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cadditCAD CAM and CNC articles from CADDIT CAD Software, including PTC Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire, Windchill, Mathcad, Alibre Design and other software in Australia. |
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2010.05.13
 02:53:37
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NOTE Before proceeding to try the suggestions outlined in this tip, remember that PTC strongly suggests configuring FlexLM licenses to use the computer's ethernet interface. We have given these steps testing in a limited number of environments and they may not work for all systems or versions of Windows. PTC FlexNET licenses are issued in a text file. These license files are configured to run on one "host" (network name of the PC) and encoded for the hardware address ("MAC address" - no connection to Apple) of the primary network card. FlexLM needs to be able to "ping" the license file's designated host, and have that host resolve to an IP address assigned to a local network card having the encoded hardware MAC address. In other words, the IP host name having the needed MAC address needs to match the host configured in the license file. This scheme runs into big problems with unconfigured ethernet ports on a laptop, ergo these instructions for setting it up on a wireless interface. By default FlexNET sees the Ethernet card as the primary interface, so this often needs to be disabled (via control panel) before FlexNET will recognize another network device. This suggestion was found from pointwise.com: Laptops usually employ the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), in which no IP address will be assigned if a laptop is not connected to a network. This makes the license manger unable to find the vendor daemon on the network via TCP/IP. The solution is to add the machine's real name to /etc/hosts (in Windows C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts) as an additional loopback. For example, given the hostname "goon", add a line in the file, "hosts", as following: 127.0.0.1 localhost loghost However, even with this change some systems require an administrator's manual stop and restart of the "Flexlm Server for PTC" Windows Service (via Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services). The final solution to the problem is explained on the PTC website support section: When disconnected from a network Windows machines may disable certain network cards resulting in licensing errors from Pro/ENGINEER and the PTC License Server. Pro/ENGINEER may return the error: This issue is related to the 'media sensing' feature of Windows 2000 and later (including XP and Vista) and disabling this 'media sensing' feature will resolve the issue. For more information on 'media sensing' see http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q239/9/24.ASP
Name: DisableDHCPMediaSense A post on the MCADFORUM adds further information: Run, type regedit, then select OK. Browse to
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2010.03.09
03:15:03
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Checking the latest Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 5.0 software kit, it appears that the only component of what was once the Pro/LIBRARY standard part library for Pro/E was the Mold Base. There is an online part library available from the browser favorites at http://www.3dmodelspace.com/ptc but each part needs downloaded individually. After some checking, we discover that active account holders at ptc.com with support access can download most of Pro/LIBRARY in eight parts at http://www.ptc.com/cgi/cs/apps/SftUpd/SftUpdProd.pl (filter for "Pro/ENGINEER" related downloads; scroll to the bottom of the page) and listed under "WILDFIRE LIBRARY DATABASES". Although published with the original release of Pro/E Wildfire there are forward compatible with all releases and operating systems. Installing these local part libraries require that we set up: Pro/LIBRARY needs to be manually downloaded and configured as follows: About .mnu files: The .mnu files configure "navigation" for browsing the library from Pro/E assembly component-insert, 2D detailing symbol-insert, etc. Subdirectories listed in an .mnu file will be shown with the description from the .mnu file, unlisted directories (like installation directories) will stay hidden. Folders in the library without .mnu files will show all directories present in that folder without any further descriptions. (config.pro can be updated by a utility in the bin subdirectory of each part library. A few are not part libraries but symbol libraries which may find a different location) At last look the LIBRARY files still available are: MED-6XX-CD-330_2002490_CONNECTOR.zip When we download and install one, we are asked to chose a target directory (should be a new directory that doesn't currently exist, directly under the library "root" location if we will be installing more than one under PRO_LIBRARY_DIR) in a dialog box:
Click next and we can choose what sub-libraries to install:
The library should install without much drama. Depending on which library we are installing, it can be used within Pro/ENGINEER design in a variety of ways. More information about configuring Libraries in Pro/ENGINEER can be found in "Introduction to the Libraries" (U00590197).
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2010.01.13
21:08:09
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Alibre has published information about the next release of Alibre CAM software for CNC manufacturing and CNC milling. New features added to Alibre CAM Standard, Alibre CAM Professional and Alibre CAM expert will offer greater control to machinists for toolpath creation, editing and post processing to G-Code. CADDIT Australia has published the review on their blog. See the full article HERE (link opens in a new window). For more information about Alibre Design or Alibre CAM contact us HERE.
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2008.11.17
07:34:40
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"Should my business be using 3D CAD software?" Maybe the better question is "how exactly would using 3D CAD get my job done better?" Let's explore four myths about using CAD today. Myth: everyone uses CAD already 42% of builders surveyed in 2006 still don't use any CAD program at all according to one survey. Should they be using CAD? Probably, and many are changing over. But statistics like this sometimes help us see through the "don't get left behind" marketing hype and be more realistic about our requirements. Myth: CAD software is too hard for me to learn That's only true if you choose the wrong CAD software for your needs. 3D CAD software might be exactly what you need, or exactly what you don't need. A successful CAD migration involves three steps: 1) identify your business requirements 2) identify CAD systems meeting those requirements 3) identify which vendors offer the support you need for the system you choose. When possible, try to buy a CAD system from a vendor that offers direct support for the system you choose. They should also be able to help you identify your requirements before you buy. Your vendor choice alone can make a big difference in the success of your CAD system. To help new CAD users, CADDIT has published a free CAD e-book. Myth: 3D is always better  If you are working for a customer who wants a 2D drawing, give them a 2D drawing. According to a recent marketing report by the Aberdeen Group, there are several reasons people use 2D CAD in the first place, including demand for increased quality/reliability, shortened product development schedules, accelerating product commoditization and marketspace competition. The main reason that seems to prevent 2D CAD users from migrating to 3D CAD is "The current process using 2D works, no need to make a change (40% of surveyed)".progeCAD is an example of robust 2D/limited 3D CAD that is helping thousands of businesses meet their mainly-2D design needs successfully. Many surveyors, builders, electricians and engineers have no real need for 3D CAD at this time. Myth: Everyone is going to use 3D CAD soon "Most CAD users still work in 2D, while 3D design is rapidly moving to the forefront.." - Business Wire, Nov 14, 1995 article "AccelGraphics announces first entry-level workstation-class 3D graphics accelerator; new board delivers high-performance 3D graphics for price-sensitive MCAD users". More that 10 years later, CAD software marketing is still warning the world about an impending obsolescence of 2D CAD. The reality is that designers have far more freedom of choice than ever before in finding a design package that fits their needs and budget. The key is knowing the right CAD for the right job at the right price. A certain flexibility to adapt one's self to learning several systems is therefore practical, but we don't need to learn them all. Technology is just a tool that we create to help us get a job done. It should never become a religion that ironically blinds us from seeing a better way of getting that job done. CADDIT has already helped hundreds of companies find the right CAD software. What has surprised many of our customers is that the best system for them is often not the most expensive or complex system we support. CADDIT is a professional CAD and CAM software consulting company based in Sydney Australia. The full version of this article can be found here.
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