EDS Technologies Signs MoU With Mar Baselios College Of Engineering

EDS Technologies EDST one of the leading PLM solutions company in India today announced that the company has entered into a strategic relationship with Mar Baselios College of Engineering Trivandrum to set up a finishing school for the students in the pre final and final years of Mechanical Production Automobile and Aerospace engineering

EDST will also conduct specialized training programmes for students from other institutes and working professionals seeking knowledge and enhancement of their skills On course completion the students will be awarded certification from EDS Technologies Pvt Ltd and Mar Baselios College of Engineering
This initiative focuses on developing long term relationship with Educational Institutions through in depth engagements around student and faculty programs and equip them with latest in technology said Mr S Senthil President EDS Technologies Pvt Ltd The association will strengthen the availability of professionals with right knowledge and skills and bridge the gap between industry requirements and academic excellence he added.

Taking Industry Academics relationship to the next level EDST will lay special emphasis on equipping engineering students and professionals with knowledge and skills that will enhance their value to industry The Finishing School will focus on providing industry specific technical training in PLM tools in order to scale up the employability levels of engineering graduates.

PLM offers revolutionary solutions to designing analyzing manufacturing and servicing products while profoundly transforming industrial processes and businesses The programme includes a curriculum that comprehensively covers the concepts and advanced features of PLM tools that enable conceptual and detailed designing resulting in state of the art knowledge based solutions.

Z Corporation Sponsors Reality Show Contest for Student Designers

Z Corporation today announced it will sponsor "Reality Redesigned," a student-focused design competition and online reality show that will spawn daring new mountain bike designs created by inventive riders.

The show bills itself as "the ultimate design contest ... what happens when the biggest names in North American manufacturing, design and engineering throw open the doors and allow both mountain bikers and designers alike to have at it." In addition to entertainment, the episodes will serve as solid curriculum material for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers across North America.

The contest will spotlight the design process from drawing board to finished product.
Z Corporation Technical Support Specialist and expert mountain bike rider Dave Mee will "ZPrint" prototypes of three finalists in three categories, in preparation for a showdown at the RAPID 2012 Conference May 22-25, 2012. The winner will be announced live at the
Z Corporation booth. The winning design will then be manufactured and tested by a pro rider.

"Reality Redesigned" is produced by host and Executive Producer Jeremy Bout and others involved in "The Edge Factor Show," who are joining forces with Pinkbike (www.pinkbike.com), one of the top mountain bike sites in the world. Here's how it works:

Submissions (mid-December through Feb. 24, 2012). After registering for Pinkbike (free), contestants will place their submission into one of three categories.

1. Mountain-bike suspension
2. Mountain-bike component
3. Mountain-bike frame

Screening (ongoing). Submissions will be scored by Bout and qualified experts from the mountain-bike industry. A real-time leaderboard will track the top 15 designs in each category.

The Gauntlet (April/May 2012). Experts determine how designs will stand up to a real-life scenario, then grade each based on research, material pricing and specific criteria:

1. 3D Modeling -- Fit, form and function.

2. Rapid Prototyping -- (usefulness, rideability) -- Judges: Mee and professional rider Mike Montgomery. Mee will "ZPrint" the entries of three finalists in each category. 3D printing converts three-dimensional computer-aided design data into physical prototypes.

3. Engineering/Business plan

4. Manufacturability

Finals (May 22-25, 2012). At the RAPID 2012 Conference, three final designs will be displayed and judged, in three episodes shot with a live audience in the Z Corporation booth. The judging will include stringent and rigorous testing using finite element analysis (FEA) software and ZPrinted prototypes. The winner will be announced in the Z Corporation booth.

Epilogue: The winning design will be manufactured and tested by a pro rider.

"ZPrinting is a center-stage component of the show, inspiring innovation and bringing contestants' designs to reality," said Bout. "With physical models, judges and industry manufacturers can more deeply understand a design, and what it will be able to do on the trail. ZPrints will also expose students to technology they will use in their engineering careers."

"Reality Redesigned" is just one example of Z Corporation's ongoing commitment to education in addition to its EngineeringZONE™ program, sponsorships and education discounts.

To enter the contest: http://www.edgefactor.com/?i=12747&mid=1000&id=373053

QuEST Global partners with Gogte Institute of Technology to offer Computer Design and Analysis Courses

Belgaum - QuEST Global Engineering and KLS’s Gogte Institute of Technology (GIT) today signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to jointly establish a state-of-the-art training centre and finishing school in design, offering courses in Computer Aided Design/Manufacturing/Engineering (CAD/CAM/CAE). The school will be known as CADAM (Center for Advanced Design and Manufacturing) and set up at the Gogte Institute at Belgaum to cater to the growing number of engineering students from the region.

The MOU was exchanged in a function organized at the Gogte Institute Campus between Dr. A. G. Kulkarni, Chairman, Karnataka Law Society, Belgaum and Dr. Matcha Rajan, Vice President, QuEST Global. Also present at the occasion were Mr. M. R. Kulkarni, Chairman, Governing Council, GIT Belgaum, Mr. Sandesh Shirodker, Center manager, QuEST Global, Dr. A. S. Deshpande, Principal and Dr. V. S. Majali, HOD - Mechanical Engineering.

This technical course is designed to train students who aspire to join Original equipment manufacturer/Engineering service providers that require design and analysis work. Currently courses will cover FEA (Finite Element Analsys) and CAD while other training courses will be extended depending on the demand over time.

Dr. Ajay Prabhu, Chief Operating Officer, QuEST Global Engineering said, “This is an exciting initiative from QuEST which marks our entry into formalized education. QuEST Global is today recognised among the world’s ten leading engineering service companies, and this title has only spurred us on to foray into education and training, in an effort to impart our knowledge and experience with students in classrooms.”

He adds, “We are very happy to partner with the Gogte Institute of Technology through this effort that can benefit thousands of students. The joint certified program will deliver best in class curriculum, faculty and infrastructure apart from providing opportunities for hands on experience through internships as well as job opportunities.” Speaking about the joint venture, Mr. A. G. Kulkarni, Chairman, Karnataka Law Society, Belgaum adds, “It gives me immense pleasure to sign this MoU with a prestigious organization like QuEST. The tie-up will only boost industry-institute interaction and help enhance the understanding of students, while making them aware of what the industry expects from them.”

Adding to this Mr. M. R Kulkarni, Chairman, Governing Council, GIT Belgaum said, “I am very pleased to have this MoU with QuEST a leader in engineering & manufacturing services. This tie-up will further help GIT scale new heights in academic excellence. I am also confident that this relationship between QuEST and GIT is well poised to row and benefit all its stakeholders.”

Sona College of Technology adopts Tekla BIM technology as part of curriculum

The Tamil Nadu based institution joins the group of over 200 universities globally.

Tekla India, the Indian arm of Tekla Corporation; announced today that Sona College of Technology, a renowned educational institute based in Tamil Nadu will include Tekla’s suite of 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, Tekla Structures as part of its academic curriculum for engineering students. The college will train civil and structural engineering students at its School of Industrial & Engineering Technologies. With the implementation of Tekla Structures in academics, students will be able to visualize and simulate real-life construction project workflows and receive hands on training and rich experience.

"Our engineering students will receive tremendous industry-like exposure and learn cutting-edge 3D BIM techniques using Tekla Structures software. They will probably get insights into what an engineer would typically receive after spending nearly 8-10 years in the industry," said Prasad Babu, Head of civil engineering department, Sona College. "We want to train and equip our students with the technology and tools that are used by commercial experts in the industry so that the school-to-work transition is seamless and at an accelerated pace."

"We are delighted that Indian educational institutes such as Sona College are taking the lead in pioneering education on advanced building construction technologies in India and matching international standards. This will help in producing highly skilled and trained engineers that can rapidly adapt to real-life scenarios and be more productive at their workplaces”, said Nirmalya Chatterjee, COO, Tekla India.

Mr. Dhirajlal, Honorable Secretary, Sona College of Technology, who has served the Building & Construction Industry with very wide and versatile experience of over five decades, was crucial in the initiation of this unique initiative for the institution. Commenting about the development, Mr. Dhirajlal said, “The purpose of educating young engineers and designers to the use of advanced 3D modelling tools such as Tekla Structures will assist them to better understand the constructability of building systems at both at a macro and micro level. We are confident that by adopting Tekla Structures, our graduate students will find a wider acceptance in the industry”.

Currently over 200 universities globally have adopted Tekla Structures in their curriculum, like Georgia Institute of Technology’s US School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jönköping University, Sweden, University of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. Sona College of Technology will now join this group of prestigious institutions, who have adopted Tekla BIM Techno

Cedarville University Supports Competitive Engineering with SolidWorks

Engineering Program Competes in Several Challenges per Year, Including Solar Splash.

Many United States colleges and universities are committed to creating quality engineering programs. Among these institutions is Ohio’s Cedarville University, a 125-year-old liberal arts college whose undergraduate department of engineering and computer science holds its own internal design competitions and dominates external competitions, such as Solar Splash, an intercollegiate solar boat regatta.

Cedarville’s engineering and computer science department has been relying on SolidWorks® 3D design solutions since 1996. Using SolidWorks, the department teaches more than 100 freshmen per year about modeling and CAD, challenging them with increasingly difficult projects until they demonstrate proficiency with SolidWorks. The goal is to prepare them for the real world with marketable skills. Likewise, senior students are tasked with a year-long design project that enables them to use every aspect of SolidWorks, such as lofting and analysis.

Cedarville also runs regular engineering competitions, such as a contest to design, build and race a cardboard canoe across a lake during homecoming weekend. The value of these competitions is to design, simulate, test and then use the physical end result.

“We want our students designing in SolidWorks because it’s the software they’ll use in the industry,” said Jay Kinsinger, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Cedarville University. “It’s so much more than CAD—it’s computer-aided engineering. Teaching students to use SolidWorks gives them a leg up in the job market, and testing their skills through different types of competitions keeps them engaged, encourages creativity and trains their minds to always be designing. SolidWorks has been a critical asset to the success of our engineering program.”

One of the most significant competitions that the Cedarville engineering team participates in is Solar Splash; the team has also participated in the Frisian Solar Challenge in the Netherlands. The contest comprises two challenges: one for endurance and one for speed, requiring that the boat encompasses design elements for both challenges. Cedarville, a six-time Solar Splash champion, designed a revolutionary hull that changes its characteristics by shifts in on-board weight to achieve endurance versus speed. With SolidWorks they were able to design hull shells more intuitively using the lofting feature, and analyze how that hull cuts through water using SolidWorks Simulation.”

“The Cedarville design team has a long track record of winning the Solar Splash competition and provides a fantastic example of how to build a robust engineering program using SolidWorks,” said Marie Planchard, director of education at Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks. “We’re looking forward to seeing how the team does at this year’s Solar Splash event and to welcoming Cedarville’s current class to the design industry.”

Cedarville University attracts 3,300 undergraduate, graduate and online students to more than 100 areas of study. Cedarville is a Christ-centered learning community recognized nationally for rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. Visit the University online at www.cedarville.edu.

Cedarville relies on authorized SolidWorks reseller 3DVision Technologies for ongoing software training, implementation and support.

Quanser unleashes robots and unmanned vehicles for First Robotics high school team to promote careers in engineering

Twenty high school students from two Markham area high schools will get to spend a morning with professional engineers experiencing innovative technology that could inspire them to choose exciting careers in engineering.

Quanser Inc., a leading engineering company dedicated to advancing engineering education and research, will host students from St. Robert Catholic High School and Saint Brother Andre Catholic High School at their headquarters in Markham on Friday, December 16th, 2011 at 7:00 am.

"Our young visitors will get a chance to control robots and learn firsthand about what it is like to be an engineer," says Paul Gilbert, Quanser CEO. "The students will manipulate a driving simulator, interact with a robot used for remote surgical procedures, and control an unmanned ground vehicle as it completes a specific mission. They'll also have plenty of opportunities to mingle with Quanser engineers and ask questions about the technology or what it is like to be an engineer."

Both high schools will participate in the upcoming 2012 First Robotic Championships, with Quanser sponsoring the St. Robert student team. The student teams will have six weeks to design, build, and program a 140-pound robot to compete against other high school teams in a high stakes, no-holds barred, robotics competition solving real-world challenges. They will be aiming to earn a place in the World Championship competition this April in St. Louis, Missouri.

"FIRST Robotics Canada is proud to partner with companies like Quanser. Our mission is to inspire young people to pursue further studies and careers in the fields of science, technology and engineering. Our vision is of a world which celebrates success in science, technology and engineering and in which young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes" says Mark Breadner, Executive Director, FIRST Robotics Canada.

The principal of St. Robert, Jennifer Sarna, also appreciates Quanser's involvement. "By opening their doors to us, Quanser is allowing our students to gain a hands-on understanding of what it means to be a professional engineer, working in a state of the art facility, as part of a company that prides itself on innovation and inspiration."

The robotics that the students will be getting their hands on is currently being used by more than 2000 universities worldwide to captivate and motivate engineering students and produce graduates and researchers with industry-relevant skills and a zest for innovation. The visiting students will gain insight in to how exciting an engineering career can be.

Quanser, recently voted Markham's "most innovative company" by the Markham Board of Trade, strongly supports outreach programs that encourage young minds to pursue math, science and engineering education.

LEGO engineer uses Hans Schiesser scholarship to study at Delcam

LEGO engineer Thilip Ponnampalam recently spent a week undertaking advanced training in PowerMILL, Delcam’s CAM system for high-speed and five-axis machining, following his award of a Hans Schiesser scholarship. The scholarship can be used by the winner for any training relevant to his work and Mr. Ponnampalam chose to develop his CAM skills at Delcam’s Birmingham headquarters.

LEGO has used PowerMILL for more than ten years in its Prototyping & Tooling Division and now uses thirteen seats of the software to produce the moulds for its LEGO and duplo bricks, as well as for parts for the special characters in its Star Wars, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and other ranges.

Mr. Ponnampalam has worked in Prototyping & Tooling since March, 2006. During that time he has become so expert in the use of PowerMILL that he carries out regular training in the software for his colleagues. He is responsible for testing all new versions of PowerMILL and for sending feedback to Delcam’s development team in Birmingham.

In particular, Mr. Ponnampalam has become expert in using the macro language in PowerMILL to customise the software specifically to meet LEGO’s needs. The macros he has created make it easier for less experienced engineers to use the software and ensure that they use the optimum milling strategies to machine the moulds. Both these factors allow everyone in the team to improve their output.

The scholarship judges said that Mr. Ponnampalam "possesses a very keen interest in, and knowledge of, many of the technical processes used at LEGO but is unique when it comes to CAM programming. His knowledge of PowerMILL is exceptional and contributes greatly to the efficient manufacture of moulds. This is one of the company’s core competencies and critical to LEGO’s continued success.”

The scholarship was established in 1982 by Borg-Warner Chemicals, GE Plastics BV and Thuesen & Funch in memory of Hans Schiesser, who devoted much of his life to the development of plastic raw materials and plastic moulding technology within the LEGO Group. It supports the training and professional development of young, promising LEGO engineers.

Tomorrow's CAM Specialists Are Taught Alphacam Today at Wolverhampton College

Teaching Alphacam as part of BTEC and City & Guilds courses can give Wolverhampton College students a boost up the career ladder, according to their engineering lecturer.

Neil Davies says within The City Of Wolverhampton College’s BTEC Level 3 course an assessment is based on the students producing a machined part with Alphacam; and a whole unit is based on CAD/CAM as part of their HNC course.

“The students work on a number of different milling parts which include features like pockets, islands, holes and outside profiles. Firstly, the parts are drawn up through CAD. Then we go through importing the DXF, STL or IGES files into Alphacam, creating geometries and toolpaths, looking at speeds and feeds, and optimising programs in terms of tool changes, along with parameters for lead in and lead out moves, and outputting the program to our CNC machine to cut the parts.

“Also, we show them how to modify their programs using Alphacam’s CAD module, rather than exporting it back to our Autocad or Solidworks packages.”

With around 80 to 100 students learning about Alphacam at the college during an academic year, he says many already have a level 2 machining qualification. “So picking up the extra CAM skill gives them the option of taking their career in a different direction as a CAD/CAM operator rather than CNC machine operator, especially as level 3 students also learn G-code and the Heidenhain language.

“These students don’t need a full understanding of CNC because Alphacam produces the code for them, but knowing G-code shows them how a program is built up, meaning they have a greater appreciation of the underlying principles of CNC programming. If students have a good grasp of what goes into building a program it helps them to better understand why they’re doing something in Alphacam.”

A point echoed by student Peter Butler who is in his second year of an HNC Mechanical Engineering course: “It was tedious having to write the program longhand – 50 lines or so of G-code, but it was valuable in showing us what the lines mean. It helps us to know where to amend lines in Alphacam when we need to make changes to our programs.”

However, students doing the specific CNC course would learn about G-code first, and use it to program machines online. Then they would be taught about CAM, which shows them the definite benefits of using CAM over the traditional system of writing CNC codes longhand.

While Peter Butler finds the 3D simulation, including collision avoidance, to be a particularly important feature of Alphacam, he says the whole package gives him a good appreciation of what goes into manufacturing a part. Having completed his apprenticeship with local HVAC company Hotchkiss Air Supply he has seen many different types of complex parts being manufactured, and says that thanks to Alphacam he now knows exactly what has gone into creating them. “It means that when I’ve got this CAM qualification I could become a CAM programmer.”

Fellow student Faith Kelly, who works for Mann + Hummel manufacturing automotive air filtration boxes, says Alphacam makes the machining process much easier than she originally thought it was going to be. “That’s largely down to being able to create the programs so simply. The software does everything I need to produce parts from the original CAD design, through to creating the toolpaths. It’s all very straightforward.”

Neil Davies is looking to upgrade to the recently released 2012 R1 version of Alphacam, as he believes it is invaluable for students to be trained on the very latest industry-standard software which is widely used by engineering companies. Their current Alphacam package is also instrumental in helping the College get the very best from their 25-year-old Beaver Partsmaster 3-axis mill with 16-tool automatic tool changer and Heidenhain controller. “Driving the Partsmaster with Alphacam means it can do things it wasn’t originally designed to do.”

All students are given advice during the theory stage of their courses about which face to datum. “We might suggest they rotate a part to get a better face for datuming,” he says. “And we make sure they understand about the datums within the CNC machine and where the clamps are, so what they’re doing doesn’t interfere with those.

“We also look at jigs and fixtures as well, to see if they need to use them for the part they’re making.” And imparting traditional engineering skills is an important aspect of the courses, such as teaching them to look at all programming requirements of a part before producing the code. “We have to make sure they’re not going to jump in and program it straight away without thinking it through, otherwise they might machine something away that they may need to rely on later.”

It all adds up to ensuring that graduating students have both the theoretical and practical skills they will need in industry, and a knowledge of CAM to help them find jobs involving offline programming.

Siemens Seeking College Students With Skills In Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to Fill Over 300 Internship Positions in US

WASHINGTON - Siemens is looking for currently enrolled college students to fill over 300 positions in its internship programs across its Energy, Industry, Healthcare and Infrastructure & Cities sectors. Each year, Siemens offers 300 student interns the opportunity to participate in Leadership and Professional Development programs or Technical Training programs. In 2011, 175 of these interns were hired full-time upon graduation.

"Siemens is able to provide a real, hands-on work experience exposing students to some of the brightest technical minds in our industries," said Mike Panigel, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Siemens Corporation. "While the students gain invaluable experience, mentoring and expertise in high-tech fields that will help them succeed in college and beyond, Siemens gains access to fresh perspectives and a talent pool for the future."

Internship positions are available in a variety of areas, including: Engineering, Research and Development, Finance, Accounting, Marketing and Sales. Most of these positions span the summer months, but a number of internships are also available throughout the year. Siemens is specifically looking for students with education or experience in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to match well with its portfolio of high-tech products and solutions, including green building design, renewable energy, healthcare and mobility.

Siemens is currently holding recruiting events at college and university campuses across the country. Interested candidates should visit their college or university career center to see if Siemens will be visiting their campus. Interested applicants are encouraged to find more information on internship programs and can also apply online at: http://www.usa.siemens.com/en/jobs_careers/university_recruiting.htm

Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG SI -0.91% , a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the industry, energy, healthcare, and infrastructure and cities sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 360,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of approximately $120 billion in fiscal 2011. Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $20 billion and employs approximately 60,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

3D Systems Brings Its Educational 3D Printers To ACTE

Democratizing Access To 3D Content-To-Print For Students And Teachers Alike.

3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD) today announced plans to bring its affordable 3D content-to-print solutions to the 2011 ACTE Annual Convention and Career Tech Expo in St. Louis, Missouri, November 17th -19th in booth 427.

ACTE is the largest national education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers. 3D Systems plans to exhibit its complete 3D content to print solutions including its Alibre design productivity tools, the intuitive 3DTouchTM desktop 3D printer and its sleek new ProJetTM 1500 personal color 3D printer that delivers high resolution, durable plastic parts in 6 vibrant colors. The Company is also bringing to the ACTE convention its most affordable 3D printer kits including its award winning RapMan™ and BotMill™ Glider priced at $1,300.

“We are excited to be part of this innovative educational movement,” said Michele Marchesan, Vice President and General Manager, Global 3D Printing Products, 3D Systems. “Our affordable printers and simple, intuitive design productivity tools make it possible for students and teachers alike to prepare for a competitive future and underscores our commitment to democratize access to affordable 3D content-to-print.”

PTC Joins Forces with Caterpillar and STARBASE South Dakota to Inspire South Dakota Students to Become Engineers

United States Department of Defense-sponsored program delivers STEM learning opportunities.

PTC(R) PMTC -1.27% , The Product Development Company(R), announced today it is working with Caterpillar and STARBASE South Dakota to develop the next generation of engineers in the Black Hills area of South Dakota. STARBASE South Dakota is one of 75 United States Department of Defense STARBASE programs that serve young people in communities across the country to motivate them in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and to pursue STEM careers.

Caterpillar and PTC have been long time supporters of STEM programs through their support of initiatives like the FIRST robotics programs and now STARBASE. PTC will provide the curriculum and training support for the STARBASE South Dakota instructors and Caterpillar will provide mentoring and engineering support for middle and secondary schools in the Black Hills region through its Engineering Design Center in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The DoD STARBASE program has introduced 3-D engineering design and manufacturing using PTC software to over 610,000 students across the United States and expects an additional 70,000 students to participate in 2012. The program provides students with 20-25 hours of real world STEM experiences. The program also helps develop positive self-esteem, teaches goal-setting skills and encourages teamwork through challenging hands-on activities.

"The support from PTC and Caterpillar provides STARBASE South Dakota with access to experienced engineers and mentors to assist with our programs," said Sarah Jensen, director of STARBASE, Rapid City, South Dakota. "STARBASE South Dakota creates a pipeline for workforce development and has a direct impact on students. As an example, one of our middle school students spent the day with a Caterpillar engineer and walked away empowered with the knowledge that he now has the ability to be successful. That is proof that programs like STARBASE work."

"Together with our customers, PTC is proud to be part of a technology movement that seeks to bridge the gap between school and industry in order to encourage more STEM-related careers," said John D. Stuart, senior vice president, global education, PTC. "With the support of Caterpillar in programs like FIRST, DoD STARBASE, the PTC Engineer of Future and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, we will continue to develop a new generation of students that will have the technical knowledge and skills to work for companies like Caterpillar and its suppliers in South Dakota and around the globe."

STARBASE is a Department of Defense program that serves young people in communities across the country by offering students an opportunity to participate in a variety of hands-on learning experiences designed to increase interest in and knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). You can visit their website at http://www.starbasedod.com .

SofTech Exhibiting ProductCenter PLM at Autodesk University 2011

SofTech, Inc. (PK: SOFT), a proven provider of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announces that it is exhibiting at Autodesk University 2011 in Booth 811. SofTech will be presenting its ProductCenter® PLM solution including an Autodesk Certified Application integration to Autodesk® Inventor® as well as integrations for AutoCAD® Mechanical and AutoCAD® Electrical.

Additionally, SofTech has been selected to present an Autodesk University 2011 Virtual Class entitled “Improving Business Process Management to Facilitate Global Collaboration and Compliance”, class code CM5275.

SofTech has been an Autodesk partner for over 15 years providing solutions for managing product information generated through the AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD Electrical, and Autodesk Inventor software applications.

ProductCenter PLM is focused on helping companies maintain a comprehensive, fully integrated and useful “Bill of Information” that consolidates all product-related information used to define, design, manufacture, and service their products.

ProductCenter PLM accelerates products and profitability by fostering innovation, extended enterprise collaboration, product quality improvements, and compressed time-to-market cycles. SofTech excels in its sensible approach to delivering enterprise PLM solutions, with comprehensive out-of-the-box capabilities, to meet the needs of manufacturers of all sizes quickly and cost-effectively.

ASCENT- Center for Technical Knowledge to Participate in Autodesk University 2011

Rand Worldwide®, a global leader in providing technology solutions to organizations with engineering design and information technology requirements, announced that its courseware division, ASCENT- Center for Technical Knowledge®, will be exhibiting and presenting at Autodesk University (AU) 2011. AU is being held November 29th- December 1st at the Venetian Hotel and Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ASCENT will be exhibiting in Booth #601 at the Autodesk Bookstore within the Authorized Training Center Pavilion at AU. ASCENT will showcase its 2012 Autodesk Official Training Guides in eBook format and will have over 30 of its printed Student Guides on display. All ASCENT Student Guides, eBooks, and Instructor Tools will be available for purchase in the Autodesk Bookstore at a discounted rate for Autodesk University attendees.

ASCENT will also deliver the following two presentations during Autodesk University:

The Brainy Bunch: Teacher Training Tips for Revit Architecture, MEP, and Structure
Date: November 29, 2011 10:15AM
Presenter: Martha Hollowell
Session ID: ED4584-U

From Concept to Published Document: Tips for Working Effectively with Autodesk® Inventor® Publisher
Virtual Session
Presenter: Jennifer MacMillan
Session ID: MA4475

In addition to exhibiting at the conference, ASCENT will be a sponsor at the ATC Summit on November 28th and as well, ASCENT will have these Autodesk Official Training Guides available on-loan in the Autodesk Certification Prep Lab for those studying for the Autodesk Associate and Autodesk Professional Exams:

AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT 2012 Fundamentals, Part 1
Inventor LT 2012 Sheet Metal Design
AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT 2012 Fundamentals, Part 2
Revit Architecture 2012 Fundamentals
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 Fundamentals
Revit Architecture 2012 Site & Structural Design
Inventor LT 2012 Fundamentals
Revit Arch. 2012 BIM Management for Arch., Structure, and MEP
Inventor LT 2012 Advanced Part Modeling
Revit Arch. 2012 Conceptual Design & Visualization
Inventor LT 2012 Advanced Assembly Modeling

“ASCENT is excited to return to Autodesk University to be a part of the Autodesk Bookstore and reach as many people as possible during the conference,” remarked Paul Burden, director of Product Development. “Between ASCENT’s ATC sponsorship, in-person and online presentations, AU Virtual, and Student Guides available in the Certification Prep Lab and Autodesk Bookstore, ASCENT will have a strong presence at AU this year.”

ASCENT is an Authorized Author, Publisher and Developer of Autodesk Official Training Guides and all of the ASCENT Autodesk 2012 courseware titles carry the Autodesk Official Training Guide designation. In addition, ASCENT creates and publishes courseware for CATIA and Pro/ENGINEER software applications. All of the company’s training guides are available to educational institutions, individuals, and corporations and can be purchased directly from the online store: www.ASCENTeStore.com.

NIFT and Lectra Take a New Step by signing the first Education Privilege Partnership in India

Lectra, the world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials—textiles, leather, industrial fabrics and composite materials—, is pleased to announce the signature of a Privilege Partnership with National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), one of the most eminent Fashion Institutes in India which regroups 13 centres. This new partnership—, includes NIFT in a select group of the best Fashion schools in the world.

The relationship between Lectra and NIFT started over 15 years ago, ever since NIFT installed India’s first CAD solutions in Delhi to equip the future professionals and expose industry the world’s best practices of the Fashion industry.

The relationship has been constantly reinforced till then and today, NIFT has extended Lectra solutions teaching to its 13 centers (New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Raebareli, Bhopal, Kannur, Patna, Shillong and Kangra) and is equipped with 1300 licenses of Modaris® & Diamino®, Lectra’s advanced pattern and marker making solutions.

“We are very proud to sign the first Privilege partnership in India with NIFT, one of the best Fashion Schools of the country which has set high academic standards,” says Prashanth L J, Managing Director, Lectra India. “Our partnership demonstrates our common desire to support Indian fashion industry by providing high quality education programs to students.”

The Privilege partnership is based on strong, long-term, mutual agreement, so both parties benefit from the co-operation. It allows the schools to access to high-end technology developed by Lectra, but also comprises an approach focused on the development of common projects, such as conferences, internships, support for students and shared information related to best industrial practices.

NIFT: a combination between technology and tradition

National Institute of Fashion Technology, set up in 1986 under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India has emerged as the premier Institute of Design, Management and Technology, developing professionals for taking up leadership positions in fashion business in the emerging global scenario. NIFT has set academic standards and excelled in though leadership by providing a pool of creative genius and technically competent professionals.

The institute provides a common platform for fashion education, research and training and offers 7 fashion-focused graduation courses, 3 post graduate courses and PhD program. NIFT is a pioneer in envisioning and evolving fashion business education in the country through a network of thirteen professionally managed domestic centres.

“For NIFT, this new Privilege status is extremely strategic, since it amplifies a relationship with Lectra, a company that is a reference in technology and has a global market presence. The signature of this partnership will help us to reinforce our collaboration and to bring added-value expertise to our students who will be able to stay at the forefront of technology,” adds Dean, Senior Professor Banhi Jha.

National Institute of Fashion Technology was set up in 1986 under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. It has emerged as the premier Institute of Design, Management and Technology, developing professionals for taking up leadership positions in fashion business in the emerging global scenario. The Institute is a pioneer in envisioning and evolving fashion business education in the country through a network of fifteen professionally managed centres at Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Gandinagar, Hyderabad, Jodphur, Kangra, Kannur, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Patna, Raebareli and Shillong. The institute provides a common platform for fashion education, research and training. NIFT Act 2006 published in the Gazette of India on 14th July, 2006 confers Statutory Status on NIFT and empowers the institute to award degrees and other academic distinctions. NIFT is the first premier Institute in the world to award it’s own Degrees in the field of fashion education.

University of Maryland Creates Human-Powered Helicopter with SolidWorks

We think nothing of flight today and even take it for granted. It’s not unusual to see a helicopter give a scenic tour or provide a traffic report with “eyes in the sky” for television news. With software from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., the Aerospace Engineering department at the University of Maryland’s (UMD) A James Clark School of Engineering is taking flight one step further.

The UMD design team is pursuing a different type of flight: a human-powered helicopter, which runs on energy generated by pedals. While human-powered airplanes have been around for at least a quarter of a century, human-powered helicopters pose a much bigger challenge, as they need more power for flight height and duration. For example, a 60-second flight pushes the limits of human endurance.

To address this issue, the design team turned to DS SolidWorks. Using SolidWorks® CAD software, the team created a helicopter propelled by hand and foot pedals. Not only does the design need to be aerodynamic, but it required durable, lightweight materials.

“SolidWorks has been critical to designing the complex parts this helicopter requires,” said Joseph Schmaus, a UMD graduate student working on the project. “Between the simulation capabilities, which allow us to perform stress analysis on individual components, and the ability to rapidly prototype complex parts, SolidWorks has helped us to ensure we create effective, safe, lightweight pieces for the larger design.”

The helicopter prototype—which weighs only 100 pounds—is currently operational, and has broken two world records to date, according to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for air sports, aeronautics and astronautics world records. The first UMD flight was recorded at four seconds and the second flight at 12.4 seconds. The UMD team hopes to achieve the benchmark set for the Sikorsky prize, which requires a flight duration of 60 seconds and a height of three meters.

“We applaud UMD’s accomplishments to date,” said Marie Planchard, Director of World Education Markets for Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks. “This is a cutting-edge design, and coupling the power of human endurance with the right materials positions the design team to continue setting and breaking records. We wish the aerospace engineering department the best of luck with this mission—and we’re proud to be on board.”

For images of the helicopter design project, please visit: http://brandonbush.smugmug.com/HPH/Comcast-Testing/16928559_ZgGG72#1279571461_C9rPt5w. Images courtesy of Brandon Bush.

With the Right Tools, Students Engage with Engineering & Manufacturing

A1 Technologies brings 3D Digital Technologies in to the hands of students at the Duxford Engineering Festival and the results were immensely positive.

London, UK: Last week saw A1 Technologies participate at the Engineering Festival, a regional event organized by STEM Team East and run in partnership with the Department of Learning at IWM Duxford and Makespace. The event was set up to allow students to experience and learn about the importance and strength of engineering technology and its place in future global development — a key strategy that A1 Technologies embraces fully.

The first event of its kind, the Engineering Festival was a window on engineering, by engineers, for the engineers of the future. Martin Stevens, CEO of A1 Technologies, is pleased to report that the event met and indeed exceeded these expectations. “We are totally exhausted but exhilarated after a fantastic day at the Imperial War Museum Duxford — the students we met, in great numbers I might add, were so enthusiastic and keen to try out our technologies for themselves.” A1 Technologies, as ever, took along its full portfolio of low-cost, integrated and accessible 3D digital technologies, which includes 3D design, 3D printing, 3D laser scanning and a 5 axis CNC machine. Experience has shown that nothing works better than putting the products into the hands of students to enable them to understand the power and potential of 3D tools. This proved to be the case once again as students inundated the stand to have a go.

Martin commented, “The Chameleon 3D Design package proved a particular hit. It was pretty amazing to watch, even after only a brief introduction to the technology — 5 minutes or so — students would be sitting down and designing for themselves. Some of the designs were really impressive and showed real understanding of the capabilities of the software.”

A1 Technologies will continue to promote the need to get students involved with 3d digital technologies with a view to advancing the engineering and manufacturing skills of future generations.

Established in 2009, A1 Technologies supplies highly affordable, entry-level 3D digital technologies to educational and industrial organisations in the UK. The company has a strong background in advanced technologies for design, engineering and manufacturing and a philosophy of promoting these technologies at the earliest opportunity in school curriculums to encourage understanding and uptake by tomorrow’s engineers. A1 Technologies works to democratize 3D digital technologies for everyone and to this end, the full range can be acquired separately for particular applications or procured as an integrated package — all at ultra low prices that cannot be matched. The A1 portfolio stands out as the most innovative 3D digital technology offering on the market today because it is within the reach of everyone — both in terms of budget and ease of use. Individuals, educational institutions from kindergarten to university stages, as well as commercial organizations can now all realistically consider the potential advantages of embracing 3D digital technologies.

MSC Software and The Ohio State University Collaborate on Vehicle Design Innovation Research

MSC's FEA and Motion simulation products are being used to facilitate cutting edge research in automotive design innovation.

MSC Software Corporation today announced its collaboration progress with the Smart Vehicle Concepts Center (SVC) at The Ohio State University, where they focus on key research projects that will vastly improve vehicle design and ultimately lead to enhanced vehicle performance.

The mission of the SVC is as follows: (1) conduct basic and applied research on the characterization of smart materials; (2) build an unmatched base of research, engineering education, and technology transfer with emphasis on improved vehicle performance; and (3) develop well-trained engineers and researchers (at the MS and PhD levels) with both experimental and theoretical viewpoints.

MSC Software was granted the 'Invited Observer' status within the SVC based on in-kind support (in terms of software) as well as endorsement by the SVC Industrial Advisory Board. The software provided by MSC includes The University FEA Bundle featuring MD Nastran, Patran, Marc, & Dytran; and The University Motion Bundle featuring MD Adams, Adams/Car, & Easy5. The SVC was provided with a 5-user pack of annual, networked, academic licenses for each bundle to facilitate cutting edge research.

At the Fifth Semi-Annual Meeting that will be held February 8-9, 2012 at The Ohio State University, MSC Software will be giving a short course on "Materials Modeling Using Finite Elements". The SVC is very excited to provide this course at their meeting.

Professor Singh talked about the benefits of collaborating with MSC Software, "Utilizing MSC's simulation technology is a win/win situation for our students as it provides the opportunity to work with the latest calculation codes. This capability allows the students to verify their analytical solutions and to justify their assumptions."

The Smart Vehicle Concepts Center (SVC)

The Smart Vehicle Concepts Center (SVC) based at The Ohio State University was launched in July 2007. The Center is supported through a grant by the National Science Foundation and through industry sponsorship. Current projects include the development of smart materials and devices for vehicle use. This pre-competitive technology is shared among contributing members. Currently headed by Professor Rajendra Singh of The Ohio State University, its sponsors include 9 industrial members, 2 affiliate members and 3 invited observers, with MSC Software being one of them.

University of Michigan Solar Car Team Revs Up SolidWorks to Design World Solar Challenge Contender

Team Improves Solar Car Aerodynamics by 30 Percent, Reduces Weight by 200 Pounds.

Since the 1980s, engineers have been building, and racing solar cars. With software from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., the University of Michigan (U-M) Solar Car Team has designed a car to compete in the World Solar Challenge in Australia this month. A six-time winner of the American National Championships, the U-M team is competing in the World Solar Challenge—and the car design is lighter and more aerodynamic than ever before.

Since 2006 U-M has used SolidWorks software to become the number 1 ranked collegiate solar car team in North America. Next week they will compete on the world stage driving 1800 miles across Australia thanks to the work of over 100 students in various disciplines at U-M. Quantum, the single-seat race vehicle, will travel as far as it can until 5pm each afternoon powered by the sun and 5kW hours of stored energy (the same amount of energy that it takes to power a hair-dryer) or on the recovered kinetic energy from the vehicle.

When designing the solar car, the U-M team found systems integration to be the most difficult challenge. Mechanical parts need to be small and light, in order to fit into as small an automotive shell as possible. The U-M team relied upon SolidWorks® 3D CAD software to model all of the car components, and determined the amount of space needed for each component. The result is a car that is 30 percent more aerodynamic and 200 pounds lighter than the previous version.

“Only one U.S. team has ever won the World Solar Challenge,” said Chris Hilger, Business Director of U-M Solar. “This year, we believe we have a winning car design due to the improved aerodynamic shell and significantly lighter weight. SolidWorks helped us model each part to be as small, light, and effective as possible, and this contributes significantly to the car’s speed and maneuverability.”

Battery thermal modeling was also a key challenge. Specifically, the team needed to control the temperature of the battery pack to prevent overheating. To solve this issue, the team used SolidWorks Simulation to determine the best thermal management solution. Unlike past years, when off-the-shelf batteries were used, this year’s battery was designed and created from scratch by the Solar Car team.

“The U-M Solar Car Team has been able to achieve groundbreaking results with a lighter and faster car,” said Marie Planchard, director of education at Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks. “This extraordinary team is poised to take the lead at the World Solar Challenge, and we’re proud to have contributed to a stellar—and hopefully winning—design.”

Follow the race at: http://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/.

Siemens PLM Software - SME Education Foundation Fund Advanced Engineering at Florida High School

Siemens PLM Software and the SME Education Foundation provide $538,500 in-kind software grant to the Academy of Engineering at River Ridge High School to expand delivery of advanced engineering education.

The SME Education Foundation, recognized for its commitment to the educational needs of youth and preparing them to excel with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, and Siemens PLM Software, a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, today announced an in-kind software grant valued at $538,500 to the Academy of Engineering at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Fla.

The in-kind software grant was made through Siemens PLM Software’s successful GO PLM™ program, which supports more than one million students annually at more than 11,000 global institutions. The software grant includes free center-based training and free upgrades and tech support for 30 seats of Solid Edge® software, the most complete mainstream hybrid 2D/3D CAD system, with synchronous technology, a Siemens PLM Software innovation that combines the speed and flexibility of direct modeling with the precise control of dimension driven design.

The Academy of Engineering was established due to the demands of the workforce to develop prospective engineers. The Academy opened its doors in September 2009 due to the collaborative partnership between Pasco County’s Career and Technical Education Department, River Ridge High School, the Pasco Economic Power Development Council, Pasco Hernando Workforce Board, Business Partners, Pall Aeropower, Micron Pharma Works and Pasco Hernando Community College. Career Academies prepare students to meet the demands of a changing workforce while providing them the opportunity to remain engaged in the educational process to further their knowledge and skill sets for the 21st century.

The Academy of Engineering partners with Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a national non-profit organization that works with the academy to implement a curriculum, developed by it and imparted by teachers whom it has trained, that emphasize hands-on experience in STEM education. PLTW is recognized for its ability to respond to the needs of industry by preparing competent high-tech employees.

“Our students understand the competitive nature of today’s economy and are excited about having access to what is considered the industry standard for CAD software,” said Dave Hoffman, the lead instructor at the Academy of Engineering. “We now have the ability to align our students’ base of knowledge with the rapidly changing technologies, as they pursue apprenticeships and other school-to-work opportunities. We are most appreciative of Siemens PLM Software and the SME Education Foundation making this possible.”

“Siemens PLM Software provides the Academy of Engineering with access to PLM technology, which otherwise would be out of reach for the academic community, giving students a distinct advantage by being able to use the same PLM technology widely-used by leading multi-national manufacturing companies around the globe,” said Hulas King, director, Global Community Solutions and GO PLM Programs, Siemens PLM Software.

“The SME Education Foundation and Siemens PLM Software encourage SME Education Foundation sponsored schools to take advantage of this important opportunity to use the latest state-of-the-art PLM tools in their curriculum,” said Bart A. Aslin, chief executive officer, SME Education Foundation. “Students involved in the dual education system offered at River Ridge High School will be technically superior and more productive to companies who hire them.

Applying for a Siemens PLM Software Grant:
Siemens PLM Software Grant applications will be evaluated based on school size, academic program content, program exposure, community impact and financial need. A typical grant involves in-kind contributions of the PLM software for a set period of time along with support and upgrades covered by the grant. Extensive training materials are also available. For more information and access to the online grant application, visit http://www.smeef.org/grants/siemens_plm_software.php

River Ridge High School:
Founded in 1991 as River Ridge Middle / High School, the design of the facility, curriculum choices, and its 300-plus staff members strive to provide numerous opportunities for its students’ success on a common campus for grades 6-12. Academics are the cornerstone of its offerings, in addition to a wide-ranging extracurricular program of athletics and clubs. Visit http://rrhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/

GO PLM Program:
Siemens PLM Software’s GO PLM™ initiative leads the industry in the commercial value of the in-kind grants it provides and brings together four complementary community involvement programs focused on academic partnership, regional productivity, youth and displaced worker development and the PACE (Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education) program. GO PLM provides PLM technology to more than one million students yearly at nearly 11,000 global institutions, where it is used at every academic level – from grade schools to graduate engineering research programs. For more information on GO PLM and the partners and programs it supports visit www.siemens.com/partners/goplm.

Eindhoven University of Technology Selects Aras to Drive Real-World Experience for Engineering Students

Aras to Serve as Core PLM Curriculum for Leading Research and Technology University.

Aras®, the leading enterprise open source Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software solution provider, today anounced that Eindhoven University of Technology, located in The Netherlands, has selected the Aras solution suite as the core of its Product Lifecycle Management curriculum. One of The Netherland’s leading Universities with over 7,000 students, Eindhoven University of Technology will deploy Aras to teach graduate courses, including Operations Management and Logistics, Innovation Management and Business Information Systems Master programs.

“Aras will help teach students the importance of product and process management in today’s complex, dynamic product development environments while providing hands-on, real-world experience with the systems they will use in their engineering careers,” said Marco Comuzzi, Assistant Professor at the School of Industrial Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology.

Founded in 1986, Eindhoven is a research university specializing in engineering science and technology. An active participant in the international scientific community, Eindhoven University of Technology strives to advance knowledge-intensive industries and other social sectors with a high or rapidly evolving technology-intensity. Areas of focus include progress in engineering science and education, development of technological innovations, and contributions to society through advancements health, energy and smart mobility.

“We welcome Eindhoven University of Technology to the Aras University Program,” said Peter Schroer, President of Aras. We created the university program to ensure the continued development of highly skilled engineers and innovators. We are proud to contribute to the educational experience of the engineers of tomorrow and we look forward to the contributions they will make to the Aras Community.”