Issue 2

Featured Articles

What's New at EDE

Technology Focus

Services offered by EDE

Snapshots from recent Projects

Re-engineering using Virtual Prototypes
by Michelle Pillers, P.E.

What does the term virtual reality bring to mind? Complex and expensive systems? Snazzy peripherals to immerse users in a computer-generated environment? The future of Cyberspace? The fact is that after years of real world interaction, virtual reality has undergone a sea of change.

Topping the list of changes is the name of the technology itself. Now known to some in the engineering field as interactive product simulation (IPS), the technology focuses on integrating product models’ geometry with their function. The emphasis is on interactivity: empowering engineers to go beyond visualizing last week’s model to actually changing the component design on-the-fly, in real time, and evaluating the impact of those changes on the ability to assemble, use, and maintain the complete product or system.

With the pace of change in computer technology exceeding many engineers ability to keep up, can engineers justify taking the time to master the fundametals underlying yet another computer-industry acronym? We, at EDE, not only believe it is important, we believe that it is critical to shortening the “time to market” equation.

Unlike traditional tools, IPS software works in real time. Engineers can now make changes in component designs and can determine the impact of those changes on the part’s structural integrity, function, and manufacturability on- the-fly.

IPS software includes applications like Cosmos/Works FEA by Structural Research and Analysis, Inc. and Working Model 3D from Knowledge Revolution. With applications like these engineers have the ability to design, build, analyze, and re-engineer on the fly, in real time, speeding up the process of getting better done faster than ever before.

Side note> In addition to offering Finite Element Analysis and Modelling (FEM), Evolution Design Engineering can now offer Kinematics and Dynamics Modeling and Analysis to our customers using Working Model 3d ...Virtual Prototyping!

What’s New At EDE

SolidWorks 97Plus

This new version has over 165 new enhancements and helps make us more even more productive. Of special interest to our clients and partners is the new SolidWorks Viewer. The viewer is available for FREE from SolidWorks’ website, www.solidworks.com. The viewer is extremely fast, and it allows viewing and printing of any SolidWorks part, assembly, or drawing file.

Working Model 3D

Evolution Design Engineering now has Working Model 3D, “industry’s most advanced motion simulation engine.” Fully integrated within SolidWorks, it provides us with complete in-house virtual prototyping and testing capabilities. Between using Cosmos/Works FEM software and Working Model 3D, we can model and answer a vast array of strength, mechanism, kinematic, and dynamic questions about your product design like motion, contact forces, collisions, and accelerations, without ever building a prototype, saving you time and money!

Michelle Pillers, P.E. speaks at CAE Conference

Ms. Pillers of Evolution Design Engineering spoke at the Computer Aided Engineering Conference held this year in Cleveland, Ohio. She spoke on transitioning from 2D CAD systems to using 3D mechanical design / product development systems, and the benefits gained.

Technology Focus

SLA Resolution Improves
A new streolithography-apparatus (SLA) machine has been unveiled by 3D Systems of Valencia, CA. The SLA- 5000 can achieve a Z-axis resoultion of 0.002 inch.Their previous flagship product, the SLA-500, could only achieve resolutions of 0.004 to 0.006 inch.

SPI releases ModelMaker II
Sanders Prototype, Inc., of Wilton, NH, has released a rapid prototyping machine that achieves an incredible resolution of ±0.0005 inch. Delivery of the first machine is scheduled for next month. Although very precise, models are relatively fragile.

Over 8 million Iomega ZIP Drives sold
Introduced in March 1995, Iomega has sold over 8 million Zip Drives. The popular ZIP Drive allows users to transfer 100Mb of data onto a single low cost Zip Disk. Next to using the Internet, this is the prefered method of transfering large data files between Evolution Design Engineering, our clients, and vendors.

New Rapid Prototyping Polymers
DTM Corp has introduced 2 new materials for use in its family of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) machines.

• DuPount Somos 201 - a flexible elastomeric polymer with outstanding rubberlike characteristics.
• VeriForm polymer - a tough nylonlike thermoplastic intended for parts to be tested in real world use. The material provides for improved surface finish and fine feature detail over previously used nylons.

Services offered by EDE

Through our in-house capabilities and affiliates, we offer the following services:

World Class Industrial Design

Mechanical Design & Engineering

FEM, FEA, Kinematics, Dynamics

Analog and Digital Circuit Design

PC Board Design

Snapshots from recent EDE projects