ALGOR'S INCAD^Plus TECHNOLOGY OFFERS SOLID EDGE USERS A HIGHER LEVEL OF CAD/CAE INTEROPERABILITY

Algor's full range of FEA capabilities is now accessible from Solid Edge mechanical design software. Shown here, the simple Solid Edge menu selection "Algor:Mesh" launches a "CAD Solid Model Interface" where preliminary FEA surface meshing is performed with Algor's new, easy-to-use sliding mesh control. Superdraw III, Algor's single user interface and precision finite element model-building tool, can be activated with one mouse click to access Algor's surface mesh refinement, automatic solid meshing and full breadth of analysis options. The Voyager Member Solid Edge trademark may be a trademark or registered trademark of its respective owner.

October 7, 1999, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- Algor, Inc., a leading maker of software for mechanical engineers, has introduced InCAD^Plus technology that enables engineers to transfer solid model data seamlessly from Solid Edge mechanical design software to Algor software. InCAD^Plus has an interface that connects Algor’s entire range of finite element analysis (FEA) capabilities, including advanced Mechanical Event Simulation, directly to Solid Edge software produced by Unigraphics Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:UGS).

"InCAD^Plus enables engineers to perform a much broader spectrum of FEA more easily and in a shorter amount of time while working with Solid Edge models," said Michael L. Bussler, president of Algor, a company that pioneered CAD interfacing with PCs in 1985. "Algor has expanded its CAD interfacing options with InCAD^Plus to be responsive to customers who have requested seamless interoperability. Every FEA product we offer is connected to the new interface."

"With the new InCAD^Plus interface, engineers will be able to seamlessly transfer solid model data created in Solid Edge into Algor’s Release 12 version of FEA software and be able to fully use all of Algor’s unique finite element modeling and analysis functionality. This interoperability will provide the accurate results and efficient execution engineers require in getting their product to the buyer quickly," said Bill McClure, director for the Solid Edge line of business at Unigraphics Solutions. "We are pleased that Algor has provided this tighter integration with Solid Edge software. The new integration elevates Algor's status to premium level within the Solid Edge Voyager Program."

InCAD^Plus provides engineers working in Solid Edge complete access to Algor’s software capabilities, ranging from simple linear static FEA to nonlinear multiphysics, including heat transfer and fluid flow, and Mechanical Event Simulation. Engineers using Solid Edge can now perform Mechanical Event Simulations on complete solid models or assemblies using Algor’s Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software with linear and nonlinear material models. Accupak/VE realistically simulates motion and flexing in mechanical events and eliminates the need to input dynamic loads. Accupak/VE also computes and shows resulting stresses on the computer model at each instant in time. In addition, Algor’s new kinematic elements drastically reduce processing time for Mechanical Event Simulations involving solid models or assemblies because they dynamically behave like regular flexible elements, but stresses are not calculated within them.

With InCAD^Plus, the simple Solid Edge menu selection "Algor:Mesh" launches Algor’s "CAD Solid Model Interface." This interface enables engineers to view their entire model prior to FEA surface meshing to determine if the design contains model defects, such as surface holes or self-intersecting surfaces. Engineers can then create an FEA surface mesh with a new, easy-to-use sliding mesh control, which lets them quickly adjust the initial surface mesh density if necessary. Superdraw III, Algor’s single user interface and precision finite element model-building tool, can be activated with one mouse click to access Algor’s automatic or manual surface mesh refinement options. Engineers can then use Algor’s automatic mesh engines to create a high quality FEA solid mesh using bricks, tetrahedra or a combination of both, and access Algor’s full breadth of analysis options.

Additionally, Algor's InCAD^Plus includes a feature suppression utility that enables engineers to reduce the number of elements in a finite element model. Since a high level of detail in a solid model or assembly is not necessary for accurate FEA results, the new "Algor:Feature Control" has been added to the main menu. Selection of this option launches an "Algor Feature Suppression" window that contains a tree view of each feature, and a slider enables the engineer to choose the appropriate level of feature suppression.

Even when Algor and Solid Edge are installed on different computers, InCAD^Plus technology eliminates problematic data translation from Solid Edge to Algor software because it uses Direct Memory Image Transfer (DMIT) programming. DMIT assures the transfer of mathematically exact model descriptions. According to W. Charles Paulsen, Algor’s vice president of strategic relations, "Cost-conscious IT managers will appreciate that DMIT-enabled InCAD^Plus technology provides consistent, yet simple interoperability between heterogeneous CAD/CAE systems."

Algor has been a leader in the engineering software industry since introducing FEA for PCs in 1984 and interfacing with CAD systems in 1985. The company recently celebrated 20 years of providing innovative, affordable and easy-to-use software products that have enabled 20,000 engineers in 60 countries to create safe, efficient, cost-effective designs. Algor also offers superior educational support and customer service that has been expanded to include the use of state-of-the-art Internet audio/video technology for live educational "Web Courses" and free public "Webcasts" that include step-by-step Algor software instruction.

Algor's most recent invention, FEA-based Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software with linear and nonlinear material models, replaces physical prototype testing with virtual prototype testing because it realistically simulates motion and flexing in mechanical events, eliminates the need to input dynamic loads and computes and shows resulting stresses on the computer model at each instant in time. Algor's new kinematic finite element technology now makes it practical to perform Mechanical Event Simulations with Accupak/VE on CAD solid models or assemblies. Algor offers a range of other FEA capabilities including linear stress, vibration and natural frequencies, heat transfer, electrostatics, fluid flow, piping design and composite materials. Algor's software interchanges data with products from ANSYS, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANSS), Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), Baystate Technologies, Inc., MSC.Software (NYSE:MNS), Parametric Technology Corporation (Nasdaq:PMTC), Structural Dynamics Research Corporation (Nasdaq:SDRC), Unigraphics Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:UGS), SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq:DASTY) company and others.