In the past five years, CAD applications have undergone a significant amount of change. We’ve seen the advent of Direct Modeling. The use of 2D for design has seen some serious advancements. Interoperability seems to be improving, even if incrementally. And after getting all the attention for many years, CAD seemed to have gain the …
Siemens PLM Teamcenter: Separating Platforms and Apps Read More »
Who doesn’t like a little debate? For some, I know, it’s uncomfortable. But honestly, it’s a good thing. It let’s you refine your logic, clarify your position and point out misinterpretations. Furthermore, it’s fun! Really, a little tête-à-tête keeps you sharp. With all that in mind, I owe a thanks to Oleg Shilovitsky, because yesterday, he …
Granularity and Integration Aren’t Diametrically Opposed Read More »
I have a confession. Something’s been bothering me. Amidst all of the talk about the Internet of Things, it doesn’t seem to get much airplay. I’ve asked providers of software for engineering about it several times, but it gets roundly put aside and ignored. Few seem to care. But for me, I just can’t reconcile …
No More Excuses: It’s Time to Merge MCAD and ECAD Read More »
“By the time someone starts creating a 3D model, all the major design decisions have been made.” I distinctly remember when that statement was uttered. It occurred on a live webinar some two years ago in a debate between many different software providers. Interestingly enough, it was actually blurted out by a Vice President of …
The landscape of CAD application providers, like many tech areas today, is prone to big changes. This is the third in a series of posts where I’ll be providing my perspective on the state of things with respect to CAD. Strap in and read on. So far, we’ve looked at the Stalwart and Interloper CAD …
Did you hear? The world is about to change. A new technological wave is coming that will forever change products. And along with that, organizations will need to change how they design and develop those products. Wait. What do did you say? No really. You sighed and groaned, “…again?” OK. You have a point. It …
Mechanical Engineering in the Internet of Things Era Read More »
Back and the beginning of May, when ANSYS announced their intent to acquire Spaceclaim, pundits and analysts responded with a range of reactions. Some cheered, saying such a combination of geometry manipulation and depth of simulation technology was a breakthrough. Others groaned, saying Spaceclaim’s impact on true design would be undercut. And while I posted by own initial questions, I saw some real potential to solve a longstanding problem.
When it comes to design reuse, we’ve had such grand plans. There’s always been a need. It might vary by industry, but designers and engineers rarely start a new design from a clean sheet. Why would they? Most product improvements are incremental and evolutionary, not revolutionary. The best way to meet short deadlines is to …
Back in February 2011, I let loose. In a post titled Every Engineer’s Dirty Little Secret? The Stigma of 2D, I lambasted an overarching message in the industry that derided the use of 2D tools as an archaic and laggard practice. I argued that 2D tools offer a legitimate means of designing products. I’ll admit it… that post was cathartic.