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Kubotek USA Announces KeyCreator Direct CAD with XMD-S Automated Mold Design Software

November 12, 2011 in CAD, Kubotek

KeyCreator Expert Mold Designer Bundle is a fully integrated package that Simplifies Mold Design – Introductory Pricing Available

Marlborough, Mass.— Kubotek USA and Cornerstone Intelligent Software announce the immediate availability of Expert Mold Design – S (XMD-S) with introductory pricing.

XMD-S is built from the original Expert Mold Designer product used by hundreds of mold makers throughout the US and Canada. Built to handle a solid geometry environment, XMD-S is fully integrated into the KeyCreator Direct CAD environment. XMD-S automates many of the tedious tasks involved in mold design. It provides smart components, automatic job management, automatic hole design, as well as many other smart mold design tools.

Ed Michener, Engineering Manager at Fineline Mold & Design states, “I cannot say enough what a time saver it is to develop and design in 3D using XMD and KeyCreator. We can now change with our customer’s demands and improve the design as it develops to completion. The ability to work directly on the solid model opens up a whole new world.”

The new solids-based XMD-S package runs within KeyCreator 2011 and is available as part of the KeyCreator Expert Mold Designer Bundle.  Through a recently signed agreement between Kubotek USA and Cornerstone Intelligent Software, KeyCreator Expert Mold Designer Bundle is now available throughout the Americas, and will soon be available worldwide.

In celebration of the new package and agreement – Kubotek and Cornerstone are offering very generous discounts though December 30, 2011.

More information on XMD-S Mold Design Software for KeyCreator Direct CAD is available online.

About Kubotek USA

Kubotek USA—Masters of Geometry – leads the direct modeling revolution by providing CAD technology to easily create, edit or manage changes to model data.  Kubotek USA develops core technologies that can recognize, or even infer, the geometry’s attributes to facilitate interoperability in what might otherwise be unusable data.  Kubotek USA produces software products and tools that can work with geometry, no matter where it originated, for use throughout the manufacturing supply chain in order to speed time to market, reduce costs and improve quality.  Kubotek USA products include:  KeyCreator 3D Direct CAD, Kubotek Validation Tool and Kubotek ECO Manager for precise model comparison/validation and visual change reports to easily manage design changes, KeyMachinist, and Kubotek Spectrum CAD viewer.

Kubotek USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kubotek Corporation (7709.T Tokyo Stock Exchange).  Kubotek Corporation was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan.

For more information please visit www.kubotekusa.com.

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Manufacturing is changing in the United States

December 6, 2009 in CAD, Kubotek

We all know that recessions can be devastating to companies and more so to the people, but there are some good things that come out of it as well.

  • Businesses become more creative and efficient
  • People become more creative and efficient
  • New opportunities appear
  • Survival mode kicks in and we make it past the tough times

Manufacturing in the United States has seen plenty of devastating events during this recession, but I see some hope.  There are new companies sprouting up in the manufacturing world that are taking advantage of our strengths.  Much like the wave of micro brewers, we are seeing micro manufacturing companies.  Check out this company (www.local-motors.com), they have the right idea.  Of course, I think they should use our KeyCreator 3D Direct CAD software and other engineering tools, but that’s not my point.

I see a great future for manufacturing in this country, but we need to work real hard to get there.  Let’s fight our way outside the normal business habits of today and inspire new and better ways of doing things.  Here’s a hint, think about humanity and not about profits, and a better world will follow.

Don’t forget to come visit us at www.kubotekusa.com and we’ll show you some engineering software that will blow you away!

Source: CAD Freedom and Precision – Views and News from KubotekUSA – Manufacturing is changing in the United States
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Direct Versus History Based Modeling

November 7, 2009 in CAD, Kubotek

 This is an article written by John Groener of Edge Data.  He is a reseller of both AutoDesk and Kubotek CAD software.  I hope you enjoy his perspective and find it informative and educational.  His contact information follows.

Direct
Versus History-Based Modeling

In 1985 History-Based Modeling was implemented in Pro/Engineer® and quickly
imitated by several “Me-Too” CAD products such as CATIA®, SDRC IDEAS®, and
UniGraphics®. Then came the “Mini-Me-Toos” such as SolidEdge®, SolidWorks®,
IronCAD®, and Inventor®.

History-Based modelers require the CAD user to define parameters and
constraints when designing a part. The parameters provide relationships to
other features in the 3D part, and constraints allow that part to be
constructed unambigously.These parameters, features, and constraints are stored
in the order they were built in the history tree and must be accessed through
that tree to be changed.

History-Based Modelers have shortcomings.
 •    Engineering changes can be a difficult, painful
process. A new user has to decipher and untangle the history tree so that he
can make changes.
 •    Each CAD software package has its own proprietary
file format so parts are not easily interchangeable.
 •    Assemblies can be time consuming to set up and
manipulate.
•    There is no stand-alone 2D drawing capability.
•    Surface models are not easily interchanged with solids.

KeyCreator uses Direct Modeling to create and edit 3D Models. NO
user-defined history tree is needed. Why? Because KeyCreator creates the
feature tree and KeyCreator allows direct dimension driven editing.  In
other words parametric, feature-based editing of all geometry.

KeyCreator has Comprehensive 2D drafting. KeyCreator produces complete
2D drawing sheets associated to the 3D model. KeyCreator uses levels (aka
layers) to manage 2D information, so 2D drafting can be standaone if desired.

KeyCreator Reads Native CAD Files from other CAD software like Pro/E,
Solidworks, Unigraphics, CATIA, Parasolids, ACIS, STEP, IGES. No fixing, no
healing, just read it in, edit, and GO!   Wait … how about the
parametrics? That’s KeyCreator’s job. No need to use the import as reference
geometry and re-parameterize it. Just go to work.

KeyCreator incorporates surface modeling. With KeyCreator you can create
a free-form surface model and then convert it to a solid model to facilitate
operations like shelling and fillets. Excellent healing tools insure that the
part is completely contiguous and accurate. KeyCreator is therefore a TRUE
Hybrid Modeler (a hybrid of solid and surface models).

KeyCreator’s assembly modeling features can manage all data in a single
file. It does this by using level management – that same invaluable 2D tool
which is noticeably absent in the other Solid Modelers. For very large
assemblies, KeyCreator can export parts in the assembly to multiple part files
and then reference those parts as entities.

KeyCreator is a complete Mechanical CAD solution with a unique ability to read
any CAD data format and then easily manipulate geometry, making it an
invaluable resource for any engineering design and manufacturing application.

KeyCreator and Edge Data

Did you know that …
… KeyCreator®, formerly known as CADKey®,  was introduced in 1984 as a CAD
Package with 3D Digitizing capabilities.

… Kubotek Corporation purchased CADKey in 2003, renamed the software
KeyCreator, invested heavily in R&D, added advanced 3D, CAM, and universal
CAD translation.

… Edge Data, one of the first AutoCAD dealers in the country, has been
providing New England with CAD products and training since 1983
…Today Edge Data is an Authorized Kubotek Service Center, and provides CAD
training for KeyCreator and other software.

John Groener
Edge Data Corp.
authorized kubotek service center

www.edgedata.com

978-537-9800
john@edgedata.com

Source: CAD Freedom and Precision – Views and News from KubotekUSA – Direct Versus History Based Modeling
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How Important is Speed in CAD Software?

October 27, 2009 in CAD, Kubotek

For version 9 of Kubotek’s KeyCreator 3D Direct CAD modeler we just increased the speed over version 8.5 for many functions by doing some serious under the hood changes.  In terms of computing, I think its safe to say that faster is pretty much always better than slower. 

And in general, I believe its also true that 3D Direct Modelers, like KeyCreator have an inherent edge over history based modelers in terms of speed.   Since we don’t store all of the steps required to build the model in history, we don’t have to go back through and update each of those steps when changes are made to our models.  They are just updated directly. You will never see  “rebuilding” on your screen while you wait for your model to update.

Additionally the KeyCreator program itself is much smaller than large and complex history-based, constraint-based modelers.  For KeyCreator, the intelligence is kept in the file, not by the program.  So, we are not the memory hogs that our history-based friends can be. KeyCreator is delivered with one DVD with everything on it.  (KeyCreator alone could be on a CD.)  Other CAD programs are delivered on multiple DVDs. Just the documentation alone for one CAD program is four DVD’s and another 2006 version of a popular history-based CAD package is delivered on 4 DVDs. The point is, that by taking up less space in memory, it is freed for computations required for modeling.

But how important is speed to CAD users?  Most people don’t want to sit and wait for their computer to crunch through data. Many studies show that we are less and less tolerant of this.  But other than the frustration of the wait time I would like to understand the average amount of time people actually lose as a result of sitting and waiting for the CAD programs to either start up, rebuild or complete their operations.

To answer this question I have developed a simple one question survey on Linked-In. And if you are a CAD user, I encourage you to take this poll and view the results. 

Click here to View or Take the poll: Time lost due to waiting for your CAD program 

Thank you for participating. 

Scott

Source: CAD Freedom and Precision – Views and News from KubotekUSA – How Important is Speed in CAD Software?
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Commentary on 8 reasons Engineers should spend their free time in the Machine Shop

September 29, 2009 in CAD, Kubotek

8 Reasons Engineers Should Spend Their Free Time In The Machine Shop

I found this recent post by T. Brian Jones very interesting. We meet with hundreds of engineers every year, maybe more. We hear the “old-timers” lament about the lack of practical skill that many “CAD programmers” have in designing products that are manufacturable.

I think this is closely related to the need for Engineering and Manufacturing to spend more time understanding each other.   It is also closely related to the ability of OEMs and suppliers to collaborate effectively.

I found the 3rd reason very applicable:

3. You can draw a lot of things in Pro/E and SolidWorks that you can’t make in the real world.

Kubotek software – KeyCreator CAD, our Validation Tool our Spectrum Viewers are designed for ease of creation/editing, comparing, validating and viewing of 3D/2D models, drawings and PMI.  Our KeyCreator CAD direct modeling software allows you to work using solid, surface, and wirefame, as your workflow dictates. This allows engineering, manufacturing and quality the flexibility and precision necessary to make decisions and collaborate to make manufacturable and cost effective designs and products.

Do you have stories about receiving manufacturable designs from manufacturing, we’d love to hear them.

Nice list T. Brian Jones!

Thank you for you insights.

Scott

 

Source: CAD Freedom and Precision – Views and News from KubotekUSA – Commentary on 8 reasons Engineers should spend their free time in the Machine Shop
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Direct Modeling, Explicit Modeling, Kubotek KeyCreator CAD

September 19, 2009 in CAD, Kubotek

I want to say that whatever you want to call it, and I certainly don’t want to call it Explicit modeling (whoever coined that term – didn’t want to get any emails through spam filters!). Let’s call it Direct Modeling, we are certainly receiving some great accolades from the press as of late.  I’d like to share one of those articles with you.

WorldCAD Access – Kubotek V9

If you have you’d like to try direct modeling for yourself – you can easily download a free 30 day trial of our KeyCreator CAD from our website or just click on KeyCreator .

Thanks again for reading.  If you want to keep tabs on us, you can easily subscribe by email by just entering your email address to the right of the webpage.

Scott

Source: CAD Freedom and Precision – Views and News from KubotekUSA – Direct Modeling, Explicit Modeling, Kubotek KeyCreator CAD
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3D Direct Dimension editing Technology gets better in KeyCreator V9

September 19, 2009 in CAD, Kubotek

Version 9 is almost here.  We have been working very hard to enhance the user’s ability create and edit geometry in the most straightforward yet robust manner.

 While history based modelers have used this technique for some time, the problem has been that you are constrained by the history of how you build the model.  With Direct dimension driven editing there are no constraints.  The dimensions are a wonderful tool for making powerful edits to one feature or a set of features.  And when you are done using the dimensions, you just delete them.

 

This workflow is perfect for developing initial designs, where you don’t want to get locked into all of the preceeding steps in developing your design.  It is also great for developing tooling or fixtures.

This tool is a must have for a manufacturing department or company that wants to quickly prepare models for manufacturing or to develop operation sheets or work instructions.

Please watch a short video on the direct dimention edit enhancements we have made for Version 9 of KeyCreator, which is scheduled to be released this Fall.  Direct Dimension Enhancements in KeyCreator Version 9 Video

Best regards,

Scott

Source: CAD Freedom and Precision – Views and News from KubotekUSA – 3D Direct Dimension editing Technology gets better in KeyCreator V9
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CADKEY to KeyCreator: Past and Present

September 17, 2009 in CAD, Kubotek

My experience at Kubotek
does not date back to CADKEY, but in fact it is hard to ignore the
history.  Even Dr. Kubo himself has a
long history with CADKEY as a former dealer and now CEO.  I am often told by our current dealers and
customers that the history of CADKEY is very important to the future of
KeyCreator.  I am amazed at the loyal
customer base that will start a conversation by stating when it was they first
started using CADKEY.  Yes, of course
there were some rocky roads and users and former users alike will have no
problem telling you when they were and yet here we still are preaching the
benefits of direct, explicit, hybrid 
modeling.  We resisted the move to
parametric modeling with the one belief that one CAD paradigm does not fit all
and after all these years it is obvious the rest of the industry agrees. 

 

My point to this blog is
not to start another argument of direct vs constrained modeling, but instead to
embrace the history of CADKEY and to thank our long time passionate, dedicated
users and to pass on our excitement for the future.  Yes, we are now Kubotek and yes KeyCreator
made some significant changes, but just like the 1996 world champion New York
Yankees looks different than the power house 2009 New York Yankees, there are
links to the past that help us understand the tradition.  I wanted to end with two requests that came
through our website that links the past to the future.  I removed names to protect the innocent.  I think this sums it up.  Past and present!  We value it all. 

 

“I was
one of the first partners with CADKEY(back in the late 1980’s). I wrote the
external DXF to CADL bidirectional translator for the early CADKEY bundles. I
do some personal designing and would like a quote (email is sufficient) on the
current prices of KeyCreator. Thanks, glad to see you have survived as well as
you have. I know back when I was working with you things were just getting off
the ground. “                          (By
the way Thomas, we will contact you to get you a copy.  I would love your feedback).

 

“During my Junior and
Senior years at Unnamed High school, I took a year-long Pre Engineering and Architectural
design class In the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center with a Mr. Rick
Unnamed. I became very proficient in the use of KeyCreator and enjoyed how easy
it was to pick up. I am now enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering program at
Unnamed College and am trying to learn on Sold Works, with little success. I’d
like to download your trial and hopefully convince my professor how simple it
is to use and how ridiculously complex and un-necessary some of the things we
go through on our current program are.”

 

Thank you to our long
time loyal customers and also to our new customers. We look forward to serving
you for the next 25 years!

 

Jason

Source: CAD Freedom and Precision – Views and News from KubotekUSA – CADKEY to KeyCreator: Past and Present
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Highly flexible CAD – TCT Magazine Kubotek KeyCreator Review

September 11, 2009 in CAD, Kubotek

Kubotek KeyCreator CAD Model Mower

Here is a recent review of Kubotek KeyCreator CAD by Time Compression Technologies.

 

Highlights:

  • KeyCreator is a Steal
  • Model Defeaturing
  • Healing & Repair
  • NC
  • Part Validation
  • Price
  • Data Translation

Thank you for reading

 

Source: CAD Freedom and Precision – Views and News from KubotekUSA – Highly flexible CAD – TCT Magazine Kubotek KeyCreator Review
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Why Industrial Designers like KeyCreator for CAID

September 11, 2009 in CAD, Kubotek

Most of today’s CAD packages are history based. The designer has to follow certain rules in the creation of the 3D model. The geometry is “linked” or is associative to the geometry that was used to create it. In this approach if the user makes a change to the initial geometry the “linked” geometry changes accordingly. This is great if everything that comes after the initial geometry updates or “rebuilds” properly. Many times this does not happen, leaving the designer to find and fix the problem or starting from scratch to make the change. On the other hand most of today’s CAID (computer aided industrial design) packages are non-history based or have limited history. The 3D modeling creation methods appeal more to industrial designers. Not having to deal with history gives the designer more flexibility. The downside to these types of packages is if the designer wants to change more basic things like fillets it becomes more time consuming. Say if a fillet needs to change, the designer would have to delete the fillet, untrim the surfaces that had the fillet, re-trim the surfaces to where the fillet needs to be and recreate the fillet.

With KeyCreator designers don’t have to be restricted to using just a “surfacing” only package or just a “solids” only package. KeyCreator creates both surfaces and solid in one hybrid environment. KeyCreator users can quickly create complex shapes using surfaces and then stitch them into a solid to add more mechanically features such as fillets, holes, etc. At any point the designer can turn the solid or faces of a solid into surfaces and vice versa. Using this hybrid approach gives designers greater speed and flexibility in their creations. Using KeyCreator’s geometry-based architecture designers can quickly change the shape of features or use the ReShape/Deform functions to adjust the overall shape of the model. Designers can quickly find/modify features without the need for history using KeyCreator’s FaceLogic technology.

Source: CAD Freedom and Precision – Views and News from KubotekUSA – Why Industrial Designers like KeyCreator for CAID
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