Design News articles from March 2004

Design News archives from March 2004

This editorialis 99.99% accurate.(My View)(Digital cameras)(Editorial)
March 15, 2004... WE NOW HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE to generate almost any kind of information about almost anything. But in my mind, much of this information is simply misinformation, because it works to create a false sense of accuracy--or false...

Links that enlighten: if an article just whets your appetite, check out the links.(WebLog)
March 15, 2004... ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT JOURnalism today is that the Internet offers writers so many opportunities to provide additional information to readers beyond what the printed page can realistically hold. In a sense, it expands the printed page,...

Where the jobs are.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... I enjoyed your editorial about the mission to Mars and the engineering profession (DN MYVIEW 02.03.04). Could it be that there are fewer engineers graduating here and more in India and China because the jobs are there? When younger people...

First step, but pink slips too.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... I would hope Design News would apply some critical thought to what the connection might be between the Engineering Profession and the manned space program. Even as Armstrong was making that great leap, the pink slips for engineers were being...

Way off base.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... I believe your Mars mission view is way off base. Bush has proposed this merely as a feel-good project to boost his image. Government pork funding of a lark such as this will not provide any real growth in our economy. This is like shooting a...

Mission to the USA.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... While I agree with your review. I believe it applies to a different place and time. The inspiration this generation of kids needs is to know that there will be career opportunities in engineering left in this country. However, since about 1980,...

Made everywhere but here.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... While a manned trip to Mars would certainly be captivating for the entire world, it is not a lack of exciting space projects that has caused the demise of engineering in this country; it is the demise of manufacturing. I am of the same...

Better investments than mars.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... I totally agree with you that the U.S. needs something inspiring to attract students back into engineering schools. However, it's the lawyers and the MBAs that are currently outsourcing engineering to India and elsewhere--and getting a fat...

Outsource the CEO instead!(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... In response to your editorial on the outsourcing of engineering jobs to Russia, where they earn less than half that of American engineers (DN MYVIEW 01.12.04), I say maybe if U.S. companies would go overseas to hire their CEOs, directors, etc.,...

Reference designs: nothing new.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... The article "A Jump Start in a Fast World" (DN 01.02.04) speaks as if the idea of Reference Design was a new idea. Well, it isn't. The Integrated Circuit is the embodiment of the first wholesale application of this concept--one important...

Kudos for Calamities.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... Just a quick note to let you know how much I enjoy your back-page column "Calamities." I have a background in Welding Engineering and NDT, and the firm I work for makes fluid-mixing equipment in a variety of materials from composites to...

The power of PV work.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... I always read your Calamities column, but I particularly enjoyed the exploding tire rim story (DN 12.01.03). As a teenager back in the 1960s, I worked in a trucking company maintenance shop. One day I heard a very loud bang and then a second...

Content matters too.(Readers Sound Off)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... I'd like to respond to your editorial on writing skills (DN MYVIEW 10.30.03). When I took my SATs, I scored 790 in math and 720 in verbal. Among other schools, I sent my score to MIT. I was shocked to find that my math results ranked in the...

Spelling hell.(Readers Sound Off)
March 15, 2004... I understood the importance of communication back in college. I was excited to take my technical writing class as I thought it would be beneficial. Too bad it was taught by the English department and they were more interested in teaching us how...

Energy is not power: that's a distinction engineers must grasp.(Insight from Insiders)(electrical engineers)
March 15, 2004... As an electrical engineer who spends his life talking to other engineers about technical problems, Maher thinks he has a handle on some of the technical challenges they face. Here are his views on two challenges: the distinction between energy...

Beware human malfunction: don't be so quick to blame problems on software glitches. Humans sometimes blow it too.(Really Opinionated People)
March 15, 2004... A FRIEND OF MINE WORKS AT AN AUTO plant in South America, overseeing manufacturing for a new line of lightweight utility trucks the company is marketing around the world. On a worldwide conference call a few weeks before the first truck was to...

King of cool: professor Ari Glezer has developed a synthetic air jet that may replace the traditional cooling fan.(Research for the Real World)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... PRESENT POSITION: Professor of Mechanical Engineering, GeorgiaTech DEGREES: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Israel; M.S. and Ph.D. in Aeronautics, CalTech AREA OF RESEARCH: Thermal management of electronic systems,...

Ethercat moves with speed: industry players line up to ensure interoperability.(Heard on the Street)(EtherCAT[R] Technology Group )(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Latest from the Ethernet field bus turf battle (www.designnews.com/article/ca371404) finds Beckhoff Automation reporting burgeoning numbers of customers and end-users signing up for its EtherCAT[R] Technology Group (http://rbi.ims.ca/3846-531)....

Thrown for a loop: ferromagnetic vehicle sensor eliminates pavement problems.(Heard on the Street)(M-GAGE[R] S18M)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Some engineers have been known to drive their spouses batty pulling up to a traffic light sensor (a coil of wire set into a rectangle made up of pavement cuts) and rocking the car. They try to change the magnetic field generated and sensed by...

What's in a name, anyway? DSP becomes a DSC, but that's AOK with potential users.(Heard on the Street)(targetting C2000 digital signal processors to engineers)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Texas Instruments is targeting its C2000 DSPs (digital signal processors) to engineers who are 16-and 32-bit microcontroller users looking for lots of functionality. But those users don't really think in terms of DSPs. No problem, TI will call...

Competitors need not apply: EDS may sell UGS PLM Solutions, but not to just anybody.(Heard on the Street)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Want to get a CEO's dander up? Say his company could be sold to a competitor. The dander is up at UGS PLM Solutions, which parent company EDS is considering selling. There was an initial public offering last October. But since then, there...

New and notable product design.(Flash)
March 15, 2004... 1 SENSORS, LEDS SHOW THE WAY Arkon Resources LavNav[TM] Lavatory Navigation Nightlight. "Way to go," takes on new meaning with this low-cost sensor laden nightlight that mounts under a toilet lid. For starters, a passive infrared...

Mini mouse uses resistance bridging.(Useful Technology for Your Idea File)
March 15, 2004... This 9-mm-square, 360-degree OEM cursor control replaces arrow keys for use in cell phones and other hand-held devices. Depending on the height of the actuator assembly used, joystick versions of the MicroNav[TM] can stand from 3.5 to 9 mm...

Integrated controller simplifies stepper use.(Useful Technology for Your Idea File)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... By integrating a controller within the housing of the SilverPak 17, a 1.8-degree step motor, driver, and controller package, engineers provided for quick installation and set up. Motion commands can be input from any serial terminal program,...

Field-effect sensor offers sealed, long-life operation.(Useful Technology for Your Idea File)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... The patented Mirus[TM] detector cell uses field-effect technology to allow finger activation through a wide variety of sealed, protective surfaces, including plastic, glass, wood, or isolated metal. And with flex circuits instead of printed...

Structure spreads loads.(Useful Technology for Your Idea File)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... To further protect a vehicle's occupants and reduce damage to other vehicles and injuries to their passengers during collisions, Honda engineers have developed the Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure. Injuries and fatalities...

Fewer engineers.(Trends Breakthroughs Developments)
March 15, 2004... Nothing new here. The latest survey from the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago has found a decline in the number of doctoral science and engineering (S & E) degrees earned in 2002. According to data in the 2002...

U.S. ranks 2nd in Competitiveness.(Trends Breakthroughs Developments)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... According to the rankings of the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2003-2004, the U.S. is well prepared for sustained economic growth, though not quite as much as first-ranked Finland. The rankings take into account a...

Science fair judges.(Trends Breakthroughs Developments)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is taking place May 9-15 in Portland, OR, with 1,200 high school students from 40 countries competing for $3 million in awards and scholarships. But more than 1,000 volunteer...

3P process helps engineers design better parts: engineers turn to 3P to improve the efficiency of design and manufacturing.(Manufacturing)
March 15, 2004... Engineers at Leupold and Stevens (http://rbi.ims.ca/3846-511), a company that produces scopes and binoculars in Beaverton, OR, needed to find a way to slip a lens into a housing quickly without risking misalignment. With the help of management...

Agilent joins 10 Gbit group.(Electronics)(standards)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... In the push to set standards for 10 Gbits per second technologies, Agilent Technologies has joined the Unified 10 Gbps Physical-layer Initiative (UXPi), which is promoting a specification for communication architectures that will succeed PCI...

Legal Linux.(Electronics)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Linux supporters are making several moves to allay potential user concerns over the lawsuits filed by The SCO Group. The Open Source Development Labs consortium hopes to establish a $10 million legal fund with donations from concerned users and...

Sweet study, but big brother?(Electronics)(AKHAMKAR)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... The Georgia Institute of Technology says a computer vision system that monitors the movements of honeybees could help in the development of biologically-based robots and computer systems. Formulation of biological behavioral models could help...

Data storage: nanotechnology set for big leap; Government support grows as products loom.(Electronics)
March 15, 2004... Nanotechnology may be something of a buzzword for marketers, but the atomic-level technology is moving forward. A number of government programs, including the establishment of a large collegiate consortium, were begun in recent months, and...

Power management: portables spawn various power techniques; Chipmakers vie for huge markets.(Electronics)(Communication Industry Researchers)
March 15, 2004... Power management continues to grow in importance as portable-device sales continue to soar. That's prompting an increased focus on techniques that maximize efficiency and minimize space requirements. The power market is booming, with growth...

Better than the real thing.(Fluid Power)(Simulink[R] and SimMechanics)(Instron Structural Testing)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... By using Simulink[R] and SimMechanics, Instron Structural Testing (www.instron.com) has achieved simulation that was five times faster than previous ones when designing a multi-axis test fixture that can apply dynamic loads to a race car. The...

Watch the pipes.(Fluid Power)
March 15, 2004... Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., in an unconventional move, is installing User Configurable Open Systems (UCOS), supplied by Control Systems International, as the primary SCADA master station and data historian. The system is expected to monitor...

New flowmeter.(Fluid Power)
March 15, 2004... Designed as an affordable alternative to high-priced precision flowmeters, the Hoffer Flow Controls' Lo-Co Series turbine flowmeter is designed for use in OEM equipment, utility firms and industrial plants for water monitoring, and...

Pneumatics: tiny pump simplifies vacuum device design; Functions on 26-psi input pressure but generates high vaccuum.(Fluid Power)
March 15, 2004... Designers of pick-and-place, robotic handling, and packaging machinery may now have a smaller, lighter alternative to the air-and motor-driven pumps they often use in order to generate a vacuum. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A tiny new vacuum...

Casting relationships.(Materials + Joining)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Z Corporation (Burlington, MA) has launched a metal casting program to develop relationships with metal casting foundries throughout North America. The program establishes a network of Z Corporation customers, pattern makers, and foundries who...

Liquid molding expansion.(Materials + Joining)(enhancements)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Rubber Industries (Shakopee, MN) has expanded its rubber contract manufacturing capabilities to include liquid injection molding of liquid silicone rubber. The company will use 24-ton Boy Presses, which can handle mold sizes up to 10X12 inches...

Fighter talk.(Materials + Joining)
March 15, 2004... Engineers attending SAMPE 2004, the composites and advanced materials symposium running from May 16 to 20, can get the inside scoop on the design and materials challenges associated with new fighters. Michael Fortson, director of the Joint...

Another kind of pultrusion: thermoset polyurethane may be suited for this process.(Composites)
March 15, 2004... Pultrusion processes, which create structural components by pulling reinforcing fibers through a resin bath and die, have traditionally relied on polyester or vinyl ester as the primary material choices. But thermoset polyurethanes may soon...

Electrifying materials: GE has rolled out new thermoplastics aimed at various electronics applications.(Engineering Plastics)
March 15, 2004... Pittsfield, MA -- As electronic products get smaller, faster, stronger, and cheaper, can engineering thermoplastics keep up? The engineers at GE Advanced Materials have been hard at work to make sure their materials can keep pace. The company...

Safety first.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)(North American Robot Safety Conference)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... The Robotics Industries Association (RIA) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) are co-sponsoring the 2004 North American Robot Safety Conference from March 24 to 26 in Toronto. Attendees will have the chance to learn to apply the...

High-style scootin'.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)
March 15, 2004... While the Razor scooter is built for kids, the BMW SlideCarver is made for stylish cruisin' for adults (and kids with high standards). A three-wheeled scooter, it has 5 Series Sedan pendulum support in the aluminum chassis, and steering both in...

A site of your own.(Motion Control + Power Transmission)(Opto22 enhanced its website)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Opto 22 manufactures and develops hardware and software for enterprise data acquisition, remote monitoring, industrial automation, and machine-to-machine applications. Now the company has added a customizable feature to its website that will...

Chipmakers vie for motor control: green movement helps fuel energy efficiency push.(Controllers)
March 15, 2004... Motor control is becoming a huge market, driven by energy saving demands in consumer products and the growing use of small motors in autos. Microchip Inc. is the latest company to jump on this bandwagon, unveiling a microcontroller with...

Miller Park ready with repaired retractable roof: customized spherical roller thrust bearings eliminate noise problem.(Bearings)
March 15, 2004... When Milwaukee's Miller Park baseball stadium opened for the 2001 season, fans welcomed the new facility and the ability to enjoy the game, come rain or come shine, thanks to a new retractable roof. But a year and a half after the stadium...

Yearly feedback.(Software + Hardware)(Dassault Systemes' COE Annual Meeting)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Dassault Systemes' COE Annual Meeting 2004 will take place April 25-28 in Miami. The event brings together CATIA, ENOVIA, DELMIA, and Smar Team users for hands-on training, product demonstrations, and peer networking. Attendees will get the...

NASA chooses 3D data program.(Software + Hardware)
March 15, 2004... NASA Ames Research Center has chosen to use Lattice 3D for XVL-based applications on its Digital Shuttle Project. The technology will help NASA compress, share, and publish 3D designs. For more information, go to www.lattice3D.com.

PLM and vendors unite.(Software + Hardware)
March 15, 2004... Consulting and research firm, CIM-data, will hold the first of its one-day 2004 PLM vendor forum events on March 25, where industry insiders can discuss the growth of the PLM market, geographic and industry distributions, and leading suppliers...

Innovation with the click of a button: software tool encourages users to develop creative products.(PLM Software)
March 15, 2004... Most engineers would not refuse to use a software tool that would help them develop more innovative designs. That is exactly what Invention Machine (www.inventionmachine.com) is banking on. ********** The Boston-based company has...

A CAD-savvy keyboard: design-specific keyboard aids efficiency.(Hardware)
March 15, 2004... Alibre Design[TM] users, take note. WorldTech Devices has developed the Specialist[TM] Keyboard to interface with Alibre Design professional 3D CAD software. Available in both black and white versions, the keyboard features more than 55 text...

Height of goods ... stair climbing ... prototyping blues ... the Search Engineer finds solutions to all your questions, problems, and dilemmas. Occasionally, he could be wrong. But he doubts it.(Ask the Search Engineer)
March 15, 2004... Dear Search Engineer: I need to determine the height of goods being transported on sliding tables that are stored one on top of the other, so I can determine how close the tables can be. One possibility would be to use several photoeyes, but...

Move over, Bluetooth; ZigBee is here: new wireless standard could belower-cost alternative for wireless sensing and control.(Wireless Technology)(Cover Story)
March 15, 2004... BLUETOOTH[R] WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF ATTENTION FOR WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY. Now it's ZigBee's turn. ZigBee[TM] is the name of an alliance of companies formed around IEEE's recently approved (May 2003) 802.15.4 specification...

Model makers: medtronics engineers discover that two rapid prototyping machines are better than one.(Rapid Prototyping)
March 15, 2004... DIVIDE AND CONQUER. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT ENGINEERS AT MEDTRONIC SOFAMOR DANEK did when they prototyped the company's latest surgical tool, a counter-torque ratchet that drives in spinal implant screws and then removes their heads. Rather than...

Designs that shine: the 21st annual design news engineering achievement awards.(Excellence in Design)
March 15, 2004... Nothing challenges an engineer so much as a design problem that seems unsolvable. And there isn't much that satisfies an engineer--or his customer--so much as the solution to that problem. Sometimes the solutions come easily. Most often, they...

System makes heart surgery more tolerable: product developers create a cardiopulmonary bypass system that exposes a patient's blood to less trauma than conventional systems.(Excellence in Design)
March 15, 2004... "They've minimized the potential for dangerous air entrainment into the blood." ENGINEERS FROM SANTA CLARA, CA-BASED Cardio Vention (http://rbi.ims.ca/3846-559) say they have departed from conventions developed during 50 years of...

Separator handles ultra wide range of flows: Daniel Cobb and Vaikko Allen II devloped a low lifetime-cost separator having applications from stormwater runoff to processing industries.(Excellence in Design)
March 15, 2004... "The flow control port, in combination with the weir height, acts as a 'hydraulic shock absorber.'" CONSIDER DESIGNING A FLOW SEPARATOR that, while functioning under average flow rate conditions, also has to work when a...

Filter targets 100k miles between oil changes: Jason Cousineau and David Allen have developed a reel-to-reel filtration system that automatically changes its own filtering media.(Excellence in Design)
March 15, 2004... "It's kind of like changing a typewriter ribbon or a printer cartridge." SINCE THE ADVENT OF EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION VALVES in vehicle engines, automotive engineers have searched for a simple way to keep oil cleaner. Now, engineers...

If sparks fly, chips die: detecting semiconductor damage helps chip suppliers improve yields.(Excellence in Design)
March 15, 2004... "We look for a 'voltage collapse' at the switching power supplies that power the plasma.'" SILICON VALLEY LOVES TO SEE SPARKS OF GENIUS, but not during the production of sensitive integrated circuits. The microprocessor chips go through...

Oil-free scroll compressor opens new applications: engineer Sam Ni, a previous excellence in design winner, eliminated the need for lubrication and achieved high efficiency with a "floating scroll" design.(Excellence in Design)
March 15, 2004... "It can run at high speed, maintain good sealing qualities, and not consume a lot of power." MORE EFFICIENT SCROLL COMPRESSORS may be about to break into food processing, medical systems, and other ultra-clean applications, thanks to...

Simplified packaging streamlines GPS system: the combination of a magnesium housing and modular packaging keeps GPS system safe, secure, and dry.(Excellence in Design)
March 15, 2004... "Wagic's design team determined sizes and shapes of the printed-circuit boards, what connectors to use and where to place them, and the types of seals needed to provide weather protection." WHEN THALES NAVIGATION, A MANUFACTURER OF GPS...

Triple prong clip makes surgery, recovery a snap: new fastener and an easy-to-use handle improve placement during surgery and simplify post-operative concerns.(Excellence in Design)
March 15, 2004... "Previous clip designs provided two prongs." ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY HAS HELPED MANY A patient--usually without the need for a long recovery period--thanks to the small incisions involved. Often this type of surgery relies on tools such as the...

Modular fluid handling simplifies sampling: Dave Hasak and Tim Maruna developed a fluid-handling "backbone" that's simpler to maintain and virtually eliminates leakage.(Excellence in Design)
March 15, 2004... "The approach is unique in its use of fewer seals and a surface-mount assembly approach." PROCESS ANALYZER SAMPLING SYSTEMS, commonly used in refineries and chemical plants, will now be easier to build, thanks to the development of a...

Software details spell success: don't take subtleties of software for granted.(Innovative Ideas From the Test Experts)
March 15, 2004... Today, most testing requires computer-based instruments that control test stimuli and record test results. Choosing the right software, whether it's a test development environment such as Lab VIEW, Test Point, or Agilent Vee, or a traditional...

Accelerate product development with integrated test software tools.(Test Experts Editorial Series)
March 15, 2004... Design engineers and technicians are quickly incorporating new methods for accelerating the product development process. Minimizing the amount of time spent on redundantly developing common test tools is one approach that many engineering teams...

FireWire coupler tailors I/O ports: device pushes multiple protocol support, compatibility.(Motion Control)
March 15, 2004... The key trends in motion control I/O, according to Dean Norton, marketing manager at WAGO, are solutions that eliminate "wasted I/O points" and expand both support for multiple protocols and compatibility with existing control architectures....

Stator coating process: insulates wire winding.(Materials)
March 15, 2004... A patented process for the multilaminate stacking, bonding, and coating of gyroscopes, small motors, and stators is made to insulate and improve wire winding. The company produces parts with electrical insulation to 2,000V and up to 1,000 V/mil...

Resins: improved physical properties.(Materials)
March 15, 2004... Raprex[TM] family of pre-process polyethylene resins is formulated to provide improved physical properties without the use of chemical crosslinking agents. Reportedly providing superior mechanical properties, enhanced design flexibility,...

Epoxy-novolac paint: corrosion protective.(Materials)
March 15, 2004... Corr-Paint[TM] CP2070 is a high temperature, corrosion protective, epoxy-novolac paint that can be used to coat metal components and structures used in industrial applications to 300F. It is a two-part, gray pigmented, 100 percent solid,...

Cold spray coating: for heat sinks.(Materials)
March 15, 2004... Designed for heat sinks and other computer, electrical, and electronic components, the copper cold spray coating produces a coating with less than 0.2 percent oxygen content. It also reportedly has porosity of less than 1 percent and results in...

Ceramic: available in low and medium compositions.(Materials)
March 15, 2004... Aremcolox[TM] 502-1550 is a zirconia phosphate-based machinable ceramic used for producing specialized brazing fixtures, induction liners, wafer chunks, optical stands, and combustion nozzles for applications to 1,550C. It has a low coefficient...

Compounds: functional, stylish.(Materials)
March 15, 2004... The company's glow-in-the-dark (GITD) compounds contain various phosphorescent pigments combined with proprietary carriers, yielding compounds with long duration glow features without significant reduction in mechanical performance. The...

Performance coatings: create specific surface properties.(Materials)
March 15, 2004... The company's applied plastics specialty performance coatings are designed to add specific surface properties to parts. Examples of coatings include Teflon[R], Kynar[R], and Halar[R]. They are suitable for parts ranging in size from less than 1...

Alloys: for medical products.(Materials)
March 15, 2004... The company, which manufactures intricate medical parts and implantables made from titanium and titanium alloys, has the capability to fabricate burr-free parts from both standard and exotic non-corrosive metals without inducing the stresses...

GD & T software: runs on various operating systems.(Software/Hardware)
March 15, 2004... The GD & T Trainer Professional Edition of the company's geometric dimensioning and tolerance training software is designed to allow users a hands-on approach to learning. It features 28 student-focused lessons covering the basic rules,...

Pdf solution: creates accurate files.(Software/Hardware)
March 15, 2004... Intended as a complete pdf solution for firms using AutoCAD LT, Bluebeam Lite allows users to create accurate pdf files directly from AutoCAD LT and Windows Office[R] applications. Upon installation, the software will add its buttons to the...

Plm software: accelerates innovation process.(Software/Hardware)
March 15, 2004... Reportedly designed to bring unprecedented simplicity, structure, discipline, and predictability to the innovation process, Goldfire Innovator[TM] software addresses the front end of product lifecycle management. It integrates within a single...

Plotting software: speeds data loading process.(Software/Hardware)
March 15, 2004... Created specifically for oil reservoir modeling, Tecplot RS (Reservoir Simulation) Version 4.0 is an integrated plotting environment that allows data from multiple sources to be loaded and displayed in plots ranging from XY graphs to 3D...

Thermal, stress analysis tool: adaptive meshing.(Software/Hardware)
March 15, 2004... Engineered to expand the capabilities of HFSS[TM] and Maxwell[R] 3D, ePhysics[TM] is a new software that allows users to incorporate 3D steady-state thermal, transient thermal, and linear stress analysis into existing electromagnetic-based...

Rendering plug-in: includes sketch rendering.(Software/Hardware)
March 15, 2004... The LightWorks Sketch plug-in for form.Z reportedly supports rendering at the conceptual design stage and allows the easy creation of impressionistic and stylized presentations at any point during the design process. Working directly from the...

Virtual prototyping software: make crucial decisions early.(Software/Hardware)
March 15, 2004... PAM-MEDYSA 2G is virtual prototyping software for the design optimization and performance validation of complex mechanical systems. It reportedly allows engineers to make critical decisions early in the design cycle as they use the global...