Introducing Parasolid and Verify.
We are pleased to announce our newest software offerings.
There is one new product:
- Parasolid Converter
And two reworked (and re-priced) products:
- Advanced Features w/Verify and
- ProtoTRAK Offline Programming.
The Parasolid Converter
The Parasolid Converter allows the user to create programs easily from solids files. The
following are some product attributes along with the benefits to the user:
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The Parasolid Converter will convert files in the format: .x_t which we believe is a very
common file format. Parasolid Converter users will be able to work with the solids files
from their customers.
The Parasolid Converter lets the user work with a 3d model of the part on the screen, giving
him a much better understanding of the part than is possible from a print or a 2d or
wireframe.
Z information is handled easily in the Parasolid Converter, including convenient methods for
compensating for tool geometry as well as countersinks. Programs created with the Parasolid
Converter are limited to 2 ½ axis.
The user is able to interact with the part to add lines, hide lines and break lines in order to
modify it for machining.
The Parasolid Converter continues the ProtoTRAK tradition of adapting the most powerful
benefits of the computer world so that they are useful to people who make parts in small lot
quantities.
Shipping and Ordering the Parasolid Converter
The Parasolid Converter will begin shipping January 2, 2013. We will begin to accept orders for
it immediately.
Product pricelists have been updated with the following part numbers:
CONV-PARA-M
Converter, Parasolid File
CONV-PARA-M-ADD
Converter, Parasolid File, additional seat
CONV-PARA/DXF-M
Converter, DXF and Parasolid File
CONV-PARA/DXF-M-ADD Converter, DXF and Parasolid File, add’l seat
995
695
1295
995
Customers who already have a DXF Converter will be able to add the Parasolid Converter for
$995. If a customer purchased his DXF Converter at full price within the past three months and
will really freak out about paying the full price for the Parasolid Converter, you may call for a
special quote for the customer to obtain the converter for the additional price of (1295 – 995)
$300. Please have the date and Sales Order number for that recent DXF purchase handy. If the
purchase isn’t within the past three months, we aren’t going to be able to reduce the price
because we don’t have a lot of room for flexibility on pricing (more on this below).
Compatibility of the Parasolid Converter
The first version of Parasolid Converter is for the SMX only. We may develop a lathe version in
the next year or two, if there seems to be demand. The Parasolid Converter will not run with the
SM or VM Control. It will be available on the LPM within several months.
The Parasolid Converter will almost certainly run on ProtoTRAK SMX controls that have been
built or reworked under our Express Exchange program in the last 4-5 years. It will probably not
work on units older than that. It is easy to tell if the unit can run the Parasolid Converter.
 Run Service Code 327. This will display some internal settings.
 If the Total Ram is approximately 125,000 Kb, the SMX unit will not run the Parasolid
Converter.
 If Total Ram is approximately 250,000 Kb (or greater) and the Compact Flash Status
Available is greater than 37,500 Kb, then the SMX unit will run the Parasolid Converter.
If your customer really wants the Parasolid Converter but his SMX won’t run it, his only option
is to exchange his SMX pendant under the Express Exchange program at the prevailing price.
That is the best deal we have to offer. It doesn’t matter when he may have replaced his control
last, or how many machines he’s bought from us or whether he had a nasty service issue that we
will forever owe him on, the price is going to be the price because we don’t have a lot of room
for flexibility on pricing (more on this below).
Advanced Features Option with Verify
The second new software offering is the integration of Verify into the Advanced Features
Option. The new Verify feature is a HUGE extension of the Draw Part / Tool Path functionality.
With Verify, the user can have a very clear idea of what is going to happen when he presses the
GO button. He can even see his part get whacked by the tool if he made a mistake with, for
example, his choice of Home position. Being able to see such a clear representation of the
programmed tool path will enhance the confidence and certainty that are so important for moving
quickly through a one-of-a-kind part. This is a great example of how the Digital World makes
life better in the Real World.
This enhancement is so significant that we had been thinking that we would make it a standalone Software Product. On further reflection, we have elected to make it part of the Advanced
Features Option.
ProtoTRAK SMX and SLX software with the new Advanced Features Option with Verify will
be available to ship and download January 2, 2013. This new Advanced Features Option will
replace the old Advanced Features Option for new orders.
Orders placed after January 1, 2013 must have the new price and use the new part numbers for
the Advanced Features Option.
Orders placed before January 1, 2013 may have either the present Advanced Features Option or
the new Advanced Features Option with Verify.
If the customer wants the Advanced Features Option with Verify but takes delivery of the
ProtoTRAK before January, we will activate the option and then he will be able to download the
new software once it is available.
To summarize:
New part numbers
May use immediately, must use exclusively after 1/1/13.
AFO W/VERIFY-SMX
Advanced Features with Verify for SMX
AFO W/VERIFY-SLX
Advanced Features with Verify for SLX
$1295
$1295
Current part numbers *
May use up to 1/1/13, may not use after 1/1/13.
ADV FEATURES SMX
Advanced Features Option – SMX
ADV FEATURES SLX
Advanced Features Option – SLX
$995
$995
*if this version of the Advanced Features Option is ordered, it will not have Verify.
Compatibility of Advanced Features Option with Verify
Due to licensing requirements, we will not be able to upgrade previously sold SMX and SLX
controls to the new Advanced Features Option with Verify option.
ProtoTRAK Offline changes
Starting January 1, 2013, the price of PT4OL will increase:
PT4OL
Offline programming
PT4OL-ADD
Offline programming –additional seat
$1295
$1095
The PT4OL software, as always, includes the Advanced Features Option. Starting January 2,
2013, the software available for the PT4OL will include the Verify feature. We need to get this
additional money for as many Offline Programming systems as possible because we don’t have a
lot of room for flexibility on pricing (more on this below).
We don’t have a lot of room for flexibility on pricing.
The more advanced we make the ProtoTRAK, the more we face the reality that software is
expensive. It is expensive in two ways:
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We are obliged to buy expensive licenses for much of the software in order to obtain the
sophisticated tools our customers need to keep pace with technology. Therefore, we have
very tight agreements with the licensor that oblige us to pay a fee for every time we sell a
product that uses that software.
Our own software development (to make even advanced capability “ProtoTRAK easy”)
is very time-consuming and quite speculative. That means that some of the most
expensive people we have will spend their time on things that cannot ever be billed.
Such is the world of R&D. When it comes to paying expensive people, we must be
disciplined about our billing or we will be in the deadly trap of doing things because they
are “good” instead of doing things that people will pay for. Many a great company has
fallen into this trap, but we will not.
Flexibility with Votechs
Even though we don’t have a lot of room for flexibility on pricing, we will continue to support
the vital Votech and University applications with our policy of deep discounts in Software
products. Unfortunately, we will not be able to maintain our previous level, but we will still
extend an exceptionally deep 80% discount on all Software products (not just the new ones, all.)
Sales training schedule
We plan to organize a series of web seminars to train the use of the Parasolid Converter and
Verify. These will take place in mid-December.
How we will market
In order to get the Parasolid Converter into the market as quickly as possible, we will soon
organize email campaigns for current SMX and SLX users. These campaigns will begin very
early in 2013. As part of the campaign, customers will be able to follow links in the email to see
an online demo and a process to order the Parasolid Converter online.
The web information regarding the Advanced Features Option will be updated to demonstrate
the new Verify option.
Upgrades to Demo
Software upgrades for Demo units will be available in the middle of December. Watch the news
items for the announcement.