HEADLINE PRODUCTS

New Kubotek KeyCreator Bridges CAD Interoperability Gap

Kubotek USA announced KeyCreator 5, a new version of its widely used design and manufacturing software. This new version of the software attacks the major interoperability issues that the company's recent surveys have tracked, bridging the gap between designers and engineers who are frequently stymied by incompatible file formats. The new features are particularly valuable to moldmakers and job shops that need to be able to detect and work with specific patterns and features within a model.

Robert Bean, chief operating officer, Kubotek USA, explained, “Since translated CAD files are comprised of geometry alone, only Kubotek’s geometry-based architecture can detect and work with them as easily as other CAD tools work with a native file. Most engineers and designers consider translated parts almost unworkable. It is only now that the hardware has become capable of handling feature and pattern discovery in real time.”

North American pricing for KeyCreator begins at $3495, including one year of maintenance. Current, maintenance-paying customers can download the new version immediately.

Moldflow Releases Moldflow Communicator 1.0

Moldflow Corporation announced the immediate availability of Moldflow Communicator™1.0, a new, free software product that allows distributed product teams to visualize, quantify and compare Moldflow analysis results. Unlike static 3D viewers, Moldflow Communicator allows users to understand the assumptions behind a given set of analysis results, which is vital to gaining the insight required to make critical design decisions.

Moldflow Communicator allows Moldflow users to easily share the insight gained from analysis-driven design optimization to any member of a product development team, many of whom are not dedicated Moldflow users. Extended team members can now view results dynamically and interactively on 3D models and use a set of powerful tools to compare analysis results "side-by-side" from two iterations to better understand design improvements. One of Moldflow Communicator's most compelling benefits is the ability to understand the assumptions behind a given set of analysis results, which can help team members make informed decisions to reduce development times, improve part quality and speed time to market.

Moldflow Communicator 1.0 is free to both Moldflow customers and non-customers. It supports analysis results exported from Moldflow Plastics Insight® (MPI®) 6.0 and runs on 32- and 64-bit hardware running Windows. Future versions will extend the support to include results from other Moldflow products, including Moldflow Plastics Advisers® (MPA®) software.

Fast Heat’s ‘Smart Mold Box’ Gets Smarter

The new Smart Mold Box from Fast Heat is a break-through in hot runner reli-ability. The Smart Mold Box replaces existing mold boxes that are situated on top of the hot runner tool by adding productivity enhancing features such as ATP (Active Thermocouple Protection) and a unique hinged design for easy wiring access.

ATP acts as a “guardian”, constantly monitoring thermocouple circuitry for indications of trouble. When ATP senses excessive common mode leakage, it shuts off power to thermocouples before they fail, while signaling a fault to the hot runner controller diagnostics. Corrective action is prompted before incurring costs of downtime associated with opening the tool for thermocouple replacement. In addition ATP also improves thermocouple signal accuracy, which helps ensure that temperature control modules receive the cleanest, most accurate signal possible from the thermocouple.

In addition to ATP, a new-hinged design allows for easy wiring of thermocouple and power circuits.