MCAD Tech News #156

Autodesk Boosts MCAD Holdings

Company expands and plans through acquisition of Solid Dynamics, Alias, Engineering Intent

Autodesk has been on something of an acquisition binge this year, acquiring three mechanically inclined technologies and/or companies (out of six total acquisitions) in diverse areas, including finite-element analysis (Solid Dynamics), conceptual design (Alias) and engineer-to-order (Engineering Intent). In this installment of MCAD Tech News, I'll discuss the first and the third acquisitions. In the near future I'll discuss the Alias deal, which warrants its own discussion because of its impact throughout Autodesk -- mechanical design and beyond.

Solid Dynamics
The first Autodesk MCAD-oriented acquisition was Solid Dynamics, a French company whose kinematics/dynamics technology lets designers simulate, analyze, test and optimize physical motion and loading in mechanical assemblies, a process known as motion simulation and analysis. Terms of this acquisition were not disclosed.

This acquisition wasn't too surprising because Autodesk had recently polled its manufacturing customers on technologies that were important to them. Dynamic simulation was ranked as a key technology for helping achieve significant cost reductions and time-to-market improvements, largely by reducing the number of physical prototypes required. Prior to the acquisition, Solid Dynamics' motion products had been available for Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks and CATIA from Dassault Systèmes, and as a stand-alone version. The version that integrates with Inventor is called MotionInventor. Read more >>

Cadalyst Labs Review -- IronCAD V8: Pick the Modeling Kernel That Works Best

by Mike Hudspeth, IDSA

It's not easy to find a 3D modeling package that's different from all the others. They all build 3D models-how different can they be? With its use of dual modeling kernels, IronCAD V8 really is different. I was intrigued with it the first time I read about it, and I am even more so today after using it. Read more >>

Mark Your Calendar: MCAD Events
National Manufacturing Week
March 20-23, 2006
Rosemont, Illinois
Conference and exhibition for U.S. manufacturers, offering information, contacts, technology, products and services to grow business and compete globally.

2006 Americas VPD Conference
April 24-26, 2006
Detroit, Michigan
Organized by MSC.Software. Call for presentations and papers now open. Event brings together engineering professionals to share knowledge, best practices and views concerning the future of design and simulation in the automotive, aerospace, defense, rail, shipbuilding and other industrial manufacturing industries.

For Cadalyst's full calendar of events, click here>>

MCAD Modeling Methods (Column): Outsourcing could be the answer to your design needs, but be sure to pay attention to these details.

Dialog Box -- Letters from Cadalyst Readers: Catch up on the latest rants and raves of fellow Cadalyst fans.

On the Job (Manufacturing Case Study): Seco improves performance by moving from CAD to NX CAM from plm.