November 2005

By DE Editors

Editor's Pick of the Week—November 30, 2005

‹‹ Plot displaying the performance of five equalizers. Using thedistributed computing products, this MATLAB application was dividedinto several tasks, each of which performs the same calculation fordifferent signal-to-noise ratios, and is executed on a remote cluster. 

›› Processing 30 GB of geospatial information across the US with a clusterof four 2.8 GHz Pentium IV machines, achieves an almost linear speedup. 

 

Editor's Pick of the Week—November 9, 2005

Provides Efficient Path Between OEMs and Job Shops, Designers, and Manufacturers

Late in October, Kubotek USA (Marlborough, MA) announced KeyCreator 5,the newest version of its widely used design and manufacturingsolution. Version 5 attacks interoperability issues head-on, says thecompany. It adds that moldmakers and job shops in particular will finduncommon value in KeyCreator 5's new functionality for detecting andworking with specific patterns and features within a model and dumbimported files.
KeyCreator 5 is said to provide substantial new functionality thatbuilds on the company's use of geometry and intelligent freeformmodeling capabilities. This architecture lets you import, edit, andwork with non-native files easily. Version 5's new pattern and featurediscovery functionality, for example, lets you highlight, prune, andgraft distinct model elements, patterns, groups of features, and blendsquickly.

KeyCreator 5.0 Direct Feature Editing Toolbox holds the tools to editfeatures in dumb models directly. For example, its face selection,pattern, and feature discovery capabilities let you find, name, select,and work with any pattern or feature in a model, including blends,sheet metal bends, holes, pockets, bosses, and countersinks. Moldmakerscould, for example, use this functionality to speed the creationprocess by stripping away extraneous parts quickly.

The Toolbox's Prune capability enables you to create a tool solid fromselected sets of faces of an existing solid, and the Graft functionaids in dynamic orienting and positioning as well as uniting orsubtracting pruned tool solids.
KeyCreator blends surface, solid, and wireframe modeling, whichprovides you with flexible model modification and editingfunctionality. Miscellaneous features found in Version 5 includeuser-definable 3D dynamic environment map rendering, zebra lineanalysis, dynamic transparent cutting plane, user-definable backgroundimage support, and sheet-metal bending.

The KeyCreator product family includes multidimensional design anddrafting, NC programming, and the company's geometry-based foundationwith localized feature editing and deformation techniques. NorthAmerican pricing for KeyCreator 5 begins at $3495, including one yearof maintenance. Current maintenance-paying customers can download thenew version immediately.
Visit Kubotek by clicking here. To download an extensive list of major enhancements in KeyCreator5, click here.

Editor's Pick of the Week—November 2, 2005
 

New pricing for 3D motion controller could spur greater adoption of technology.

Late last week, 3Dconnexion (Los Gatos, CA) halved the price for theSpaceTraveler, its entry-level 3D motion controller. SpaceTraveler nowcosts $199. The company hopes that with the new entry-level price pointit can rapidly expand its user base beyond the 350,000 users its sayscurrently leverage its products for product design, modeling, and animation.

In a telephone discussion with DE, a company spokesperson cited twofactors that lead to the price reduction. First, he noted that3Dconnexion had come to recognize that a high price for anentry-level unit discouraged potential users from seriously considering giving 3Dmotion controllers a try. Consequently, the company started to experiment withdifferent pricing models, mostly in the form of trade show specials.After running several pricing tests, the company was sufficientlyencouraged by the response that it decided to reduce theSpaceTraveler's price permanently.
The second factor is that 3Dconnexion, which is part of Logitech, hasbegun to take advantage of its parent company's operations andlogistics infrastructure to better leverage supply chain anddistribution efficiencies. This, in turn, has resulted in a lower coststructure for the SpaceTraveler. The savings could then be passed on toconsumers.

The SpaceTraveler features eight programmable buttons that allow usersto customize the unit for various application shortcuts. It supportsmore than 120 applications and comes with a three-year warranty.SpaceTraveler has won several awards including Desktop Engineering'sReader's Choice Award, Game Developer Magazine's 2003 Finalist Award,and Animation Magazine's Seal of Excellence Award.
SpaceTraveler is available immediately through the 3Dconnexion's website as wellas through it worldwide distributors, resellers, and selectedOEMs. Click here to go directly to the SpaceTraveler information page.