UGS, a provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, recently announced that the English version of Solid Edge Version 16 is being shipped to customers worldwide. Solid Edge is UGS' value-based 3D CAD system for the mainstream PLM market. UGS plans to begin shipping Solid Edge in nine additional languages during the next month.

"On the strength of its outstanding technical reputation in the industry, Solid Edge continues to demonstrate market penetration, and has performed admirably over the past two years," says Tony Affuso, chairman, CEO and president of UGS.

Solid Edge V16 will be delivered with an innovative new 'Zero D' approach to machine layout that starts by defining product structure before any geometry is committed to paper.

This 'Zero D' approach to design allows users to conceptualise their designs top down in a methodical way, then incorporating new 2D sketch elements, existing 2D drawings or 3D parts and associating them with the virtual product structure to develop a complete machine layout. Layouts may then be partitioned and distributed to multiple designers for 3D detailing, all while maintaining their associative links to the original layout. This hybrid process helps conceptualise assembly structures from scratch, while establishing relationships on the fly to optimise the design process and reduce time to market.

Solid Edge's capability to design assemblies with more than 100 000 parts is extended with Version 16's ability to efficiently provide complete accurate virtual prototypes that slash time to market and reduce errors for the process equipment and other industries by adding:

* Piping Systems Design - Uses Solid Edge XpresRoute technology to create predefined paths for pipes to follow through an assembly. Once established, paths are populated with the proper pipes and fittings to create a virtual mockup of the piping system complete with bills of material and cut lists. Standard piping libraries may be user-defined or licensed separately as an additional option.

* Frame Design - Develops rigid frame structures for process equipment and other machinery by creating a 3D sketch of a frame skeleton, complete with its relationships. Standard structural cross sections are then used to automatically create the 3D model of the frame and its cut lists for bill-of-material and down stream processing. Additional weld features may be added as required. (Included with Solid Edge Classic.)

Solid Edge Version 16 expands its capability for customers to create photo realistic images by incorporating rendering technology from LightWork Design. The new application, Virtual Studio+, includes more material libraries, backgrounds and foregrounds, textures, scenery and light sources (ambient, point, spot, distant and sky) than before, delivered with a mainstream modeller.

For more information contact ESTEQ Design Technologies, 012 991 9200.