FEGS launches CADfix 3.1

Citation

(2000), "FEGS launches CADfix 3.1", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772fab.018

FEGS launches CADfix 3.1

FEGS launches CADfix 3.1

Keywords: FEGS, CAD, Software

FEGS has announced the launch of CADfix 3.1, the latest version of its CAD data interoperability tool. As well as incorporating some important new functionality, the new release encourages wider use with the introduction of flexible licensing.

"We are in constant dialogue with our users, ensuring that we know exactly how we can improve our CADfix offering," says Andy Chinn, applications manager at FEGS. "The success of the product so far has shown us that there is a real demand for a universal interoperability solution. With this release we have expanded on the ways CADfix can be used, kept up to date with the evolving core modelling technologies that must be supported and begun to look at ways that we can open up the technology to more and more users".

According to FEGS, its CADfix tackles fundamental inconsistencies and inaccuracies which make the efficient transfer of solid modelling geometry between different CAD systems and downstream applications such as finite element analysis (FEA) all but impossible. It claims a series of diagnostic and repair tools in the form of user-friendly "wizards" which allow users to identify problem areas, put them right (without compromising design intent) and, if necessary, tailor the repaired model for use in the target system.

Release 3.1 introduces a number of new features that reportedly enables more and more users to take advantage of the power of CADfix, as well as some general speed and performance improvements.

IGES import and export capabilities continue to evolve with new IGES processing options and up-to-date flavoured IGES exports for I-DEAS MasterSeries, Pro/Engineer and Catia. Interfaces to and from STEP, ACIS and CADDS are said to have been enhanced and there is a new link to Parasolids VII.

Improvements have also been made to CADfix's core functionality: it can now reportedly identify and repair new types of geometric problems that can cause interoperability nightmares, including self-intersecting NURBS.

These product enhancements and a wide range of new streamlining features are believed to ensure that CADfix will continue to offer an unrivalled level of interoperability support. One of the major themes for this and future releases is to offer more ease of use and automation with CADfix, whilst at the same time continuing to enhance the interactive fixing tools available. "CADfix continues to offer the ideal solution for today's marketplace", adds John Meaney, technical and sales director at FEGS. "It's a simple and easy to use automatic tool for the less troublesome translations, backed up by an extensive array of interactive fixing tools and services to give the user somewhere to go to complete the task when an automatic approach fails."

A further change comes in recognition of the fact that many CADfix users only use the software to solve short-term problems which can crop up without warning at any time or place within an organisation. For this reason, a floating licence system has been introduced for the first time.

Andy Chinn explains, "A typical CADfix scenario would be a toolmaker accepting CAD files from a number of different customers. There may only be a small proportion of files which are causing problems but at an unpredictable rate and from a number of different sources. We have therefore introduced a floating licence scheme so that such companies can have CADfix exactly where they need it but without the expense of having to buy a licence for every single machine".

CADfix 3.1 is shipping immediately.

Details available from FEGS. Tel: +44 (0) 1223 237111; Fax: +1 1223 234 192.