Internet page

Citation

Rigelsford, J. (2002), "Internet page", Assembly Automation, Vol. 22 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2002.03322cag.001

Internet page

http://www.immdesign.com/Immersive Design, Inc.

Immersive Design develops and markets 3D interactive software and applications for improving the product development and service process. It aims to provide manufacturing organisations with the ability to increase understanding of product design, assembly, repair and maintenance through the use of Web-based interactive animation.

http://www.silma.com/ SILMA

Founded in 1983 and merged with Adept Technology in 1995, SILMA is a leading supplier of software for computer simulated manufacturing technology. SILMA brings automated equipment programming out of the factory and puts it on the programmer's desktop, providing tools to create, optimise and test equipment programs without affecting manufacturing schedules or production. Its products help manufacturers maintain their competitive edge by shortening design to manufacturing cycles, increasing productivity and reducing costs. The SILMA product line includes off-line programming solutions for robots and coordinate measuring machines (CMMs); assembly process design, simulation, and analysis tools; and a powerful 3D virtual robot and cell simulator, focusing on small parts assembly and material handling applications.

http://www.delmia.com/Dassault Systemes – DELMIA

Dassault Systemes offers extensive process planning and simulation tools that enable companies to develop an optimal process for their manufacturing needs. DELMIA is a unified brand and a consolidated company devoted to eManufacturing.

Overall, this is a rather poor Web site but one that contains plenty of corporate and product information.

http://www.mscsoftware.com/MSC.Software Corporation

MSC was founded in 1963 and introduced structural analysis by digital simulation of analogue methods (SADSAM), the forerunner of MSC's flagship program, MSC.Nastran. MSC.visualNastran 4D is a Windows® based engineering tool ideal for the mechanical engineer who designs products with moving components. This application merges motion and stress analysis into a single functional modelling system, allowing engineers to test the dynamics of their assemblies before manufacturing and without building physical prototypes. It provides simulation technology and services to a broad spectrum of industries including: aerospace, automotive consumer products, computer and electronics manufacturers and universities. It is focused on Web-enabling its products through Engineering-e.com (http://www.engineering-e.com) and uses the core strengths, competencies and infrastructure of MSC.Software to create the engineering marketplace on the Internet.

This is a very good site that is well worth visiting.

http://www.3dcs.com/index.htmlDimensional Control Systems, Inc.

Dimensional Control Systems Inc. is a world leader in dimensional management. It is committed to developing leading-edge technology in dimensional engineering. http://www.designtechnologies.com/ Mechanical Dynamics

Founded in 1977, Mechanical Dynamics is an international supplier of virtual prototyping solutions. Its ADAMS® software is used to build and test functional virtual prototypes of complex mechanical system designs in the automotive, aerospace, rail, and machinery industries.

This is another good Web site but one that is difficult to navigate.

http://www.alibre.com/public/Alibre, Inc.

Alibre Design is a low-cost, lightweight, Internet based mechanical CAD and data-sharing application that helps manufacturers improve design and manufacturing processes by extending them to all possible enterprise and supply chain participants. The peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture allows users to simultaneously share, create, modify and discuss 3D models and 2D drawings in real time. Therefore, OEM and supplier design teams can work together in real-time, securely accessing, sharing, and generating precise 3D design data.

Overall, this is a simple Web site for an impressive product.

HOT SITES

http://www.dfma.com/Boothroyd Dewhurst, Inc.

Boothroyd Dewhurst, Inc. was established in 1982 and is a market leader in product design review software. Its major product is the design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) software, which can help customers reduce manufacture and assembly costs, improve quality and speed time to market. The DFMA software integrates the design for assembly software (DFA) – a systematic approach to design review used to simplify the structure of a product and reduce manufacturing costs, and the design for manufacture (DFM) early cost estimating software – used to estimate material costs, process times, tooling costs and secondary operation costs for components. Design for service and design for environment are also available and enable complete design review through the product development cycle.

http://www.tecnomatix.com/Tecnomatix Technologies, Ltd

Tecnomatix Technologies, Ltd is a provider of manufacturing process management software to the electronics, automotive, aerospace and heavy equipment industries. In 1983 Tecnomatix launched its proprietary computer-aided production engineering (CAPE) tools to help manufacturers fully computerise the industrial process and achieve a seamless transition from design to production. In March 2000 eMPower was launched and is an open platform of software applications providing a collaborative environment for authoring, simulating and optimising manufacturing processes across the extended enterprise. eMPower supports the entire manufacturing process life cycle from process planning and detailed engineering to mass production. Web-based tools enable communication and exchange of manufacturing process information throughout the enterprise, its plants and suppliers.

Its customer base includes companies such as Motorola, BMW, General Motors, Airbus, and Boeing.

This is a superb Web site that is also available in French, German, Swedish and Japanese. Brochures detailing solutions for the automotive, electronics and aerospace industries can be downloaded from the site.

Jon Rigelsford