But what if you could stop buying those machines, and instead give CAD users regular-old PCs?

That’s the promise with the NVIDIA GRID.  It’s a special GPU card designed for workstation virtualization.  Put a stack of powerful servers with these cards in your data center, and your CAD users can get access to all the power they need though their regular desktop or notebook computer.  All they need is an internet connection.

Here’s the NVIDIA press release on the GRID.

NVIDIA GRID Unleashes Graphics For Virtualized Desktops

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Citrix Synergy – NVIDIA today announced that it is unleashing the full graphics potential of enterprise desktop virtualization with the availability of NVIDIA GRID™ vGPU™ integrated into Citrix XenDesktop 7.

NVIDIA GRID vGPU technology addresses a challenge that has grown in recent years with the rise of employees using their own notebooks and portable devices for work. These workers have increasingly relied on desktop virtualization technologies for anytime access to computing resources, but until now this was generally used for the more standard enterprise applications. Performance and compatibility constraints had made it difficult for applications such as building information management (BIM), product-lifecycle management (PLM) and video-photo editing.

Two decades ago hardware-based graphics replaced software emulation. Desktop virtualization solutions stood alone as the only modern computing form without dedicated graphics hardware. As a result, an already busy virtualized CPU limited performance and software emulation hampered application compatibility.

The situation began to improve a year ago with the introduction of the non-virtualized GPU in Citrix XenServer. But efficiency gains were limited because each user still required a dedicated GPU.

With the introduction of new HDX GPU sharing and deep compression techniques in XenDesktop 7, NVIDIA and Citrix customers can immediately take advantage of the hosted-shared form of desktop virtualization to deliver rich, graphics-intensive applications. Using the Microsoft Windows Server RDSH and XenDesktop 7 platform can enable the sharing of GPUs across multiple user sessions.

Furthermore, the combination of Citrix XenServer and NVIDIA GRID vGPU technology allows customers to efficiently share GPUs across multiple virtual machines. This allows businesses to address a broader set of users with their desktop virtualization infrastructure across a spectrum of verticals, including:

• Architects, engineers and contractors using computer-aided design (CAD) tools, like Autodesk BIM.
• Manufacturing businesses that want to automate the connection between product design and operations using PLM tools, like Enovia 3DLive, PTC Windchill PLM Connector and SIEMENS Teamcenter software.
• Digital-content creation workers using video and photo editing tools, like Adobe® Photoshop® software.
• Health-care specialists using picture archiving and communication system (PACS) applications, like GE Centricity EMR.

Citrix CEO and President Mark Templeton introduced XenDesktop 7 with NVIDIA GRID vGPU technology today in his opening keynote address at the Citrix Synergy 2013 user conference.

“With NVIDIA GRID vGPU, even the most intensive graphics applications can be delivered by XenDesktop 7,” said Bob Schultz, vice president and general manager, Desktops and Applications Group at Citrix. “Now businesses can provide their users with the performance that they expect and need for engineering, design and video applications, while centrally securing and managing valuable intellectual property and sensitive information.”

“For the first time, NVIDIA GRID vGPU gives users of virtualized desktops the performance, stability and compatibility of hardware-accelerated graphics,” said Jeff Brown, vice president and general manager of the GRID business unit at NVIDIA. “Millions of those involved in everything from product design to manufacturing to supply chain management can now enjoy the benefits of desktop and application virtualization with NVIDIA GRID vGPU technology.”

Leading Citrix Resellers Endorse NVIDIA GRID 
M7 Global Partners, a consortium of the top nine Citrix platinum-level IT providers in the U.S., announced its support for NVIDIA GRID vGPU technology. Collectively, the group reaches thousands of clients around the world. M7 customers looking to deploy visually rich applications in businesses of all sizes, healthcare settings and schools have expressed interest in the capabilities of the NVIDIA GRID vGPU.

“I’ve been selling desktop virtualization solutions for 18 years and the single greatest source of pain in that time has been customers who want to centralize the delivery of graphics-intensive applications,” said Mike Strohl, CEO of Entisys Solutions, Inc., Agile360 and founding partner of M7 Global Partners. “The NVIDIA GRID vGPU is a game changer. At Entisys and across M7 we look forward to not only holding the spear, but to being at the tip of it as we bring to market this amazing technology, which our customers have truly been asking for.”

NVIDIA GRID vGPU technology is being shown in NVIDIA’s booth 303 and in the XenServer demonstration area at Citrix Synergy in Anaheim, Calif., through May 24. General availability is expected later this year. More information is available at NVIDIA GRID.

About NVIDIA GRID
The NVIDIA GRID portfolio — comprised of hardware, software and appliances — delivers GPU acceleration from data centers to any user. It includes the NVIDIA GRID VGX platform for enterprises; the NVIDIA GRID Visual Computing Appliance (VCA) for small and medium-size businesses; and the NVIDIA GRID Cloud Gaming Platform for gaming-as-a-service companies. Follow us at @NVIDIAGRID.

About NVIDIA
Since 1993, NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) has pioneered the art and science of visual computing. The company’s technologies are transforming a world of displays into a world of interactive discovery — for everyone from gamers to scientists, and consumers to enterprise customers. More information at http://nvidianews.nvidia.com and http://blogs.nvidia.com.

3D CAD World

Design World

A smart phone app from Lovejoy makes coupling selection easy on the go. The free app, which is available from both iTunes and Google Play, is designed with distributors, end users and field reps in mind.

Lovejoy’s new coupling selector app for iPhones and Android devices simplifies product searching and specification.

Finding details on the company’s most popular couplings can be done in just a few steps with the new app. It provides data on nine common coupling types—L Line, motion, gear, curved jaw, grid, S flex, disc, U Joint, and specialty.

Users simply enter in their power, speed (in rpm) and factor of safety inputs, to calculate the required torque for their application. Once that has been calculated, the app will eliminate any coupling types that do not meet those torque and speed requirements.

Users can then select which of the remaining coupling types they would like more details on, which opens up a product specific page. Once again, only products that meet the required torque and speed requirements are shown. Changing parameters, such as bore sizes, is done with a simple tap, which then brings up all available options on a product type.

Finally, once a decision has been narrowed down, users can access the full catalog pages for that particular product grouping. Here, they can find all specifics required to make a selection (alignment, temperature, corrosive resistance, etc).

Lovejoy Inc.
www.lovejoy-inc.com/appguide.aspx

Design World

Five-axis milling robot designed by Bornemann specifically for Otto Bock, using the SINUMERIK 840D CNC.

The biggest challenge for Otto was how to remain flexible in its manufacturing, given the constant flow of one-off work. Because of the nature of this field, the majority of devices produced at their facility are custom productions. In this case of the prosthetic and orthotic devices, Otto quickly realized the need to manufacture in Minnesota for constant evaluation of the available technologies for machining. Using ABT carvers, which mirrored its operation in England for the last ten years, Thermwood routers were used for its foam products. The collaboration with Bornemann led to the use of carvers, Thermwood routers and the development of carving technology using the latest CNC protocols. Because the product lines at Otto range from orthotic support seating to various prosthetic shapes, cosmetic covers and neck-to-pelvis body jackets, the products are often made from very large blanks of specially formulated and costly material. It was critical to have machines that run efficiently, but also have the flexibility for fast changeover and interpolation of large data files.

Three-axis milling of hard foam for creation of a positive model of the patient’s limb, to be used in the thermoforming process.

The previous carving method for the seating systems, contrasted the method that Bornemann’s robotic five-axis milling machines now used. Previously, a plaster cast would be made, then that mold would be used to reverse engineer the cutting path on the router. It was slow and imprecise. Now, the Otto Bock Seating System (OBSS) is used. With this system, the patient is seated in something similar to a beanbag chair, then the bag is evacuated, followed by the bag surface being digitized using Otto’s proprietary software. The software version of this CAD program is then translated through ProfiCAM into the Windows-based, CNC machining program. Through the use of this advanced, clean and non-invasive laser scanning technology, an extremely accurate image can be made of the patient’s torso from the seat bag surface. Initiating the design process, the software is then manipulated from CAD to Proficam and finally to the CNC on the machine, through OBSS. Otto upgraded the NCU/PCU with Siemens SINUMERIK CNCs to accept the most advanced version of this translation.

Using Bornemann carvers, Otto cut proprietary rigid and flexible polyurethane foams into the seat cushions used to support spinal injuries, as well as the various upper and lower limb prosthetic devices and supports produced at its Minnesota facility. The facility in England provides the software used to capture the patient’s particular characteristics, such as limb length, circumference and degrees of soft tissue containment. Once the prosthetist or orthotist collects the data, the product goes to the fabrication software support engineer.

The SINUMERIK 840D, the CNC running the Bornemann machine, also equipped with a SIMODRIVE 611U drive package for precision motion control.

In a typical manufacturing operation for a seat cushion, a 26 in. x 26 in. x 14 in. block of material is secured in the vacuum bed on the Bornemann machine. A probe determines the zero offsets on the blank. For a prosthetic device, a rotary axis, two-ribbed, cone-shaped arbor is mounted on the machine. A predetermined coordinate fixture verifies the offsets and rotation angles. For foam cutting, a 12-in. long hollow tube of tool steel and 40-mm ball end rasp are used. The rigid polyurethane blanks uses the same design of cutting tool, only 7-in. in length with a ball endmill.

In the work envelope of the machine, one axis is used to move the seat cushion; two axes are used to move the tool. A 0º rotation achieves most material removal with a 30º undercut typical. On the prosthetics, three axes rotate the material in a vertical helical pattern. Once made, a prosthetic device is checked, using a specific diameter check ring, as well as digital calipers, to verify the contour surfaces as accurately as possible.

What took two to three hours using the old tool path generation method now takes perhaps 10 minutes. A wheelchair cushion that used to take 90 minutes to manufacture on the old system takes Otto less than 20 minutes to produce. In terms of overall productivity, these levels would not have been achieved without the Bornemann machines and Siemens CNC technology.

Siemens
www.SiemensCNC.com

Design World

These high-quality Dodge-manufactured products employ snap-ring retention to securely fit the cylindrical outer diameter into user equipment. The bearings also feature the Dodge ProGuard™ seal and flinger package to prevent contamination and maximize product life in dirty applications.

Baldor·Dodge ER-style ball bearings are suitable for a wide variety of industries and applications, including material and unit handling, conveying equipment, and agricultural, paper, packaging and printing machinery. The set screw offering ranges from 3/4” bore size (204 series) to 3-7/16” (218 series). The D-Lok style is offered in 3/4” bore size (204 series) to 2-7/16” bore size (212 series).

Modifications to the seal package are available on request, including the premium triple-lip seal design, premium MaxLife™ cage design for lubrication retention, low-drag labyrinth seals, and a high-temperature synthetic grease offering.

Baldor Electric Company
www.baldor.com

Motion Control Tips

Design World

Integration with VisionPro software provides access to a comprehensive library of patented computer vision tools—from geometric object location and inspection to identification and measurement algorithms. Combined with a flexible and powerful PC-based development interface, VisionPro software makes it easy to create and deploy solutions for the most challenging machine vision applications.

Cognex offers a three-year warranty for the CIC series of cameras as well as a hot swap program. These new Cognex Industrial Cameras are available now:

• CIC-300: 640×480 resolution (VGA), 120 frames per second, CCD sensor, global shutter
• CIC-2000: 1628×1236 resolution (2MP), 20 frames per second, CCD sensor, global shutter
• CIC-4000: 2048×2048 resolution (4MP), 25 frames per second, CMOS sensor, global shutter
• CIC-5000R: 2592×1944 resolution (5MP), 14 frames per second, CMOS sensor, rolling shutter

Cognex
www.cognex.com

Design World

The ACANTO features an EnDat 2.2 serial interface which outputs absolute position data. Upon power up, the ACANTO will know exactly where it is without needing to cross reference marks. Datum information will also be stored with the gauge. In addition, when used in combination with HEIDENHAIN’s GAGE CHEK digital readout, ND287 digital readout, or MSE 1000 multiplexor, diagnostic information of the ACANTO can be checked. The online diagnostics ensure that the operator is always informed about the current condition of the length gauge.

The ACANTO features a detachable cable for easy installation, and servicing and comes in two variants, manual or pneumatic. In order to satisfy the harsh environmental demands for in-process measurements, the ACANTO 30xx has IP 67 protection allowing it to even temporarily be immersed in water. The plunger is held by a sturdy ceramic/polymer friction bearing making the ACANTO less sensitive to excessive clamping and side loading. The ACANTO has a life cycle of 5 million load cycles and is perfect for automated industrial measurements.

HEIDENHAIN
www.heidenhain.us

Test & Measurement Tips

Design World

The Chemlube Plus Series lubricants are made with a very thermally and oxidatively stable polyol ester (POE) blend.  These oils were designed to take advantage of superior lubricating properties inherent in polyol esters, and yet be economical, by combining them with less expensive synthetics.

These fully synthetic premium lubricants are formulated to form less varnish under high temperature applications and to be more resistant to acidic intake air than the polyalkylene glycol (PAG) coolants.  Under normal operating conditions users can expect to obtain up to 11,000 hours of lubricant service life in rotary screw compressors.  The line is available in ISO grades 32, 46 and 68.

Typical industrial applications for the Chemlube Plus Series include: rotary screw compressors, rotary vane compressors, centrifugal compressors, and vacuum pumps.  Chemlube Plus Series lubricants offer these performance benefits:

• outstanding thermal and oxidative stability
• extended drain intervals reduces oil disposal
• wide operating temperature range
• excellent anti-wear protection
• compatibility with most compressor oils
• improved safety – high flash point

Ultrachem
www.ultracheminc.com

Design World

Using a thermoset plastic, the extruded material solidifies quickly to allow this robotic-based 3D printing approach to create freeform shapes in the air.

This printer was developed by Novikov and Jokić during their internship at Joris Laarman Lab, Barcelona Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, where students can experiment with digital fabrication methods.

According to Novikov and Jokić, a chemical reaction between two components of the thermoset polymer material causes it to solidify as it comes out of the nozzle, enabling the plastic to stick to horizontal, vertical, smooth or irregular surfaces without the need for additional support structures.

The designers call this process “anti-gravity object modeling,” and a patent is pending. It uses extrusion to create “chunky three-dimensional rods” rather than build objects one layer at a time.

Conventional methods of additive manufacturing have been affected both by gravity and the printing environment: creation of 3D objects on irregular or non-horizontal surfaces has so far been treated as impossible. Extrusion technology, though, can be used to neutralize the effect of gravity during the printing process. It allows you to work with 3D curves instead of 2D layers. The benefit of 3D curves is that is enables you to follow exact stress lines of a custom shape.

Two robots created a 3D printed object

You would use CAD software to create your object’s shape. The Mataerial process transforms the CAD data into 3d curves describing the shape, which are then converted into movement paths for the robotic arm. The thickness of the printed curve can be scaled to less than a millimeter and can be adjusted during the printing process by changing the speed of the movement. This printing method can also accommodate color by injecting colors into the nozzle in CMYK mode that allows changing of the curve color throughout the printing process.

Source: Mataerial

Leslie Langnau
llangnau@wtwhmedia.com

Make Parts Fast

Design World

Through the use of state of the art materials, including high power rare earth magnets, the 0816…SR coreless motors have achieved the industry’s best motor performance curve ‐11,000 rpm/mNm.  This value is usually only reached by larger coreless DC Motors. This new series features several nominal voltage versions from 3V‐12V. High performance sintered bearings are standard,  with optional ball bearings available for higher radial shaft loads.

The new FAULHABER 0816…SR Micro Motors platform offers an extensive choice of gearheads and encoders to match a wide variety of application requirements. These motors can be combined with planetary or spur precision gearheads to provide up to 100 mNm of torque. For high precision positioning applications, FAULHABER zero backlash spur gearheads provide a compact alternative to reduce or eliminate undesirable mechanical play in the application. The encoder selection includes optical and magnetic encoders with a resolution of up to 256 pulses per revolution in 2 and 3 channel versions.

MICROMO offers a complete portfolio of FAULHABER drive electronics to match the requirements of the 0816…SR. From the miniaturized SC 1801 or SC 2804 2 and 4 Quadrant speed controller to the compact MC 3002 motion controller with RS232 or CAN interface, FAULHABER has the right solution to fit the application.  The 0816…SR series provides high performance, high power density and unmatched combination flexibility, all in a compact, high efficiency package. The new FAULHABER 0816…SR platform represents an ideal competitive solution for applications in many challenging fields of application such as medical devices, robotics, laboratory instrumentation or optics.

• Various standard nominal voltages available: 3V, 6V, 9V and 12V
• Continuous Torque: up to 0.7 mNm
• Stall Torque: up to 1.2 mNm
• Speed/Torque curve: 11000 rpm/mNm
• Combination with optical or magnetic encoders and precision gearheads

MICROMO
www.micromo.com

Motion Control Tips

Design World

The multifunctional EVO-Series can be used with standard 10,000 psi single- or double-acting cylinders and is offered with a 5 HP or 10 HP hydraulic power unit with 66 gallon reservoir. The system also offers eight standard hydraulic control modes and can control 4, 8 or 12 points with one hydraulic power unit (HPU).

Enerpac’s synchronous lifting technology monitors and manages lifting, lowering, weighing, alignment and load transfer procedures of non-uniformly distributed heavy loads. Incorporating a variable frequency drive (VDF) motor with PLC capabilities ensures precise synchronization of oil flow, cylinder stroke and speed. With this ability to oversee lifting operations, as well as input parameters for load and stroke tolerance, users can safely and efficiently perform challenging lifting applications.

For superior visibility and control, the EVO-Series offers network capabilities to link up to four hydraulic power units to a single master control and features a user-friendly interface with easy-to-use menus for simplistic navigation. Additionally, the system can be programmed to record and store operation data at user-defined intervals to continuously monitor the pressure and position of every lifting point for safe, accurate control.

Enerpac
www.enerpac.com

Mobile Hydraulic Tips

Design World