December 2007

December 2007

New Mountain CAD Web Site

Check out the new Mountain CAD Web Site at www.mtncad.com. It has a new look and feel and it is easier to navigate. It has links to all sorts of product information, training solutions, web casts and product support.

We are using our site to also make it easier for Mountain CAD to provide you support. Introducing Mountain CAD Connect. With Mountain CAD Connect it is now possible for you to log in and allow one of our support personnel to capture your computer and fix your problem. To access Mountain CAD Connect all you have to do is click on Support at the top of the Mountain CAD Home Page.

New White Paper: Three Case Studies on Implementing AutoCAD Civil 3D

This new white paper documents the successful AutoCAD® Civil 3D® software implementation approaches of three different-sized organizations—a small, single-office firm with seven CAD users; a medium-size firm with 28 employees; and a 235-person firm with 65 CAD users in five offices. The paper provides details on each of the implementation approaches, the challenges encountered and how they were overcome, and key lessons learned.



This paper is ideal for customers who are thinking about implementing AutoCAD Civil 3D software or who are in the process of planning their AutoCAD Civil 3D implementation.



Check out the white paper section of the Civil 3D product center.


ArcGIS: The Complete Enterprise GIS


Whether you need to perform spatial analysis, manage large amounts of spatial data, or produce cartographically appealing maps to aid in decision making, ArcGIS allows you to use one common platform to meet all your GIS needs. And because ArcGIS is built using technology standards, it will integrate well with your existing systems.



ArcGIS is a complete system for authoring, serving, and using geographic information. It is an integrated collection of GIS software products for building and deploying a complete GIS wherever it is needed—on desktops, servers, or custom applications; over the Web; or in the field.


The WV Association of Geospatial Professionals (WVAGP) forums are up and running

The WV Association of Geospatial Professionals (WVAGP) forums are up and running. The link to sign up for the forums is in the top right hand corner or follows this link

Current topics include:

There are also sections set aside for troubleshooting GIS problems, and sections for the Board and the different Committees. If you are a member of a committee the Committee Chair will have to add you to the forum for the appropriate committee before you can post. If you are experiencing problems with the forums I can be reached at by email ceurice@berkeleycountycomm.org or by phone 304.267.5024.
WV Association of Geospatial Professionals Needs You
Are you a spatial kind of person? Do you work with maps? Are you a GIS professional. If you answered yes to any or all of these questions then you certainly are a candidate to join the WVAGP.
Visit www.wvagp.org for all the details.

 

The County Information Portal

Parcel Summary The Mountain CAD Portal was developed to provide county assessors with a tool to manage their parcel data.

The data can take many forms: - SQL database tables - Oracle, MsSQL, MySQL - Photos - Dwellings - Document Scans - MapCards, Deeds - Static Maps - PDF and DWF files - Dynamic Maps - ArcIMS, MapGuide, MapServer


Searching

Search The portal uses a powerful and flexible search mechanism. The search form is displayed as a tabbed interface so that all forms are readily available and easy to use.

Data Listing

Summary List Once a search is created a paged listing appears where the user can browse the data one page at a time. In addition a report of the results can be created.

Record View

Appraised Value Once a parcel is selected numerous database records can be viewed: Parcel Summary, Current Taxes Due, Tax Distribution, Parcel, Appraised Value, Ownership, Ownership History, Alternate Owner, Multiple Ownership, Legal Description, Legal Desc History, Commercial, Sales, Sales History, Sales Data, Out Building, Additions, Dwelling, and Land data.

Applications

Comparable Sales Additional application provide for analysis. Comparable Sales, Dwelling Sketch, Photo view, Map Card view, Parcel Map, and Printable summary. In addition any page or report can be viewed or downloaded in Adobe PDF format.

Dwelling Sketch

Building Sketch

Dwelling Photo

Search

Map Cards

MapCard

Photo and Image Management

Image Management An image management tool is also available that provides a means to upload and manage photos, scans, and other image files.

Implementation

The software runs on both Windows and Linux or can be hosted remotely.

MapGuide Open Source

MapGuide has been around for some years now as a Autodesk Internet / Intranet mapping product. Last year an open source version of MapGuide was released. In addition Autodesk released MapGuide Studio, a commercial application for building MapGuide maps and applications.


We have completed a number of Internet / Intranet web mapping applications using MapGuide. Here’s a sampling of our work:

Solid Edge Better Technology Webinars Cover it All

Log on to https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/forms/se_edge_webinars.shtml to check out a Solid Edge Better Technology Webinar. There are many from which to choose, including:



In the session titled “Applying Process-Specific Design Applications to Reduce ECOs and Errors,” you will learn how you can keep your focus on the engineering aspects of your projects (instead of the software) to eliminate ECOs, rework, and errors. Process-specific applications design better products much faster. You’ll learn to work in specialized environments with tailored commands and structured workflows; develop complete digital prototypes much more quickly than with general purpose modeling tools; as well as sheet metal, frame design, weldments, piping and tubing, wire harness, standard parts, and mold design.



"Win New Business by Creating Animated and Dynamic Documentation" where you will see how you and your company can reduce product costs, fix errors faster, remove waste, enhance training materials and test manufacturing sequences earlier. You will learn to render designs fast, including photorealistic and artistic rendering; build motion studies with movement along paths, fading, styles, camera paths and output to AVI; animate complete product function; animate exploded views for assembly and disassembly sequences; and produce dynamic documentation for bids, manuals, assembly instructions and training.



The “Adding Scalable Design and Failure Analysis to Cut Costs, Mistakes and Reduce Design Time” session will show new ways to avoid costly physical prototypes and lower your engineering development costs. You will get insight into reducing ECOs, rework and product recalls with properly timed FEA. You will learn use of built-in, pre-configured, process guidance for analysis of part and sheet metal models from Solid Edge; use of mid-surface and plate elements for sheet metal; and how to scale up to full FEA application (Femap) directly from within Solid Edge.



“Why and How Production-Proven 2D Drafting Remains Critical to your Work,” shows that, even in a world of 3D design productivity, drawing creation productivity needs a focus on the four key components that affect the time required to progress from design to print – namely layout, performance, annotation, and revision. Learn why it’s key to remain strong in 2D and adhere to international standards. You’ll learn to create complete and accurate design documentation with flexible, rapid drawing layout; what to expect from your 2D drawing tools; how-to support for local standards; use of 2D-3D migration wizards; leveraging legacy data, and how to handle massive assemblies with an assembly-specific drafting wizard.



The “Help your Company’s Bottom Line with Fast and Flexible Component Modeling” session will teach you how to get your company’s products on the shelf, build brand recognition and capture market share faster, and eliminate common sources of waste in the development process. This webinar shows you how with Rapid Blue Shape and Surface Design as well as Direct Editing techniques. The Rapid Blue Shape and Surface Design Techniques will include removing traditional modeling restrictions; encapsulating design intent and see edits in real time; and investigating more iterations in a shorter time while the Direct Editing techniques will include editing complex parametric models without relying on history tree; simplifying and speeding the design process; and editing imported 3D models.



In the “Maintain Today’s 2D Investment while Shortening your Design Cycle with Tomorrow’s 3D Design Tools” session, you’ll learn practical evolution to 3D with a proven four-step process, including using existing 2D productivity while learning tomorrow’s 3D design tools; turning 2D geometry into real 3D parts; applying the power of a hybrid 2D/3D design workflow; and realizing the benefits of PLM with Solid Edge and the UGS Velocity Series.



The “Collaboration and High-Value Communication throughout the Supply Chain” session shows how you and your company can build faster delivery cycles and exceed customer expectations with standard 3D annotation tools. You will learn collaborating with JT, standard proven technology employed by nearly 4 million users worldwide; making your models the repository for Product Manufacturing Information (PMI); and reducing misinterpretation as designs pass through supply chain by relying less on 2D drawings and more on the 3D model with key dimensions and annotations.



Learn how to find problems early in the cycle and avoid ECOs and costly rework by creating a complete digital mock up of your designs, no matter what the size, with the “Avoiding ECOs with Optimal Performance and Large Assembly Management” session. You will learn massive assembly support; simplifying and creating lightweight assemblies with smart selection tools; creating, navigating and manipulating massive assemblies; fast and accurate conceptual motion studies; animating complete product function by combining gears, motors and paths; Systems Design; and using function and not just fit to reduce the need for costly physical prototypes.

Finally, check out the “What’s New in Solid Edge Version 20” session. It’s Solid Edge V20 Launch Week and this special edition of the webcast series focuses on the latest in innovative Solid Edge research and development from Siemens PLM Software. Averaging about two full product releases every year, hundreds of customer and industry driven enhancements will be unveiled in this and other activities during the spring and summer months.

Solid Edge Version 20

With superior core modeling and process work flows, a unique focus on the needs of specific industries and fully integrated design management, Solid Edge provides advanced core modeling and process work flows as well as fully integrated designed management. The software offers flexible modeling, digital prototyping, process applications, production drafting, design management, ease of adoption and interoperability.

Highlights of Version 20

Solid Edge Version 20 focuses on massive assembly modeling, managed collaboration, and engineering productivity.

Solid Edge V20Solid Edge Version 20 delivers eleven major modeling advances, all focused around making working with massive assemblies (more than 100,000 parts) easier and more productive.
A new dedicated Structure Editor provides an interface for re-using existing assemblies to create new projects in a managed Teamcen­ter environment. Included with the Solid Edge Embedded Client, Structure Editor allows clon­ing existing assemblies, revising, saving-as or re-using portions of the assembly tree, allowing ready re-purposing of data within a managed environment.
Solid Edge V20 adds function that makes migrating from AutoCAD easier, including XREFS and color 7, while its stand alone draft­ing environment should prove more friendly to maintaining drawings.
Additional translator functionality improves Sol­id Edge's interface to external systems, includ­ing a new CATIA V5 bidirectional translator, updates supporting Pro/E Wildfire 3, and support for STL files as input for viewing.
More than 170 other enhancements are also included in this release.

Solid Edge V20 Review

Hey don't take our word for it. Read the Solid Edge Version 20 Review by Technicom's Ray Kurland. Based in New Jersey, Technicom's Kurland specializes in understanding the competitive positioning of products in the mechanical CAD/CAM industry. He has Engineering Degrees from Rutgers University and New York University. He frequently speaks at industry conferences, and he invented the term "variable driven modeling," which describes many of today's modern mechanical CAD/CAM systems.
Read the Complete Review here

Trade Up from 2D Special Pricing - Still Available

Solid Edge Classic $4,495.00 or $430.00 per month for twelve months

Includes:

  • Standard Parts Machinery Library
  • FeaMap Express - Single Part FEA
  • Engineering reference for calculations
  • Feature Recognizer
  • One-Year Maintenance

Solid Edge Foundation $3,895.00 or $373.00 per month for twelve months

Includes: Complete 3D Design and Assembly

For less than the price of AutoCAD

One-Year Maintenance

Best Sheet Metal Package on the market

Trade up from your 2D CAD system. Qualifying products: AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, Microstation, TurboCAD or you show us proof of purchase of any other CAD system and we will honor this price.
Price includes a two-day training Boot Camp

Training Schedule

Mountain CAD operates its own Training Center, providing a variety of classes. All classes are conducted by individuals with a strong background in the software being taught and your discipline. This training has proven to reduce the learning curve and allow for greater productivity.

To sign up or inquire about a class, please contact Rex Thaxton, at 304-744-7911.

Fall Training Schedule

Civil 3D Essentials   

  •  
    • Dates:   October 15 - 1 & November 12 - 14
  • Instructor: Jerry Workman, PE
  • Cost: $1,050.00 per student  

Intro to ArcGIS    

  •  
    • Dates:   November 6 & 7
  • Instructor: Kevin Kuhn ESRI Authorized Instructor
  • Cost: $850.00 per student  

AutoCAD Essentials

  •  
    • Dates: November 3 - 5
  • Instructor: Jerry Workman, PE
  • Cost: $950.00 per student  

Revit Architecture

  •  
    • Dates:  TBA
  • Instructor: Autodesk Professional Services
  • Cost: $1080.00 per student (minimum class size of 10 students)  

Solid Edge Synchronous Technology Update

  •  
    • Dates:  November 2008 TBA
  • Instructor: Sherman Ackerman
  • Cost:  $730.00 per student (minimum class size of 10 students)
  • Class to be held at RCBI at Marshall COGS  

AutoCAD Map

  •  
    • Dates:   October 9 & 10 November 20 & 21
  • Instructor: Jerry Workman, PE
  • Cost $700.00 per student

 

Register now

On Site training and consultation is available. To discuss your training needs call or e-mail Rex Thaxton at 304-744-7911

Don't see the class you are looking for? Call us and lets get it scheduled. We can provide on site training and software implementation services.

Can't Find the Time / Need Something Creative? We have been in the CAD and GIS business a long time and have seen that companies that truly invest in technology are the ones that are the most profitable. It seems everyone is too busy to attend training, but to really use new products like Civil 3D and Revit you need training. Catch 22! Call us and together we can come up with a plan that works for you! Phone: 304-744-7911

Terms - Class registration closes 7 days prior to class start date.  Payment must be received by this time.  Payment is non refundable so please make sure you you can attend before paying.