- Email: [email protected]
The MacEnhancer from Microsoft
Compared to traditional CAD systems InfoCAD represents a major step forward in its speed of interaction. The system recognises the user's intentions without involving him in programming or lengthy step-by-step procedures. It will cater for a variety of parametric operations and customised codes of practice including dimensioning standards and house style for either graphic or selected text fonts. A notable feature, believed to be unique, is the application of screen management. Users can assign areas of the screen to display several unrelated drawings, or possibly different parts of the same drawing. The current selected area is simply governed by the position of the screen cursor. Any drawing can be worked on during the same session. Details can be transferred across unrelated areas using the 'cut and paste' facility. Areas can be added, modified, moved, removed, scaled etc. and modifications to one area will be automatically updated in all related areas. Contact: Ferranti Infographics Ltd, UK. Tel.: 0506 411583.
New for Planners Elan is an interactive, colour graphics, network drawing system. It uses advanced CAD techniques to allow project planners to draw networks at their terminal as precisely as the manual operation of a draughtsman. It automatically prepares a data file of all activities and relationships which can be analysed by any critical path program. Elan will then accept back schedule dates and modifications from the analysis program which can be displayed and plotted as required. This program, says Euro-log Systems, is a major benefit to the planner. It allows him to control the layout of his network rather than be at the mercy of the computer's decision as to how it would 'best fit' the page. Contact: Philip Cole, Euro-log, UK. Tel.: 0442 40383.
The MacEnhancer from Microsoft Microsoft now has a new hardware expansion device that allows all Macintosh applications to use a wide range of IBM compatible printers. Called the MacEnhancer, its main purpose is to allow Macintosh users to use other printers besides the Apple Imagewriter. It provides four additional ports, that allow a total of five different peripheral devices to be connected. These can be letter quality printers, dot matrix printers, modems and virtually any other device using RS232 serial, RS232 parallel and RS422 serial connections. As well as including all the software necessary to drive a wide range of printers, the system enables the Macintosh to emulate the popular VT52 and VT100 terminals. This can permit Macintoshes to be connected and information to be passed between them. Macintoshes may also be connected to mainframe and minicomputers, and to other micros, regardless of which operating system they are using. The most significant feature of the MacEnhancer is its ability to support the most popular printers in current use. Contact: Alasdair Boyle, Microsoft, UK. Tel.: 07535 59951.
Graphical Robot Applications Simulation Package Launched by BYG Systems Ltd, is GRASP, a graphical robot applications simulation package. This is a CAD system which uses computer graphics to simulate robot installations. Using GRASP the design of FMS/Robot cells can
162
Adv. Eng. Software, 1985, VoL 7, No. 3
be optimised, thus saving time and money. GRASP is a fully integrated modelling and simulation package, available in a variety of configurations. The system has been successfully used to evaluate several robot installations. Features include three-dimensional solid modeller giving hidden lines capability; powerful display and manipulation facilities; generalised kinematic robot modeller allows the user to model his own robots; sophisticated robot control allowing creation, storage and replay of robot prgrams including robot disgnostics. Contact BYG Systems Ltd, UK. Tel.: 0602 506101, ext. 3468.
Increased Processing Power New from Floating Point Systems comes the FPS-264 model, an enhanced 64-bit computer which offers increased processing power, up to 38 million floating-point operations per second (MFLOPS), with improved price-performance. Primary applications for the new computer include structural analysis, computational chemistry, electronic circuit design, computational physics and reservoir simulation. The FPS-264 heads a Floating Point family of 64-bit products which also includes the FPS-164 and the FPS164/MAX. The FPS-164, introduced in late 1981, delivers a performance of-up to 11 MFLOPS for users in universities, research centres, government and industry. The FPS-164/ MAX employs special hardware accelerators to further increase processing speeds (up to 341 MFLOPS) for applications utilising matrix algebra. Contact: Floating Point Systems, UK. Tel.: 0344 56921.
2D Draughting and Dimensioning Module Addition SDRC has announced the addition of a 2D draughting and dimensioning module, Geodraw TM, which interfaces directly with its market leading solid modeller, Geomod TM. The module is an interactive system which utilises dynamic on-screen menus and prompts for direct access to commonly used commands. A consistent command format, patterned after Geomod, makes the system easy to learn and use. The modelling flexibility is further enhanced by 2D geometry creation capability. A unique dynamic ' T ' square feature emulates the traditional draughting machine, eliminating the need for frequent trigonometric calculations. An automatic trim feature and dynamic positioning of symbols speeds the creation of drawings and further enhances Geomod's 2D layout and detailing features. Also featured is a dynamic dimensioning capability which provides the flexibility of working in real time. Users can create text, dimensions, labels, and balloons and immediately interact with the system to arrange arrows, position text, and break witness lines. Geodraw dimensioning also provides for easy inclusion of one- and two-valued tolerances as well as limit dimensions. Linear, radial and diametraI dimensions can be presented in English or metric units, angular dimensions in decimal or degree-min-s form. An 'intelligent' crosshatching capability provides automatic boundary chaining and generalised 'islands'. Geodraw adapts to the wide range of engineering drawing requirements by providing a variety of curve fonts, flexible, easily-modified drawing formats, and a capability for creating user-defined symbol libraries. Contact: Linda Graham, GE-CAE International, UK. Tel.: 0462 5711.
New for Planners Elan is an interactive, colour graphics, network drawing system. It uses advanced CAD techniques to allow project planners to draw networks at their terminal as precisely as the manual operation of a draughtsman. It automatically prepares a data file of all activities and relationships which can be analysed by any critical path program. Elan will then accept back schedule dates and modifications from the analysis program which can be displayed and plotted as required. This program, says Euro-log Systems, is a major benefit to the planner. It allows him to control the layout of his network rather than be at the mercy of the computer's decision as to how it would 'best fit' the page. Contact: Philip Cole, Euro-log, UK. Tel.: 0442 40383.
The MacEnhancer from Microsoft Microsoft now has a new hardware expansion device that allows all Macintosh applications to use a wide range of IBM compatible printers. Called the MacEnhancer, its main purpose is to allow Macintosh users to use other printers besides the Apple Imagewriter. It provides four additional ports, that allow a total of five different peripheral devices to be connected. These can be letter quality printers, dot matrix printers, modems and virtually any other device using RS232 serial, RS232 parallel and RS422 serial connections. As well as including all the software necessary to drive a wide range of printers, the system enables the Macintosh to emulate the popular VT52 and VT100 terminals. This can permit Macintoshes to be connected and information to be passed between them. Macintoshes may also be connected to mainframe and minicomputers, and to other micros, regardless of which operating system they are using. The most significant feature of the MacEnhancer is its ability to support the most popular printers in current use. Contact: Alasdair Boyle, Microsoft, UK. Tel.: 07535 59951.
Graphical Robot Applications Simulation Package Launched by BYG Systems Ltd, is GRASP, a graphical robot applications simulation package. This is a CAD system which uses computer graphics to simulate robot installations. Using GRASP the design of FMS/Robot cells can
162
Adv. Eng. Software, 1985, VoL 7, No. 3
be optimised, thus saving time and money. GRASP is a fully integrated modelling and simulation package, available in a variety of configurations. The system has been successfully used to evaluate several robot installations. Features include three-dimensional solid modeller giving hidden lines capability; powerful display and manipulation facilities; generalised kinematic robot modeller allows the user to model his own robots; sophisticated robot control allowing creation, storage and replay of robot prgrams including robot disgnostics. Contact BYG Systems Ltd, UK. Tel.: 0602 506101, ext. 3468.
Increased Processing Power New from Floating Point Systems comes the FPS-264 model, an enhanced 64-bit computer which offers increased processing power, up to 38 million floating-point operations per second (MFLOPS), with improved price-performance. Primary applications for the new computer include structural analysis, computational chemistry, electronic circuit design, computational physics and reservoir simulation. The FPS-264 heads a Floating Point family of 64-bit products which also includes the FPS-164 and the FPS164/MAX. The FPS-164, introduced in late 1981, delivers a performance of-up to 11 MFLOPS for users in universities, research centres, government and industry. The FPS-164/ MAX employs special hardware accelerators to further increase processing speeds (up to 341 MFLOPS) for applications utilising matrix algebra. Contact: Floating Point Systems, UK. Tel.: 0344 56921.
2D Draughting and Dimensioning Module Addition SDRC has announced the addition of a 2D draughting and dimensioning module, Geodraw TM, which interfaces directly with its market leading solid modeller, Geomod TM. The module is an interactive system which utilises dynamic on-screen menus and prompts for direct access to commonly used commands. A consistent command format, patterned after Geomod, makes the system easy to learn and use. The modelling flexibility is further enhanced by 2D geometry creation capability. A unique dynamic ' T ' square feature emulates the traditional draughting machine, eliminating the need for frequent trigonometric calculations. An automatic trim feature and dynamic positioning of symbols speeds the creation of drawings and further enhances Geomod's 2D layout and detailing features. Also featured is a dynamic dimensioning capability which provides the flexibility of working in real time. Users can create text, dimensions, labels, and balloons and immediately interact with the system to arrange arrows, position text, and break witness lines. Geodraw dimensioning also provides for easy inclusion of one- and two-valued tolerances as well as limit dimensions. Linear, radial and diametraI dimensions can be presented in English or metric units, angular dimensions in decimal or degree-min-s form. An 'intelligent' crosshatching capability provides automatic boundary chaining and generalised 'islands'. Geodraw adapts to the wide range of engineering drawing requirements by providing a variety of curve fonts, flexible, easily-modified drawing formats, and a capability for creating user-defined symbol libraries. Contact: Linda Graham, GE-CAE International, UK. Tel.: 0462 5711.