All manufacturers want to boost productivity, and an increasing number are purchasing multitasking or multi-function machines that can perform several different machining operations. These machines are proving to be a competitive advantage by producing accurate and repeatable finished parts.

These amazing machines were prominently displayed and demonstrated at the IMTS show last month in Chicago (see last week’s edition for details on IMTS). Beyond their multitasking capabilities, these machines are versatile in other ways, including the ability to produce one-off, complex parts or small lots of parts that may or may not be members of the same family. These devices can machine anything from big chunks of raw steel down to minuscule medical devices, and everything in between.

ultitasking equipment that combines different machining processes is not exactly a new idea, although the range of operations the equipment is capable of and the end results have expanded quite dramatically in the past few years. For our purposes here, we’ll define multitasking equipment as machines that can perform more than a single metal removal operation, simultaneously from one part with more than one cutting tool or from a number of parts. Read more>>

By Ron LaFon

Along with the extraordinary development of 3D design software has come the ability to turn drawings into visualizations that mimic reality. Whether it’s to troubleshoot the design, convince a nervous client or sell a design firm’s capabilities, the visualization of design data has completely changed the way many of us work. Modern products and structures can be complex and hard to picture from the underlying CAD drawings alone. Visualization is one of the impressive capabilities brought by modern computer systems and the associated software development. Getting a realistic idea of what a new building will look like in its proposed setting is a remarkable achievement, and many of the visualization applications described in this article can produce photorealistic results. Read more>>

Mark Your Calendar: MCAD Events

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

SMARTEAM User Forum
October 12, 2006
Coventry, UK
SMARTEAM users will meet at this user forum to learn how to maximize the effectiveness of their SMARTEAM PLM investment. Industry speakers will include representatives from Avery WeighTronix and Magellan Aerospace; both companies will share how SMARTEAM has helped them to manage business critical information and disseminate it throughout the enterprise. Read more

Webinar: Autodesk Inventor
October 17, 2006
Attendees to this complimentary one-hour webcast will learn how Inventor can boost performance. The webinar will also include a demonstration of Inventor in action and tips for users. Read more

Adobe Acrobat PDF Central Conference
November 6-9, 2006
Council Bluffs, Iowa
This conference comprises both a main conference -- including more than 24 sessions presented by Adobe representatives and other industry experts – and a “mini-conference” for those new to PDF or still investigating PDF possibilities. Read more

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

what's new at cadalyst.com

Online Archives:Click here to view an online version of this newsletter and past issues of MCAD Tech News.

October Tutorials Live Online: The latest editions of all your favorite Cadalyst tutorials for AutoCAD as well as SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Inventor, Alibre Designand more are now live on Cadalyst.com.

Tech Trends -- Your Own Private Cluster: Microsoft pitches high-performance computing to automakers.

Job Search: If you're in the market for a new job -- or if you just want to see what's out there -- Cadalyst.com offers an online Job Search that will help. Powered by Indeed, this search tool offers a state-by-state list of CAD-related job openings, or you can customize a search to find your own list of U.S. job openings based on the keywords and locations you specify. Check it out today! Use the Job Search button on Cadalyst's Manufacturing Web site or click here for a direct link.

Cadalyst Daily Update
For all the latest news and new products, subscribe to Cadalyst Daily e-newsletter. Plus, every issue includes a feature you won’t find anywhere else -- hardware and CAD software reviews, success stories, AutoCAD tips and much more! Here’s a sample of what you missed in the past week:

• First Look Review -- HP xw8400 Workstation: Highly recommended desktop system is a bit pricey, but offers extremely quiet operation and remarkable AutoCAD performance.
• Book Review -- AutoCAD 2007 Bible: Comprehensive tome is a good resource for users getting familiar with AutoCAD and some of its new features.