Digital-prototyping software teaches old machines new tricks

摘要

For an example of what modern design software can do, look no further than a seed dehulling machine designed by A.T. Ferrell Co Inc in Bluffton, IN. Engineers there use digital-prototyping software from Autodesk Inc, San Rafael, CA, to help perfect concepts such as using bouncing rubber balls on a screen to separate seeds from hulls. The software recently played a role in designing a fixture for making a steel bearing foot. The current version of Inventor, the 3D modeler, has a programming interface that lets engineers interact with design files via applications written in Visual Basic or Visual Basic.NET, says A.T. Ferrell Design Engineer Allen Gager.