PZFlex 2.0 Adds SolidWorks Interface

By DE Editors

The newest version of PZFlex, Weidlinger Associates, Inc.'s (Mountain View, CA) virtual-laboratory software — now said to be more user-friendly with faster modeling startup — offers improvements including a new seamless interface with SolidWorks 3D CAD software.

The release of PZFlex 2.0, which builds on its ability to enable innovations in medicine, energy, transportation and telecoms with a particular attention to medical therapeutics and sonar. PZFlex is the program of choice for all major US and Japanese medical transducer manufacturers, as well as for scientists engaged in studies of diagnostic and therapeutic medical ultrasound at prominent academic institutions.

One product that resulted is Ultreo's (Redmond, WA) recently launched toothbrush, said to be the first power toothbrush to combine patented ultrasound waveguide technology with precisely tuned sonic bristle action. PZFlex was used to model the ultrasonic effects of the ceramic element in the toothbrush's small vibrating head, reducing the number of expensive physical prototypes required to perfect the product. The bulk of the model-building and design changes took place on the desktop.

In addition to medical ultrasound and therapeutics, PZFlex supports applications in industries including non-destructive testing, sonar, oil and gas, aerospace, rail and auto, MEMS, telecommunications, and sensors and actuators — it has recently been used to develop efficient fuel injectors and acoustic fingerprint scanners that serve as identification devices.

For details, go to PZFlex.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.