Sunday, November 23, 2008

Human-Product Interactions CAD CAM CAE Software


Two tools, Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Extension helps designers see and analyze interactions between people, products, and work stations. At the other hand: Using the Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Analysis Extension, designers can simulate and analyze human-product interactions such as pushing and pulling.

NEEDHAM, MA. - November 11, 2008 -PTC® (Nasdaq: PMTC), The Product Development Company®, announced the launch of Pro/ENGINEER® ManikinTM, a 3D digital human modeling solution that enables design teams to add a digital human model to a CAD product model to simulate and communicate human-product interactions. The Two new modules, Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Extension and Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Analysis Extension, provide ergonomic and human factors analysis capabilities for customers of Pro/ENGINEER, PTC's parametric 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software and a key component of the PTC® Product Development System. By accelerating detailed design processes and reducing the need for expensive physical prototypes, Pro/ENGINEER Manikin helps customers create innovative, winning products with faster time-to-market, improved quality and reduced costs.
"PTC's new manikin software is notable for its tight integration with Pro/ENGINEER. Pro/ENGINEER Manikin brings digital human visualization and simulation to the engineer's desktop within the CAD user interface and without the need for the engineer to be a human factors expert," said John MacKrell, senior analyst, CIMdata. "This is a very impressive first step for PTC for supporting a human-centric design approach. Pro/ENGINEER Manikin will enable customers to better optimize their products for the people who will use, manufacture and maintain them"
Pro/ENGINEER Manikin, the industry's first ISO standards-based solution, provides comprehensive, easy-to-use, capabilities to simulate and communicate human-product interactions for a global population. Highlights of Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Extension and Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Analysis Extension include:

Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Extension
Quickly insert, customize, and manipulate accurate, standards-based 3D human models.
Create human reach envelopes and vision cones to understand what limitations may exist in a design.
Gain a first-person perspective of a product and "see" what the manikin can "see".
Accelerate design by leveraging libraries of global populations and manikin postures.
Pro/ENGINEER Manikin Analysis Extension
Simulate, communicate and optimize manual handling tasks by validating them against published standards and guidelines.
Ensure conformance with health and safety guidelines and ergonomic standards. Includes standard algorithms for analyzing workplace tasks including lifting and lowering (NIOSH 81/91), pulling and pushing (Snook), energy expenditure (GARG), and posture (RULA).
Analyze designs faster with simplified workflows to posture the manikin and reuse saved postures and analysis settings.
Leverage advanced reporting capabilities of analysis results earlier in the development process to deliver products designed and optimized for humans in less time.

Additionally, beginning in December 2008, basic manikin capabilities that enable users to insert a pre-defined manikin into a CAD model and easily manipulate the posture to gain an understanding of how a human would fit or interact with a proposed design will be included in all Pro/ENGINEER packages at no additional charge for those customers on the latest maintenance release of Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.0.
The importance of this product is that early lifecycle visualization, simulation and communication reduces development costs, shortens time to market.
More info at:
http://www.ptc.com

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The New Dual table CNC by Milltronics


“Keep your CNC operator busy every moment”. Based in this concept Milltronics Manufacturing Company has increased up production on its newly designed Dual or Twin Table TT Series machining centers to meet the increasing customer demands.
This unique CNC machine design offers two separate work tables that shuttle outside the working area for convenient part loading while the opposite work table is inside the machining enclosure cutting parts. Finished the machining operation, the individual work tables shuttle the completed parts out and the next table enters the work area for machining, creating a non-stop machining cycle.
The rigid cast iron bridge design of the TT24 and TT40 CNC machines utilizes a single set of linear ball or roller ways with independent ball screws and axes motors for table control providing superior accuracy and cutting performance. Enhancement of the TT's cutting performance is provided through an Inline spindle, available standard at 10,000 RPM or optional 15,000 RPM. With 1600 IPM rapid traverse rates on the TT24 and TT40, high RPMs, high speed double arm ATC on the TT24 and TT40, plus the elimination of spindle down time for part loading typical of conventional machining centers, the TT CNC Series raises a new meaning to Lean Manufacturing.
These machines are available in three sizes, the TT24 with a 24" square work envelope, the TT40 with a 40" square work envelope, and the TT60 with twin 60x80" tables, the TT Series machines deliver a new level of cost effective machining to small and large shops alike.
These are some TT24’s characteristics or features according to Milltronics:
-Fully integrated twin pallet machine with a unique design requiring no pallet removal
-Conversational programming with Milltronics CNC control
-Inline spindle design – 24 HP standard with 35 HP option
-Reduced cycle times due to no part loading time
-100% cast iron design with 10,000 lb machine weight
-1600 ipm rapids
-24 pocket tool changer standard
-Large memories for part storage and execution
-Ground ball screw construction
True encoder positioning feedback
-Graphic program verification
-No leaning into the machine!
-No doors to open and close!
-No time lost changing parts!
-Accurate time management
-Superior chip and coolant control
-Designed and built by American craftsmen.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Wood Working




Though working with metals was the big gate at first for the new CNC technology lately, the CNC machines has been taking a real place not only in production of industrial mechanical parts but even carving complex fine art parts in different materials such plastics, glass, wood, etc. This picture is a clear and simple example of how a machine (CNC router) following a CAD software has produced an artistic work in wood carving the wheels inclusive.