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Algor's InCAD Technology Offers CADKEY Users a Higher Level

21 February 2000

Algor's InCAD Technology Offers CADKEY Users a Higher Level of CAD/CAE Interoperability

    PITTSBURGH--Feb. 18, 2000--Algor, Inc., a leading maker of software for mechanical engineers, has introduced InCAD technology that enables engineers to capture solid model data seamlessly from CADKEY mechanical design software in Algor software. The InCAD family of products connects Algor's entire range of finite element analysis (FEA) capabilities, including advanced Mechanical Event Simulation (MES), directly to CADKEY 99 developed by CADKEY Corporation.
    "Algor's InCAD products enable engineers to perform a much broader spectrum of FEA more easily and in a shorter amount of time while working with CADKEY models," said Michael L. Bussler, president of Algor, a company that pioneered CAD interfacing with PCs in 1985. "Algor has expanded its CAD interfacing options with InCAD technology to be responsive to customers who have requested seamless interoperability."
    "With the new InCAD interface, engineers will be able to seamlessly capture solid model data created in CADKEY in Algor's FEA software and be able to fully use all of Algor's unique finite element modeling and analysis functionality. Our customers require fast turn around times and accurate results, which is accomplished more quickly and reliably when they access Algor software directly from within CADKEY," said Robert W. Bean, President and CEO of CADKEY Corporation. "We are pleased that Algor has provided this tighter integration with CADKEY."
    Algor's InCAD products include a feature suppression utility that enables engineers to eliminate model details that are unnecessary for analysis purposes, and thus reduce the number of elements in a finite element model. With Algor's InCAD family of products, simply select the "Algor" option from the CADKEY "Application" menu to launch Algor's "CAD Solid Model Interface," from which engineers can then create an FEA surface mesh with a new, easy-to-use sliding mesh density control. Superdraw III, Algor's single user interface and precision finite element model-building tool, can be activated with one mouse click to access Algor's automatic or manual surface mesh refinement options.
    Even when Algor and CADKEY are installed on different computers, the InCAD family of products technology eliminates problematic data translation because it uses Direct Memory Image Transfer (DMIT) programming. DMIT assures the capture of memory for mathematically exact model descriptions. Algor's InCAD technology has the same easy-to-use interface and operations regardless of the location of CAD and FEA tools, the analysis types needed, or the CAD system used.
    Within the InCAD family of products, engineers can choose from Algor's InCAD DesignPak and InCADPlus software packages and then plug in additional advanced engineering analysis capabilities. As featured in Algor's newest web site, www.feaincad.com, DesignPak includes an all-new solid tetrahedral mesh engine for faster solid FEA meshes, enhanced plate/shell modeling, linear static stress analysis with an all-new fast solver and an HTML Report Wizard for the low price of $975. Vibration and linear dynamic stress, heat transfer and electrostatic analysis can be added to InCAD DesignPak for advanced engineering.
    At the InCADPlus level, engineers working in CADKEY can access Algor's comprehensive line of finite element modeling, analysis and Mechanical Event Simulation software. Solid brick meshing, a wider range of available finite element types and more analysis add-on options, including heat transfer, fluid flow and Mechanical Event Simulation, are among the advantages that InCADPlus offers. Engineers using CADKEY can now perform Mechanical Event Simulations on complete solid models or assemblies using Algor's Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software with linear and nonlinear material models. Accupak/VE reduces the need for physical prototyping and eliminates the need to input dynamic loads by determining the motion, flexing and resulting stresses of a mechanism at each instant of an event. Algor's proprietary kinematic element technology makes performing Mechanical Event Simulations using CAD solid parts and assemblies practical for realistic, accurate results.
    Algor's DesignPak is available for PC workstations running Windows NT, 95 or 98. Special concurrent-user pricing is available for multi-user environments.
    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 provides 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 includes the use of state-of-the-art Internet audio/video technology for live "Web Courses" and free public "Webcasts," which provide step-by-step Algor software instruction. Algor's software also interchanges data with products from ANSYS, Inc. , Autodesk, Inc. , MSC.Software Corporation , Parametric Technology Corporation , Structural Dynamics Research Corporation , Unigraphics Solutions, Inc. , SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. company, and others.

    Note to Editors: In the word "InCADPlus" mentioned throughout this release, "Plus" should be superscript.