Friday, October 3, 2008

LCD Plasma TV Madness - How Has It Progressed To This Point

Have you jumped into the latest craze to hit the television market? Perhaps you do not know what the "craze" is and are still using an outdated Telly. Either way, it is time for a little education on a LCD plasma TV. They are slim, offer great sound and the picture is phenomenal. It is a clear, sharp image that cannot even be compared to the images found on the older boob tubes. You have got to see it to believe it!

Whether you purchase a Samsung TV or a Sony HDTV plasma television, you are part of a growing trend. Many people are trading in their old, bulky television sets in favor of the new slimmer models. Remember those big screen televisions that took up most of the living room? Forget about those archaic relics! They offered up distorted pictures and faded colors. LCD and plasma televisions blast those antiques away by offering up new technology that spares owners the distortion. Monday night football never looked so good when viewed on this new phenomenon.

Okay, so an LCD plasma TV is a bit more expensive than what you paid for your old telly. However, if you remember back, then you may realize that the price differences are pretty small. At the time, larger screen televisions could easily sell for $500. Today you can own flat screen televisions for as little as $628 if you catch them on sale. Wal-Mart offers an RCA LCD HDTV for that price. It is 32" and has a built-in DVD player. You're getting a two for one deal.

Some people do not believe in buying their products or merchandise at big name retail stores because they want to support their local businesses. This is commendable and there needs to be a concerted effort to save local businesses. However, the downfall of shopping at local "Mom and Pop" stores is that they may not have the selection you want and if they do have the right Samsung TV or Panasonic plasma TV, then you are going to pay more.

Get rid of that dull old television set that is taking up so much room! An LCD plasma TV will change how you watch movies or play video games. You can go a step farther by purchasing cable or satellite packages that offer HDTV. The difference between regular cable or satellite and high definition is astonishing. Jump into the craze and see what you have been missing.

Having a big television is not always what it is cracked up to be. Those big monstrosities that take up so much room but deliver horrible picture quality and sound are out. You need to get with the times and get yourself a plasma TV. There are plenty of plasma televisions to choose from. You can opt for a 42" and hang it on your wall. You can have a 52" that resonates with beautiful picture quality and sound. The choices are up to you and you can find anything you are looking for by clicking here: Lg Electronics Plasma Flat Tv and at Plasma Tv Guide

Rapid Prototyping Disadvantages

Prototype

Rapid Prototyping is a process wherein a working model or prototype is developed for the purpose of testing the various product features like design, ideas, features, functionality, performance and output. This process of development of working model is quite quick. Early Feedback is one thing that the user can give towards the prototype. Rapid prototyping is, generally, a significant and essential part of the system designing process and it is believed to decrease the project cost and risk.

The prototype that is developed by the process of rapid prototyping is based on the performance of earlier designs. Hence, it is possible to correct the defects or problems in the design by taking corrective measures. After you have made sure that the prototype meets every single requirement of the specific design then the product can be produces. There are many advantages of rapid prototyping.

Rapid Prototyping –Advantages in brief: Rapid prototyping has manifold advantages. It can provide with concept proof that would be required for attracting funds. The prototype gives the user a fair idea about the final look of the product. Rapid prototyping can enhance the early visibility. Whats nice about the developmental stage is that you can find really early flaws in the design that can be easier to fix. You really want to see a lot of participation with the user and producer in order to make the most out of rapid prototyping. Rapid Prototyping becomes popular when you start to see how cost effective it can be. A higher output is what the user can get.

The deficiencies in the earlier prototypes can be detected and rectified in time. The speed of  system development is increased. It is possible to get immediate feedback from the user. There is better communication between the user and designer as the requirement sand expectations are expressed in the beginning itself. High quality product is easily delivered by way of rapid prototyping. Invention Prototype enables development time and costs. There are many innovative ways in which rapid prototyping can be used.

Despite all these benefits, there are many people who believe that there are many disadvantages of rapid prototyping.

Disadvantages of Prototyping : Some people are of the opinion that rapid prototyping is not effective because, in actual, it fails in replication of the real product or system. It could so happen that some important developmental steps could be omitted to get a quick and cheap working model. As you can see with rapid prototyping this could be one of the biggest disadvantages. Another disadvantage of rapid prototyping is one in which many problems are overlooked resulting in endless rectifications and revisions. The best solution in a large sized application may not be the best situation possible for rapid prototyping.

The user may have very high expectations about the prototype’s performance and the designer is unable to deliver these. The system could be left unfinished due to various reasons or the system may be implemented before it is completely ready. The producer may produce an inadequate system that is unable to meet the overall demands of the organization. Too much involvement of the user might hamper the optimization of the program. The producer may be too attached to the program of rapid prototyping, thus it may lead to legal involvement.

The cost reduction benefit of rapid prototyping also seems to be debatable, as sufficient details regarding the calculation basis and assumptions are not substantial.

 
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Prototyping Advantages and the process of Rapid Prototyping

Electronic Prototype

Invention Prototype is a process of software development wherein physical objects are automatically constructed by means of SFF or solid freeform fabrication. In the process of rapid prototyping, a prototype or working model can be constructed quickly, and tested for its functionality, performance and output. The new features or ideas can be illustrated well in the prototype and early user feedback can be gathered with regards to the product. There are numerous advantages of rapid prototyping.

Benefits of Prototyping : Significant advantages of rapid prototyping include reduction of project cost and risk. Generally, one or more prototypes are developed in the process of software development in a series of incremental and iterative steps. Every prototype that is manufactured is based on the previous designs’ performance and it is a corrective process through which the past design defects or problems are corrected. The product is readied for production when the prototype is refined as per requirements and meets all the design goals like manufacturability, robustness and functionality.

Another great advantage of rapid prototyping is that it finds use and application in almost all the industries. The other advantages of rapid prototyping include the following.

Visualization capabilities are enhanced in the early designing phase with use of Invention Prototype . The user gets a fair idea of how the final product will look by observing the working model in early design stage.
The design flaws can be detected before manufacture process is initiated. 
Active participation by all of the parties involved is one of the things that rapid prototyping enables. Active participation between the users and producer is encouraged.
The user is able to get a higher output.
Rapid Prototyping helps with reducing the costs of product development which is why its so popular.
Rapid prototyping increases the speed of system development.
With rapid prototyping, it is possible to detect deficiencies in the earlier prototype, coding activities and requirement analysis.
Rapid prototyping assists in refining the potential risks that are involved in the delivery
The different aspects of the prototype can be tried and tested and immediate feedback is possible form user.
Better communication is enabled between the users and designer as there is clear expression of requirements and expectations in the start itself.
Rapid prototyping enables easy delivery of high quality product.


Saving of Time and Cost: Rapid Prototypings biggest benefits are that is will save a lot of developmental costs and tons of time in the developmental costs. Time can be saved by reducing the amount of time required to produce the prototype parts and tooling. Production costs are lowered as the mistakes regarding tooling are identified in the early stages and hence, the modification costs can be cut down in the actual production.

Advantage of Innovation: Rapid prototyping can be used in many innovative ways. There are even more benefits from rapid prototyping other than these and the possibilities are endless. The advantages of rapid prototyping in innovative applications are advancement of new testing procedures and analysis, production tooling manufacture, improved communications across production departments and support of customized manufacturing. The new technologies can be used in a cost effective and successful manner with innovative applications of rapid prototyping. 

 
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Thursday, October 2, 2008

Finding Careers In Computer Animation.

Nowadays, there are more ways to find careers in computer animation than ever before. Back before the age of cheap and powerful computers, animation careers were hard to come by. The equipment  needed was extremely expensive, the technical expertise requirements were very demanding, and the job was time-consuming. For these reasons, becoming a professional animator was difficult. There were few jobs, and it was a difficult field to break into. It was such a time consuming occupation, after all, that it was almost impossible for private individuals to make their own animations in their spare time.



Computer generated animation changed all that. Nowadays, careers in computer animation are readily available to anyone who wants to take the time to study. There are many different ways to go about it. The most accepted way to try to get a career in computer animation is still to go to a respected animation school. There are plenty of art schools out there with excellent animation programs. Some of them focus more on computer animated cartoons, while others have a bigger emphasis on traditional styles. Either type of program will get you where you need to go.



Of course, many careers in computer animation start off with experimentation at home. Anyone can learn to program flash animations, and some of the effects people get are pretty good. Animating your own cartoons is a great way to build up a portfolio and get your work seen. Once you get a following, you can use that to get hired by a computer animation studio. Alternately, you can keep working for yourself. Many careers in computer animation, after all, take place completely on the Internet.



Still, it can't hurt to have a career plan ñ particularly if you don't already have a way to make a living. This is why going to an animation school is the most widely practiced way of getting a career in computer animation. There are so many people who have the skills that animation industry companies can afford to rule out anyone who doesn't have the credentials without even giving them a second chance. If you can't get your foot in the door, you will never become eligible for any of the best careers in computer animation. Going to animation school will give you a broad-based educational program which will teach you a lot more than you could easily learn on your own. All in all, going to a school for animation makes a lot of sense.



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Buying A Desktop Computer Package Will Save Money

Buying a Desktop Computer Package

A desktop computer package is the most cost effective method of finding the best desktop computer deals.  The buyer will get everything needed which usually includes the tower, the monitor, keyboard, and mouse and sometimes even a free printer.

There are many things to consider when looking into a new computer such as the brand are you leaning towards and what will you be using the computer for.  Reading the list below can help with the decision making process in the purchase of a desktop computer package:

Type of Computer

Both Windows and Macintosh offer custom desktop computers.  If you don't like change it may be best to stay with whatever system you feel most comfortable with. Much of the commonly used software was originally created to be used with Windows. Most all of that software has been tweaked to work with the Macintosh. Some like the Mac for the stability and lack of virus problems.

CPU

The CPU inside the tower is one the most critical choices you will have to make when putting together your desktop computer bundle. The Central Processing Unit will determine the speed with which your computer will process commands.

Read Access Memory


Then, the desktop computer package will offer RAM, which is the system's memory.  With this, programs are able to run and information can be moved between the hard drive and functions of the program.  For the best choice, buyers want to match RAM speed with the CPU speed.


Hard Drive



The hard drive capacity is important to consider when needing to store a lot of pictures, videos or detailed graphics.  If you only using your computer to only write and store text data the capacity is less of a concern.

The Computer Screen


Computer monitors come with the best desktop computer deals.  Typically, working with a lot of graphics would need a CRT type of monitor.  However, most of the desktop computer bundle deals come with LCD monitors.  The advantage here is that the monitor does not consume as much energy, have wider screen images, and work better for smaller spaces.

Keyboard and Mouse


A wireless keyboard and or mouse is not only convenient but allows a clean looking computer station.  There are so many wires connecting all the components together it is hard to keep them neat and tidy.  Visit a computer store to find the style, size and shape you prefer before making an online purchase.

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3D Rapid Prototyping Overseas and Global Prototyping Discussed

Prototype Design

Global Sources Group: There are very few companies dealing with Rapid Prototyping overseas. One of them is Global Sources Group. It can boast of offering overseas rapid manufacturing. Today’s fast world speaks of competition. The US is no exception. In has been dominate throughout the globe since really the last cenury. This has led to the emergence of Global Sources Group. The customer would always feel obliged by seeking the services of Global Sources Group, as this would result in substantial increase in his productivity and profit. This company is associated with factories across Vietnam and China. Thus, the required competitive edge that is needed in market of today is ensured.

Global Sources Group has the ability of designing the Prototyping within 10 days. Not only that, the patent of the new product acquired can be obtained within 4 weeks. Here, time is equated with money. In reality, you would airfreight the products over seas so you still get fast productivity and overseas has very high quality factories. This would thus take the client to the subsequent level.

Global Sources Group assists companies in 3D Prototyping , right from design to manufacture. It specializes in manufacturing and ‘Art to Part Design’. You will find that this company has over 20 years of experience.

Delcam: Another company dealing with rapid prototyping overseas is Delcam. This company was established in 1968, when 3D modelling was not even talked of. 2D drawing was prevalent. Ford was really the first company that helped bring rapid prototyping into the 1980's. The process can be described as follows: Rapid Prototyping can be made effective if a good quality STL FILE is used. It is independent of composition. STL file, having property of water tightness can be exported by Power SHAPE. The errors can be automatically detected and repaired by a set of ‘wizards’. It provides the customer with total control over the creation of mesh. Whats nice is that the fast model from PowerSHAPE that carries out the repairing of the tools is also intuitive. This means that if the surfaces of original model of CAD are damaged or missing, the work won’t be stopped, i.e. the customer can easily carry out the fixation of model and go on with his work.

CopyCAD, Delcam’s software for reverse engineering, possesses comprehensive tools to repair and modify the STL models on an interactive basis. This enables the process chain to continue in an unbroken manner even if there is no CAD model to start with. Power MILL, Delcam’s absolute machining solution has the capacity of producing accurate tool paths. They can be built upto five axis-simultaneous, directly from the STL models. What is nice about this is that you will find that the manufacturing process wll become more flexible.

Delcam’s software is being tried and examined with majority of general Rapid Prototyping Systems, to produce both, prototype tooling and form-and-fit testing parts. Its constant involvement in projects of Europe like HiperMoulding and CARP ensures that the customer is guaranteed of results of high quality irrespective of the type of Rapid Prototyping System used. Delcam has been into news in terms of rapid prototyping for quite some time now.

 
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Prototype Development and Prototype Design

Prototype Design

Designing and Prototype Design have revolutionized the manufacturing processes in all industries nearly. There is not a single industry or process that is untouched by the technology of designing and prototyping.

Designing: Designing is the process by which you will design a product in advance before actual production. Designing will help you to innovate, change, modify and invent. Designing involves the process of idea generation, conceptualizing and actual design development.

Prototyping: Prototyping is a process in which a working model or prototype is developed for the purpose of testing the various design aspects like features, ideas, viability, functionality, output and performance. The prototyping will help in getting a quick user feedback. Prototyping is considered to be an essential element of the process of system designing.

Designing and Prototyping go hand in hand, as both are complementary. In prototyping, new prototypes are developed on the basis of the performance of earlier designs. The deficiencies or problems in the previous designs can be detected and corrected. The prototype is redesigned after refinement and successfully meets the designing goals like functionality, manufacturability, performance and robustness. After this, the product can be readily produced.

Benefits of Designing and Rapid Prototyping : The scope of designing and prototyping is unlimited. Both have applications in all types of industries like CAD, CAM, automotive industry, workshops, fashion designing and innovative products and so on. With designing, you are able to create digital data in the form of 3D images and this digital data can be transformed into actual physical object by way of prototyping. You can visualize about how the final product will look. You can translate your inventions and innovative ideas in real terms with the help of designing and prototyping.

You may be toying with many innovative product ideas in your mind and you wish to convert them into realities. You can successfully develop your new invention from an idea to actual manufactured product with designing and prototyping. You can test your product by testing its commercial viability. You can have an open communication with the user regarding the expectations of the product and its performance. This will give you a fair idea regarding the designing and prototyping.

Appropriate Designing and Prototyping: If you want your invention or innovative product to be successful, then it needs to have a good design and there have to more additives than a plain good idea. The design should be such that it reduces the manufacturing costs. The design must have excellent functionality and it should be attractive as well along with the benefit of maximized durability. The designing and prototyping should work together to maximize the chances of success.

The best approach for an appropriate designing and prototyping plan, would be to design and create an eye-catching and working prototype along with good packaging. Necessary legal protection should be obtained. Engineering drawings should be produced and pricing data for manufacturing process should be generated. All the production facilities of the factory should be lined up. Take feedback from the end users and buyers and you will get an idea of the demand for your product. This appropriate designing and prototyping plan, is sure to spell success for you.

 
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Keep Your PC Safe With A Web Firewall


It is important to know how and why you should install a web firewall with the onslaught of computer hackers, scammers, and viruses that are prevalent around the Internet. Defense from malicious data harming your computer is provided by a web firewall. With one, you can avoid dangerous attacks that can wipe out your data or steal personal information.


Determine the type of web firewall required by your computer as there are a wide variety available. If you already have a computer that came installed with the Microsoft XP or Vista operating system, then chances are that your web firewall is already set up and ready to be used. It is no good if it is turned off or not working properly. Purchase your own software if you do not have one of these newer operating systems. You may want to purchase separate software to complement Microsoft XP as its version of web firewall doesn't get great reviews.

There are many products available, including as the most popular - Norton, AVG, and McAfee and you can either visit a store that sells computer software or download a web firewall product through the Internet. The price of software varies depending on how sophisticated it is but there are also plenty of low cost versions available, even from the big name companies. Prior to the installation of your web firewall, a few things must be taken into consideration. The program must not stop you using the functions that you need, such as file and printing sharing. Settings can be configured during installation or at a later date using the documentation provided.


Web firewalls tend to stop you from going to certain parts of the Internet as well. It is important that you are familiar with how you connect because this can happen if you use a local area network or a router. When you have installed a web firewall in place, secured networks in particular are difficult to access. Installing a web firewall to a pc linked to a company network may require a specific settings configuration to allow you to connect to them and this can be provided by a company's IT department.

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Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Xbox 360 Games Download – How To Download Xbox 360 Games Online

Tired of the same old game that you play on your Xbox 360? Done with the same patterns and almost the same game that just changed the scenes? Well, today is the right time to discover new xbox 360 games and adventures you never encounter.

There are many ways to download xbox 360 games online that will surely fit your interests. You do not have to pay for large fees because some of the xbox 360 games downloads are very cheap. It will offer you non-stop action that will boost your adrenalin rush and let you feel that you are really into it. Almost all of the games are available for easy download anywhere you are so long as you are connected to the internet.

The Xbox 360 games download are in high resolution that will provide a clearer and better gaming experience. There are a few websites that I found allows you to download unlimited xbox 360 games for a one time low cost. They also provide updated news and patches so you will always on the top and always knowledgeable to the latest technological advancements especially in Xbox.

If you have any problems, the support system will be glad to serve you anytime of the day. So, never miss the fun and enjoyment that your Xbox offers. Be the first of the few people who discovered the secret on how to play xbox 360 games download on your gaming console. Be the top model for your friends and be the leader of the Xbox community.

I recommend you have a broadband connection to download the xbox 360 ISO files as most of them are quite large in size. I recommend at least a 1MB broadband or DSL line. Also, if your home has wireless connections, it will be better and faster to download the xbox 360 games directly to your xbox 360.

CRM Applications and Their Relevance

CRM Software  is the ultimate need is the ultimate need for every business. CRM Application allows an organization to automate the production proposal for their clients and prospects. CRM software organizes all aspects of the upcoming test, checks inventory for the testing supplies and even orders the materials needed for testing. CRM software is used to support these processes, storing information on customers and prospective customers. Information in the system can be accessed and entered by employees in different departments, such as sales , marketing , customer service , training , professional development , performance management, human resource development , and compensation .

CRM Software (Cusotmer Relationship Management) is the generic term for software that helps companies to maintain and improve the quality of their relationships with customers. By storing information about customers and prospective customers centrally, and distributing that information to all departments, all company representatives are able to see a complete view of the customer, irrespective of their particular role. CRM Software can be as basic as a simple database that holds the contact information, or you can use it to send email, direct mail, and postcards all on a set schedule. CRM Software is a tremendous tool for salespeople that are looking to take it to the next level. CRM software can help to move you beyond those limitations and put firm-wide management at your fingertips.

CRM software can also help you retain existing customers and gain new ones. Key elements of CRM allow a business to collect and maintain valuable data such as customer contacts and history of purchases; maintain profiles of customer preferences; improve customer communication channels; and identify new selling opportunities. CRM Software should be a salespersons best friend. It doesn't matter if you're a small business owner, working in a large organization, or an independent sales rep, a good contact management software is a necessary tool for you to keep your pipeline organized and full of qualified leads.

Customer Relationship Management Software can be a major undertaking, with the cost for many systems over several million dollars and the implementation period lasting a year or more. Before making a commitment like this, every business should ask if they require a full CRM Software program . Customer information acquired from sales, marketing, customer service, and support is captured and stored in a centralised database . The system may provide data-mining facilities that support an opportunity management system . Customized Software Applications continue to hold an important position in the software solutions chain even though there is an increasing shift towards packaged solutions. Business dynamics and growth will ensure that the requirements are always ahead of the available packages and hence the need for customized solutions.

Customer Relationship Management CRM software has played a very important role for large corporations in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of sales, marketing, and customer service. There have been both successes and failures in implementing these very expensive solutions.

Web based CRM enables the business owner to quick view marketing wins and losses. Track the success of multi-channel advertising efforts. CRM software's marketing functionality needs to promote new product or a service through multiple channels with unified message. Where the marketing functionality leaves off by creating leads, sales force automation needs to pick up the thread seamlessly, from qualification to closure of such leads. CRM software provides the organization, management, delivery and automation to achieve the CRM strategy. Effective CRM software will facilitate the understanding, anticipating and responding to the needs of your customer in both an efficient and effective manner.

Learning Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing Basics

cnc

You might hear the term CAD-CAM from time to time.  It is basically a merging of the two pieces.  A software manufacturer tries to pick up more marketshare by doing this.  They also keep you locking into their “system” by going with the whole package at once.


A lot of the time, this is a good thing.  Same or similar interface on both pieces of software.  Quick flow between pieces and easy file management.  You have to evaluate it for yourself though.  There are many times in life where two or more tools are combined to produce a less then stellar result.

CAD/CAM Article
Here is an article I pulled up that describes the past and future direction of CAD/CAM.I thought it was important as you hear these two terms used together all the time.  They are two different and distinct parts of the process, but some software makers make both products and sell them together.

CAD/CAM: Past, Present and Future
By Katrina C. Arabe

Before CAD/CAM technology, drafts, calculations and product design involved pencil, paper and a seemingly endless succession of blueprints. CAD/CAM's ongoing enhancement has made the process easier, but with the latest slew of features, some users actually find less is more.
Virtually every manmade product has been designed and manufactured using a CAD/CAM program. CAD/CAM, or Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing, is utilized in every facet of industry; from designing phones to plotting out toolpaths in die and mold shops. Although the users of CAD/CAM technology may, at times, feel frustrated by how often its software is updated, the fact is that CAD/CAM has close to five decades of history stretching almost as far back as the computer.


CAD/CAM, like the digital computer, had its inception in the military. In the mid-1950s the U.S. Air Force began testing an air defense system known as SAGE (Semi Automatic Ground Environment) to graphically depict data received on radar systems. The first computer actually rendering a program, SAGE was conceived at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1960, computer scientists at MIT produced yet another project called Sketchpad, an application that is now considered to be the first design program with industrial use. A similar program sprouted up at General Motors soon after. At that time, mainframes were still large enough to take up entire rooms.


During the 1960's CAD/CAM technology continued to evolve and spread to other areas. Automotive companies were the first to adopt the technology, and used it primarily to design automobile bodies. It then quickly spread to other sectors of industry, which were only too eager to abandon traditional pen and paper methods of drafting. By 1973, CAD/CAM was being used to design industrial tools. Midway through the decade, the 19-inch monitor came out, which meant that drawings could be viewed larger than the previous standard of 11 inches. In the last half of the 70's, solid modeling software became available. It allowed users to take "geometric primitives" (basic geometric shapes such as boxes and cones) and combine them using Boolean operations. In 1982, Autodesk made CAD/CAM history when it released the first version of AutoCAD, which soon became the premiere software platform for automobile design.
At times, the history of CAD/CAM seems like the plot of a spy novel. In 1984, a Hungarian scientist named Gabor Bajor, succeeded in smuggling two Macintosh computers into his Communist-controlled homeland. With the intent of writing a 3D CAD program, Bajor and his teenage assistant used the illegal computers to create just that program, and started the Graphsoft Company. In 1985, Diehl Graphsoft introduced MiniCAD to the market, which would be considered the industry standard for CAD on the Mac. The same year Autodesk unveiled AutoCAD 2.1. Complete with 3D capabilities, AutoCAD 2.1 was another breakthrough that transformed design in the auto industry. In the late 80's and early 90's, CAD/CAM giant Unigraphics took its place as a major industry player by partnering with industry powerhouses such as General Motors, UNIX, GE and Boeing.


During the early 1990s, Unigraphics introduced hybrid modeling, which featured both traditional modeling and advanced parametric techniques. By the end of 1994, over one million units of AutoCAD had been sold, and by the end of 1995, there were about 350,000 users of generic CAD/CAM reported worldwide. In 1996, General Motors signed the largest contract in CAD/CAM's history by selecting Unigraphics as its sole vendor for vehicle development software. Soon afterwards, Unigraphics would once again transform the medium by releasing CAD/CAM software that allowed for the definition, control and evaluation of product templates. Another major advance in CAD/CAM occurred IN 1999 when Think3, a "Johnny-come-lately" to the world of CAD/CAM, introduced the first mechanical design software that could fully combine the power of parametric solids, advanced surfacing, wireframe and two-dimensional drafting on the desktop in one environment. Subsequently, a plethora of software vendors has surfaced, inundating the market with competing CAD/CAM platforms AND causing designers to be alternately pleased and confused by the sheer number of options available to them.


At present, CAD/CAM continues its steady path of progress. Much of this progress is in the form of refining past innovations to make them more efficient and user friendly. A groundbreaking CAD/CAM innovation has not occurred for a number of years, which seems to indicate that another sweeping change is just around the corner -- or maybe not. Despite the advent of 3D CAD/CAM, many CAD/CAM users still prefer to render designs in 2D. Thus, recent 3D innovations such as animated "walk-throughs" (a technique that allows designers to visually move in and around the rendered model, and see it from every possible angle) are still largely underused. The same is true of the bevy of collaboration tools currently available to the CAD/CAM user. The ability to combine CAD/CAM, with finite-element analysis and the accessibility of simulation and knowledge management, has yet to be fully embraced. Perhaps, it is in one of these areas that the next CAD/CAM breakthrough will occur. One thing that can be said with a degree of certainty is that research and development are currently ahead of user demand. When, and if, the garden-variety CAD/CAM user decides that they need to expand their range of capabilities, they will find a world of cutting-edge CAD/CAM tools at their disposal.

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Prototype Services, Rotocast, 3D Cad, and 3D Printing

Rapid Prototype

Since Prototyping came into being, many businesses provided with the service of prototype development. Earlier, such companies were known as service bureaus and they allowed the users to access the unproven and expensive technology. In the early period of rapid prototyping, these service bureaus provided with advantages of Rapid Prototyping development minus the soaring upfront expenses and major risks of applying a new technology that was relatively unverified and hovering on the brink of rapid obsolescence. In the beginning, the service bureaus provided file conversions for narrowing the operational gap amidst 2D data and 3D CAD models. Due to this, the large companies that had not yet transitioned to solid modeling were benefited greatly.  

As the technology of rapid prototyping progressed, most of the service bureaus have undergone role modifications and they promise to deliver greater advantages beyond initial expense reduction and ownership risk. There are several companies worldwide offering the rapid prototyping services.

Advantages of Rapid Prototype Services: The advantages of rapid prototyping services are by far many. The rapid prototyping services provide advanced rapid prototyping technologies. You can get a competitive edge in the process of product development, so that the product is marketed much faster. The rapid prototyping services allow the users and producers to achieve the designing and prototyping goals. The innovative product idea can be successfully realized into actual product of high quality with the help of rapid prototyping services. The rapid prototyping services deliver the finished product beginning from the product idea, conceptualization and prototype development. You can save money and time as well, as rapid prototyping allows the production on low volume basis directly from the designing data.

Rapid Prototyping Services: The various types of rapid prototyping services include technologies like stereolithography prototype, polyjet 3D printing, selective laser sintering, rapid tooling, 3D CAD modeling, RTV molding, RotoCAST, machined castings, urethane castings, injection molding, high temperature castings, rapid prototyping machines, investment casting, electroplating, functional  prototype development, 3D modeling and development of patterns and models.

The rapid prototyping service provider will develop prototypes as per the required specifications of the manufactures. Things that this will supply you are prototype development, supplies and materials, and of course components. The various materials utilized in the process of rapid prototyping are plastics, metals and elastomers. The product development process is accelerated with supply of quick, robust and accurate prototypes by the rapid prototyping services.

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It's not always Easy to Remove Smitfraud

Smitfraud as you most likely already know is a virus.Here are some of the things Smitfraud can do.  There are many different variations of this virus but most of them do two things.  The first is change your desktop background around and make it so you can not change it back.  The second highjacks your home page and constantly re-directs you to other sites.  For full removal instructions head over to this dedicated Smitfraud Removal site.

While many current anti-virus and anti-spyware programs detect Smitfraud most can not fully remove this strain.  It ha traces in the registry and several other hard to edit places.  If you miss one trace chances are you will get infected again.  That is why this is so hard to remove.

Many repair site specialize in removing Viruses.  The cost will vary with who you choose but if you have your computer repaired online it will cut that cost in half.  Places like this Computer Repair shop do a great job and for much less then you think. They remote into your computer using screen sharing software and you can watch them work.  It’s just like having a personal tech onsite but without the high cost.They also feature a free chat with a pro.

Smitfraud can be fully remove using several free programs on the internet.  The problem is do you have the 7 to 16 hours to spend using free software to remove this?  The other downside in using free software is it won’t protect your computer from getting infected again.  Free clients do not offer upfront protection.  It’s only after you have been infected that they start to kicking and by that time it is often too late.  Don’t be cheap and fall prey to another virus.  Consider paying the 40 or so dollars a year and protect your computer so you do not have to deal with this issue again.

What is the right CAD program for me?

computer aided design

There are multiple Computer Aided Design Softwares available for design.  Generally people become familiar with one and stick with it.  As far as selecting the right one, my advice is this.  Most software companies have a free trial.30 day software trials are the standard.  Take advantage of these trial periods and test the software out.  Then at the end, decide if you want to try another software or stick with your best one.  I would advise you try out at least three different packages.


The one you select will probably have to do with you liking the interface or finding it intuitive.  Keep in mind it may work for you now.  A simple to use and understand interface probably has some limitations for your designs.  The very best programs are complex with many tools that give you the most control.  I have found that I start with a simple program and outgrow it.  At some point I move up to the next level of software.  This usually means a higher price as well.

Tools in CAD
Inside of your CAD program, you will have various tools that you can work with.  Many of these tools speed up your design times and make you more efficient.Each computer-aided design program will have tools, and then some unique tools that are only available with their specific software package.  These specialty tools are one of the ways software manufacturers differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

Versions of computer aided design
There are different types of computer aided design out in the marketplace.  These are the ones I deal with from time to time.  2D CAD, 2.5D CAD, and Three Dimensional CAD.Here are some fast explanations of each computer aided design type.

2D CAD
2D CAD is generally on the low end of CAD software packages.  2D CAD is most often vector based.  The design consists on the X and Y-axis only.  The designs are made up of lines, circles, ovals, slots, curves, etc.  There is no “depth” to the design.  Only the outline of the part is visible, to put it in a different way.

2.5D CAD
All of the same descriptions above apply, but the design is prismatic.  By that I mean it has the depth of the material.  There are Z levels, but they are on singular planes.

3D CAD
3D CAD is on the high end of CAD software packages.  3D CAD can be solid based, wire frame based or nurbs based.  The design consists on the X, Y and Z-axis.  The designs are made up of lines, circles, ovals, slots, curves, etc, but can also include Spheres, Pyramids, Torrids, Cubes, etc.There is a depth to the CNC design.  The design can be rotated around 360 degrees.  The design is an accurate description of what the part would look like if produced in the real world.

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