New design solution reduces development time

The machine tools industry is a vital sector in the Middle East. Machine tools, which cut and form metal, are essential for producing the technologies required in the construction and infrastructure industries. The current design process in the machinery industry is challenging, with loose connections between the different design disciplines (mechanical, electrical, and software). These disciplines do not integrate well with each other until the end of the design process when design changes are more costly, both in money and time. There is no "common" language between the mechanical, electrical and software design disciplines. A systems design approach, especially at the beginning of the design process (at the concept stage) could address these issues. In addition, due to the complexity of machine designs, it is difficult to simulate machines, evaluate design concepts, and find design problems early in the process. This means that machine designers cannot easily get the information they need to support their decision-making. Siemens PLM Software announced Mechatronics Concept Designer an integrated machine design solution for companies that develop and market machine tools and production machines. Mechatronics Concept Designer represents a paradigm shift for the industry with a new systems engineering approach to machine design that captures "voice of the customer" input, manages early requirements and facilitates the simultaneous definition and simulation of the complex mechanical, electrical and automation software found in today's increasingly complex machine tools. With an easy-to-use, interactive simulation capability based on groundbreaking "gaming" technology, Mechatronics Concept Designer can help significantly reduce development time and improve product quality for the global machine design industry. According to Siemens PLM Software, the rationale behind the strategic move is part of a strategy to step by step extend to other industries. Machine Tools and Production Machines are a big joint market of the SIEMENS Motion Control business and SIEMENS PLM. So here, the company has seen the highest potential to create synergies between this two business units and bring together Automation and PLM expertise. "So we create highest value for our customers," said Siemens PLM. "The importance of Mechatronics Concept Designer in the Middle East is that new tools like MCD helps companies in the machine tool and production machine area not only get ahead of their competitors but also become more innovative addressing many potential issues very early in the design process," said Siemens PLM Software. Mechatronics Concept Designer is based on Siemens PLM Software's computer-aided design application NX software and works in conjunction with its Teamcenter software. Integrated end-to-end systems engineering approach The development process in the machine tool industry requires experts from several different disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, and software design, to develop a complex machine to the specific requirements of each individual customer. Traditional software tools don't take requirements into account, and the lack of a "common language" has made it difficult for these disciplines to integrate with each other until the end of the design process when changes are more costly, both in time and money. This fragmented set of design applications combined with the complexity of the machines, has made it virtually impossible to simulate and evaluate various design concepts to support rapid and effective product development decision making. Siemens PLM Software's Mechatronics Concept Designer enables mechanical, electrical, and software/automation disciplines to work in parallel. It includes all the powerful mechanical deMercurial Victory CR7 Low