March 2004

Linear Dynamics Tutorial - explains how to use ALGOR's linear dynamic capabilities through analyzing a 3Dtruss tower subjected to various loads, Algor.com, March 29, 2004

Bringing Computational Fluid Dynamics Down to Earth - five steps for designers ready to implement CFD tools early in the product development effort, Product Design & Development, March 2004

Demand for Engineers Building - CAD operators are more likely to lose their jobs to offshoring than are engineers, whose prospects are looking up, at least in the Northern California market, Rich Heintz, California Job Journal, March 28, 2004

Hidden Easter Egg in AutoCAD 2004 - follow the steps that will lead you to the developers' hidden message, PostalCAD, March 29, 2004

Quick Renaming of AutoCAD Objects - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 4, 2004

My AutoCAD DesignCenter (or Other) Window Is Lost (Off-screen) - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 4, 2004

Font Style Does Not Offer Italic or Bold Style - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 4, 2004

Creating a New Profile for the EFX Library - Pro/ENGINEER tip, Customer PTC E-Newsletter, March 31, 2004 (pdf)

How to Drop the Pro/ENGINEER File Extension from PDMLink Objects Created with Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire - Pro/ENGINEER tip, Customer PTC E-Newsletter, March 31, 2004 (pdf)

Solid and Empty Fills Cannot Be Deleted - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 24, 2004

Zone Favorites in ArchiCAD 8.1 - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 24, 2004

Intergraph Settles with Intel, Dell - in a patent infringement suit, Intel will pay Intergraph $125 million now and an additional $25 million a quarter for the next year, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, March 30, 2004

The AEC Industry, Building Information Modeling and the 3 Rs - in their eagerness to bring their BIM vision to market, vendors may continue to underestimate the differences between their logical model and the realities of AEC industry practice, Peter Thorne and Nick Ballard, Cambashi, March 2004

The Engineers Notebook - Autodesk Inventor tutorial explores the functionality to create notes and store them as part of a model, Envision Solutions, March 2, 2004

Placing Tolerances on the Model Rather than Adding Them to the Drawing - Autodesk Inventor tutorial, Envision Solutions, March 26, 2004

Rounds: The Continuing Single Round - Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire tutorial explains various methods for selecting edges and start and stop points to create rounds, Steve Burke, Pro/E Community, March 30, 2004 (may require free registration)

Measuring a CAD Model with MYRIAD - interactive tutorial illustrates how to use MYRIAD's measurement tools to quickly analyze 3D CAD designs, NOVEDGE Newsletter, March 2004

Search Prototype Gets the Picture - search engines may soon be able to search a database and retrieve images that match CAD drawings, enabling manufacturers, for example, to keep track of the plethora of components they have designed or bought, Michael Kanellos and Stefanie Olsen, CNET News.com, March 31, 2004

Quick File Creation Using the QNEW Command - AutoCAD tip, Envision Solutions, March 31, 2004

Interoperability Between AutoCAD 2005 and Architectural Desktop 2005 - tutorial explores the advantages of collaborating with consultants with native ADT drawings versus exploding to 2D, Chris Yanchar, Between the Walls ADT Weblog, March 30, 2004

Using the Derived Component Command: Part 1 - Sharing Parameters - Autodesk Inventor tutorial, Envision Solutions, March 2, 2004

Using the Derived Component Command: Part 2 - Creating Assemblies from a Master Part - Autodesk Inventor tutorial, Envision Solutions, March 26, 2004

Tips for Setting the Display of Dimensional Constraints in V5 - CATIA tips for enhancing productivity in the design environment, Eric Hildebrand, COE NewsNet, March 2004

Recipe for Flexible Design Collaboration at Black & Decker - with manufacturing operations in 10 countries and design operations in four, Black & Decker chose ImpactXoft's IX tools, combined with CATIA V5, to enhance communication and collaboration in its global operations, Louise Elliott, COE NewsNet, March 2004

Bridging the Gap Between Silos of Automation - to decrease product cost and inefficiency, Delphi has developed new CAD/CAM design methodologies that allow designers to create fully associated CAD models, process models and process drawings that work the same on all the major CAD systems, COE NewsNet, March 2004

How to Perform a Thermal Stress Analysis - ALGOR tutorial, Algor.com, March 31, 2004

One Billion Smackers - Autodesk is projecting its fiscal year 2005 will boast revenues of more than one billion dollars, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, March 30, 2004

The IFC Building Model: A Look Under the Hood - provides a broad overview of the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) building model, which has been developed by the IAI to facilitate interoperability in the building industry, Lachmi Khemlani, AECbytes, March 30, 2004

Bridging the CAD-PDM Divide - Elysium is moving into the PLM arena, developing products that integrate SMARTEAM within the Unigraphics and I-DEAS CAD environments, Design News, March 30, 2004

The "Save View" Key-in and Reference Files (for MicroStation V7 and V8) - MicroStation tutorial, Larry Shields, CADdigest.com, March 29, 2004

How to Turn Off Unused Polyline Prompts in AutoCAD - AutoCAD tip, PostalCAD, March 22, 2004

Working with a User Database - explains the benefits for CAD managers of employing a user database to organize upgrades, Ed Muirhead, CADmin.co.uk, March 29, 2004

Postponement: How Design Engineering Contributes to Success - explores design engineering best practices that help maximize the benefits of Postponement, Dick Bourke and Bob Stahl, 2PLM, March 29, 2004

2D to 3D Transition #1 - architectural firm Brennan Beer Gorman finds the best of both worlds in AutoCAD Revit Series, Arnie Williams, Cadalyst AEC Tech News, March 25, 2004

Introduction to Freeform Surface Modeling in Autodesk Inventor Series v8 - a series of 10 tutorials, J.D. Mather, March 26, 2004

The Not Quite One Page Guide to Workspace Configurations - MicroStation tutorial explores the four main configurations - .ucf, .upf, .pcf and Standards.cfg, Karen Fugle, bentleyuser.org, March 10, 2004

Additional Info on the STR Command in GDL - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 24, 2004

Inside.... The Sheraton - a report from the recent 2004 Winter Conference in London for the Bentley community, Len Greetham, March 5, 2004

Chinese Whispers - buzzwords, techspeak and mysterious acronyms are rampant in the CAD world, and although some of this is inevitable the downside is that such jargon can create barriers to communication and understanding, Nigel Davies, bentleyuser.org, March 16, 2004

FEA Automates Analysis - SolidWorks' Suchit Jain discusses the role of finite element analysis with CAD and the growing trend toward easy-to-use, integrated FEA software, Don LaCourse, Cadalyst, March 1, 2004

Auto Outsourcing: India's World No.1 - CAD/CAM professionals in India are enjoying the fact that their country is the top outsourcing destination for Detroit's auto industry, Economic Times of India, March 25, 2004

The Process Before The Program - CAM automation brings many benefits, including reduced programming time and, especially, greater consistency from job to job, Peter Zelinski, MMS Online, March 18, 2004

Rotation of Text in PlotMaker - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 24, 2004

Sill Lines Not Removable in Empty Corner Window - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 24, 2004

Search Method of Background ArchiCAD for Library Parts During PlotMaker Update of Drawings - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 24, 2004

Improving the Performance of Asphalt Plant Components - CFX-5 computational fluid analysis software helped a Brazilian company analyze and improve many of the complex processes involved in asphalt production, Ricardo Barbosa Damian and Marcus Reis, March 25, 2004

AutoCAD 2005 Now Shipping - for Autodesk, the success or failure of AutoCAD 2005 will be measured by how many users switch from buying upgrades to buying subscriptions, Randall Newton, A-E-C Automation Newsletter (hosted on CADwire.net), March 23, 2004

Damaged Files when Saved to File Server - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 22, 2004

Different Look of Texts in DXF/DWG Files and ArchiCAD - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 22, 2004

Using the 'Funnel' Button in the Layer Settings Dialog - ArchiCAD tips, Roberto Corona, Graphisoft.com, March 23, 2004

Advanced Formatting of AutoCAD 2005 Fields - AutoCAD 2005/Architectural Desktop 2005 tip, CAD Forum, March 22, 2004

The Impacts of Technology on AEC Design Practice: Detail Reuse - detail databases can save time by letting you reuse design content, but there are some pitfalls to avoid, Michael Dakan, AEC Tech News, March 18, 2004

Editing Complex Roof Slabs - Architectural Desktop 2005 tutorial focuses on how to use the trim tool, Dennis McNeal, Between the Walls ADT Weblog, March 22, 2004

CAD Modeling for CG Visual Applications - some basic tips on using Architectural Desktop, William Alexander, CGarchitect, March 22, 2004

Face Modeling - explores face modeling basics using Architectural Desktop, William Alexander, CGarchitect, March 22, 2004

Autosave Takes Much Longer Than Usual - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 19, 2004

ArchiCAD Freezes When Using Menus on Windows - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 19, 2004

No Auto-saved File After Crash - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, March 19, 2004

Rules of Engagement - advice on successful collaborative engineering and how to avoid problems with data sharing, Charles Clarke and Ken Steel, e4engineering, March 23, 2004

TurboCAD V9.5 Professional - Wrapped Product Box - illustrates a method of wrapping materials, Donald B. Cheke, Textual Creations, March 22, 2004 (zipped pdf)

CADVANCE Line Styles Version 6-5 Through to 2002 - tutorial explores line styles, Alan Wooldridge, Cadalot, March 23, 2004 (pdf)

Latest Internet Technologies Help CAE Vendors Offer Better Customer Service - today's interactive Internet tools allow CAE vendors to create a multimedia environment that provides better support to customers around the world, Bob Williams, Algor.com, March 15, 2004

2004 Engineering Salary Survey: It's Good to Be an Engineer - salaries are up, but engineers are feeling insecure about the threat of job outsourcing, Victoria Reitz, Machine Design, March 18, 2004

EDS Selling UGS PLM Solutions For $2.05 Billion - how the deal evolved and what it means for the future of UGS PLM Solutions, Jeffrey Rowe, MCAD Weekly, March 22, 2004

How to Add Own Commands to the Right-click Menu - AutoCAD 2004/2005 tip, CAD Forum, March 22, 2004

How to Get Rid of Lines Going Through Drawing Texts - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 22, 2004

Automatic Level Indicator for AutoCAD - AutoCAD 2002/2004/ADT tip, CAD Forum, March 22, 2004

Strange Behavior of ArchiCAD Scratch Files - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, February 20, 2004

Door/Window Sill Height Cannot Be Set to Value Greater than Head Height - ArchiCAD tips, Laszlo Nagy, Graphisoft.com, February 20, 2004

Using Bar Codes in Graphisoft ArchiFM's Asset Inventory Tool - ArchiCAD tutorial, Graphisoft.com, March 2004

Desktop Workstation Handles Largest Pro/E Model - engineers in South Africa use 64-bit workstations running Intel Itanium 2 processors to model, spin and simulate operations of a 500,000-part fully automated parking garage, Paul Dvorak, Machine Design, March 18, 2004

Solving for Heat, Stress, Flow, and More - some of today's finite element analysis tools - such as Femlab - provide multiphysics analysis, allowing analysts to mix and match physical processes and define and modify mathematical models to simulate these processes, Machine Design, March 18, 2004

How to Define a Local Coordinate System - ALGOR tutorial explores the FEA Editor environment of FEMPRO, Algor.com, March 22, 2004

Elkhart School Upgrades CAD - an $11 million renovation adds new computers and CAD programs for an Indiana school, Mike Myer, South Bend Tribune, March 21, 2004

Create Your Own Titleblocks in ADT 2005 - Architectural Desktop tutorial, Chris Yanchar, Between the Walls ADT Weblog, March 18, 2004

Space Planning in ADT 2004 - Architectural Desktop tutorial explores Space Planning tools, Elise Moss, mossdesigns.com, March 19, 2004 (pdf)

Creating a Custom Style E-mail for Publisher - ArchiCAD tutorial on how to create a custom e-mail style to use with ArchiCAD's Publisher feature, JT Burk, Graphisoft.com, March 2004

Understanding Attenuation - Autodesk VIZ/3ds max tutorial explains how attenuation settings effect scene environments, Alex Casanova and Steven Papke, Vizdepot, March 16, 2004 (may require free registration)

Using an Animation Constraint to Create Blinds - Autodesk VIZ/3ds max tutorial illustrates how to use the animation orientation constraint to create mini blinds, Alex Casanova and Steven Papke, Vizdepot, March 17, 2004 (may require free registration)

CADintosh - An Introduction - tutorial provides an overview of this 2D program for technical and architectural drawings, Lemke Software, March 19, 2004 (pdf)

Zoom Up on an Object or Objects with the New Zoom Option - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 15, 2004

Where Did My Grips Go? - Part 1 (A Look at GRIPOBJLIMIT) - AutoCAD 2004/2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 15, 2004

CAD Manager 101 - a list of essential skills for CAD managers and how to attain them, Robert Green, Cadalyst, March 1, 2004

Flexible Components - Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire tutorial explores the functionality that allows you to change a solid object into a flexible object that can exist in different states inside an assembly, Stan Balish, Pro/E Community, March 18, 2004 (may require free registration)

Using the Twist Warp Option - Pro/ENGINEER tutorial explains how to use the Twist option of the Warp tool, using the example of a bottle, Deepak Maini, Pro/E Community, March 18, 2004 (may require free registration)

Variation Behavioral Modeling: Key to Virtual Manufacturing - virtual designs based on virtual manufacturing process definitions, minimize the risk of errors by reducing the need for physical prototypes, Timothy V. Bogard, Pro/E Community, March 18, 2004 (may require free registration)

Virtual Building Makes Proposals Real - ArchiCAD's Virtual Building function provides a channel of communication between the architect, the client, and design review boards throughout the design process to speed approval cycles and help ensure customer satisfaction, Akos Pfemeter, Cadalyst, March 12, 2004

Virtual Reality Aids Understanding of Fluid Analysis Results - virtual reality is beginning to have an impact on engineering design by streamlining the process of converting analysis results into design solutions, Kenneth M. Bryden, Cadalyst, March 15, 2004

10 Reasons to Use Panel or Schematic Design Software - computer-aided engineering (CAE) software specifically for electrical or panel design offers faster and more efficient wiring layouts, lower design and development costs and less training time for users, Control Magazine (hosted on ferret.com.au), March 18, 2004

AutoCAD 2005: Boundary Hatch Enhancements - tutorial demonstrates the new enhancements in the BHATCH command, Alireza Parsai, CADdigest.com, March 17, 2004

UGS PLM to Sell for $2.05B - Martyn Day and W. Bradley Holtz discuss the recent selling of UGS PLM Solutions, CADwire.net, March 15, 2004

Using the New M2P to Get the Mid Between 2 Points - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 15, 2004

3rd Parties and Architectural Desktop: Teaming Up on Building Information Modeling - a survey of some of the many 3rd-party tools designed around Architectural Desktop, Chris Yanchar, Between the Walls ADT Weblog, March 16, 2004

Tracking Your Every Move - MicroStation tutorial explores Design History, which enables you to record, review and restore changes throughout a project, James Dyer, Cadalyst, March 13, 2004

Autodesk Embraces BIM - explains how Autodesk differentiates among AutoCAD, Architectural Desktop, and Revit and where these applications may be heading, and explores a recent implementation of BIM (building information modeling), H. Edward Goldberg, Cadalyst, March 1, 2004

Bug Watch March 2004 - AutoCAD bugs and workarounds include problems with Txtexp, the Txt2mtxt command and the Mtext editor, Steve Johnson, Cadalyst, March 12, 2004

Take the Express Way! - AutoCAD tutorial reviews the Express Tools for layers and blocks, Bill Fane, Cadalyst, March 12, 2004

Setting the Default Reference Type with XREFTYPE Variable - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 15, 2004

SolidWorks Advanced Tips - topics cover adding an axis to a circular pattern, adding features using the Fold and Unfold commands and changing the plane on which a hole was created, SOLID Solutions Digest, March 16, 2004

Easy And/Or Quick Ways to Save Graphics into WORD Files - SolidWorks tips, SOLID Solutions Digest, March 16, 2004

The Perils of Trying to Overcome the 2GB Memory Limit, Part 2 - SolidWorks advice on utilizing the 3GB switch with Windows XP, Wayne Tiffany, SOLID Solutions Digest, March 16, 2004 (see also Part 1)

Architectural Desktop: Create Arched Recesses with AutoCAD Solids - streaming tech tip shows how to create an arched recess with a curved back using AutoCAD solids and apply it to a wall using a body modifier, Phil Russo, Avatech Solutions, March 10, 2004

Mating Call - SolidWorks tutorial explains how mates (geometric relationships between two parts or subassemblies) can help you build functional assemblies, Greg Jankowski, Cadalyst, March 15, 2004

DDEDIT Does More with Attributes and Text in AutoCAD 2005 - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 15, 2004

Best Practice for Machining of Corners - Pro/ENGINEER tutorial explains how to avoid deflection and vibration when machining corners, Asim Rashid, Pro/E Central, March 2004

AutoCAD Electrical: Easy Title Block Management - streaming tech tip shows how to save time by using AutoCAD Electrical's tools and functionality to manage the title blocks on any or all of the drawings in a project, Carl Smith, Avatech Solutions, March 10, 2004

Land Desktop: New Libraries and Symbol Manager - streaming tech tip explains how to use the LDT Symbol Manager to add symbols to a new library created from scratch, Ron Santos, Avatech Solutions, March 10, 2004 (Part 1 of 2)

Land Desktop: Use Symbol Manager to Organize New Palettes - streaming tech tip demonstrates how editing symbols allows you to gain more control over their insertion to a drawing file, Ron Santos, Avatech Solutions, March 10, 2004 (Part 2 of 2)

Blending the Edges of Adjacent Materials - Autodesk VIZ/3ds max tutorial illustrates a method of blending between two adjacent materials that have been assigned to faces by Material ID number, Ted Boardman, Vizdepot, March 14, 2004 (may require free registration)

FEA Software Gives Robotic Rover an Arm Up - using CosmosWorks software from SolidWorks, engineers built a lightweight but strong robotic arm for NASA's "Spirit" Mars rover, optimizing the design without resorting to physical prototypes, American Machinist, March 1, 2004

Inventor: Interactive Contact - streaming tech tip illustrates how to use contact sets to check for collision and simulate component interaction in Inventor 8 assemblies, Mike Ikenberry, Avatech Solutions, March 10, 2004

ADT/ABS Plug-ins and Online Content Updated - Architectural Desktop 2005 updates the Architectural Desktop & VIZ Render Plug-ins online catalog located in the Content Browser library, Chris Yanchar, Between the Walls ADT Weblog, March 10, 2004

Customizing Sheet Keynotes - how to customize the new Sheet Keynotes in Architectural Desktop 2005, Chris Yanchar, Between the Walls ADT Weblog, March 9, 2004

Intelligent DWF in ADT - Architectural Desktop tip on using the Interoperability and Productivity Extension to include ADT property set data in DWF files for viewing in the DWF Viewer, Chris Yanchar, Between the Walls ADT Weblog, March 5, 2004

How to Insert TurboCAD Drawings into Word - TurboCAD streaming video tip, CADCourse.com, March 12, 2004

Revit: Modifying A Wall Family - streaming tech tip explains how to make a modification in a wall family that will allow you to vertically lengthen a component within a wall without changing any of the other components, Phil Russo, Avatech Solutions, March 10, 2004

How to Simulate Linear Static Stress with Mechanical Event Simulation - ALGOR tutorial, Algor.com, March 12, 2004 (more FEA features)

Ridgway Students Learn Drafting Technology Tactics - Ridgway, Pennsylvania students receive introductory technology classes beginning in 7th grade, preparing them for advanced CAD classes in high school and a technical career after graduation, Ridgway Record, March 11, 2004

MCAD Industry - A March 2004 Autodesk Update - a look at Autodesk's achievements and activities during the fourth quarter and what that may portend for the company's future, Russ Henke and Jack Horgan, MCAD Cafe, March 10, 2004

Goodbye CAD. Goodbye BIM. Hello PEN - Paul Seletsky, director of technology at Davis Brody Bond, proposes a new acronym - PEN (for Parametric-ENabled) - to replace BIM and explains his reasoning for it, Lachmi Khemlani, AECbytes, March 11, 2004

Using the Layer Walk Tool - AutoCAD tip explores a useful Express Tool, CAD-1, March/April 2004

Getting the Most Out of Editing in a Viewport (VPMAX / VPMIN) - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 11, 2004

Robot Builder Could 'Print' Houses - a new robot takes instructions directly from an architect's computerized drawings and then squirts successive layers of concrete on top of one another to build up vertical walls and domed roofs, Max Glaskin, NewScientist.com, March 10, 2004

Project Overview - Total Textures tutorial illustrates roof modeling, Li Suli, 3dtotal.com, March 11, 2004

Virtual Swimmer Helps Speedo Create a Faster Swimsuit - computational fluid dynamics software maker Fluent and swimwear company Speedo teamed up to develop a "virtual swimmer" that helped them evaluate the drag and fluid flow around swimmers and create a swimsuit as hydrodynamic as possible, CADdigest.com, March 11, 2004

Haptic Rendering: Introductory Concepts - provides an overview of a technology that allows users to “feel” virtual objects in a simulated environment, Kenneth Salisbury, Francois Conti and Federico Barbagli, IEEE CG&A, March/April 2004 (pdf)

AutoCAD 2005: Fields - tutorial illustrates how to use fields in your drawings, Alireza Parsai, CADdigest.com, March 10, 2004

Creating a Date in a Field that Is All Uppercase - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 10, 2004

Hidden Selection Set Tips with No Command Active - AutoCAD tip, PostalCAD, March 1, 2004

Why Does Exploding Take Longer at Times with AutoCAD 2005? - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 10, 2004

How to Break a Polyline to Segments of Given Number or Length - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 10, 2004

CAM Going Upstream - knowledge bases have the potential to move the focus of manufacturing applications upstream from toolpath generation into the heart of the design process, John Callen, DE Online, March 2004

Find Your Way to the Right Digitizer - tips from vendors and service bureaus on how to choose the best 3D digitizing hardware for your needs, Pamela J. Waterman, DE Online, March 2004

Palette Parade - tips on using AutoCAD tool palettes, Michael Beall, CADTutor, March 2004

Enabling/Disabling the Node Snapping for Mtext Objects - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 1, 2004 

How to Sort Layers in the Order of Creation - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 9, 2004 

Multi-line Dimension Texts Using Control Codes - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 9, 2004 

Using the Powerful Search Tool in Design Center - AutoCAD tip, PostalCAD, February 23, 2004 

How to Convert 3D Models from Architectural Desktop to Autodesk Inventor - ADT/Inventor tip, CAD Forum, March 9, 2004

"Reverse Engineering" Your Pro/ENGINEER Models for Top-Down Design - how to add top-down design (TDD) features to enhance legacy Pro/E models, Jason Clark, Profiles Magazine, Spring 2004 

Step-by-Step Wildfire Installation - tips to ensure a successful install of Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire, Mark Fischer, Pro/Clues Digest, March 9, 2004 

Creating a Parametric Note Block - Pro/ENGINEER tips on using parameters residing in your part file to generate drawing notes, Kenneth S. Johnson, Profiles Magazine, Spring 2004 

Flexible Components - Pro/ENGINEER tutorial on a new functionality that gives added capabilities for assembly management, Stan Balish, Pro/Clues Digest, March 9, 2004 

Using Relations to Assign Different Materials and Mass Properties for Family Table Instances - Pro/E tips explain how to access parameters from one of the many material files defined in the generic model to drive family table instances, Dwaraka Nadha Reddy, Profiles Magazine, Spring 2004 

Running Water - explains how to create running water effects in both 3ds max and Autodesk VIZ, Ted Boardman, CGarchitect, March 2004

form*Z Tips & Tricks - this collection of tips covers modeling, texture mapping, lighting/rendering and more, Kenth Agurell, AGU Datakonsult AB, March 9, 2004

Monkey Nuts! - finite element analysis has been used to analyze many mechanical processes - including, with the help of ALGOR software, the simulation of primate chewing, CAD User Magazine, December/January 2004

The Future of 3D Mechanical Design - the heads of four established CAD software firms and one startup - PTC, Autodesk, SolidWorks, UGS PLM Solutions and Sensable - discuss where they want to take their products in the future, CADCAMNet, March 8, 2004

Keeping Up to Date with Communication Center - AutoCAD 2004/2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 8, 2004

Undocumented Options of the 3DCONFIG Command - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 8, 2004

How to Import a Word Document into AutoCAD and Keep it Linked - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 8, 2004

How to Scale Plotted Linewidths - AutoCAD tip, CAD Forum, March 8, 2004

Autodesk Claims Inventor/Inventor Series Reigns For Three Years Running - although Autodesk's claim that its Autodesk Inventor Series is the world's best-selling 3D mechanical design software is true, SolidWorks actually generated $21 million more in revenue last year, Jeffrey Rowe, MCAD Weekly, March 8, 2004

How to Model a Watch and Export it into the VET Format for Web 3D Display Streaming - solidThinking video tutorial shows how to use the Make Manifold modeling tool and publish the model on the web using Viewpoint Experience Technology, solidThinking.com, March 8, 2004

How to Model a Hair Dryer Using Lathe, Trim and Blend Tools - solidThinking video tutorial illustrates the flexibility of a "Construction History"-based modeling approach, solidThinking.com, March 8, 2004

Enabling/Disabling the Taskbar Feature in AutoCAD - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, March 1, 2004

Copying a Style to a Template - Autodesk Architectural Desktop tutorial explains how to copy a wall style to a template so that the style is always available, Elise Moss, mossdesigns.com, March 5, 2004 (pdf)

For New Buildings, Digital Models Offer an Advance Walk-Through - the new baseball stadium in Philadelphia won't open until next month, but many people feel they've visited it already after viewing digital models produced by a local architectural firm, Michel Marriott, New York Times, March 4, 2004 (may require free registration)

3D Program Creates More Options for McCann Computer Students - CAD students at a Massachusetts high school are expanding their skills with Maya animation software, which will give them an edge in preparing themselves for future high-tech jobs, Karen Gardner, North Adams Transcript, March 5, 2004

Sheet Sets and More in AutoCAD 2005 - offers a detailed look at sheet sets and the other new features in the upcoming AutoCAD 2005, Lachmi Khemlani, AECbytes, March 4, 2004

Pro/Engineer Tip-of-the-Month: Using Layers for Dimensions - tips on how to reduce the clutter of dimensions on the screen, Pro/E tips, Synthesis Engineering Systems, March 2004

Modeling Libeskind's WTC - a look at the computer modeling tools - which included form*Z and VectorWorks - used in designing the World Trade Center project, Jerry Fireman, Architecture Week, March 4, 2004

Stereo 3D Eye Candy - an overview of stereo 3D imaging, which has the potential to become a market of the future in a variety of industries, including CAD, Lutz Mohr, Tom's Hardware Guide, March 4, 2004

How to Develop Your CAD Standards - a guide designed to explain the importance of CAD standards within the construction industry, Construct I.T. for Business, March 3, 2004 (pdf)

A New Approach to Arbitrary Plane Wrapping in TurboCAD - reviews the principles of Arbitrary Plane wrapping and how to use TurboCAD's new dexterity with raster images, Henry O. Hubich, CADCourse.com, March 3, 2004

Tools for All Jobs - PLM software helps manufacturers make more successful products because it expands the development process to incorporate market- and customer-driven features into the design, Jim Brown, Mechanical Engineering, March 2004

Laser Scanning Cuts Through Challenge - laser scanning was used to produce a new mold for a part that previously had been made from CAD data and pattern models, Michelle Maniscalco, Injection Molding Magazine, March 2004

Life Through a Lens - CNC machining leads to surgical success in helping prevent blindness, Matt Bailey, Surfware.com, March 2, 2004

The Breaks of Progress - engineering failure analysis keeps accidents from repeating themselves and often leads to advances in technology, Barbara Wolcott, Mechanical Engineering, March 2004

Mobile Computing Comes Handy For Design Community - using mobile devices, surveyors, architects and designers working in the field can dispense with cumbersome paper maps and drawings to access and adjust the design document at the location, Indranil Chakraborty, Financial Express, March 3, 2004

Autodesk Q4 2004 Conference Call - an analysis of Autodesk's fourth quarter, which saw increased revenues, more employee layoffs and a stream of upgrades, Ralph Grabowski, upFront.eZine, March 2, 2004

PDF/E for CAD Documents - an official committee has been formed to help make the portable document format (PDF) friendlier towards CAD drawings - with the goal of creating an ISO standard by 2006, Ralph Grabowski, upFront.eZine, March 2, 2004

Marketing Expenditure in the CAD Industry - marketing budgets in the UK have not increased greatly since measured two years ago, and the highest proportion of these budgets is still spent on direct marketing and exhibition activities, CAD Spaghetti, March 2004

CADKEY Rechristened as KEYCREATOR - the former CADKEY application is now part of an integrated environment for measuring, modeling and machining - what its new owner Kubotek refers to as its M-cubed approach, Amy Rowell, CADwire.net, March 1, 2004

Customization of Shortcut Keys - CATIA tip on how to make shortcuts permanent, Ragu, CATIA Digital Digest, March 2, 2004

PDM Helps Company Conquer Growing Pains - a growing international metal parts fabrication firm added SmarTeam to their AutoCAD and SolidWorks tools to help its global employees collaborate on projects in real-time and to help organize everything from quotes and office documents to installation measurements and analysis reports, Michelle Lang, Design News, March 2, 2004

Loyalty to CAD Vendor Survey - once CAD/CAM users select their suppliers, it's unlikely they will consider a change, CAD Spaghetti, March 2004

SolidWorks Mold Design Workflow Tools - tutorial explores some tools to decrease design time while eliminating errors and reducing the need to build costly prototypes, SolidWorks Express, March 2004

Sharing Data and Import Diagnostics - SolidWorks tips on collaborating on a design project, SolidWorks SolidWorks Express, March 2004

Increase Your Overall System Performance - tips on making SolidWorks run faster by tweaking your operating system, computer-related settings and SolidWorks settings, SolidWorks Express, March 2004

Heavyweight Collaboration Through Lightweight JT - the JT file format is a CAD -neutral format that allows 3D collaborative design, makes cross-platform visualization a reality and enables data integration throughout the supply chain, Larry Gould, Automotive Design & Production, March 1, 2004

Design: Next BPO Frontier for India - India is emerging as a design hub as more and more companies are increasingly outsourcing industrial and engineering design tasks to the country, N. Vidyasagar, Time of India, March 1, 2004

denotes a select article