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Algor's InCAD DesignPak Provides Affordable FEA Software

22 December 1999

Algor's InCAD DesignPak Provides Affordable FEA Software With Seamless CAD/CAE Interoperability

    PITTSBURGH--Dec. 21, 1999--Algor, Inc., a leading maker of software for mechanical engineers, today announced the availability of InCAD DesignPak, a new cost-effective addition to its InCAD family of products for seamless interoperability with popular CAD solid modelers. DesignPak works from within CAD, providing access to powerful FEA tools. DesignPak also features an all-new solid tetrahedral mesh engine for faster solid FEA meshes, enhanced plate/shell modeling static stress analysis and an HTML Report Wizard for the low price of $975.
    "DesignPak is an economical software package for engineering firms," said Michael L. Bussler, president of Pittsburgh-based Algor. "With minimal investment, it provides easy-to-use linear stress analysis capabilities to design engineers with full extensibility."
    With DesignPak, engineers can use the same user interface and operations regardless of the CAD system used or the analysis types needed. DesignPak users can perform linear static stress analyses while working within CAD programs such as Mechanical Desktop, Pro/ENGINEER for Windows, Solid Edge or SolidWorks. In addition, through Direct Memory Image Transfer (DMIT) technology, DesignPak users can capture an exact image of the CAD geometry without translation even when Algor and the CAD solid modeler reside on separate computers. Engineers can choose to add linear dynamic stress, heat transfer or electrostatic analysis capabilities to DesignPak for increased functionality.
    DesignPak features superior solid meshing capabilities with its new tetrahedral mesh engine, which creates fast, high-quality tetrahedral elements by meshing inward from nearly equilateral surface triangles. It provides an accurate solid FEA mesh in the same or less time as competing mesh engines. DesignPak also features Merlin Meshing Technology, a fully automatic surface mesh enhancement tool, which can be used to enhance the surface mesh of the solid model prior to solid FEA meshing.
    DesignPak also includes surface and solid FEA modeling using Superdraw III, Algor's single user interface and precision finite element model-building tool. Superdraw III features a universal Model Data Control panel that accesses data entry screens for defining element data and material properties, applying analysis parameters, verifying model integrity and more. These features allow DesignPak users to tailor the geometry of any model in order to fit their engineering needs.
    When engineers complete their analyses, they can use the Report Wizard to automatically generate a clearly organized HTML report with full details about a model, including analysis results. The resulting report can then be printed or shared through any common Internet browser.
    Engineers can purchase DesignPak by logging on to Algor's new interactive web site, www.feaincad.com. Users can find information about the entire InCAD family of products and place their orders online. They can also automatically determine an appropriate package by answering a series of questions about their engineering needs. Those interested in DesignPak may also contact an Algor representative at +1 (412) 967-2700. Algor's DesignPak is available for PC workstations running Windows NT, 95 or 98.
    Algor has been a leader in the engineering software industry since introducing FEA for PCs in 1984 and interfacing with CAD systems in 1985. The company recently celebrated 20 years of providing innovative, affordable and easy-to-use software products that have enabled 20,000 engineers in 60 countries to create safe, efficient, cost-effective designs. Algor also offers superior educational support and customer service that has been expanded to include the use of state-of-the-art Internet audio/video technology for live educational Web Courses and free public Webcasts that include step-by-step Algor software instruction.
    Algor's most recent invention, FEA-based Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software with linear and nonlinear material models, replaces physical prototype testing with virtual prototype testing because it realistically simulates motion and flexing in mechanical events, eliminates the need to input dynamic loads and computes and shows resulting stresses on the computer model at each instant in time. Algor's new kinematic finite element technology now makes it practical to perform Mechanical Event Simulations with Accupak/VE on CAD solid models or assemblies. Algor offers a range of other FEA capabilities including linear stress, vibration and natural frequencies, heat transfer, electrostatics, fluid flow, piping design and composite materials. Algor's software interchanges data with products from ANSYS, Inc. , Autodesk, Inc. , CADKEY Corporation, MSC.Software Corporation , Parametric Technology Corporation , Structural Dynamics Research Corporation , Unigraphics Solutions, Inc. , SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. company and others.

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