MCADCafe Editorial Sanjay Gangal
Sanjay Gangal is the President of IBSystems, the parent company of AECCafe.com, MCADCafe, EDACafe.Com, GISCafe.Com, and ShareCG.Com. Interview with Graham Hargreaves, Marketing Manager from Mastercam/CNC Software at 3D Experience World 2020March 16th, 2020 by Sanjay Gangal
We recently had the opportunity to interview Graham Hargreaves, Marketing Manager of MasterCAM at 3D Experience World 2020. Mastercam is a suite of Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and CAD/CAM software applications. Founded in 1983, CNC Software, Inc. is one of the oldest developers of PC-based CAD/CAM software. Mastercam, CNC Software’s main product, started as a 2D CAM system with CAD tools that let machinists design virtual parts on a computer screen and also guided computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tools in the manufacture of parts. Mastercam’s comprehensive set of predefined toolpaths—including contour, drill, pocketing, face, peel mill, engraving, surface high speed, advanced multiaxis, and many more—enable machinists to cut parts efficiently and accurately. Mastercam users can create and cut parts using one of many supplied machine and control definitions, or they can use Mastercam’s advanced tools to create their own customized definitions. Jeff Rowe: Can you provide some information or background on Mastercam for our viewers? Graham Hargreaves: Basically, Mastercam is a CAD-CAM package and we also integrate directly within SOLIDWorks. So, basically we are producing G-code that powers CNC machines. Searching for Clues About the 3D ExperienceMarch 9th, 2020 by Jeff Rowe
I recently attended 3DEXPERIENCE World (3DXW for short) 2020 (formerly Solidworks World) in Nashville, TN. I think it was either my 19th or 20th trip to this CAD rodeo. It was an especially noteworthy event this year due to its rebranding and I was really curious to see how it would be presented by Dassault Systemes, on the one hand, and received by attendees/customers on the other. The overall format of the conference and general sessions has evolved over the past few years, but that’s to be expected as everything in the design software world has evolved. More than anything, I came to Nashville looking for what the 3DEXPERIENCE with regard to Solidworks was all about at a rebranded event that had been an exclusively Solidworks event for a long time, and one that never disappointed. When asked about this year’s attendance at 3DXW, Solidworks declined to provide a number, but based on previous years, there were noticeably fewer attendees this year. Overall the attendees were at not quite as rabid (in a good way) as in years past, and relatively subdued, but nonetheless, cautiously optimistic about the future. It seems as though by an increasing number of companies (including Dassault) have forsaken technologies, products and apps in favor of platforms that tend to further muddle the picture of exactly how they’re structured, what they do, what they cost, and unique benefits that couldn’t be provided by previous bits and pieces. Read the rest of Searching for Clues About the 3D Experience MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2020February 7th, 2020 by Sanjay Gangal
Industry Predictions for 2020 by XponentialWorks’s Avi Reichental and 3DQue Systems’s Steph Sharp
MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2020 – AlphaSTARFebruary 6th, 2020 by Dr. Rashid Miraj
2020 will be a difficult year. Major currents in technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, Biomechanics and Additive Manufacturing, will be tempered by the state of markets and the economy. It appears as if the big slowdown is finally upon us. Will the US dollar relinquish its status as the world reserve currency? Will a liquidity shortage extend beyond banks into commercial enterprises? Will credit for large commercial enterprises dry-up and restrict investment? Will a recession turn into a run on banks and global depression? Hard times appear to be ahead. Yet innovation and its younger sister creativity continue to drive society forward. So, here are some trends that should shake up 2020 and beyond. Internet of Things (IOT) Read the rest of MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2020 – AlphaSTAR MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2020 – Core TechnologiesFebruary 4th, 2020 by David A. Selliman
The State of the Software industry and the competitive advantage. By David Selliman, Vice President of CoreTechnologie. I recently attended CES in Las Vegas, known for the largest electronic show in the world with a full city of attendees with every device you can ever think of. I thought I was going to see something so new and innovative, I would wonder, why I did not think of that? Surely, it was more of the same. I have to say the few products or inventions that stuck to my head with amazement was Bell and Uber partnership developing a taxi helicopter with embracing 2030 in 2020. Hyundai with its competitive helicopter taxi and android services solution to carry 50 plus pounds with a 50 pound android, servicing complex cities globally. The big hurdle to bring the flying products to market was one simple word – FAA. Another product that caught my eye was the babysitting robot with all the knowledge in its memory banks is what makes IBM Watson look dump, and lastly the innovation of Samsung to create a booth that defines its eco system of technology that surpassed anything on the planet based on its core business. Read the rest of MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2020 – Core Technologies MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2020 – 3D SystemsFebruary 3rd, 2020 by Radhika Krishnan
Software is playing an important role on the shop floor of manufacturers today, but it’s often focused on one task or a portion of the workflow. While there is benefit to that discrete function, the impact on the entire production line is not as significant as it can be. However, manufacturers who are recognized as the industry leaders are embracing an integrated approach – creating a digital thread that connects between the workflow portions and functions, results in efficiencies and cost savings by providing a complete set of data, elimination of repetitive tasks, and automation. These innovators are embracing advanced emerging technologies aligned with industry trends such as the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve productivity, lower Total Cost of Operation (TCO) and maintain competitive advantage. Read the rest of MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2020 – 3D Systems Aras + ANSYS = More Than Sum of Parts?January 31st, 2020 by Jeff Rowe
Recently, Aras announced a strategic OEM partnership with ANSYS for enabling the digital thread and digital twin that includes licensing the Aras Innovator platform technology intended to provide a new generation and method of digital engineering practices. The partnership will enable better processes and data management of simulations for digital thread traceability across the product lifecycle. ANSYS Minerva will leverage the Aras Innovator platform technologies such as configuration management, PDM/PLM interoperability, API integration and add simulation-specific capabilities for delivering scalable and configurable products that connect simulation and optimization to product engineering — creating new ways of exploring and improving product performance.
Aras for ANSYS AIM — An Example of How Aras and ANSYS Technologies Work Together Engineering and manufacturing organizations are increasingly leveraging simulation throughout the product lifecycle to interoperate with their existing PLM, ALM and ERP applications. Additionally, customers are addressing complexity challenges with data and process management, traceability, and availability of simulation results across the product lifecycle. MCADCafe’s 2020 Industry Predictions -Onshape/PTCJanuary 31st, 2020 by Jon Hirschtick
In 2020, All Product Development Roads Will Lead to SaaS In the United States, the majority of K-12 classrooms now rely on Google Chromebooks to give students instant access to their applications and projects online – and to facilitate collaboration with classmates and teachers in real time. These students, who are the next generation of engineers, product designers and manufacturers, are already accustomed to the benefits of cloud-native Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications. In the early 2020s, the professional product development world will quickly play catch up. I predict that 2020 will mark the tipping point for companies adopting a wide range of SaaS product development tools including CAD, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), simulation and generative design. The demand for more product development applications running on cloud-native architectures will be further driven by the continued growth of 5G mobile networks. Making internet browsing and download speeds 10x to 20x faster will create an even greater expectation for instant access to information in every aspect of our personal and professional lives. In this context, the delays and work interruptions resulting from the IT requirements of installed software will become more of a competitive liability. Read the rest of MCADCafe’s 2020 Industry Predictions -Onshape/PTC MCADCafe 2020 industry predictions – BigrepJanuary 30th, 2020 by Martin Back
FFF technology & filaments: This will be the year of large-format FFF technology. As leading industrial manufacturers continue to realize the speed, efficiency, flexibility, and precision of large-format AM and its unique compatibility with high performance, industrial-grade filaments for applications in automotive, aerospace, rail and other industries both in and outside of the transportation sector. The growing range of filaments designed for specific applications will offer manufacturers increasingly personalized production by taking advantage of large-format additives flexibility in a serial production setting. Additionally, as environmentally friendly processes like filament recycling to introduce closed-loop supply chains – an opportunity that isn’t readily accessible in metal AM applications – become increasingly necessary companies will move to adopt large-format FFF AM to replace other wasteful processes. Read the rest of MCADCafe 2020 industry predictions – Bigrep MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2020 – XometryJanuary 28th, 2020 by Katie Bisson
Xometry, the largest global on-demand manufacturing marketplace, has seen the rate of innovation increase rapidly through our work with industry leaders in defense, aerospace, automotive, and consumer products. Based on trends in 2019, Xometry predicts the manufacturing landscape will continue to change in 2020 with reduced supply chain challenges from increased reliance on additive manufacturing and marketplace manufacturing models. In 2020, manufacturing marketplaces like Xometry’s manufacturing as a service (MaaS) model and the increase in additive manufacturing services will reduce concerns about capacity and supply chain. Manufacturing marketplaces allow businesses, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies, to leverage a global network of qualified manufacturers by matching their project needs with the most capable suppliers. This gives companies access to manufacturers beyond their geographical limits. Read the rest of MCADCafe Industry Predictions for 2020 – Xometry |