Mathcad 6.0 is the newest release of PTC’s engineering calculations software for engineers. The release is meant to help improve your productivity and overall usability to make your job easier every day when it comes to math notations in product development.

This new version has adapted to the feedback of legacy Mathcad 15 users who were missing a few functionalities with the switch over to Mathcad Prime. PTC still plans on releasing a new version of the Mathcad software every year with technology updates and the newest functionalities. Learn more on our PTC Mathcad webpage.

Let’s see what’s in store for Mathcad 6.0.

Mathcad 6.0 New Functionalities Include:

Mathcad 6.0 Improvements Include:

New Symbolics Engine

The legacy version of the symbolics engine will remain in the Mathcad 6.0 version and (eventually) in the Mathcad 7.0 version so that customers can use it along with the new symbolics engine. The legacy symbolics engine will stay for these two releases so that users can get used to the newer version while still working on worksheets made from older versions they’ve used. Once Mathcad 8.0 is released, the legacy symbolics engine will go away and the new symbolics engine from the Mathcad 6.0 version will be the new norm.

To learn more in-depth on why there is a new symbolics engine in Mathcad 6.0, read our blog called, What’s with the new symbolic engine in Mathcad 6.0?

Documentation Enhancements

There are no more limitations with custom sizes! Left and right margin dimensions can be custom set as well as header and footer dimensions. There is now a legacy margin setting you can convert to in the new worksheets, so if you’ve created worksheets in Mathcad 15 (or older versions), you can now match the dimensions that you’re building in Prime to be the same as those you used to build out.

Essentially if you have a large company logo and you need a larger header or if you would like the smallest margins possible to fit the most you can on your worksheet – then you can do these things with the new settings.

Productivity Enhancements

Mathcad has added the ability to spellcheck to accurately document the worksheet along with your math notations. Spell check can be turned on or off for the entire worksheet as well as be customized to your language (or keyboard language) setting. The optimal platform to use the spell check on would be Windows 10 and .Net Framework because developers of Mathcad work with Microsoft to add this ability.

You can add words, ignore words, and to change the proofing language to the dictionary settings. Mathcad 6.0 allows you to add two different proofing languages – for example you can add U.S. English and U.K. English which would allow you to write in both dialects with no underlined errors.

You now also have the ability to add hyperlinks to any text region whether it’s a raw URL, text, webpage, mail client (pre-populated email), or file location.

Usability Enhancements

You can now use find/replace to find/replace subscript independently of the identifier. Parts of identifiers that are not subscripts can also be found/replaced if ‘Match Whole Word’ is de-selected. The new API command ‘Save As’ allows worksheets to be programmatically saved in a number of different formats. Print options have also been expanded to allow selection and page range printing.

ChartApp Enhancements

The image in ChartApp can now be saved as a .PNG file to embed it in another application, more chart templates with pre-defined settings have been added, and users can now zoom in and out of the plot display within the ChartApp. The ChartApp Help can now be accessed directly from the ChartApp window for easier access.

Use PTC Mathcad for your engineering calculations

If you haven’t used Mathcad yet and you need to use it to test out the functionality of the product before purchase you can download the latest version with Mathcad Express. (What’s the difference between Mathcad Express and Mathcad Prime?)

If you’re already using Mathcad and just would like a quick overview of the new functionalities and improvements in Mathcad Prime 6.0, you can download the datasheet.

If you’re ready to purchase the Mathcad Prime software to use right away in your engineering calculations, you can purchase by filling out our contact form or calling us at 1-888-225-7579.

Now more than ever, product design and manufacturing teams are expected to create efficient, cost-effective products, without sacrificing innovation or quality.

That’s why so many organizations use the 3D CAD software known as PTC Creo Parametric to accelerate the design of parts and assemblies. Working with many product development organizations, we know that not every product is made equal.

The purpose this EAC Creo Clip is to show PTC Creo users, like you, functionality and capabilities you might not know about. Short clips, useful features, better designs – It’s that simple.

Fortunately, Creo delivers the most scalable range of 3D CAD product development packages and tools in today’s market.

In this Creo clip, we talk about how to check design interferences with Creo Parametric 5.0. We talk about how you may be able to skip the full interference check if you are looking to do a very quick analysis for interferences in specific areas of your models. Learn why, in some situations, the sectioning tool might be the best option.

Why are we talking about finding interferences with Creo’s sectioning tool? Most people are familiar with finding interferences in their models by using global interference checks, which is a great tool. Unfortunately, with larger models, it can take some time to run and it might not pinpoint the interferences that you are looking for.

Watch this short EAC Creo Clip that demonstrates how to find interferences in models using the Creo Parametric sectioning tool.

Here’s why every manufacturing company should be considering product lifecycle management applications.

Expand PLM software usage throughout your enterprise with PLM apps

Let’s face it, no company uses a single product data management system (PDM) or a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system for ALL of its organization’s needs.

Your organization likely uses an abundance of different technology software to collect and store data. These technologies can include customer relationship management (CRM) systems, quality management system (QMS) software, enterprise relationship planning (ERP) systems, application lifecycle management (ALM) systems, and so many more.

If your organization currently uses a PLM system, odds are you most likely paid a pretty penny for it. So why not make the most of that product lifecycle system investment and use your system’s complete functionality?!

Product lifecycle applications support, enable, and enhance the value and footprint of PLM software. PLM Apps go a long away to assist and ensure consistent access to up-to-date product data. They can help expand controlled access to valuable content and give functional groups a single simplified view of files, data, and content all within a single browser-accessible screen.

You’re going to want to invest in these kinds of advanced technology solutions that simplify data gathering processes and expand the value of your PLM investment. PLM apps are meant to help you find data easier which reduces user frustration and helps take productivity to new levels within your organization.

PLM applications, also referred to as PLM system plugins, deliver on the dreams of many organizations. They are a simple solution that drastically increases enterprise PLM usage.

PLM apps integrate siloed data from disparate systems

With the use of multiple complex enterprise systems, your organization’s data is most likely held captive in siloed systems. Many PLM applications help connect these disjointed enterprise systems using common application programming interface (API) connection abilities.

PLM apps simply pull data from other enterprise systems into a new user-interface through API integrations. They don’t rely on interface features from other enterprise platforms or systems (besides the data and information they extract), therefore, they are less likely to be affected by a new release of the underlying enterprise systems!

PLM apps simplify searches for the occasional PLM software user

PLM apps change the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of your PLM system so that it’s easier to use. This can be useful for occasional or novice users who can feel overwhelmed by the complexity of their PLM system compared to those that use their PLM system on a daily basis.

PLM applications offer user-friendly interfaces that simplify the complexity of PLM systems and make it easier to search, find, locate, and understand product information. In fact, many of these tools even allow organizations to adjust settings for specific users (such as purchasing, marketing, accounting, etc.) so they can access the direct information they need.

PLM apps Many customers we work with use complex product lifecycle management systems such as PTC Windchill or Siemens Teamcenter. Due to the robust capabilities of these enterprise systems (and other PLM systems), many users find product data hard to navigate – especially if they aren’t daily users within these systems.

PLM apps speed up product development processes by providing users with complete access to real-time complex enterprise data.

Product lifecycle applications really do make PLM easier – see it for yourself by watching this short PLM applications video.

Customize PLM apps without disrupting your PLM software

PLM applications and system plugins offer simple and easy ways to customize enterprise product data systems. A PLM Administrator can customize the apps to conform to their company’s goals and prioritization of tasks without disrupting the PLM software itself.

Time after time, we see organizations add PLM customizations to their mainframe PLM software, only to wind up facing dozens of challenges as new system software versions get released. Because PLM apps are an extension of PLM software systems, they are minimally affected by upgraded software versions and updates (if at all).

PLM apps provide organizations with the ability to easily custom tailor simplified product lifecycle management interfaces or mashups. This functionality provides additional value and integration capabilities with other enterprise systems.

PLM Applications offer a brand-new UI for your intricate product data management system; enabling a fresh and simple user experience. They also have started to help organizations solve problems easier and faster with direct, accessible, and instantaneous insights from data.

Your systems are only as good as how you use them. If employees struggle to navigate your product lifecycle system interface, PLM apps are definitely something you should be looking into!

How PLM apps drive flexibility within your organization

PLM applications provide access to PLM information to employees outside of engineering such as marketing, sales, finances, and procurement.

Access to PLM system data provides another way for teams to identify the broad scale of their day to day activities and information. This can help teams understand and prioritize tasks to be more efficient and productive.

This flexibility allows teams to work the way they want. By enhancing a complex system and tailoring each end-user experience, it’s easy to see how these PLM system plug-ins can drastically improve productivity and drive value across an organization.

What is better than providing every department with product information that they want and need to do their job?!

Want to learn more about PLM Applications and how they could pair up with your current enterprise systems? Let’s have the conversation!

The Form Wash is designed for the Form 2 3D printer from Formlabs to automate the cleaning process between printing parts. It makes things much easier for engineers who don’t want to waste any time cleaning their prototypes so they can either use the Form 2 again for another print job or get back to their next project.

Washing printed parts before post-curing helps to remove excess residual resin from part surfaces and cavities. Formlabs suggests using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as the solvent that is most compatible with washing.

If you take a look at the image above, you can see that the left part is much cleaner and visually is more detailed than its counterpart. After using the Form Wash, you can typically use the Form Cure to expose printed parts to light and heat to stabilize the parts for performance. Using the Form Cure is not necessary but using the Form Wash and Form Cure together is recommended for optimal finishing.

Colder Products Company (CPC) has trusted EAC for years to provide them multiple Form 2 printers and other Formlabs equipment and materials to rapidly prototype customized quick disconnect couplings, fittings, and connectors for plastic tubing used around the globe. We answer a few questions that users have about the Form 2 and also include an engineer’s intake as well. Here is how Jeff Martin, an applications engineer at CPC, uses the Form Wash in-house to reduce time spent cleaning 3D printed parts.

How much time does it take for one wash?

Formlabs says that most resins require washing for the Form Wash default programmed time, which is 10 minutes – although additional time is needed for some resins. The following table shows Formlabs’ recommended wash times for each resin being used.

Jeff suggests that you should set your wash time at 20 minutes for each wash. He also recommends that it’s best to physically have 2 Form Washes in-house to speed up the cleaning process, “The first Form Wash set to 10 minutes to wash parts hanging from the build platform, and the second Form Wash is used to clean the parts broken free from supports.” (Keep in mind, he typically uses Rigid Resin for his 3D prints).

What’s the best way to wash prototypes?

If you’re using the Finishing Kit, Formlabs recommends that you should wash your prototypes in at least two standard wash tanks  – the first wash, being the ‘dirty’ wash, would take 10 minutes and then the second wash, using a cleaner tank, for another 10 minutes. Once the first tank gets dirty, you can dispose the IPA, transfer the second tank into the first tank, and then pour new alcohol into the second tank.

The Finishing Kit includes 2 wash tubs to manually clean your 3D prints – whereas the Form Wash automatically cleans your parts and prototypes. 

Jeff says the advantage of having a second Form Wash is that you can use Formlabs’ same theory of having a clean tank to do the final rinse. “I find it in my experience to be extremely useful to remove the supports for the second wash. The reason is that the supports block the fresh circulation of clean solvent from the parts. You will notice that for deep aspect bores and blind holes, if you do not remove the supports, they often times will not fully be cleaned of resin. After removing the supports and letting the parts bounce around in the basket during the last 10 minutes, they will always come out clean.”

Learn more FAQ by reading our related blog, “Everything You Need to Know About the Form 2 3D Printer.” If you’re interested in a free sample, then contact us at your earliest convenience. 

Also, follow me on LinkedIn for tips and tricks on how to use the Form 2 and other equipment and materials from Formlabs!