November, 2001
Large Turnout for SMUG Meeting at WMU
by Jim Hole
Record numbers show up for the last SMUG meeting of the year, held at the Grand Rapids Regional Center of Western Michigan University on November 7th.
In Search of a Host
With all the talk these days about adverse times, adapting, and coping, it was not surprising when we realized this might also impact the November meeting of the Southwestern Michigan Pro/ENGINEER Users Group. As the date moved closer, we found ourselves without a room or a host company. The SMUG officers wondered if it would be worth having the meeting at all. Historically, finding a room has been one of the less challenging things on the long list of things-to-do for coordinating a meeting. A quick exploder poll revealed that at least a few people were planning on attending. We decided that even if the turnout was small, we still had an obligation. So a room was booked, refreshments ordered, vendors solicited, door prizes suggested, and in the twelfth hour another successful SMUG event was put together. The ironic twist to this story is that attendance was one of the highest in recent history - 81 give or take. Nice job, Adam and Tim!
PTC Update
Michele Harris from PTC started things off. Michele explained the new direction PTC is taking after their recent reorganization. My very short summary - Customers that fall into the billion dollars-and-up category are now supported by "Verticals", (read Account Managers). The rest of us will now use "I-Centers", (read Web/Phone based help). This is all very new and a little sketchy (no pun intended). The changes were received with the usual dose of skepticism, and on this one I think we will all have to wait and see. Michele also talked about Pro/COLLABORATE, a service that combines scaled down parts of ProjectLink and ProductView along with web server space. It is free to use for anyone with a license of Pro/E and their invitees. More details can be found at www.procollaborate.com.
Lumeo Software
Maria Nordgren from Lumeo Software continued with a presentation on Lumeo Software. Lumeo develops and supports interactive, real-time simulation products that enable users to digitally test and demonstrate the behavior of their products and concepts before any material is cut. The software was presented as a very user-friendly interface for applying constraints and parameters to solid models. It is a direct plug-in which is sold thru RAND. I believe Maria broke new ground - not only as the first presenter to fly from Finland to address the group, but also the first to allow and encourage group members to bounce toast. That’s right, you heard me correctly. After her presentation, Maria setup her laptop in the back of the room with a demo/game that showed how the software could be used to simulate toast popping out of a toaster. This was turned into a competition. Rumor has it that the SMUG member who won almost went pro in the toast bouncing circuit back in the mid-80’s which would have disqualified him here, but this was unsubstantiated.
Z Corporation - 3D Printers
Up next was Tim McGrath from Z Corporation. He showed many solid models that were printed using his company’s 3D Printers. These printers can produce an 8" x 10" x 8" part using special binders printed on Starch or Plaster based powders. They can do this in colors and with an accuracy of +/-.005 per inch in the x and y axes, +/-.010 in the z axis, and at speeds of 1 vertical inch per hour.
Although the models are very nice in their raw form straight from the printer, they can also be infiltrated with additional materials to change their properties, adding strength or flexibility. Tim had a working printer setup in the hallway so that the group members could see it in action during the break. I don’t think a single person in the room didn’t lust after having access to one these printers on a daily basis. It was a very cool prototype tool. For more information about these printers, go to www.zcorp.com.
Break Time
The Z Corp presentation was followed by the break. Time to enjoy a cola & cookie, get a free t-shirt, bounce toast, watch the 3D printer, find out if anyone you know had been downsized, or speculate on who you know should be downsized - that sort of thing.
Pentagon - ModelCHECK
Following the break, Doug Bodmann from Pentagon gave an overview of ModelCHECK’s capabilities and uses, as well as a live demonstration using ModelCHECK. The discussion ranged from topics on how ModelCHECK promotes good design practices, ensures adherence to company standards, and works with Pro/INTRALINK. Doug's experience with many different ModelCHECK implementations left the group with a number of ideas and avenues for their own use of ModelCHECK. For information about Pentagon's services, go to www.pentagon-eng.com.
Prototype Blow Mold Design
To finish out the day, we had a user presentation from Bill Stoner of Access Business Group. Bill works as a Research Scientist in the R&D Support Labs at Access Business Group. Bill outlined a packaging project he led that involved redesigning, prototyping and tooling a new talcum powder bottle. Bill’s job allows him to use many areas of Pro/ENGINEER, from Surfacing to NC Programming. His techniques and uses of these modules made for an interesting presentation. The presentation was supplemented by some nice prototype models, which where passed around the room for the group's inspection. Coincidently, these models where made using Access Business Group’s own Z Corp printer. As always with user presentations, Bill received a handsome SMUG logo golf shirt for his efforts.
Door Prizes
We ended the November SMUG meeting with members practicing their best "mind over matter" techniques. The exercise was to see if you could, from across the room, force your business card into the hand of the person drawing lucky winners from a box of cards. The first giveaway was a Pentagon shirt and the second was a beautiful digital camera, provided by Lumeo Software.