For information concerning Ashlar-Vellum, please contact: Julie Bou, +1 512 250-2186 x1130.
The development team of Ashlar-Vellum continues to define the cutting edge of CAD software technology
December 14, 2004, Austin, TX. On Nov. 23, 2004 United States Patent 6,823,299 was awarded to Alfredo Contreras, Jeff White, and Bill Williams of Ashlar-Vellum Inc. Their new development was in the modeling of objects, systems, and simulations by establishing relationships in an event-driven graph in a computer-implemented graphics system. A computer-implemented graphics system defines an object-oriented framework for describing three-dimensional graphical objects, systems, and simulations. Bill Williams, who is not only part of the development team but also Vice President of Ashlar, said “We have patented a powerful and robust software paradigm that will enable our software to handle complex systems of objects, objects’ behaviors, and their association/relationship to one another. This will further our capability to allow our software to ‘work the way you think’.”
Ashlar has long had a tradition of innovation. The company’s founder, Martin Newell, researched the interaction between a computer terminal and the computer user during the 80’s while working for Xerox PARC. This research contributed to the development of the graphical user interface and the computer mouse. After leaving Xerox, Mr. Newell realized his vision of a ‘heads up’ CAD interface, where the user is free to focus on designing without distractions from the application. “From the beginning, Ashlar-Vellum has provided highly intuitive and easy to use tools that let designers quickly capture and present their ideas” says Robert Bou, Ashlar-Vellum’s President. “They function literally as extensions of a designer’s creativity. More than just tools, Vellum products become part of the designer and the designer’s process.”
Today, Ashlar-Vellum continues to develop 2D and 3D software products for designers who demand the freedom to concentrate on the creative process, not on the tools. Ashlar-Vellum’s latest products harness the potential of advanced surfaces and solids with an integrated, user-friendly design environment - letting conceptual designers create 3D models of complex, freeform designs on the Mac or PC desktop. Other patents awarded to Ashlar-Vellum have included innovations in the extrapolation of behavioral constraints in a computer-implemented graphics system, determining and displaying geometric relationships between objects, visualization techniques for constructive systems, and affinitive placement by proximity.
About Ashlar Incorporated
Founded in 1988, Ashlar-Vellum is the leading provider of precision CAD and 3D modeling software that automates and simplifies the design process for drafting, design, and engineering professionals on both Macintosh and Windows platforms. Ashlar-Vellum’s unique Organic Workflow™ featuring their renowned Vellum® user interface and powerful toolsets have earned the loyalty of innovators around the world. Ashlar-Vellum operates from its headquarters in Austin, Texas. To learn more call +1 800 877-2745 or visit www.ashlar.com.
Contact: Julie Bou, Ashlar-Vellum, +1 512 250-2186 x1130, Julie.Bou@ashlar.com.
TSS Technologies sees client diversity as their key to success
December 13, 2004, Austin, TX. The defining characteristic of TSS Technologies is diversity. Diversity of products they manufacture as well the diversity of clients they supply. Since 1948, TSS has grown from a machine shop to a full service manufacturing company capable of fabricating individual parts as well as filling high volume orders. As their client base has grown so has the size of the company. Listed as one of the fifty fastest growing businesses in Cincinnati, they have expanded their manufacturing facility to 400,000 square feet and hired 300 additional team members. For eight years they have seen ten percent annual growth and the diversification of their client base to include medical, aerospace, automotive, consumer products, and packaging companies from around the world.
A key element to their success is the ability to consult with their clients during the initial design stage of a product. One of the tools they use to accomplish this is Argon, the Ashlar-Vellum Inc. solid modeling program. Jason Pippenger, Mfg. Engineer Manager for Plant 1 at TSS, said that “Argon is our software of choice for 2D & 3D CAD, we don’t have to labor over drawings anymore and there is very little training required before our new team members are productive on the program. It is amazing how quickly people grow and learn with Ashlar.” TSS has also found that the extensive translation capabilities of Ashlar-Vellum enable them to work with files that come from many different sources. The most useful for them are IGES and Parasolid. In an industry where hitting your delivery time is crucial, they have streamlined their process with Argon.
Recently, TSS Packaging/Regal North America was established as a direct result of a partnership with Regal Packaging from the UK. This division offers a complete system for filling and sealing preformed containers for foods, pharmaceuticals and sheets. As a single source supplier, TSS can supply filling and sealing equipment while integrating manufacturing systems throughout the entire plant. Ever mindful of quick-changing markets, and the increasing demands on customers’ production schedules, Regal North America has designed a range of filling systems to handle a diverse range of products. Ashlar-Vellum is proud to be a part of TSS Technologies success and look forward to working with them in the future.
About Ashlar Incorporated
Founded in 1988, Ashlar-Vellum is the leading provider of precision CAD and 3D modeling software that automates and simplifies the design process for drafting, design, and engineering professionals on both Macintosh and Windows platforms. Ashlar-Vellum’s unique Organic Workflow™ featuring their renowned Vellum® user interface and powerful toolsets have earned the loyalty of innovators around the world. Ashlar-Vellum operates from its headquarters in Austin, Texas. To learn more call +1 800 877-2745 or visit www.ashlar.com.
Contact: Julie Bou, Ashlar-Vellum, +1 512 250-2186 x1130, Julie.Bou@ashlar.com.
THD Electronics Saves Time and Money With Ashlar-Vellum’s Cobalt™
December 12, 2004, Austin, TX. Andy Marshall of THD Electronics has been designing and building high quality guitar amplifiers for over 19 years. The THD line of amplifiers have always featured robust design and construction with an unusual amount of flexibility for the guitarist. Andy’s focus on simplicity has led THD to an award-winning level of flexibility that no other manufacturer can reproduce.
“We hear everyday from guitarists who have purchased 3- and 4- channel guitar amplifiers, only to discover that, aside from varying gain levels, the channels all sound and, equally important, feel more or less the same…” Providing a distinctive sound for their customers as well as an uncommon ‘ease of use’ is something Andy has achieved through years of experience in the music industry, now he has turned to Ashlar-Vellum to provide him with the same ease of use for his current design needs.
“As our products grow more complex, (Ashlar-Vellum) Cobalt’s ability to show me what a product and its component parts will look like (as well as exactly what their dimensions will be) helps me to completely visualize the product and ‘turn it over in my hands’ before we ever stamp a piece of metal or machine a piece of plastic or wood. This not only substantially shortens our time-to-market, but also permits us to catch errors early in the design phase and save a stunning amount of time, money and general grief. The mere thought of ever designing another product without Cobalt literally makes me sick to my stomach.”
Contact THD Electronics:
sub@thdelectronics.com
206-781-5500
About Ashlar Incorporated
Founded in 1988, Ashlar-Vellum is the leading provider of precision CAD and 3D modeling software that automates and simplifies the design process for drafting, design, and engineering professionals on both Macintosh and Windows platforms. Ashlar-Vellum’s unique Organic Workflow™ featuring their renowned Vellum® user interface and powerful toolsets have earned the loyalty of innovators around the world. Ashlar-Vellum operates from its headquarters in Austin, Texas. To learn more call +1 800 877-2745 or visit www.ashlar.com.
Contact: Julie Bou, Ashlar-Vellum, +1 512 250-2186 x1130, Julie.Bou@ashlar.com.
Ashlar-Vellum™ Confirms Cobalt’s™ Role in Rutan’s SpaceShipOne Design
June 21, 2004, Austin, TX. Ashlar-Vellum today congratulates Burt Rutan and his team at Scaled Composites for the successful launch and completion of the world’s first private space mission. Ashlar is proud to confirm the use of Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt software for the design of this revolutionary spacecraft. Rutan and the team at Scaled Composites successfully launched and completed a mission that brings them one step closer to securing the coveted Ansari X Prize designed to foster private entry into space. Today SpaceShipOne attained the required altitude of 62.5 miles into suborbital space and returned safely to Earth, putting Scaled Composites into a confident lead among 27 contenders.
Next, Rutan and the Scaled team will make a formal bid for the prize by launching the spacecraft with three astronauts aboard (or one astronaut and the equivalent weight of two more) to the suborbital altitude, bringing it safely to Earth, and then repeating the feat within two weeks using the same craft. Besides collecting the $10,000,000 X Prize, the winning team of this final leg will make history, demonstrating that civilian space travel is possible in the near future, funded not by the world’s most powerful governments, but by independent entrepreneurs. Rutan has used Vellum products for a decade. The Scaled Composite designers today confirmed that they designed the majority of SpaceShipOne and its companion aircraft, White Knight, in Cobalt.
Ashlar-Vellum’s president, Robert Bou, stated, “We feel proud to work with such a brilliant and innovative team of designers and to be a part of their historic endeavor.” Bou adds, “I recently had the privilege of visiting the Scaled Composites team in the Mojave. They told me that when they’ve tried to use our competitor’s software for their designs it doubled their engineering costs. Cobalt’s Vellum® interface so fluidly works the way they think that it allows designers to come up with multiple what ifs, easily refining the design for winning results.”
About Ashlar Incorporated
Founded in 1988, Ashlar-Vellum is the leading provider of precision CAD and 3D modeling software that automates and simplifies the design process for drafting, design, and engineering professionals on both Macintosh and Windows platforms. Ashlar-Vellum’s unique Organic Workflow™ featuring their renowned Vellum® user interface and powerful toolsets have earned the loyalty of innovators around the world. Ashlar-Vellum operates from its headquarters in Austin, Texas. To learn more call +1 800 877-2745 or visit www.ashlar.com.
Contact: Julie Bou, Ashlar-Vellum, +1 512 250-2186 x1130, Julie.Bou@ashlar.com.