After I recently thanked a colleague for treating me to a nice dinner at a Las Vegas trade show, he e-mailed me back, “My pleasure; so much of our lives are taken up with work, work, work. It’s nice to spend some time developing friendships.” In this spirit, and because it's the season of Good Cheer, I want to wish our dear readers a Happy Holiday Season! Enjoy!

Send your comments in, and we might print them here!

— Leslie Gordon
leslie.gordon@penton.com

Toys that teach
One of the sneakiest ways to get kids interested in a topic, whether it’s engineering or astronomy, is to give them an educational toy or tool that helps them explore that subject. Just don’t tell them it’s educational. Here are some toys and kits that might kickstart a youngster’s interest in engineering and science.
Read the rest ...

Holiday Gift Guide 2007 Better-than-a-bearing
To help move you into the holiday spirit, Motion System Design editors have assembled a few ideas for that special someone on your list. Treat a friend or treat yourself, and use the justifications as needed. Happy holidays!
Read the rest ...

Spotlight on SolidWorks 2008
SolidWorks 2008 for 3D mechanical design has many new features and capabilities. First, the revamped user interface provides a lot more graphics real estate in which to work. And a new transparent Heads Up View displays in each viewport to minimize mouse clicks and movement by giving easy access to view controls. The idea is to let users focus on designs, not the modeler’s command structure. In fact, users have little need to look away from the graphics window when building a model.
Read the rest ...

3D CAD Speeds designs
IronCAD V 10 3D-modeling software combines history-based parametrics and direct geometry manipulation, which the company says gives users greater design freedom. The software leverages Hoops technology so users can more easily view interactions in large assemblies. Hoops also makes camera selection and 3D rotation almost a real-time interaction. The Quick Visual Loading feature uses a multiload process that lets users set specific camera angles and interact with models as they load. An updated interface includes a new Quick Access Property Browser that lets users access property information and commands for selected geometry at any time. Users thus spend less time searching through menus, toolbars, and dialogs because only relevant information is displayed. A new rendering engine produces realistic reflections and lighting effects.
IronCAD LLC., Atlanta, Georgia Find out more

FEA for Catia
Abaqus for Catia V5 Version 2.5 software lets users perform advanced FEA in the MCAD program. Users can thus evaluate how new concepts and design changes affect product performance during the development stage. Version 2.5 leverages a Catia capability that lets users capture design knowledge and reuse it as best practices to ensure compliance with established standards. A new, automated contact-detection feature simplifies modeling and reduces potential errors with a wizard-based interface that guides users through setup options. The FEA program comes in 32 and 64-bit versions.
Simulia, Providence, R.I., More information

Experience National Instruments Technologies From the Comfort of Your Own Computer!
With more than 200 on-demand webcasts, videos, interactive tutorials and demos available for users of any experience level, it is easier than ever to learn about the newest products and features available from National Instruments.
Begin your search here with a collection of webcasts specifically chosen for design and automation engineers.

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UPCOMING WEBCASTS

Introduction to Direct Gear Design
Sponsored by AKGears
DATE: January 16th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET

Invention of the gear hobbing process about 150 years ago revolutionized not only gear fabrication, but also gear design. The cutting edge of the hob presents the generating gear rack. The standard universal gear design approach provides gear interchangeability and reduces tooling inventory, however, it also constrains performance for particular gear applications.

This webcast presents the Direct Gear Design method — an alternative approach to traditional analysis and design of involute gears, which separates gear geometry definition from the generating rack and tool selection to maximize gear transmission performance for a particular product and application.

ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING

Call For Papers: PTC/USER World Event 2008
From now until January 7, 2008, PTC/USER Inc. is accepting abstracts for presentations at the next PTC/USER World Event Americas in Long Beach, Calif., June 1 — 4, 2008. The company encourages users to share their success with Pro/E, Windchill, Arbortext, Mathcad, or ProductView. Welcomed are presentations on the success of business initiatives and process improvements with PTC software. Submit a brief abstract and if it is selected, you receive free admission to the event.
For more information

Software helps U.S. moldmakers compete
Mold makers in Erie, Pa, once considered to be the heart of the U.S. mold and die industry, are proving they can successfully compete with offshore mold makers by using advanced technology and software. The Erie Institute of Technology is helping this endeavor by expanding their manufacturing programs and adopting VX CAD/CAM for use in new mold design, making, and milling programs.
Get more information

Simpleware and Comsol announce partnership
Simpleware Ltd., Exeter, U.K., and Comsol Inc., Burlington, Mass., announced a partnership agreement to provide an export interface from Simpleware's 3D image-based meshing software +ScanFE to Comsol Multiphysics 3.4. The interface lets biomedical and bioengineering users directly export high-quality meshes of 3D magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and microcomputed tomography scan data created with +ScanFE to Comsol Multiphysics for modeling and simulation without requiring re-meshing or pre-processing.
For more information see the Comsol and the Simpleware sites.

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Go to the Digi-Key PartFinder. Send me a Digi-Key Catalog!

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Contact Information
Editorial questions: Leslie Gordon 216-931-9242
Advertising/sponsorship opportunities:   Virginia Goulding 216-931-9893

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