MPMN: March 1997
Spotlight on Manufacturing & Design Software
Design program
A software program can improve a design engineer's productivity by shortening design, analysis, prototype, and testing cycles. INERTIA makes high-powered engineering tools affordable and simple so that design engineers can use them to complete their projects faster. According to the manufacturer, the program brings the power and flexibility of sophisticated multitasking mainframe 3-D CAE modeling, design, and analysis programs to the desktop. It supports most hardware platforms and offers a simple interface to application-specific CAE systems, solid modelers, and CAD systems. Because the program is completely modular, the user can customize the CAE system to match specific requirements. Each module is fully integrated with the others, permitting seamless, multitasking functions. Modern Computer Aided Engineering Inc., 8425 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Ste. 221, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
Plastics-flow analysis To give medical product designers seamless access to plastic-part analysis within a familiar CAD environment, MF/Flowcheck, a preliminary analysis tool, has been integrated into Autodesk's Mechanical Desktop, a 2-D and 3-D mechanical-design system. The system provides product engineers with information on the moldability of a part prior to production and helps shorten product development time. No special-processing or CAE-analysis knowledge is required. Analysis results provide visual information on the confidence of fill, flow pattern, and the location of possible weld lines and air traps. Enough information is provided to let designers identify potential problem areas and to confirm or modify their designs accordingly. Moldflow Pty., Ltd., 91 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 02173.
ISO 9000 guide A software program and accompanying manual provide an easy-to-understand approach to documenting ISO 9000 procedures, with an overview of the five standards. The guide and disks explain how to document quality systems using a four-level approach, defines quality objectives, and increases understanding of the registration process. Also included is a prewritten sample of a quality manual that addresses all the required areas of ISO 9001. A section of prewritten policies and procedures is provided for complete and comprehensive coverage of the areas required for ISO 9001 registration. ASI Publishing Inc., 14550 E. Easter Ave., Ste. 1000, Englewood, CO 80112.
Design and manufacturing A company develops firmware and software for medical product applications and provides a range of design and manufacturing services. Firmware is developed for embedded microprocessor and microcontroller applications for products such as pump controllers, diagnostic devices, and therapeutic equipment. User-interface software is also developed for specific medical applications. The company is ISO 9001 certified and FDA registered. Sparton Electronics, P.O. Box 788, DeLeon Springs, FL 32130.
Product manufacturing A manufacturing software system is designed to accommodate those companies purchasing one for the first time, as well as those planning to upgrade existing hardware and software. MSS is a global application system of open, client/server software for manufacturing and distribution enterprises. Using 37 integrated software application modules, it shares information between all processes in the manufacturing environment, from order entry to production. Fourth Shift Corp., 300 Executive Pky., Ste. 140, San Ramon, CA 94583.
Manufacturing simulation Manufacturers are able to explore new ways of improving their processes with simulation software. The ProModel Optimization Suite 3.5, a Windows-based package, features powerful visualizations, costing features, and statistical capabilities. The software also features point-and-click graphical user interface, preconstructed icons, easy-to-understand coding, and an internal logic builder. It allows rapid model development and modification and thereby lessens time and costs. ProModel Corp., 1875 S. State, Ste. 3400, Orem, UT 84058.
Plastic-part design Easy-to-use software aids the design and manufacturing of plastic parts. Dr. C-Mold lets the user quickly compare up to five different resins in order to determine which ones can fill the mold using specified flow length and thickness at minimum, maximum, and suggested melt temperatures. The user can compare materials in different resin classes as well as resins of the same class with varying melt-flow rates. The optimal process window shows the full range of injection pressures and melt temperatures that will create stable molding conditions and avoid overpacking the mold. AC Technology North America Inc., 9625 Ormsby Station Rd., Louisville, KY 40223.
Manufacturing documentation The first in a series of Windows tools is designed to manage critical information used to control manufacturing documentation. DocuStat's main screen lets the user navigate up to four additional areas. The Document Information screens have all the document attributes listed. The user can also search for and view text documents and drawings from these screens. Engineering Change Control allows the user to log and track engineering changes. When a product code is entered in DMR Reconciliation, a list shows documents that have changed and those that have remained the same since the last build. Wellport, 3495 Winton Pl., Bldg. B, Rochester, NY 14623.
Design verification and testing Designed to support the development and testing of complex embedded electronics, an automated design verification and testing system consists of a host workstation and three subsystems: the simulation-stimulation processor (SP) to simulate missing components and to stimulate the target system; the monitoring and capture subsystem to monitor, capture, and display its responses; and the integrated development environment to control and document the process and results. The system's automated logging and documentation capabilities not only help capture testing detail that is used in problem resolution but create official documentation to meet ISO 9001 certification requirements. B-Tree Verification Systems Inc., 5929 Baker Rd., Ste. 475, Minneapolis, MN 55345.
Electromagnetic design software A research and development company specializes in the development and marketing of CAE 2-D and 3-D software for the design and analysis of electrical and electronic components. Its 2-D/RS suite of tools for Windows NT and Windows 95 platforms have upgraded features such as a more intuitive method of file management and a menu system with dialog interfaces to reduce the nested command system of previous versions. Software tools include an electrostatic field solver, a magnetostatic field solver, a time-harmonic field solver for eddy current analysis, and a thermal analysis solver. Integrated Engineering Software, 46-1313 Border Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3H 0X4.
Global complaint tracking A company has expanded the scope of its global complaint-tracking and regulatory reporting software. The enhanced functionality and improved open architecture of EasyTrak allows easy integration with a multitude of platforms and applications. The updated version supports the entire workflow process for complaint handling, from original complaint capture and investigation to corrective action, root-cause analysis, and DDS reporting. This turnkey system can be customized by the user. It streamlines international regulatory compliance for medical device manufacturers. An easy-to-use Windows interface is available from Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server. Relsys International Inc., 2 Venture St., Ste. 400, Irvine, CA 92618.
Product engineering A CAD/CAM/CAE and PDM system is based on an object-oriented architecture and designed for high productivity, openness, and expandability. Euclid Quantum is built on a development platform that brings object-oriented modeling tool kits and built-in modularity to the software. It includes several application domains, including one for global design optimization, one for feature-based manufacturing, and one for simplified management of parts, assemblies, and processes. These applications are linked by a Web-enabled desktop and treat the electronic data as a consistent, feature-based technological model. Matra Datavision Inc., 1 Tech Dr., Andover, MA 01810.
NC simulation An NC simulation and verification software program enables users to eliminate the process of manually proving-out NC programs on an NC machine tool. Version 3.2 of Vericut simulates and displays the material-removal process of an NC tool path so that NC programmers can correct programming errors and remove inefficient motion before sending the part program to the shop. The program depicts milling, drilling, turning, wire EDM, and mill/turn machining operations with two- through five-axis simultaneous motion. CGTech, 15375 Barranca, Bldg. L, Irvine, CA 92618.
