Is There a CAD Software Upgrade in Your Future?

Now that Autodesk has released AutoCAD 2013, I’ve been thinking a lot about how upgrading your CAD software each year can keep you at peak performance. To back me up on this, I found a study that shows a big performance jump from one version of AutoCAD to the next.

The AutoCAD performance study (PDF) used AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD 2011, but it illustrates a more general point that you need the latest to be the greatest. Read full article »

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Optimizing AutoCAD Performance: Getting the Most From Your System

Every AutoCAD user wants to do more work faster with fewer mistakes—without breaking the bank. Here’s a look at top performance issues and some advice on what you can do about them.

SolidWorks New Demo Library Goes Back to Basics

The SolidWorks technical team has put together a series of 23 new video presentations in what they call the SolidWorks Demo Library. Read full article »

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Implementation Case Study: SolidWorks Performance Gains on WorkStation Configurations

Getting the most out of SolidWorks includes upgrading your software and having the best hardware configuration to support it. Here’s an example of the types of gains you can see from better hardware setups.

Performance Rewarded: GM Shows Its Love for NX

Siemens PLM Software was among the 82 global automotive suppliers honored at this year’s General Motors Corp. Supplier of the Year Awards  presentation in Detroit. Their PLM Software provides GM with NX for CAD, manufacturing and engineering analysis; Teamcenter for digital lifecycle management; and Tecnomatix for digital manufacturing automation and simulation.

A global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives chose the winners. Now in its 20th year, the awards recognize companies that play an important role in GM’s success each year. Read full article »

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Reference Architecture for NX

Wish your old hardware could keep up with you? Are you in the market for a new workstation? Use this guide to maximize your NX performance with the right hardware configuration.

CATIA V5 – How to Compare Similar Parts

Originally Posted by MTM, CAD Tutorials

This is a demo on how to compare products that are similar but not exactly the same. It’s available in the DMU space analysis workbench. CATIA will overlap the 2 parts or assemblies and color code the added material in red and the removed material in green. It’s a great tool when you are looking for a quick way of telling the difference between parts.

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An Overview of Common CATIA Performance Issues

All CATIA users want to increase speed and accuracy—without paying more than they have to for performance improvements. Use the advice in this paper to meet your performance challenges and boost your overall productivity.

NX Weekly Roundup

NX CAE Tips & Tricks – FEA Workflow Part #3
Originally Posted by Mark Subramaniam, Siemens PLM Software Blog
After a brief tour of the user interface and some essential geometry idealization in Part #1, we meshed the bracket, constrained it, and configured two distinct load cases for evaluation in Part #2. Now comes the real fun – executing the model, and reviewing the results!
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Software Efficiently, Realistically Simulates Composite Wind Turbine Blades
Originally Posted by Allan Wood, President and CEO of AnalySwift
As wind-turbine manufacturers seek additional ways to reduce costs and improve performance, greater focus has turned to improving modeling techniques as a way to reliably predict wind-turbine behavior prior to expensive prototyping and testing. In particular, better-designed wind-turbine blades are more effective and they create significant savings for the tower and drive train, major components in the overall system. In this regard, they reduce the initial and operation costs of the entire system, increasing overall competitiveness.
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Infinite Z Showcases Virtual-holographic 3D Imagery with NX Software at PLM World 
Originally Posted by Infinite Z, Inc.
Infinite Z, Inc.®, a technology provider that enables virtual-holographic 3D imagery to bring designs to life, today revealed a proof of concept demonstration of  NX™ software, Siemens PLM Software’s solution for integrated computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering (CAD/CAM/CAE), running on its zSpace 3D virtualization platform at PLM World® 2012. The collaboration seeks to redefine conceptualization and digital prototyping in industrial design, manufacturing and engineering.
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