Time to Stop Using Desktop PCs as CAD Workstations

When I talk to CAD Professionals and get feedback on blogs like this, I’m a bit surprised how many individuals are stuck using business Desktop PCs as CAD workstations. In this day and age, when the cost of CAD workstations has come way down from the $10,000 price level of 20 years ago, this seems to be a case of “Penny wise, pound foolish”. The benefits of a real workstation are so compelling that it makes little sense, financial or otherwise, to try and dress up a desktop for serious CAD work.

The technology differences are compelling, but so too are other aspects of use. It’s worth exploring the issue to end this trend once and for all. Read full article »

CAD, CAM, and Increased Design to Manufacturing Integration

In many of the blogs I post here we discuss the need for improved speed to solution and project completion that is at the center of many trends in CAD. However, it doesn’t just stop at CAD, there is increasing levels of integration beyond CAD to CAM and even the actual manufacturing process. The news is not that this is happening, but the amazing level of integration that is actually being driven by the various software and machine suppliers.

From a tactical perspective for the CAD professional, this makes the ability of the workstation to run the latest version of CAD software ever more important, as new versions with increased integration are coming more frequently. This is driven by the key factors contributing to greater integration. Read full article »

Mobile Workstations Are Now an Essential Tool

It has always been a bit surprising to me that the same productivity and need arguments that have driven the movement away from desktop PCs to mobile PCs has not impacted the workstation market in nearly the same way. As I posted a few weeks ago, the cost justification side is quite compelling. The “need” and the cost justification are not the inhibitors to the growth of mobile workstations.

One of the reasons that I believe has caused this delay in the take off for mobile workstations is the concern that the laptop form factor just doesn’t have enough performance to meet the demands of CAD professionals. This is an urban myth. Looking at the new generation of mobile workstations, the performance levels are clearly at a point where most work can be done on them, and they also have the flexibility to meet the unique demands of individual users. Read full article »

An Update on Dassault’s CATIA

One of the CAD software products with a long and compelling history is Dassault Systems’ CATIA product. As one of the CAD products that have been driven by large scale design programs, typically undertaken by larger organizations, CATIA is a critical tool for corporate CAD professionals. Given its heritage and importance in the market, there have been a few very important and recent announcements around this product that are worth noting. Read full article »

The Continued Rush to Rapid Prototyping

One of the most important trends that have had substantial impact on CAD professionals is the decrease in the time line for new product development. Everything must be done more quickly, and one of the tasks that demands consideration is the need for rapid prototyping. This puts some new demands on the CAD professional that must be implemented in their own processes.

Rapid prototyping requires a number of decisions and the choice of some specific approaches that will be used to get to the desired goal. This blog will look at some of the key issues that you may consider as you move to rapid prototyping. There are some excellent resources on the web, including this comprehensive report. Read full article »