Wednesday, December 31, 2008

In 2009, Make it your best year ever!

Usually at this time of year, I am cleaning up my office, cleaning up computers, doing a bit of reflection and getting ready for the new year. This year was certainly one for the record books in my life. So the dust seems to be settling later this year than ever before. I worked primarily in Europe and feel like I earned 5 years of experience in just 12 months. It was fascinating to visit and begin to understand how engineering organizations operate in various countries.

My biggest take-away this year is to stick to my guns, listen, learn and respect those around me and push myself to strive to be better everyday. Everyday should be better than the day before.

There is definitely a sense of uneasiness in the air on the state of world lately. I think 2009 will be an extremely tough year. The strong will survive, many will struggle and some will fail like never before.

Blame can be passed around and rightfully so. But the fact is that "it is what it is". It is an absolute requirement that everyone has to suck it up and make the best of a crappy situation and show the world what you are all about.

If you are worried, maybe a little scared? You're not alone. Acknowledge the fear and move on and do something about it.

Personally, I am feeling optimistic. More than optimistic, actually. I plan to do exactly what I know how to do. Work hard, work smart, engage with people, build relationships and help engineers overcome their design challenges.

Whatever it is that you do. Make sure you do it this year better than you ever did it before. You owe it to yourself and to everyone else!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

The Ghosts of CFD: Past, Present & Future

I think we are all familiar with the story of The Christmas Carol. Good ole' Ebenezer takes a trip through the past, present and future to see the impact he has on his own destiny. Got me thinking of how it relates to where we are today in the engineering software world, specifically the CFD world.

If we take a quick look at the PAST, we see that CAD was changing the way that engineers designed products. In the 80s and into the 90s 3D CAD was considered to be on the high end of the design spectrum. It wasn't mainstream, but by only a select few industries. There was an even smaller sector of very specialized engineers that were focused on CFD. It was used primarily in the automotive and aerospace industries. There were numerous independent codes that were developed to solve a particular problem. Some of these specialized codes evolved and morphed into various portions of commercially available software. Some of which is still available today.

The typical user was a very specialized engineer, usually a PhD, that was focused on driving and in many cases customizing CFD software to solve a very specific problem. The use of USR (user sub-routines) was common. As was spending a tremendous amount of time building a mesh manually to hopefully solve a very simplified version of a particular problem. The end result was often a very anti-climactic simple vector and iso-line plots Not to mention, the computer power required to solve these models was either super expensive to buy or needed to be shared/rented.

Over the years, huge strides have been made in geometric handling, automatic mesh generation, infinite list of numerical (solver) methods and true real-life visualization. Many of the commercial vendors made improvements in making it "easier to use". But let's face it, anything was easier than what was available in the beginning.

That brings us to the PRESENT. Dare I say, that CFD is "beginning" to become mainstream in a number of industries. It is used by engineers with various backgrounds. Safe to say that you can't turn your head and identify a product, piece of equipment, or device that a CFD model was run at some point.

Many of the older, "traditional" CFD vendors are finding themselves in a difficult position. They are still serving a very specialized community of "R&D" engineers that are solving very sophisticated problems. The vendors are trying to make their software easier to use so that they can touch a wider audience. Some are remaining very general purpose, others are creating specific verticals and some are creating "CFD-lite" programs. It is very challenging for a company to have multiple products that serve vastly different markets. But the challenge drives deeper as many of the vendors do not realize that the markets are vastly different. Many feel that if the product is easier to use, then the market that is serves grows. This isn't exactly true.

Some of us, work for the new generation CFD companies that are focused on mainstream engineers that happen to have a need to optimize their designs from a fluid flow and heat transfer perspective. I'll spare you the sales pitch. But think it is only fair to acknowledge that there are a variety of challenges involved in taking something that is technically very complex, and make it simply work - all the time, for every situation, the way that "Joe Engineer" expects it to work.

The crunch that the world is finding itself into lately is only going to make things tougher on the vendors but should result in some pretty amazing products for engineers everywhere.

So, what does the FUTURE hold for the CFD market?
  • The monster CAE vendors that are gobbling up company after company have their hands full to deliver quality products that serve a unique market of design engineers that need to make CFD a part of their product design process.
  • Expectations of design engineers is growing everyday. Users with minimal experience expect that the CFD software will help solve their problem with minimal input (requiring automation), extremely fast (requiring sophisticated software) and help bring products to market faster (requiring design insight beyond traditional visualization).
  • New-generation engineers expect instant gratification. CFD software should work like all of the other tools that engineers use. We will begin to see MCAD, CFD, Office and Web Applications looking and working alike.
  • High performance computing, distributed computing, maybe even cloud computing will become a normal part of an engineers day to day.
  • Communication and collaboration tools (including Social Media) will play a bigger part in the product development community.
Just a bit of reflection on where we've been and where we're going.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

History of CAD by Jon Hirschtick

I snagged this little gem from Ben Eadie's blog, Solid Mentor. I thought it was a great video to sit back and reflect upon. Jon is a great presenter and obvious visionary. I was fortunate to attend some of the SolidWorks Worlds' in the early days. His presentations always have everyone sitting on the edge of their seats, mentally recording every word. Always fascinating to see the new guy come onto the scene, make a ruckus but then dominate.


History of CAD from Ben Eadie on Vimeo.

I am anxious to see what the future brings. I think we are on the verge of seeing some big breakthroughs on the CAE front. Some of my own predictions.

  1. I think touch screens will make a breakthrough into the CAE market in the very near-term and change the way we interact with our computers/models.
  2. 3D Printing will become much more popular as performance, as well as fit and function become more and more important.
  3. Social Media will change the way engineer's communicate and collaborate. Perhaps slow to adopt this type of technology, but once adopted it will grow exponentially.
  4. Upfront CAE will become an integral part of the "designers" day to day.
  5. Direct/hybrid modeling is here to stay. I dont think parametrics will go away, but the hybrid, push and pull (w. optional dimensions and constraints) will be the modeling approach moving forward.

    Agree or disagree? Bring It!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

SpaceClaim Delivers this Xmas

Anyone that has followed this blog during the Holidays knows that I like to have a bit of fun and try and create a CFdesign Holiday-inspired model. I wanted to get this bad boy posted before XMAS. A video will be posted to You Tube shortly.

In the spirit of the season, I reached out to friends at the various CAD companies to see if anyone had a model to share. I'd happily give credit where credit was due etc. Figured it would be fun.

Well, the folks at SpaceClaim not only stepped up, but they are clearly over-achievers. I mean that in the best way possible. Check out the image below of the model they sent.

I honestly wasn't expecting much of a response at all. So, I felt obliged to deliver on my end. Here are some of the images from the model run in CFdesign....




Ok, a few take-aways on this experience...
  1. The guys @ SpaceClaim are awesome to deal with. Super responsive in a genuinely interested in helping kind of way.
  2. I forgot how much fun SpaceClaim is to drive. When I received the model, it was really fancy, tons of gaps, small surfaces, interferences, surface and solids. I was able to wack it up in SC in a matter of no time to get it "meshable" in CFdesign. Some of the tools in the 2009 BETA are awesome.
  3. Spaceclaim just works. Its definitely different than CAD, but from a simulation perspective, it is a great modeler. I learned a ton by just clicking away- their UNDO is second to none.
Thanks SpaceClaim!!! Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

CFdesign Gives Santa a Helping Hand

Another year, another Holiday model from CFdesign. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, to get this one out the door. Better late than never. Stay tuned, I have another awesome model to post from the boys at SpaceClaim.




Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Evernote Premium is My New BFF

I am finally developing an actual system to store all of my "stuff". That's emails, random thoughts, to do lists, grocery lists, project organizer, attachment bucket. You name it and I put it in Evernote. I have preached this message before.

I just saw an announcement that Evernote Premium allows me to attach or embed files (MS, pdf etc) as thumbnails in my notes. This is awesome. Something I have been wanting for some time.

So the catch? Premium costs money, Basic is free. How much?

Drum roll.... Evernote Premium is $5/month, $45/annual. Not a bad deal at all.




I feel like I am doing my part by supporting a product that I have been using successfully for months. Why should it be free? It shouldn't.

Ok, now that I have plugged Evernote.. Here is my wish list.
  1. I want an output button from SnagIt to Evernote. I can't seem to get the hang of the "Clipper".
  2. I want markup capability in Evernote, similar to SnagIt. I want to be able to highlight, circle, draw arrows etc to stuff that I clip. Currently, I do all of this in SnagIt and then save to Evernote. The problem is, sometimes I want to edit them.
  3. Third, creating a to-do list or numbered list of tasks needs some work. I want it to work more like Word. Currently, it is more like Notepad.
So, now that I am a paying customer..... are you listening?

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Autodesk to Acquire Algor for $34M- whoa!!!

Look at Autodesk, jumping head first into spending some coin. $34M for Algor, hmm, not sure what to say about that. It looks like Autodesk is falling in line with all of the other monsters out there and just gobbling up as much technology as possible. If you look back, they acquired Plassotech a few years ago and more recently Moldflow. They have been fairly slow to incorporate these two products into Inventor. Slow is all realtive, I suppose. But, the buzz has been fairly silent.

I just returned from Autodesk University and was a bit surprised that there wasn't more buzz along the lines of simulation. Tons of hype over "Digital Prototyping", but not as specific to simulation. Not overly surprising as Plassotech has historically been a fairly small player, at least in this part of the world. But Moldflow, was always the standard in mold simulation. I was expecting more "holy cr*p, look at that cool animation" type stuff at AU.



Now we look at Algor. Fairly well known, but always tagged (perhaps unfairly) as the low-end side of the market. Someone referred to them as "Wal-mart style FEA". Not sure that is fair, but still pretty funny way of putting it. After all, Wal-mart is kicking some tale in our little economic "crisis".

The rags are reporting that Algor had revenue of $12M and sold for $34M-- ~3x, not bad. What is the motivation of Autodesk to acquire "yet another" FEA code? Well, look at ANSYS. Why did they purchase CFX and a few years later, arch enemy, Fluent? Is it the technology, install base, potential revenue, future revenue? My hunch is that it is a little of all of the above. I think Autodesk is targeting the up and coming companies. Companies that are still transitioning from 2d to 3d. Companies that still live in a 2d/3d world. These are the same companies that want an introductory step into FEA and simulation. So, perhaps Algor is a fit?

Here is my slant on all of this stuff. I think it is fascinating to see all of these monster companies (Autodesk, ANSYS, Dassault Systems) swallow up all of the market and transition themselves as an all encompassing "solution provider". The concept of "one-stop" shop is great in theory. But it is all about the execution. Can a CAD company, successfully implement, support and develop mold simulation software? Can this same company successfully integrate a CAD system, with a mold simulation tool and work seamlessly with a thermal stress module? Maybe -- no easy task though.

Take ANSYS, for example, can a company founded on structural FEA simulation evolve into a CFD company powerhouse? Goose is getting fatter and fatter. Will it lay the golden egg? Time will tell.

Think back a few years ago. Our good friends at SDRC. They were a powerhouse in the world of CAD/FEA/PDM. Now? They are swallowed up inside of Siemens. Did you ever think that SDRC wouldn't be a major player in the future. Ok, arguably, they still are just with a different wrapper. My point is will we see another disruptive technology come along and make it an even playing field with a bunch of small independents fighting it out like it was in the 90s with SolidWorks and the like? Or will the monsters rule? Editors note: I loved the 90s. Personally, I hope we go back :)

How about our friends at PTC? Who is sleeping at the helm with regards to simulation? Will PTC stick it out and ride the PLM wagon? Suppose Pro/engineer was sold? Suppose PTC sold their CAD business or "retired" it and bet the farm on Windchill.

I know, I'm stretching it a bit. Some of my predictions from last year were way off. What do you want me to say? Such as life. Another famous list will come out in 2 weeks.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Are you buried in email? --- Try Xobni!!!

Longest hiatus I have taken from blogging since I started. But, I plan to come back in full swing over the next few weeks. I am noticing that my email inbox is growing out of control. I am trying to stay on top and stick to my GTD roots. Getting harder and harder everyday. Just spent a week in the UK, staying on top of email and had to clean out over 200 "strays" over the weekend.

I have Outlook folders etc but I find emails just get lost in the mix. I find them difficult to search (takes too long), they get archived, crappy tagging system etc.. I then began to use Evernote as a "catchall" file system- I use tags to organize, clips, snagit grabs, links, photos and now email.



But, I still struggle to find certain emails etc. Especially those that contain attachments and especially those that have attachments that cannot be dragged into Evernote. So, I downloaded Xobni (clever--INBOX, spelled backwards).



So, I use it as an awesome search tool within Outlook. It is fast, relevant and easy to use. Probably one of my favorite tools of 2008.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Autodesk University 2008: What's Coming!!!

I have been fortunate enough to gain access to Inventor 2010. New "ribbon" interface is really, really well done. I think like everyone, I wasn't a huge fan of the ribbon when it came out, but have grown to really love it in many different applications (Office, SnagIt, Spaceclaim, SolidWorks etc). I have downloaded Solid Edge, but need to brush up my Edge skills before I can comment on the UI.

AU attendees were privileged enough to get a peek into the future. Here is a quick list of what I could type while watching..

2d design kinematics- so you can have linkages, mechanism sketched and interacting in 2d- saves from having to have a full 3d model when working on kinematic stiff.

dynamic simulation - so you can take the reaction forces from a fully kinematic simulation and automatically go into a stress analysis.

parametric optimization - structural simulation design studies on different geom in Inventor based on a goal.

industrial design sketcher- I'm not an ID guy, but it looked very much like a pencil sketching on paper, but it was actually creating 3d sketches that can be turned into surfaces and solids, it was amazing realistic

tech pubs- really cool exploded view and tech publications a la Inventor

inventor fusion- really cool hybrid modeling that will be available in Labs very soon.

Check out Al Dean's site for the videos...


Future of Autodesk Inventor from DEVELOP3D on Vimeo.



Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Autodesk University 2008: Innovation occurs during the "bad" times

I sat through one of the keynotes kicked off by Buzz Kross this am. I have to admit, I agree with the messaging coming out of Autodesk. Always one to try and stay impartial - Autodesk is definitely heading down the right path.

Grossly paraphrasing, Mr. Kross, but here are a few blips that I jotted down.

"Digital Prototyping is Innovation..."

"..if you make a physical prototype, you are limiting innovation..."

"..much more design choices can be made if Digital Prototyping is used..."

This was echoed by an awesome presentation by Burt Rutan, founder of Scaled Composites. His presentation was really interesting. Paraphrasing a bit, but a big take away for me in regards to design engineering in a troubled economy.

"...breakthroughs occur when we are threatened, during the bad times, not the good times..."

He gave a reflection of the 1960w when we put a man on the moon. It was a fragile time- fear of the cold war, Cuban missile crisis, unpopular Vietnam war etc, yet INNOVATION still occurred.

So, yes, times are tough. But, there is plenty of opportunity out there to come out on top and fix what is broken. The tools are there, we as engineers need to use them smartly and get back to the basics and innovate. Lead the charge and show the world what we are all about.


Autodesk University 2008: Day One

What a day! Autodesk truly has some amazing products. I learned a ton of stuff in fields that are pretty foreign to me, (GIS, Architecture, Urban Planning etc). I also learned quite a bit about products that I use everyday.

Here are some of my take aways..

"The future is innovation led by design." This was the overwhelming message that was emphasized over and over again throughout the keynote led by Carl Bass and some of the guest speakers. Seems pretty obvious, but Autodesk is positioning themselves as a design company and are raising the bar to include some pretty amazing optimization across numerous industries.


"Experience it before its real" The CTO, Jeff Kowalski, showed some of the things being worked on in the Labs at Autodesk. It involved, high end rendering and visualization, combining 2d & 3d mapping software and optimization where the software selects the optimal design for you.

I sat in on an API course for Inventor. It has come along way. There are a ton of things that can be automated in Inventor that users should be using everyday. Levels of detail is only scratching the surface.

But by far the coolest thing I saw was Inventor Fusion Technology. In essence, it is super streamlined hybrid modeling for Inventor. I saw it as a standalone product, which personally, I think they should offer it in both varieties- standalone and inside Inventor. But coming from a Simulation perspective, it is one of the coolest, modelers I have ever seen.

No doubt, it is in direct response to Spaceclaim, Synchronous Technology from Siemens and other hybrid modeling solutions. Its pretty convincing that hybrid modeling will play a major role in the future of MCAD. From a user's perspective, the more the merrier. Meaning, each vendor will be fighting for to be the best, which should result in some awesome technology.