This new, semi-monthly section will
be focused entirely on hardware and software useful to Design Engineers.
Readers will find many of these items compatible with the frugal budgets
of the home-office freelancer.
Wireless keyboard beams from 3 sides. D esigned for comfortable use both on desktops
or in the lap, the FreeBoard Beamer emits broad infrared beams from the
front and both sides. This ensures reliable operation no matter what direction
the keyboard is facing. The keyboard automatically goes into sleep mode
when inactive, and wakes up when a key is pressed or the trackball moved.
ID switches permit up to 16 keyboards to operate in the same room. Sejin
America, 2004 Martin Ave,
Santa Clara, CA 95050. 408-980-7550.
All-inclusive
package. Anvil Express software is bundled with the necessary tools
to provide full CADD through CAM integration, including drafting, surfaces,
solids, parametrics, NC programming, tool-path verification, and rendering
and animation. There is an extensive set of tutorials, and AUTOSNAP 3D automatically
converts 2D geometry to a 3D solid model with a single mouse click. Manufacturing
and Consulting Services Inc (MCS), 7560 E Redfield Road, Scottsdale,
AZ 85260. 800-932-9329.
CAD
for 32-bit Windows platforms. IntelliCAD 1.0 is offered as an affordable
alternative to Autodesk AutoCAD that provides a complete CAD suite for mechanical
designers, architectural and construction engineers. The software will soon
benefit from a partnership with SolidWorks that will add 3D modeling technologies
to this package. The software will run on a 486/66 with 16 meg of RAM. Visio
Corporation, 520 Pike St, Suite 1800, Seattle, WA 98101. 800-24-VISIO.
Direct-input drafting table. Seen at last year's Autofact show, the VisionMaker PS is
a hybrid of the classic draftsman's worktable and a computer touchscreen.
Moving the unit's cordless pen on the 26- x 31-inch worksurface creates
drawings that are rear-projected onto the work area. The unit works with
SGI and Sun workstations, plus PC and Mac platforms. The VisionMaker even
folds to store in a 30-inch deep space. Input Technologies Inc, 33
Davies Ave, Toronto, Canada M4M 2A9. 416-778-9200.
Adding
the human factor. There are so many products that must be designed around
human parameters. Transom Jack v1.2 permits designers to add a realistic,
scaleable human model into simulations, to test items like control placement,
manufacturing task safety, or maintenance accessibility. The figure can
be modified to reflect motion limitations, even pregnancy. Users can even
witness simulation runs through the figure's point of view. Transom Technologies
Inc, 201 S. Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. 313-761-6001.
Multimedia projector. The Impression A6 is compa tible with all workstations, including
HP, Sun, SGI, IBM and DEC, in addition to PCs, Macs and PowerMacs, plus
all worldwide video standards including RGB, PAL, NTSC, SECAM and S-video.
The unit weighs just 11 pounds, and offers 12 degrees of "keystone"
correction, a distortion caused by angling the projector upwards towards
the screen. A remote control works up to 45 feet away. ASK LCD Inc, 1099
Wall Street West, Suite 396, Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071. 800-ASK-LCD1.
Originally published in the January 1998 issue of designfax.
Please Note: some pictures or diagrams are only available
through the printed media.
The Engineer's toolbox
esigned for comfortable use both on desktops
or in the lap, the FreeBoard Beamer emits broad infrared beams from the
front and both sides. This ensures reliable operation no matter what direction
the keyboard is facing. The keyboard automatically goes into sleep mode
when inactive, and wakes up when a key is pressed or the trackball moved.
ID switches permit up to 16 keyboards to operate in the same room. Sejin
America, 2004 Martin Ave, 
All-inclusive
package. Anvil Express software is bundled with the necessary tools
to provide full CADD through CAM integration, including drafting, surfaces,
solids, parametrics, NC programming, tool-path verification, and rendering
and animation. There is an extensive set of tutorials, and AUTOSNAP 3D automatically
converts 2D geometry to a 3D solid model with a single mouse click. Manufacturing
and Consulting Services Inc (MCS), 7560 E Redfield Road, Scottsdale,
AZ 85260. 800-932-9329. 
CAD
for 32-bit Windows platforms. IntelliCAD 1.0 is offered as an affordable
alternative to Autodesk AutoCAD that provides a complete CAD suite for mechanical
designers, architectural and construction engineers. The software will soon
benefit from a partnership with SolidWorks that will add 3D modeling technologies
to this package. The software will run on a 486/66 with 16 meg of RAM. Visio
Corporation, 520 Pike St, Suite 1800, Seattle, WA 98101. 800-24-VISIO.
Autofact show, the VisionMaker PS is
a hybrid of the classic draftsman's worktable and a computer touchscreen.
Moving the unit's cordless pen on the 26- x 31-inch worksurface creates
drawings that are rear-projected onto the work area. The unit works with
SGI and Sun workstations, plus PC and Mac platforms. The VisionMaker even
folds to store in a 30-inch deep space. Input Technologies Inc, 33
Davies Ave, Toronto, Canada M4M 2A9. 416-778-9200. 
Adding
the human factor. There are so many products that must be designed around
human parameters. Transom Jack v1.2 permits designers to add a realistic,
scaleable human model into simulations, to test items like control placement,
manufacturing task safety, or maintenance accessibility. The figure can
be modified to reflect motion limitations, even pregnancy. Users can even
witness simulation runs through the figure's point of view. Transom Technologies
Inc, 201 S. Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. 313-761-6001. 
tible with all workstations, including
HP, Sun, SGI, IBM and DEC, in addition to PCs, Macs and PowerMacs, plus
all worldwide video standards including RGB, PAL, NTSC, SECAM and S-video.
The unit weighs just 11 pounds, and offers 12 degrees of "keystone"
correction, a distortion caused by angling the projector upwards towards
the screen. A remote control works up to 45 feet away. ASK LCD Inc, 1099
Wall Street West, Suite 396, Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071. 800-ASK-LCD1.
