CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
29 June 2004
Product News
New Geomagic eShell Cuts Sculpting Time by 33%
Raindrop Geomagic has released a new version of its Geomagic eShell software that cuts sculpting time for customized hearing instrument shells by 33 percent or more.
"We've seen a reduction of anywhere from 33 percent to about 50 percent for operators," says Russ Schreiner, project director for GN ReSound, a Geomagic eShell user and early adopter of version 6. "It is allowing us to meet production demand with less head count. One person can multitask, handling both sculpting and machine operations in some cases."
Geomagic eShell version 6 combines configuration management, shell design and quality inspection in one simple package. It is compatible with all 3D hardware appliances used to capture data and fabricate shells. The standard software approach lowers customers' initial and recurring technology costs.
Binaural sculpting - the ability to simultaneously sculpt both the left and right sides of a shell - is the key factor in the increased speed of Geomagic eShell 6. Binaural sculpting automatically transfers commands from the primary shell to the second shell, and allows automatic modification by the user. This not only increases production speed, it helps maintain consistency among sculptors working at different locations.
Further speeding production is the ability to import a "virtual faceplate" containing the geometric definition for electronic components. Components are placed in the shell to avoid interference; the faceplate is then merged into the shell. When the shell is printed, the components can be plugged easily into the base, eliminating the need for a traditional faceplate.
On the front end of Geomagic eShell 6 is a new order configuration module that enables specific order parameters to be defined before shell design, further automating the sculpting process and reducing design time. Based on the information in the order configuration, electronic components and faceplates are automatically imported for placement during sculpting. This reduces operator error according to Schreiner.
Other new features in Geomagic eShell include:
• receiver placement simulation with interference checking
• concurrent measure and offset of selected regions
• automatic location of cut plane when trimming the model
• trench and step vent creation
• vent definition within sculpting commands to enable simultaneous interference checking
• predefined canal tip profiles
• loading and saving of configuration settings
"This is an extremely stable release of the most complete and reasonably priced software package in the hearing aid marketplace," says Schreiner. Geomagic eShell 6 is available immediately. For more information, visit the Raindrop Geomagic web site: http://www.geomagic.com
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