Last week, Siemens PLM announced that the newest version of their Solid Edge package, ST8, will be released this summer. Like all major releases, this one is chock full of new tools and features, but will any of them have a real impact on your workflow?
Streamlined UI
One of the biggest themes that Siemens pushed at the PLM Connection user conference in Dallas last week was that ST8’s new UI is built to make its Synchronous Technology easier to use by trimming away excess options from the design environment. For new users (read: history-based CAD users), ST8’s direct modeling approach will feel and work more intuitively by combining the speed and flexibility of direct modeling with the precise control of dimension-driven design.
According to Synchronous scion Dan Staples, “In the past, Synchronous’ speed bumps have been a little too high for new users. Now that’s not the case. The new UI, with its focus on design intent, is especially helpful.”
For users already accustomed to Synchronous Technology, ST8’s improved contextual menus will remove all of the tools that aren’t relevant to what you’re doing and show you the options that you can use. The idea behind this is obvious. With contextually-related toolkits, designers can make decisions faster and get to the fun work of designing.
Pattern by Table
Because it’s a table, not only can this new feature drive single elements in a design, it can be used to guide as many features as needed. Say you’re designing a keypad. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could use the same pattern to drive the holes in your controller and the plastic keys that fit through its grooves? Of course it would.
That’s the kind of power that Pattern by Table brings to ST8.
“Like Me” Patterning
Driven by a pattern recognition table, selected elements (whether they be linear or circular patterns) can have their number of occurrences, spaces between features and whether features in a pattern should be suppressed.
While this feature may seem trivial at first, it’s a valuable tool if users find themselves having to edit parts from older software, or if a part’s design intent has been lost to the ages.
Running on a Windows Tablet
Tablet- and browser-based CAD have been hot topics over the past few months, but ST8 is by far the easiest platform to use at the moment. Not only does the full version of ST8 run with lag-less speed (apparently it’s capable of running smoothly, even when loading an 80,000-part assembly), the software’s designers have figured out a novel way to manipulate and make modifications to a model that makes working on a tablet easier.
The secret to ST8’s functionality lies in its dual input structure. Rather than using a digit to draw and manipulate a model, ST8 leverages a few Windows APIs to task digit input with manipulation and allow a more precise stylus to do the finer work of sketching.
After trying the system out for a few minutes I was stunned by the results. Given that I’m really gung-ho about tablet- and browser-based CAD, ST8’s new features made me believe that a portable CAD reality might not be a few years out. It might be here already!
To round out this preview, here’s a list of some of the other features included in Solid Edge ST8:
· Enhanced helical curve feature
· Enhanced welding patterning and drawing
· Enhanced 3D electrical routing
· Improved drawing capabilities
· Teamcenter integration
· Robust animation/motion software for digital mockups
If you have any question about Solid Edge ST8, drop me a line in the comment section, or contact me directly @KyleCMaxey.