SALTIRE SOFTWARE ANNOUNCES NEW CAM/FOLLOWER DESIGN SOFTWARE PACKAGE

(Beaverton, Oregon -- April 7, 1995) Saltire Software has announced the
release of a new software package called Analytix/Cams that makes it
possible for mechanical engineers to synthesize cam profiles based on the
follower's motion requirements. Alternatively, the follower's geometry and
kinematics can be quickly designed, fine-tuned and analyzed based on an
existing cam profile.

This Windows-based package can be used as stand-alone software or
integrated with the new Version 3.2 of Saltire's Analytix mechanical
design and simulation software package. This enables an engineer to do
motion analysis within a totally integrated solution. With Analytix, an
engineer can work back from required end-effector motion to cam design, or
go from cam design to end-effector motion. Analytix/Cams lists for $595
with a special introductory savings of $100 off until April 30, 1995.
Purchased with Analytix, the bundled price is $1,395. This affordable
desktop pricing is thousands less than cam design software on UNIX
workstations.

To synthesize a cam profile with Analytix/Cams, the user first selects a
particular cam/follower configuration and the degree of precision, such as
"360" for every 1 degree around the cam. The next step is to select a
range of degrees and the desired curve type, such as cycloidal, dwell or
constant velocity. The user then specifies starting and ending
requirements for follower displacement for that range. Analytix/Cams then
automatically synthesizes the appropriate points in between, consistent
with all the complex geometry involved in that particular cam/follower
configuration.

For example, the user may specify that between 0 and 45 degrees of a plate
cam's rotation, the exterior oscillating roller follower will have a
sinusoidal rise of one inch from the base radius, dwell between 45 and 90
degrees, fall with constant velocity from 90 to 180 degrees and so on. The
advanced user has the option of fine-tuning the data points manually or
copying/pasting them in from another source. Kinematic and other data -
cam profile in x-y or r-theta, displacement, velocity, acceleration, jerk,
radius of curvature and pressure angle - is automatically calculated in
both tabular and graphical form.

Analytix/Cams enables the user to design cam/followers based on many
different cam/follower types. Follower types include oscillating or
reciprocating, roller or flat-faced. The cam types include plate, barrel
and linear -- interior, exterior or slot.

Any cam profile developed in Analytix/Cams can be used inside Analytix to
analyze the cam motion in combination with gears, linkages or other parts
of a larger mechanical system. Changes made in Analytix/Cams are
immediately visible in Analytix in order to optimize the design.
Alternatively, a cam-driven mechanism's motion is easily determined with
an Analytix simulation. The actuator motion animated in Analytix can be
easily analyzed for acceptable acceleration, jerk, torque, forces, etc.

Analytix provides the capability to construct accurate geometry from
dimensional information. Geometry is sketched on the screen just as if it
were a piece of paper. Dimensions are then added to the sketch. Like
high-end parametric engineering software on workstations, dimensions can
even be formulas. Dimensions serve as constraints and define the exact
geometry of the sketch. Fine-tuning the model is simply a matter of
changing the value of a dimension or parameter. The geometry is updated
and a new scaled drawing is produced, all in less than a second. Once the
geometry is consistently dimensioned, Analytix can be used to analyze the
design's static, kinematic, dynamic and tolerance characteristics. The
user can specify initial conditions and model constraints such as
velocities, accelerations, tolerances, masses, applied forces, springs,
dampers and actuators. Analytix will then perform static, inverse-dynamic,
kinematic and tolerance analysis as well as forward-dynamic simulation
with the Dynamix option. Output options include DXF, Windows
cut-and-paste, tables, graphs and animations. The Analytix slogan -- "for
designing Machines-That-Move"--illustrates the package's capabilities for
designing and optimizing mechanisms that involve motion. Analytix is a
complement to software used in the detailed design phase, such as 2D or 3D
CAD and FEA software.

Saltire Software, Inc. develops, markets and supports conceptual design and
analysis software that helps mechanical engineers design
"Machines-That-Move". Besides Analytix, Saltire's family of engineering
products includes Apollonius The Intelligent Sketcher, which provides
parametric drawing capability, and the Atlas of Linkage Design and
Analysis, which is a design system for linkages, including both a
reference book and software. Since its founding in 1989, Saltire has
developed products primarily for the Windows PC platform. Saltire has
received three major R&D grants from the National Science Foundation to
pursue technology development in the representation and manipulation of
geometric engineering problems.

For further information: Saltire Software Inc., 9725 SW Gemini Drive,
Beaverton, OR 97008. Telephone: 503-520-7800; Fax: 503-520-6998.

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