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MCAD Tech News (#339)

28 Feb, 2013 By: Cadalyst Staff


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Grass Valley Updates Legacy Systems with Product Lifecycle Management Solution

Broadcasting hardware manufacturer adopts Omnify Empower PLM in effort to automate and integrate its product development processes.

By Alaine Portnoy

When you're watching news, sports, or entertainment programming — whether on a TV, the web, or a mobile device — you're watching Grass Valley at work in today's connected world.

The company provides a comprehensive portfolio that comprises cameras, converters, and other imaging, video, and media solutions. Grass Valley's customers include broadcasters, teleproduction facilities, and service providers, as well as independent video professionals who rely on their products to cover live events.

Grass Valley's portfolio of video production solutions includes this robotic camera.
Grass Valley's portfolio of video production solutions includes this robotic camera.

Keeping Up with the Product Lifecycle

With an aging component database and a product data management (PDM) system that was at the end of its lifespan, Grass Valley had to find a new way to support its complex product lifecycle requirements. The company needed a next-generation solution to automate engineering changes and bill of material (BOM) management, as well as streamline its engineering and manufacturing processes. Grass Valley recognized this as a necessity to keep up with the fast pace of technology advancements, customer requirements, and a global workforce.

The Search for the Right PLM

A team composed of engineering and IT personnel set out to find the ideal product lifecycle management (PLM) solution. "We started with a benchmark of about eight to ten possible PLM solutions," stated Gerard Meijer, manager of Digital Hardware and Layout for Grass Valley. "Besides the functional requirements, our main goals were to find an off-the-shelf solution that did not require customizations, was easy to use, and offered a good price-to-performance ratio." Read more »

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Alaine Portnoy is the senior marketing manager for Omnify Software.

   

Save Femap Layouts and Views

Femap Tips and Tricks: Specify which attributes of the user interface you want to save, and save views in the View Library.

By Alastair Robertson

Once you have the Femap user interface set the way you like it, with the desired layout of windows, panes, and view attributes, you can save both the layout and the view so that you can easily reload them when desired.

You can save the user interface layout by selecting File > Preferences in the menu, and then selecting the User Interface tab. In the Toolbars section of the Preferences dialog, click the Save Layout button. Browse to the directory where you wish to save the layout file, and enter the desired filename. Read more »

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Alastair Robertson is the product marketing manager for Siemens PLM Software Velocity Series CAE solutions, including Femap with NX Nastran and Solid Edge Simulation.

       

Mark Your Calendar: MCAD Events

 

Problem Solved Virtual Event
March 13, 2013
10:30 a.m. ET
IMAGINiT Technologies will sponsor this day-long virtual event, in which IMAGINiT experts will highlight ways their clients were able to mitigate problems with solutions such as process improvement, systems integration, or more efficient use of their design engineering tools. Read more »

EASTEC
May 14–16, 2013
West Springfield, Massachusetts
New features at this year's manufacturing exposition and conference will include a panel discussion about workforce development, a competitive manufacturing event for regional high school students, and area plant tours. Read more »

Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference
July 22–26, 2013
San Diego, California
Hosted by the Coordinate Metrology Society, this event caters to users of portable 3D measurement solutions applied by manufacturers and science laboratories. Read more »

For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com. Are you hosting an event that you would like to include in our calendar? Submit details at least two weeks in advance to news@cadalyst.com.

       

What’s New at Cadalyst.com

 

Cyon Research Wants to Know About Your CAD Use
Cyon Research, organizer of the Congress on the Future of Engineering Software (COFES), has launched its 2013 Survey of Users of Engineering Software. The 40-minute survey aims to gauge your current use of and criteria for CAD and other engineering software. Read more »

Add CNET.com to Your Library of CAD Management Resources
Get your non-CAD technology news, reviews, and software downloads from a trusted source. Read more »

No-Budget CAD Management
These simple suggestions will make an impact on your workplace and don't require a dime — just your time. Read more »

Autodesk Unveils New Brand
Said to be "the most significant branding update in the company's history." Read more »

Select Similar Objects in AutoCAD at Lightning Speed
AutoCAD 2011 added the SelectSimilar command, which is a great feature for grabbing like objects quickly and easily. Join Lynn Allen as she shows you all the ins and outs of the command — including how to customize it to get the results you're after! Watch the video »

Control Femap Models with Reference Groups
Femap Tips and Tricks: This capability can help with model organization and visualization control. Read more »

New Product Suite Aims to Ease Operations and Maintenance Handover for Capital Projects
Aconex Smart Manuals helps contractors to organize deliverables and owners to easily access and update records. Read more »


About the Author: Cadalyst Staff

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AutoCAD Tips!

Lynn Allen

Autodesk Technical Evangelist Lynn Allen guides you through a different AutoCAD feature in every edition of her popular "Circles and Lines" tutorial series. For even more AutoCAD how-to, check out Lynn's quick tips in the Cadalyst Video Gallery. Subscribe to Cadalyst's Tips & Tricks Tuesdays free e-newsletter and we'll notify you every time a new video tip is available. All exclusively from Cadalyst!
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