nothing is final". Because mode. label what's been modelized or entities on the 3-D model remain All the views and entities in a changed in any mode or instance. LINKED between the two modes, LAYOUT drawing come from the 3D Take advantage of the SET model in your part file. They are strange and unique opportunities await. Any changes you make in the option in the LAYOUT mode. Among called up and can be placed inside a MODEL mode are reflected in the other things, it allows you to see preselected border in LAYOUT mode. changes made since the last drawing This new "layout" becomes the final LAYOUT mode. Conceptually, the "layouts" are like final hard copies, session. You will also be able to view drawing. In fact, from one 3D part the existing entities which remain as file, you can create up to 200 differ­ while the "model" is the computer's eye view of the 3D object. When instances. ent final drawings. using the two modes, planning ahead Do not overlook LAYOUT's LAYOUT can be many other helps. Be sure to create all the views ALIGN feature. It's an automatic

64 • KEY Solutions· February/March 1993 ACCORD Technology, Incorporated method for aligning the instances P.O. Baa 651l.eo, MA 01238 FAX 413-243-2708 (views) as they are placed on the THE 386 BLUES -Performance Products for Professionals- layout sheet. ALIGN lets you use a •••••• specific entity for the alignment 1-800-622-3373 In the land of massive amounts of reference. Thus, views can be PLOTTERS tiny data (bytes), we welcomed the aligned, for example, by the location ROlAND 386 chip. Now a river of new and DXY 1100/1200/1300 ..... • • . . ... $799/995/1350 of a center, corner, or other geomet­ CAMI! 1 VI.,t c.tt.r~ _ Pt\cit" •• ... • .•• CAI.I. bigger and faster chips floods our PIIC 1100 2." VI.,t c-~ ...... CAI.I. ric feature, a most valuable engi­ SK£TCHMAl[ ASIm CAI.I. dreams and workstations. In general, _/c.tt.r ...... neering feature. mIlA_Ie- ...... CAI.I. these hardware improvements are ENCAD SPI800 ~ 8 .... Sopor QuIet •• • ••• • ••• ••• 52499 great for CAD, but SP2800 AlE • .... • • ...... • .. S3079 Hoastoa lastruments not great for those DMP 160 _ II£W iii FAST • •• • • • • • • • ••• CAI.I. of us who had to Hewlett Paebr. DESIGNJET • • • • • • .Can Calco., DcsignNate A-D. SPea ••• $1992 upgrade rooms of lollae ••••••••••••••••••Call computers to run MuralSOOO AID.' Pea ••••••• $2195 Paclfk Dm ProTracer M lakJet 5Nb $1647 CADKEY 5 which DIGmZERS runs only on 386 CALCONP and later ma- 33120 Illl2 , 4 or 16 bill, Corded •••• •••• ••• S299 33360 24X36, 16 1IoItoft, """"'"'" • . • • • • • • • • . S1523 chines. (If you 13480 l6X48, 16 1IutIooI, c-...... SI670 need to run 33600 44X60, 16 IIutIooI, c-pidI ...... $1929 SUNNAGRAPHICS version 5 drawings 50_ IIllll2. 4 1IIII/S4J ...... S299 5o_lllllI2. 16 II1II • •.. • . • . •.•••• 5310 on pre-386 work­ __ U Illa, 411111/S4J .. 16 ...... 5595 stations loaded KURTA XlP Illl%, 4 ~ Sl'EaAl PIICEJI • • •• •••S245 with less than XlP III1" 41bVS1y, Sl'EaAl PIICEJI • • • • • ••$483 version 5, see Key IS/OIIE Ill12, 4 1IIII/SIr .. 12 II1II • • • • • . • • • • • .5345 ISIOIIE 12&17, 4 IIIIoISIr or 12... • . . • ...... 5579 Solutions, Dec XlC 24X36, 16 II1II ••.•••• •• • • ••••••.• $1379 Objects aligned via center top thru hole XlC l6X48, 16 II1II • ••• • .•.•. • • •• . • • •• $1499 '92.) HITACHI By the way, my __ 12X12, 4/12/16... • ..• ...... 5323 choice became a 386DX-33. That's a GRAPHICS CARDS Here are some miscellaneous DX meaning full 32 bit architecture NUNBER NINE things to know about how LAYOUT GXlIJeIIt t.w112O/21 • •• • .•••• • . . ...S658!S752 and a very quick 33 megahertz GXI ...... 23, 1280XI024, 16 Ch, n34020 CAD • •• • $1050 works: GXI ...... 25, l28OX1024, 256 Ch, n34020 CAD • •• $1350 processor, plus the needed math GXI ...... 29, T... CDIor, 128OXI024, 65K Colon •• •• SI668 * Entities can be masked by VERNONT NICROSYSTENS coprocessor chip. CADKEY 5 runs CollI'I DIt 16 • ...... • ...... •• $885 level. quite nicely on a 386, but do be certain Cobr. DIt s,.n...... $1140 Dimensions and cross-hatch­ HERCULES * to get 8 megs of RAM memory, and Grapllks SIoIIoo Cor. 1111/l. . . . . • • . . . • . $54l/682 ing will rotate. 256k of cache is also nice to consider. Groplolc_c.ow ...•... ••.•..••.• .. CAI.I. a.r-. .... 1'IocIood, 9 _I .. '" 40Mb . . . Fr_ $1187 * Pattern files retrieved will be RAM memory will be an increasing METHEUS 1224/1228 128OXI024 16/256 Colon ••. • . • $1100/1500 layout-specific. need in the future so be sure your 1104 -. Y(;A 0. _...... $125 Cross-hatch or mesh only machine is expandable to at least 32 Pr..... 53 1Mb, w/Aortopluo DIP •• . • • ••.. • ••. S306 * DIANOND between like entities, i.e. layout or megsofRAM. Speed SIor 2416 ...... _ ...... $229 instance specific. Stu... 1111 1280.. 024 • ...... $289 That a 486 will be my next ma­ VIDEO SEVEN ""',.....,. CAU chine is likely, but I'm still waiting for IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEMS Do imprint this into your human o..Mow 1024w/Soft£roglrot DIP • • • • • • . • • . • • .5354 ROM onboard memory! You must the chip wizards to do more real magic - 1280 w/Soft£"lll .. DIP •• •••••. • . • .• $995 always save the model, to save the on it. And, just around the corner is MONITORS new layouts before you exit the P5 (colloquially called the 586). I HITACHI CJI20851! 19" s-Sao + ••• ...... •.•• S1870 CADKEY. And if you wish to return never rush. I prefer to get what I need HM4320-21AP ""'- 21" Rot Sa_.28dp ...... 52359 specifically to either mode upon and need what I get. I wait for the MITSUBISHI 1II.6945ATlII9" Y(;A '" l28OX102...... • ... $1857 start up, exit in that mode. bugs to be removed and design 1II.6915S8K 20" DBf, ISM Y(;A '" 128OXI024 . . •... 52169 problems solved. And, I prefer to let TAXAN The BIG question! Should you 1N1000 20" Y(;A II 128OXI024, DBf, ISM ...... $1899 use the LAYOUT mode simply the software groups decide which way 1N115O 21" Rot Sa_ 16OOX12OO, DIIf, ISM .. ... 52459 they are going before I venture to NANAO because it's there? It's not required F550117" FIoba_ 1280.. 024 ...... Sl199 follow. T560I 17" F1o~ Trillllroo, 1210111024 .. .•••. $1895 and can be simpler at times to T660I 20" Tn.nro., 128Oxl024 ••• • • ...... • 52599 complete your drawing while in the Till next time! IDEK All MMek, Great Pridag • • • • (AU SONY MODEL mode. But, you should GDM 1936 20" T_ ...... 52499 consider what demands will be New ProductsU placed on the 3-D model. LAYOUT CIutM ~ NuIII-/IIodI.1OI •••••••••• •• •••• CAI.I. UIIAX s-n 1200/600 DPI ••• •••.. • •• • •• CAI.I. will give you much greater overall PRICfS SU8JECT TO OWIGE WITHOUT NOTICE dexterity later, if needed. MASTER CARD & VISA Accepted

CIRCLE CARD 203

February/March 1993 • KEY Solutions' 65

LOFTED SURFACE

LINE / ARC GEOMETRY TO The foUowing is a key stroke by key stroke BE PROJECT ONTO listing of all the steps needed to create the SURFACE part in this article using CAD KEY and FastSURF. To clarify the meaning of the following instructions, the word "choose" means to pick a menu option, and the word "select" means to pick geometry on the screen. CHAIN SPLINE PROJECTION DIRECTION SEGMENTS INTO 1. In CADKE¥, choose - EDIT: BREAK: POSITION : VECTOR CENTER : select each labeled line and its mid point.

2. In FastSURF, choose - PROjECT : SURFACE : SKEWED : enter 0.0 as the offset value : choose "VECTOR "for the method for defining the projection direction: select the vector: select the surface: select all the curves to project.

3. In FastSURF, choose - CREA TE : SPLINE: CHAIN: choose either BREAK LINES AT THEIR SINGLE or CHAIN for the selection method: and then select the spline MID POINTS BEFORE segments to be joined into one single spline. Be sure to start the spline PROJECTING chaining at the position that corresponds to the mid point on the profile geometry.

------\

4. In FastSURF, create the two surface vectors - \ VECTOR ROTATED DISPLA Y: GRIDS: choose "NORMAL" and "CROSS" 45 DEG. TO THE--­ .300 LONG LINE vectors from the selection list and "POINTS" as the NORMAL \ BUILT FROM THE "SPACING METHOD": select the surface: then select the VECTOR end point of the inner spline.

5. Rotate the surface normal vector away from the cross vector by -45 deg. - CREA TE: VECTOR: ROTATE: select \ the normal vector, then the cross vector, and enter a -45 \ deg. \

6. Turn the vector into a line - CREATE: VECTOR: VR2LN (vector to line) : select the vector. INNER SPLINE 7. In CADKEY, trim this line into a .300 long segment. I END POINT NORMAL AND I The above technique is the classic method used to create CROSS VECTORS:i""----....::::=--- a line or vector at a given angle to a surface.

T he next step is to build a swept surface which is everywhere 45 deg. to the outer control surface. SWEPT \ SURFACE 8. In FastSURF - CREATE : SURFACE : SWEPT : choose 1 GENERA TOR and 1 DIRECTOR with a "NORMAL TO SURFACE" "ORIENTATION" method. Select the director curve and its end CONTROL ~ "\ point; select the generator curve and its end SURFACE point; then select the outer surface for the "normal to surface" control.

DIRECTOR Normal to surface sweep is a powerful method CURVE ofadding a little more control during the swept surface process. Many times the control surface is constructed just to support the swept surface process, and can be discarded after the swept surface is built. LOCATION OF END POINT FOR THE GENERATOR AND I DIRECTOR CURVES ~ Paid Advertisement Next, we will build a tangent fillet surface between the floor of the part and the 45 deg. side wall. The floor is just an offset of the outer SOMETIMES IT IS lofted surface. NECESSARY TO DISPLAY SEVERAL NORMAL VECTORS 9. In FastSURF, choose - CREATE: SURFACE : ON A SURFACE IN OFFSET.' select the surface to offset, then enter the offset value. ORDER TO VISUALIZE THEIR It is time to examine the sense of direction for each of the surfaces on the part. The normal DIRECTION . vector ofa surface points toward the positive side of that surface. It is important to know which side is positive for a surface before performing a surface to sUrface intersection with an offset value because "+" or "-" offsets are allowed.

10. In FastSURF, choose - DISPLAY: NORMAL: then select the surface.

J - or- ~ EDIT: SURFACE : INVERT: select the surface.' then toggle the displayed normal vector as needed.

11 . Another way to display surface normal vectors is - DISPLA Y : GRIDS: choose "NORMAL" from the selection list : choose "UV grid" as the spacing method: enter 2 X 2 for the U & V density : then select the sUrface.

The fillet surface routine in FastSURF needs a "spine" curve supplied by the user to help position the fillet surface on the correct side of the ~--i1==H~'7-_ INTERSECT THESE two tangent sUrfaces. This "spine" curve is most easily modeled using the surface to intersect TWO SURFACES. function; although it can be modeled by a variety ofother techniques. The "spine" curve only needs to be "near" the center of the fillet surface to be built.

12. INTERSECT: SURF x SURF: enter the offset RESULTING INTERSECTION CURVE values for each surface: then select the two surfaces WILL BE USED AS THE "SPINE " to intersect. CURVE FOR THEJANGENT FILLET SURFACE ROUTINE.

13. CREATE: SURFACE: FILLET: enter the fillet radius: select the two tangent surfaces: then select the "spine" curve.

M any time~ it is desirable to trim a surface back THE FLOOR AND to new boundaries. In this example, both the floor WALL SURFACES and wall surfaces need to be trimmed back to the edge of the tangent fillet surface. There are many ARE USED TO techniques for trimming surfaces. Sometimes it is CREATE THE appropriate to use FastSURF's "TRIMMED" surface TANGENT FILLET routine, and other times it's better to rebuild a grid SURFACE of curves within the new boundaries of the trimmed region and use the "GENCURV" routine to reconstruCt the trimmed surface.

Paid Advertisement FLOOR SURFACE ~ ~

' --f-- \ 14. To trim the floor, extract the U-spline from the tangent fillet surface that lies on the floor and encircles \ the region of the trim. DISPLAY: GRIDS : choose U-spline \----- " : at points : select the fillet sUrface: then select the end BREAK THIS point of the inner spline of the fillet sUrface.

BOUNDARY 15. Break this boundary spline into four equal pieces. In USE THE MID CADKEY - EDIT: BREAK: POSITION: select the spline: CURVE INTO POINTS AT and cursor select a screen position near the mid point of EACH each corner. 4 PIECES CORNER AS THE BREAK 16. The geometry is ready to perform the trim - CREATE : POSITION SURFACE: TRIMMED : 4 CURVE: select the floor surface : then select the four trim curves.

I A TECHNICAL NOTE - The splines that make up the display of a FastSURF surface have a CDE flag set that suser from performing a trim or break on them using } CADKEY. If you need to break a surface boundary curve, ....--- then you need to duplicate it using "DISPLAY: Grids" . Splines produced this way have no CDE flags sey limiting their use.

17. The 45 deg. beveled sUrface also needs to be trimmed back to the tangent fillet surface. Careful attention needs to be paid to the curves that reconstruct this surface. The strategy will be to extract the fillet boundary OUTER SPLINE IS FROM THE EDGE OF THE spline on the beveled surface plus the outer boundary spline of the beveled surface by BEVELED SURFACE using DISPLA Y : GRIDS.

18. By displaying the node points on the inner spline and creating tangent vectors opposite those points on the outer spline, a new spline representing the outer boundary can be rebuilt. In CADKEY - CREATE: POINTS : ON SPLINE : select the inner spline. In FastSURF - CREATE: VECTOR: TANGENT: AT EXISTING POINTS: select the outer spline: then individually select the node points on the inner spline. INNER SPLINE IS 19. Using these newly created vectors, create FROM THE EDGE OF THE a spline - in FastSURF - CREATE: SPLINE: FILLET. SURFACE POINT- VECTOR: alternatingly choose the word "TANGENT"from the menu, and select the sequence of vectors in order. 20. Rebuild the beveled surface - CREATE: SURFACE: GENCURV: seLect the inner spline and the newly created outer spline.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT IS A FULLY SURFACED PART THAT CAN BE 21. The Last surface to build is the outer flange around INTEGRATED INTO A VARIETY OF OTHER APPLICATIONS LIKE : IGES. this part. It will be a 3 curve trimmed sUrface taken SLA. SHADING AND RENDERING. CAM. CMM. AND MORE . from the original lofted sUrface. It is Left as an exercise to figure out how to do this.

6 S. Washington Suite 14, Sonora, CA 95370 PH: (209) 536-0591 Fax: 536-0592 BBS: -0593

CIRCLE CARD 207 Paid Advertisement CADLTOOLBOX PenMap.cdp

CADL can be used to query and manipulate the CADL file. Place this file in the current CADL directory CADKEY data base. Geometry can be added or deleted, (CDL is the default) and execute the program by choosing and all data associated with CADKEY entities can be FILES, CADL, BINEXEC and entering the name of this accessed. Attributes such as color, line type, pen number, file. For faster access, this command sequence can be etc. can be identified and changed as needed. This issue's stored as a macro and bound to a key or added to the CADL TOOLBOX deals with this type of data base CADKEY menu structure. manipulation. by Craig Storms, Applications Training Manager, Cadkey, Inc. In particular, it focuses on a task most important to most users - plotting. And for many the pen number r Variable declarations ., attribute is of key interest, yet one which remains hidden local winxl , winx2, winyl , winy2, $strl , $str2 in the data base. Color, line type, line weight, and level int idnum, map mode, pnum, peolor, newpen, curcol, \ attributes all reveal themselves clearly on-screen, but the selnum, allents, enttype, totents, nument, i array pentotal[8] = {O, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, O} pen number remains unseen. Exactly what pen numbers array 0Idisp[16] are assigned to what entities? The CONTROL VERIFY newpen=1 ATTRIB function allows individual entity pen numbers to peolor=1 be verified, but this is tedious if many entities are of :start interest. getmenu "Select Pen Map Option", \ "MAP PEN", "MAP COL", "RE PORT', "HELP"""" 1 PenMap.cdp is a program providing quick and clean switch {@key} data base management, with a focus on pen number that { can easily be extended to any entity attributes. The case -3 goto end program is a good example of data base access and case -2 attribute manipulation. goto end case 1 PenMap.cdp is an entity management utility. It acts on mapmode=1 all currently displayed entities or on the entire data base, break allowing the user to generate a pen# report, assign pen# case 2 mapmode=-1 by indicating screen colors, or create an on-screen view of break plotting results by changing all colors to match pen# case 3 values. mapmode=O break Menu options include: case 4 dosub pen help MAP PEN: Changes entity colors to match the entity goto start pen number. This option is useful as a quick viewing default goto start utility for displaying on-screen how a drawing will } plot. :entopt MAP COL: Allows the user to choose a color and getmenu "Choose Entity Selection Option", \ assign a pen number to all entities of that color. "ALL DISP", "ALL ENTS"" """ 2 switch (@ key) REPORT: Gathers all pen number data and creates { case -3 a report on-screen. The user can place this report in goto end the drawing, if desired. case -2 goto start HELP: Executes a simple text-only help screen. This case 2 is coded as a subroutine (PenHelp.cdp) and requires allents=1 that the separate file be present to compile properly. break default Once a PenMap option is selected, a second menu alients=O break appears with the options: }

ALL DISP: Selects all entities currently displayed. r if all entities to be checked save window coords and This is similar to the ALL DSP option found in o level mask, turn on all levels, get ents on all levels ·f CADKEY's selection menu. if (allents) { ALL ENTS: Selects all entities in the database r grab original window setting for primary viewport ·, winxl =@ xmin which may be plotted from the current view. This winx2=@ xmax includes entities beyond the screen limits and those winyl=@ymin on hidden levels. winy2=@ymax r grab original levels display mask ·f A single subroutine is used for the HELP option. To for (i=0;i<16;i=i+ 1) compile this code place the files PenMap.cdp and oldisp[i]= @levels[i] r turn on all levels, autoscale behind scenes, getall Of PenHelp.cdp in a directory with the CADKEY ccomp files levels 1, 1, 256 (ccomp.exe, ccomp1.exe, ccomp.txt) and type: set masklevel, 0 auto -1 CCOMP PENMAP } This creates the file PENMAP.CDX, a binary executable

70' KEY Solutions' FebruarylMarch 1993 r skip mapping options if REPORT or MAP COL selected ' I if ((mapmode==O)II(mapmode==-I)) goto search DB if (mapmode==I) goto start :getmap getcolor "Select color to be mapped to a new pen number", \ if (mapmode==O) peolor, l { if (@key==-3) prompt "Summary of Pen Number Data" goto end $str2 = "PEN NUMBER SUMMARY \n" if (@key==-2) for (i=O;kB;i=i+ 1) gotoentopt { :getpen sprint $strl , "Pen #%d: %d entites \n", \ getint "Enter new pen number for mapping (%d)", \ i+ 1 , pentotal[i] newpen, newpen call strcat, $str2, $strl if (@key==-3) } goto end cis if (@key==-2) mode draw gotogetmap note (@xmin+( @xmax- @xmin)/6) , (@ymax- (@ymax- @ymin)/6), \ if ((newpen <= 0) II (newpen >= 9)) $str2, 0, (@xmax-@ xmin)/24 , O.B, , , , 1 { mode normal pause "ERROR: Pen Number Range is I-B. Press " getmenu "Place note in drawing? (NO)", "YES", "NO" newpen=1 switch (@key) goto getpen { } case -3 goto end :searchDB case -2 if (mapmode==O) goto entopt prompt "Extracting Pen Number Data .. . please wait" case 1 else break if (mapmode==I) default prompt "Mapping color# %d to pen# %d ... please wait", \ goto end peolor, newpen } else } prompt "Mapping pen# to color# . . please wait" else goto end r use getali and process each entity in selection list ' I clearsel 1 redraw getali nument getpos "Indicate SUMMARY note postition", 1 defa"r color, pen if (@key==-3) while (nument > 0) goto end { if (@ key==-2) getnext en"ype, , idnum goto entopt r 2 cases: pen# in INTDAT or detail types in ENTATT ' I note @xview, @yview, $str2, 0, (@xmax- @xmin)/36, 0.B " " 1 if (@numint < 3) pnum=@entatl[3] :end else clear oldisp, pentotal, idnum, mapmode, pnum, peolor, newpen, curcol, \ pnum=@intdat[6] selnum, alients, enttype, totents, nument, i if (mapmode==O) clearselO pentotal[pnum-l ]=pentotal[pnum-l]+ 1 else if (mapmode==-I) { r auto color: set color to match the pen number ' I r penhelp is a subroutine called by penmap.cdp -I setatlr idnum, (pnum), mode draw if (alients==O) cis drawent idnum, 0, -1 note (@xmin+( @xmax-@xmin)/ll), \ } (@ymax-( @ymax-@ymin)/ll),\ else "PenMap is an entity management utility. It acts on all currently displayed if (mapmode==I) entities or on the entire data base. { PenMap offers 3 menu options: r map pen: if color = peolor, change pen# ' I if (@numint < 3) MAP PEN: Allows the user to choose a color and map new pen numbers curcol=@entatl[l] to all entities 01 that color. else MAP COL: Changes entity colors to match the entity pen number. This curcol= @intdat[3] option is useful as a quick viewing utiltiy for displaying on-screen how a drawing if (curcol==peolor) will plot. REPORT: Gathers all pen number data and creates a report on-screen. setatlr idnum, , newpen The user can place this report in the drawing, if desired," , \ } nument = nument - 1 0, (@xmax- @xmin)/4B , O.B"" 1 } mode normal pause "Pen Map Help ... press to continue" r if ali ents processed reset system °1 redraw if (alients) { set level mask, oldisp window winxl , winyl , winx2, winy2 C1DL Plug: Look for the /lew guide to Cadkey CtHtol1li~atio/l due redraw-l Ollt ill March: Exploring Cadke~ 's Open Architecture.

February/March 1993 • KEY Solutions' 71 CATEGORY COPES;

A ADD-ONS/ ACCELERATOR BOARDS I INPUT DEVICES Q SALES/SERVICES C COMPUTERS M MONITORS SC SCANNERS CN CONSULTANTS N NETWORKS S SERVICE BUREAUS E EDUCATION / PUBLICATIONS o OFFICE SUPPLIES/ FURNITURE SW SOFTWARE G GRAPHICS BOARDS P PRINTERS/ PLOTIERS SA SOFTWARE : AEC / CIVIL/STRUCTURAL SM SOFTWARE : ME/ CAM/ CiM

PG.# COMPANY CATEGORY R5#

75 ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES P,Q,S,SC,SW 219 65 ACCORD TECHNOLOGY,INC. C ,G ,I,M,N.P 203 74 ARBOR IMAGE CORP. SW 220 48 ARC DRAFT AMERICA SW 245 61 AUTO-DRAFT C 261 35 BAYSTATE TECHNOLOGIES/DRAFT-PAK SW,SM 246 50 BAYSTATE TECHNOLOGIES/BILL OF MATERIAL SW,SM 247 74 BAYSTATE TECHNOLOGIES/DRAFT-PAK SW,SM 248 8,9 CADKEY 6 C ,E,Q ,S,SW 202 51 CADKEY CUnlNG EDGE C,E ,Q,S,SW 254 60 CADPRO CHICAGO,lNC. SW 224 57 CADTECH SYSTEMS SW 249 58 CAD WAREHOUSE M'p,G ,1 243 2 CALCOMP I 45 COMPUTER AIDED TECHNOLOGY,INC. Q,SM 236 74 DIGITAL RESOURCES ,INC. I,P 223 23 FAR MOUNTAIN CORP. P 238 29 FARO TECHNOLOGIES ,INC. I 208 66-69 FASTSURF SM 207 40 HANSEN DESIGN CO. SM 228 52 HLB TECHNOLOGY,INC . I,SW 205 53 HLB TECHNOLOGY,INC . I,SW 250 47 INFORMATION TECH . INn. CORP. SW 257 55 INFORMATIVE GRAPHICS SW 263 75 INNOVATIVE DESIGN CONSULTANTS CN,I 237 43 INSET SYSTEMS SW 258 BC JDL/FEDERAL AGENCY OR DOD AFFILIATED P 251 BC JDL/DEALER INQUIRIES P 252 BC JDL/ ALL OTHER INQUIRIES P 253 IFC KURTA I 239 5 LUNAR GRAPHICS,INC. SW,SASM 235 75 MECHTECH SOLUTIONS,INC. CN,S,SM 221 73 OPUS SYSTEMS A 259 75 PARADESIGN SM 242 74 PARAGRAPHICS PUBLISHING ,INC. SW ,SM 241 54 PIXSYS I 260 75 POOLED DESIGN QUORUM SW,SM ,Q 229 23 PROHANCE TECHNOLOGIES,INC . I, SW 206 37 QUALITY CAD I 209 74 SOFTWARE VENTURES ,INC. SW 226 76 STRUCTURAL RESEARCH & ANALYSIS CORP. SA ,SM 244 24,25 SUN MICROSYSTEMS C 204 77 SURFWARE ,INC . I 233 74 TECHNICAL & SCIENTIFIC APPLICATION,INC. A,C,M,P,Q 227 49 TMS PLonER SPECIALIST P 215 74 MACMILLAN PUBLISHING CO. E 255 19 XI COMPUTER C 256 57 ZETA GRAPHICS P 262

72· KEY Solutlona. FebruarylMarch '.3 CADKEY USER GROUP NEWS Why User Groups? CHANGE S ATTENTION, CADKEY user groups are a great Ma ryland -D.C. - Virginia PLEASE! way to meet other CADKEY users The Che!)apeake Bay CAD KEY and swap CADKEY tips, hints, and Users' Group in the Greater Balti­ applications. Ask your CADKEY more and Washington D.C. area will All hardware and soft- dealer for information on user groups meet quarterly at the Maritime in your area. Institute of Technology Graduate ware prices mentioned News and announcements about Studies Conference Center, 5700 CADKEY User Groups in the U.S. Hammonds Ferry Rd., Linthicum in this issue of Key Solu­ and Canada will be published in Heights, MD. For technical informa­ every issue of Key Solutions. tion contact Tom Warner 410/879- tions are applicable to Re gister as a CADKEY U ser 6010 ext. 271. For reservations contact Phyllis Schuman 410/823- As a registered CADKEY user, the U.S. only. Prices out­ 5007. you'll receive information on CADKEY products and upgrades, as Montreal Quebec Cana da side the continental well as Key Solutions. Key Solutions L'Association des Utilisateurs de features in-depth articles about CADKEY meets every six weeks in United States will vary CADKEY including user stories, the greater Montreal area at 170, tutorials, tips and tricks, and User Montee de Liesse, Ville Saint­ depending on import Group News. Laurent, Quebec H4T IN6. For New User Group information contact Manon Dube at PUCE PLUS, 884, Rue A Fauteux, taxes, customs duties, Northern L.A County, Santa Bar­ Boucherville, Quebec, J4B 6V7, or by bara, Ventura--Ventura County CAD/ phone at 514/449-1755. handling, etc. Be sure to CAM Users Meeting (VCCUM) Contact Brian Gillespie at CAD/CAM Please send 01/ material to: call the vendor for infor- AM. Systems, 2580 Azurite Circle, User Group Editor - Key Solutions, Newbury Park, CA 91320. Ph: 805/ P.o. Box 11978, motion. 498-0141 Fx: 805/499-7345. Spokane, WA 99211-1978. ami iar1

Some fo lks say/ 'lf you need Unix®fo r your CAD SPARCard even shares your PC's monitor, keyboard and operations, throw out your PC and get a workstation." mouse! We think that's a pretty foolish notion. Especially if CALL OR FAX US TODAY if you want Unix and you you've made a sizeable investment in your PC ,..------, don't want to throw out your Pc. Just dial system. And you need DOS programs like A $1,250 Savings 408 0562-9340, and ask for ext. 349, or fax us Time Line®a nd Microsoft®Word ®. until April 30, 1993! at 408 0562-9341. 2D/3D graphics accelerator Instead, plug in a SP ARCard'" board and get board for your the performance of a SP ARCstation®2 work­ SPARCard/PC system. station in your Pc. With SP ARCard, your PC OPUS becomes a bilingual DOS-Unix system. Call/fax for details. SYST EM S 3000 Coronado Drive SPARCard is liccnSC'd exclusively to Opus Systems and is a trademark ofSPARC In ternational. Santa Clara, CA 95054-3203 SPARCsiaiion is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystcms, Inc. Microsoft a nd Word .ue registcr<.'CI trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Unix is a registered trademark of Unix Systems Laboratories. Time Line is a registered tr.1demark of Symantec Corporation.

CIRCLE CARD 159

February/March 1993' KEY Solutions' 73 SOLUTION _...... CONVERT NEW YOUR CAD KEY Overlay DRAWINGS with Ed iti n9

Now there's a way to get paper ~ ToCAD drawings into CADKEY- fast. Overlay and Draftsman allow Draftsman CADD operators to view, trace, rubout, crop and merge existing Raster-To-Vector paper drawings into CAD KEY part files. SIGNIFICANT Conversion That Works! UPGRADE -Compatible with all CAD programs Only $195 -Produces lines, arcs and circles ,."

-Handles PCX and RLC files With the release of 6.0/ CAD KEY provides more CAD power than ever before. Maximize thai power with -Converts accurately DRAFT-PAK--the complete productivity enhancement -Cost effective companion for CADKEY thai has more than five times the features of any other CAD KEY productivity pad

• Browse our Electronic Catalog ... select & order your custom library right on your PC! AUTHORIZED PLOTIER UQUIDA11CJ4S • Over 6,000 symbols for mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical design. ELECTROSTATIC· LASER - THERMAL • Drafting aids, fluid diagrams, process INKJET - PENCIL - PEN CADKEY Light: flow, fasteners & HVAC • Metric & standard/ANSI, DIN & ISO Licensed SCANNERS A Handbook to ALSO Clifford E. Horton, University of Colorado. • Developed & maintained by our Colorado Springs professional engineers to ensure Export GUARANTEE symbol quality. ~e.;t. This book gives clear and complete • Available In leading PC-CAD formats, descriptions of all Cadkey Light 1.5 • CALL FOR STOCK. plus DXF & IGES. and Cadkey Light 4.0 commands. It's Call or fax for your SAVE - 30% - 50% • 70% - & MORE alphabetical arrangement of topics FREE ELECTRONIC ~ ZETA ~ (4lJ ~!~KC:;~ leads you quickly to the instructions IAITEISRAPHICS ~ MLJTOH you need. For more information con­ CATALOG now! tact either your local Macmillan repre­ ~~ ~ sentative or Charl es R. Healy, Market­ 800-397-7119 y~TEC o NUMONICS ing Manager. FAX 203-667-2323 !!!B !i~t~ Macmillan Publishing Company ~Ca/Comp 866 3rd A venue ParaGraphics Publishing, Inc. ~<.-,_ dlglklll"uoul"OallIIa. e;,~ New York, NY 10022 Newington, CT 06111 ,. P.O. Box 23051. Portland, Oregon 97223 503·246·0202 ' FAX 503-625-0600 (2 12)702-903 1 t CIR CLE CAR D 241 CIRCLE CARD m 74. KEY SoIuII_ • "*'-J/IIIIrch 1_ POWER TOOLS WI> .f.rt ".,., Detailing is nearly as much fun 11 as havmg a root canal.. .. nearly. BUNDLE REL 1.7 : You have too many things to do already. and better things to do By Paradesign I with your time. Wouldn 't you = rather just ... -Offset pat hs, arcs, splines, ellipses by TAKE Connand of CADKEY ® Draft/Depth w /move, copy, join options. LET GEORGE DO IT! -Extrude paths of lines and tangents arcs 'vi i th "MENU COMMANDER" w /fillets, draft, and wall thickness. and Feel the Power! -Fillet along a path of lines/tangent arcs. Increase Product i vi ty -Fillet/offset commands enhanced with • by as nuch as 200 I. dialog boxes, CDE power, and CADKEY® • Works with your standard digitizer . functional construction plane functionality. W ...... Ieo''''''''' I • User Definab le MACRO area . -- ..., demo disk -PATHCHANGE 2 .1 keeps track of 400 file Over 200 Pre-written MACROs paths and allows easy path changing. • and g Inned iate Mode Connands . • Macros are Color Grouped for faster Wildcard search and load options. , Creates 20 drawing from 30 wire frame models recognition and orientation. -User friendly installation. autoscales and puts views on user's own format Innovative Desi~n Consultants -Free Demo Diskette available. ' Fast! • Removes unnecessary entities 354 E. Broad St. , P.O. Box B78 , Removes redundant entities Trunbouersvi lie, Po . lB970 (215 ) 538-9513 • Adds horizon and center lines , Trims overlapping entities CIRCLE CARD 2ZO , Generates Bill of Material , Generates speadsheet version of parts list • Example formats included to get you started , Handles large files , Now includes FREE sectioning software , Built·in text editor Special Introductory offer $199.95 • Built·in drawing note system plus free support and upgrades for 1 year. , For CA DKEY versions 2.0 to 5.02+ That's a savings of $94.951 Expires on April 15, 1993. NEWLOWPRICEI $295.00 Call your CADKEY/Paradesign Dealer or POOLED DESIGN QUORUM Paradesign 2608 DEAN DRIVE VVILMINGTON. DE 19808 at (619) 484-8386 FAXNoice PHONE/FAX (302) 998-1716 CIRCLE CARD 242 CIRCLE CAIID 2Z9 Fast Conversion! Paper To CAD. MICRO-MECH™ Mechanism Design On Your PC A smart • Modeling choice for ACCESS • Analysis • Documents effective, 'A Thru J Size Document Scanning . .CAD economical Interface .Over 30 Industry Standard File Formats Supported . advertiSing! Improve quality of mechanian dCligo.. with mUYli. on your pc. Kinematic, force, dynamic IUId IOlcnnce anal)'l" 'GTX 5000 (Expert Series) with animation can m ow the best direction for your desian. Bi-directional interlace to CADKIlY CIllUreI use of Autovectorization Processing . geometry plul a ..embly infonnation. '(ADD Perfect 20 &. 3D Drafting. ~~~31~~JeER~~~~~V!.IE~~~ 631 Harriet Ave. MechTech Shorevi_. MN 55126 • 24 Hr. Bulletin Board Service (BBS) 612-483-0649 I Solutions Inc. FAX: 612-483-347e BBS 414-797-8984 CIRCLE CARD ZZ1 414-797-9189 Brookfield, WisconSin

CIRCLE CARD ~1' Because You Need to

Analyze Complex Designs • • •

Let's get serious. The parts which you design are not normally 2 dimensional or axisymmetric. So why simplify the model when COSMOSIM can make it easy for you to conduct 3D analyses fast on your real model, on the PC or workstation? If you still haven't looked into it, here are three compelling reasons why you should.

CADKEyrMCompatibility Engineers from around the world have taken advantage of the combined power of CADKEY and COSMOSIM to create more reliable designs in less time. Since COSMOSIM is so easy to use, transferring your CADKEY model is a cinch. And don't worry - the translation process is so simple that it minimizes the introduction of human errors. Also, COSMOSIM's powerful pre- and postprocessor will allow you to modify your model for further analysis without having to return The model is meshed using state of the art to CADKEY. With COSMOSIM, you inherently simplify the design technology such as automatic meshing. The process. model is now ready to be submitted for analysis. 3D Automatic Meshing Obtaining an optimum mesh manually for complex designs is slow, hard work. So let COSMOSIM do it for you! With a single command, the system places the nodes, creates the elements and generates the mesh. This is even easier, and simpler than the boundary element method. Also, COSMOSIM's adaptive H- and P-Methods iteratively solve the problem within specified error limits so you know the accuracy of your solution. Need to take a closer look with COSMOSIM? You can refine the mesh for a critical area without remeshing the entire model, so you save time and increase accuracy.

Extensive Analysis Capabilities To ensure that you can fully analyze your models, COSMOSIM offers a wide array of 2- and 3D analysis capabilities: • Linear & Nonlinear Statics • Linear & Nonlinear Dynamics Detailed results can be viewed to gain • Fluid Flow • Linear & Nonlinear Heat Transfer additional insight into the behavior of the • Shape Optimization • Fatigue model. Additional changes to the model can • Electromagnetics • Advanced Dynamics then be directly made in COSMOS / M and ( Modal time history, response spectra, random the analysis can be repeated effortlessly. vibration and steady state analyses) But don't take our word for it. Call us and we will send you a FREE 50-node version of COSMOSIM to test on your own models. So ... do 2951 28th Street, Suite 1000 Santa Monica, CA 90405 USA you still think that 2D analysis is all you need when you can have so Tel 310-452-2158 much more? Fax 310-399-6421 COSMOSIM is a registered trademark of Structural Research. All other products or service names mentioned herein STRUCTURAL RESEARCH are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. • ANALYS IS CO t'OIATlON CIRa..E CARD 244 Powerful CAM software for CADKEY users

SURFCAM' s menu structure and view numbers are similar to CADKEY's for a clean and con­ sistent interface.

SURFCAM includes bi-directional CADL support for seamless data translation between CAD KEY and SURFCAM, including 2D & 3D geometry and NC toolpaths.

SURFCAM translates CADKEY's Bezier Surfaces from the Super Patch format into SURFCAM Bezier surfaces. (SURFCAM supports highest degree Bezier surfaces.)

SURFCAM out-performs most high­ end workstation systems in speed and features, yet has been judged the easiest-to-learn all-around CNC machining system.

SURFCAM's NURBS features: a) One-step, gouge-free surface cutting of hundreds of trimmed surfaces, b) Contain cutter paths SURFCAM's Surfaces within boundary splines to allow gouge-free cutting to adjacent Proven over 5 years. surfaces, c) Import IGES trimmed NURBS surfaces. o Easy! Learn to construct & cut surfaces the first day SURFCAM creates true surface o 3D surface design, modeling and machining models and optimized tool paths with gouge avoidance for 2 axis o Powerful 2 axis, 3 axis, 4 axis and 5 axis systems through 5 axis CNC mills, lasers, waterjets, routers, o Workstation speed & power at PC prices digitizers, CMMs. Includes o Call 1-800-488-3615 for demo disks, $15 VISA support for simultaneous 4 and 5 axis machining. Dealer Inquiries Welcome SURFCAM 32-bit DOS and 32-bit Windows versions require a SURFWAREINCORPORATED 386/486 PC computer with 4 MB 421 Park Ave., San Fernando CA 91340 memory. (818) 361-5605 Fax (818) 361-1919 CIRCLE CARD 233 Plot Label Cut Stack In about 2 minutes. For very little money.

Simplified plotter configuration with HP-GL and HP-Gl/2 ]DI's ExpressPanel II screen-based compatible, plus software control panel - over a ]DIPlot™ network or from a single workstation

Plots on film, vellum, Vector and and a variety raster replot ofpapers - all for fast at the same multiple-copy fast speed production

Patented* Plot Versatile image Stacking System control features for for automated both vector and plot delivery - raster plotting up to 70 E-size plots cut, stacked, and labeled with Hybrid plotting the date, time, for raster editing and your own applications 16character userID

Less tban I1j2 minutes for E-size plot output networks

For fastest response: Call 800-899-8709 speed plot output times combine to boost FAX 805-389-6993 your productivity so you have more time for Ire" me-;". ,bout the ExpressPlotter I il your design work. I Name I And when it comes to versalility, the I Company I ExpressPlotter II offers powerful image control I Address I features such as auto rotation, nesting, center­ Ic~ I ing, mirror and inverse image, plus hybrid I I plotting of composite vector/raster drawin~. I State/ZIP I So, if you're looking for a workhorse plotter at a down-to-earth price, call or FAX today­ I FAA----_____Phone ~ I before you waste anymore time on non­ I 4770 Calle Quetzal productive plotting. L:a~/~~~ _~~!!"'~!.J 1-4'V'n~ U.n.+t·~ IT - the 'lbtaJ Plot

Plot Management System and JDLPIot are trademarIcs of Japan DigitailaboralOry Co. , lid - ...... o..t .. """""'~ of tbeir mpectIve companies.

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