DEVELOP3D - Technology for the product lifecycle

This month’s DEVELOP3D is now available for download and if you’re on the print subscriber’s list, then it’ll be winging it’s way to you shortly. This month we’ve got all manner of goodness coming up.

As always, Frances Corbet has been off finding companies that do amazing things and she’s come up trumps this issue with a look at how Mike Spindle and the team at Trekinetic are using their knowledge and expertise forged in the heady world of Formula 1 component manufacture (and a spark of inspiration and sheer perseverance) to revolutionise mobility for wheelchair users.

Elsewhere, ‘our Stephen’ (as we like to call him) has been off into the world of product development and come up with some fascinating stories. He looks at the latest products for the pets that mean so much to so many and I’m particularly covetous of the Eglu, having become accustomed to fresh eggs whilst on holiday. Stephen also tracked down (by which I mean, met in a pub) Cris Rose, a leading light in the Urban Vinyl scene, who’s using a combination of traditional skills, 3D design and rapid prototyping to bring his quirky art to reality.

Finally, Stephen headed North to visit Paragon Rapid Technology in Sunderland. The team does fascinating work and proves that despite the advances in digital design and rapid prototyping, when you want a prototype that’s going to knock peoples’ socks off, it’s going to take more than a rendering to do that – as Darren and his team did for the Nissan’s Qazana concept vehicle.

Greg’s been busy writing too, looking at the latest in workstation technology and in particular, focussing on how Intel has turbocharged Blue Ridge Numerics’ cluster- based solver for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

And of course, there’s reviews. No issue would be complete without them and we have a good selection for you this month. There’s some 3D design action with IronCAD Next Generation which now mixes history and non-history based modelling workflows. We have advanced simulation with both Inventor Simulation 2010 and Abaqus 6.9, and the next generation of software for designers looking to automate their work with DriveWorks Solo. Finally, we look at what Geomagic has up its sleeve for those looking to integrate physical objects in their digital design workflows in Studio 11.

There you have it, Formula 1 inspired wheelchairs, modern chicken coops, a concept car and, did I mention, killer robots? I wonder what next month will bring. We’re keeping that under wraps for now, but we can assure you it will be fun. See you then. It’s available for download now.