MCAD Tech News : 2D to 3D #18

Well Done

3D design transforms offshore oil field equipment design

by Arnie Williams

When you think of the ravages of nature that offshore oil field equipment must endure, you realize that much thought and engineering science go into the design and manufacture of this equipment. The forces that must be withstood, both above and below the surface of water; the pressure tolerance of deep wells; the importance of pipeline integrity ? all these factors require the most up-to-date engineering knowledge. But this industry, like any other, also faces the demand to bring products to market sooner, at higher quality, and with little time for any rework necessitated by design inefficiencies.

Traditionally, offshore oil field equipment design has been the province of 2D, with AutoCAD the software of choice. More recently, however, the industry in general has been migrating to the design efficiencies of 3D. A number of companies, such as National Oilwell Varco and Andergauge, have opted for the short learning curve and design efficiencies of SolidWorks and its companion product for design analysis, COSMOS. These companies have moved to 3D for reasons that are becoming a common litany among designers of such heavy-duty equipment: the need to design better products faster. Read more >>

Cadalyst Labs Review: MSC.Dynamic Designer Motion Professional 2005

by Jeffrey Rowe

MSC.Dynamic Designer 2005 is a general-purpose motion simulation package originally developed by Mechanical Dynamics, now part of MSC.Software. Basically, it's a tool for studying the physics-based motion behavior of a CAD design without leaving the CAD environment, in this case Autodesk Inventor. MSC.Dynamic Designer 2005 is certified for use with Inventor 10, as well as Solid Edge. Read more >>

Mark Your Calendar: MCAD Events
SolidWorks/COSMOS User Group Meetings: Ongoing lineup of one-day events scheduled in various international locations.

Autodesk University: November 28, 2005 - December 1, 2005, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel, Orlando, Florida. A learning and networking event for users of Autodesk products, hosted by the company.

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