CADDIT Launches Powerful Low-Cost 3D CAD Software ZW3D with Time Limited Discount Offer

Sydney, Australia 03 April 2017 - CADDIT announces an exciting new 3D CAD product line agreement with ZWSOFT to sell and support all ZW3D products Australia-wide. ZW3D offers mechanical designers, engineers, machinists and manufacturers a powerful suite of integrated CAD and CAM software for parametric 3D part and assembly design, hybrid freeform and direct editing, sheet metal nesting and weldment construction, 3D publishing and printing, prismatic and multi-axis machining, lathe turning and more. ZW3D also delivers powerful 3D CAD translation tools for importing SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Siemens NX, JT, PTC Creo, Autodesk Inventor, STEP, ACIS .sat and .sab, IGES and many more formats from even very recent versions of the software. ZW3D supplies thousands of businesses globally, including Yamaha Motor Co, Bridgestone, Johnson Controls, Baosteel and many others.

ZW3D uses specially written state-of-the-art modeling technology, originally developed by VX Corporation of Melbourne FL USA, with software R&D still located in Florida to this day. The user interface includes a modern ribbon-based UI with visual help cues and prompts. Traditional bottom-up assembly design is offered in every version of the software without limitation. Standard and higher versions also offer advanced assembly options, top-down down and animation. There are also two CAM-specialist versions for CNC machinists at reduced cost in CAD features. CADDIT also announces a special price release of ZW3D 2017 for the Australian small business user called "Workshop". ZW3D Workshop by CADDIT edition will include all features of ZW3D Premium minus the costly electrode and mould tooling libraries, to be made available at a much lower cost.

To help introduce this high-value 3D CAD and CAM software option to small business users in Australia, CADDIT has arranged for significantly reduced pricing on both software, support and one-year upgrade options. Level one support for ZW3D will be local. A series of free comprehensive one-day training events are planned around Australia, based on number of requests. The first event is planned in Parramatta NSW near our offices. Frequent news and updates will be posted over the next few weeks on  our websites. For immediate contact or general ZW3D inquiries, CADDIT.net will be the nation-wide software partner which can be contacted HERE.

Mathcad Prime 2.0 from CADDIT: New Excel Import, Visualization Functions

Mathcad Prime 2.0 is now available for free 30-day trial from CADDIT Australia. Mathcad offers a unique WYSIWYG whiteboard interface for scientific and engineering calculation, documentation, traceability and visualization. Mathcad Prime 2.0 is a major release in the PRIME refresh series of Mathcad from PTC. Several features have been added to the Prime Interface with this release:

• Import data directly from Microsoft Excel spreadsheets into Mathcad. Migrate entire spreadsheets without manual data re-entry.
• Symbolic Algebra - update polynomial equations instantly by "plugging-in" values of known variables to the worksheet. Symbolic Algebra (or so called Computer Algebra) is useful in many areas of control engineering, and provides exact calculations of procedures which may otherwise be error prone.
• New 3D graph and plot toolbox for data visualization.
• Collapsible Areas keep a cleaner worksheet by temporarily "folding" selected sections away from view.
• Native 64-bit version and multi-threading options for larger calculations.
• ... and More . .

Engineers, educators teachers & students, as well as professional in scientific or medical fields are encouraged to download Mathcad Prime 2.0 for a 30-day trial HERE. NOTE that Mathcad prices in Australia (and Worldwide) will INCREASE as of Q4 2012. Mathcad Prime users are encouraged to order their licenses BEFORE this price change. CADDIT Australia has been a local partner with PTC since 2008 and is based in Sydney, Australia. Parametric Technology Corporation is based in Needham, Massachusetts USA.

Mathcad 15.0 Integration with Knovel Math

MathCAD 15.0 now integrates Knovel® Math for updated MathCAD Extended Libraries for Mechanical, Civil and Electrical engineering. Knovel Math offers MathCAD users fully documented engineering and math worksheets from trusted reference works which have been validated and quality tested. Transcribing equations for math calculations is often an extremely time consuming process. Knovel Math helps to speed up this process by quickly finding the required calculations, changing the input values in MathCAD and updating these instantly. Topics can be quickly searched and MathCAD enabled articles will be identified by the symbol . Articles are offered in both US Customary units and metric units for ease of use. Articles are opened in MathCAD with anything highlighted in green are the input values that can be changed and yellow highlighting indicates the output values which are updated instantly. MathCAD 14 users can also use the old Library Extensions from that version on MathCAD 15, as well.

How Does Knovel Benefit Mathcad 15 Users?
Active PTC Maintenance Support Customers have additional access to several other resources including Knovel. Members need to log into the website http://www.ptc.com/support/maintenance/gold/index.htm and follow the links to the Knovel website. Log in requires your active PTC Web Support username and password. For a limited time, PTC Maintenance Customers can sign-up and gain free access to Knovel without obligation. MathCAD customers are also entitled to 10 free downloads in any format (MathCAD, Excel, PDF etc).

What Kind of Solution Content Does Knovel Offer?
Knovel Math provides a variety of MathCAD worksheets on topics such as statics, stress and strain, flexural analysis, steel, concrete and timber, surveying, fluid mechanics, engineering economics to name a few. Using Knovel Math’s search database makes it easy to find worksheets or browse through the several MathCAD enabled articles. Once the desired worksheet is found, clicking on the MathCAD link will automatically download the worksheet into MathCAD. All documents are fully documented with detailed descriptions, some diagrams and worked examples.
Knovel also currently offers a “Free Titles Package” which is a free subscription package containing more than 10 premier handbooks and databases. Registration is free however this package won’t allow you access to the full to all the information available but it does give you enough access to get a taste of what Knovel can offer. Several of their most widely used titles are included in the free subscription which includes:
• Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences
• Electric Machinery and Transformers (3rd Edition)
• Engineering Problem Solving - A Classical Perspective
• Essential Practices for Managing Chemical Reactivity Hazards
• Handbook of Mathematical Functions with Formulas, Graphs, and Mathematical Tables
• Handbook of Nanomedicine
• Hyperspectral Data Compression
• International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology (1st Electronic Edition)
• Knovel Critical Tables (2nd Edition)
• Knovel Sample Book
• Large-Scale Adsorption and Chromatography, Volumes 1-2
• Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization (MMPDS-01)
• Smithsonian Physical Tables (9th Revised Edition)
• Teaching Engineering
• Wettability
As an added bonus Knovel® also offers registered users access to new and popular handbooks via their “Titles of the Week Program” where every week, 2 popular titles from their extensive databases are chosen and made available for a limited time. All of which can be used to enhance your MathCAD experience especially for those with a strong engineering background. Knovel® Math can be accessed via MathCAD in the main page by going to Tools > Knovel® > Search Knovel Math. This will direct you to their website or alternatively you can go to http://www.knovel.com/web/portal/main.

The new Knovel MathCAD options are one aspect of the value Mathcad 15 delivers to its users. For a free demo of Mathcad 15 inside Australia, test users can download the free full-version trial HERE. Users outside Australia should contact their local PTC partner, or contact PTC directly.

Mathcad 15 Available from CADDIT Australia

Mathcad 15 is now available from CADDIT Australia. According to the official release, "Mathcad 15.0 includes over 25 new functions, more robust reference libraries and integration with third-party tools, including the latest version of Microsoft Excel. Additionally, the Mathcad 15.0 integration with existing engineering platforms like Pro/ENGINEER®, as well as with PTC’s Windchill® solutions, Windchill PDMLink® and Windchill ProductPoint®, enables better management of critical engineering content, making it easier to share and reuse information leading to standardization and best practices." More than three years have passed since Mathcad 14 was released in the beginning of 2007.

Some new features in Mathcad 15 include:
• Mathcad 15 is Windows 7 compatible (officially supported on Windows7)
• Design of Experiments (DoE) – Over 25 new functions to reduce the time and expense of conducting experiments using DoE.
• Data link for the latest versions of Microsoft Excel® – Mathcad functions include READEXCEL(), WRITEEXCEL(), READFILE, an Excel data import wizard and an Excel Add-in.
• Integration to Knovel® Math content – (more information below).
• Integration with Kornucopia® software – Reduce time and effort spent on analysis by providing functions and templates using Mathcad-based documented workflows. Improves interpretations and value of experimental data and simulation results.
 
A complete product brochure for Mathcad 15 can be downloaded HERE.

Mathcad 15 license options are Individual node locked or registered user, Floating (network) and Global. Node locked licenses are fixed to a specific PC, floating licenses can each have one user at a time, by anyone on a local network (i.e. three network users all using Mathcad at the same time will need three floating licenses, etc) Schools and universities may also choose from the Student Edition, Professor Edition (node locked) and University Editions (floating). The Single User license will be effectively discontinued.

All PTC active support customers now receive:
• 24x5 technical support
• No charge access to all software updates and upgrades
• Access to the Knowledge Base which includes searchable product specific content and resources
• Discounts on product level upgrades
• Online web support and License Management tools
• “Tips and Techniques” web casts for product demos and basic training
• Gold Loyalty Program discounts with partners including Dell, Knovel, Lenovo.

In addition to the above, Mathcad customers are also entitled to:
• An additional license at no charge to be used on the Home PC of a user utilizing a network license in the office.
• Node Locked customers receive 1 Home Use License for each active license
• Floating customers receive 2 Home Use licenses for every 1 seat they maintain.
• Up to 10 Free content downloads from Knovel (more information below). Mathcad customers will particularly be interested in Knovel Math which provides fully documented Mathcad worksheets from Roarks Formulas for Stress and Strain- 7th Edition, Hicks Handbook of Civil Engineering Calculations, and the Foundation Engineering Handbook.

A new partner for updated Mathcad Extended Libraries:
With past versions, PTC Mathcad included Library Extensions for Mechanical, Civil and Electrical engineering. PTC has a new relationship with content provider Knovel, who maintain updated library extensions for Mathcad called Knovel Math. Those with Mathcad 14 can also use the old Library Extensions from that version on Mathcad 15, as well.

For more information about Mathcad 15 in Australia, contact a local partner HERE. A trial user version of Mathcad 15 is not yet ready. Mathcad 14 in Australia can still be directly downloaded from CADDIT.net HERE. Trial users from regions outside Australia should contact either their own local PTC partner or download the trial directly from PTC.

Alibre 3D CAD Software "84% Off" Sale from CADDIT Australia

Alibre has granted authorization to CADDIT Australia to offer the latest version of Alibre Design version 12 with at least AUD$1200 saving (84%) for these last few weeks of 2009. Why are we posting this to our blog? 1.This is not an Alibre 11 sale. This sale applies to the newly released Alibre Design version 12, including the features discussed earlier on our blog HERE. 2.It's a near give-away. Even if a company already uses another 3D CAD/CAM system, Alibre Design easily supplements as a stand-alone sub-assembly designer, detail drawing workstation or even just a STEP or DWG viewer.

Pricing for Alibre Design from CADDIT Australia until 12AM 1 January 2010 EST:
Alibre Design Standard: 239.84+GST
Alibre Design Standard: 859.00+GST
Alibre Design Standard: 1199.00+GST

A full version of Alibre Design can be downloaded HERE. If the user registers our download version using a valid address in Australia, you can buy Alibre software online HERE at this sale price until 1 January 2010 12 AM EST.

There are also some discounts offered on Alibre maintenance and upgrades HERE.

CAD Designers: Are Your Jobs Still Going Overseas?

Businesses in Beijing and Bangalore believe they have discovered a gold mine. But the same experience for many of their foreign investors has exposed land mines in return. Aside from the obvious local employment concerns, companies often discover outsourcing to be far more expensive than originally estimated. Businesses which were first enticed with seemingly low hourly wages find themselves committed to paying more than they ever bargained for.

As one example United Technologies, an acknowledged leader in developing offshore best practices, was saving just over 20 percent by outsourcing to India in 2003 (and wages are higher there now). That's still substantial savings, to be sure. But it takes years of effort and a huge up-front investment. For many companies, it simply may not be worth it. "Someone working for $10,000 a year in Hyderabad can end up costing an American company four to eight times that amount," says Hank Zupnick, CIO of GE Real Estate.

Google metrics for outsourcing searches have dropped 50% since then. According to the Black Book of Outsourcing, western firms such as CENIT, IBM Global and Infosdys still sell as many PLM outsourcing services to the world as do Indian firms Larsen & Toubro, Siri Technologies and Satyam. This is bad news for a country carrying perhaps the world's largest surplus in manpower. Such regions, through poor management and cultural barriers, are often too slow with creating domestic markets of their own. China faces similar problems.

A backlash trend to outsource to Europe or the USA is actually emerging now. Many investors, once burned, are looking for better long-term partnerships with contractors and suppliers. This is good news for engineering and design companies in the more developed nations. Stay alert. Opportunities exist for skilled designers in developed countries to demonstrate their value added. Suggestions for remaining competitive: keep resources, skills and training certifications updated, invest in innovation and R&D.

If you have a recent experience about your company's design work being outsourced (or not) feel free to post it HERE.

3D Industrial CAD Software Upgrades Free For Two Years

CADDIT CAD CAM Australia is pleased to announce a special promotion for engineers looking for affordable 3D industrial engineering software. Buy VariCAD for Windows or Linux right now until September 30, and receive two years of free upgrades. What makes this offer especially exciting are some major product enhancements planned for the product during the free two year upgrade period which include advances in 3D parametric design and simulation. To further encourage Australia and New Zealand engineers to buy before October, CADDIT is offering special online pricing. The total savings of this special offer total to over 50% the normal price.

VariCAD is affordable 3D industrial design CAD software for practical engineers. It offers robust 3D mechanical design tools and associative 2D ANSI, ISO or DIN drafting layouts. VariCAD includes several applications for sheet metal, fit-out and profile construction, interference checking in assemblies and extensive libraries of standard parts which can be included in any design. Sharing designs with external systems is made easy through extensive ISO STEP, IGES, Autodesk DWG and DXF support. For those new to VariCAD, it can be downloaded and used free for 30 days, but this free upgrade offer will still end on September 30 2008. There are also videos, tutorials and other resources on the CADDIT website.

VariCAD has been meeting the needs of mechanical and design engineers for over a decade. This latest special offer includes two years of completely free product upgrades and technical support. There will probably never be a more affordable offer to buy this product. More information about VariCAD is available from CADDIT CAD CAM Australia.