Think3 Inc, which claims to be the only supplier able to offer a technology that combines product concept, development and implementation design environments, is unveiling the 2007 version of its suite of CAD and PLM products.

Thinkdesign, Thinkid Designxpressions and ThinkPLM continue to evolve while striving to provide customers with a complete and integrated package that frees users from the limitations of conventional technologies. Furthermore, the suite provides a stable and consistent platform while monitoring closely developments in the Windows operating system. In fact, the new version fully supports Windows Vista and integrates with WDDM (Windows Display Driver Model). The result is said to be improved free-flowing graphics and sophisticated visual effects.

In addition to its new functions, the improvements in Thinkdesign 2007 have enabled Think3 to improve the usability of the application in the Assembly and Drawing Layout environment.

The new welding management system, Sheet Metal Wizard, and the upgrading of Interactive Solid Modelling are just some of the improvements included in the new release. Furthermore, 2007.1 will be directly integrated with Ansys Workbench, without the need for additional modules. The link between these two systems will enable users to gain maximum benefit from both the usability of Think3's CAD tool and Ansys' powerful analysis functionalities.

Thinkid Designxpressions already has an excellent reputation in the field of industrial design. However, the new version also includes a series of enhancements to its Target Driven Design approach, allowing those designers that prefer to focus on the practicality of products to express their creativity more freely.

The new Rake Sweep function is the first result of the European research project 'Touch and Design' that will provide product designers with the possibility to use a virtual palette knife. This function can be used to create high-quality surfaces by simulating the movement of a tool. It is claimed to be a unique instrument designed specifically for engineers working on Class A surfaces.

Thanks to the new tool, Free Hand Curves on Surface, it is now possible to sketch curves onto selected surfaces or solid faces quickly and easily, whenever and wherever outlines need to be 'drawn' onto existing forms.

Thinkcompensator, an innovative system for offsetting elastic effects from sheet metal pressing and other deformations due to manufacturing, has also evolved, and now features an optimised calculation engine.

On the PLM front, the benefits of efficient management of the product life cycle are clear. ThinkPLM also offers interesting developments in Product Configurator management, which is now even easier to define and use even in those situations in which the user is not connected to the company database and needs to work off-line. The Think3 PLM system extends and strengthens existing data import and management functionalities in various CAD integrations with the aim of increasing the availability of the benefits of Think3 technology to other CAD product users.

Thinkdesign, Thinkid Designxpressions and ThinkPLM