CAD software looks to the future
CAD software of the future will feature automated green product development advice and ‘haptic’ interfaces – and combine biotechnical and mechanical design
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Those are some of the main development trends according to remarks made at this SolidWorks World in New Orleans, USA.
In the near term, a sneak preview of SolidWorks 2008 showed that the emphasis remains on improved graphics for MCAD, ease of use and speeding up the design process for mechanical design.
Jon Hirschtick, founder of SolidWorks and on the advisory board for MIT, says the fastest growing sectors are medical and biotechnology. He cites an “artificial liver that is being used as a test bed for medical treatment strategies [at MIT]. And this is in the mechanical engineering department.”
And he adds: “If you ask a room full of engineers if there is anyone working the same way as ten years ago, nobody puts their hand up.”
Kites were being flown to inspire ideas at the event, and the company was saying it’s up to users to say what they want and need – and if enough say the same, it will produce it.
