Adra Systems receives patent for QuickDim, an intelligent feature of Cadra Design Drafting CAD software; QuickDim halves the time spent sizing complex parts for manufacturing.

CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 1996--Adra Systems, Inc., creator of advanced CAD/CAM and PDM software solutions for the business and manufacturing sectors, announced that it received last week a patent from the U.S. Department of Commerce Patent and Trademark Office for QuickDim, a feature of the Design Drafting module that is part of the company's Cadra CAD/CAM/CAE suite. QuickDim speeds the dimensioning of mechanical parts, which is a process that specifies the size of designed parts so that they are accurately manufactured.

QuickDim speeds the dimensioning process by automatically deciding whether to insert horizontal, vertical, angular, radial, diameter or parallel dimensions, based on the geometry being dimensioned and the position of the cursor relative to the geometry. Without QuickDim, engineers tediously move back and forth between menu picks and geometry selections before arriving at a dimension. QuickDim allows engineers to pick a geometry, position their cursors and have the system figure out the distance from, for example, a hole to the top of a plate, or the distance along the face of the plate. QuickDim saves time dimensioning even simple parts, like a bracket or a box. The feature, however, saves significant time with complex parts, like motors and pumps, which have many surfaces, cuts, holes, bolts, heights and angles.

"For a complex part, QuickDim can easily save engineers 50 percent of the time they would otherwise spend picking menu items," said Steve Meier, manager, manufacturing engineering, inspection and machining at John Crane Company, Morton Grove, Ill. "The feature intuitively determines the dimension required for the part with minimal menu picks."

"We knew QuickDim was a great feature, but we are proud that our pioneering technology has been recognized as worthy of a patent," explained Ralph Mayer, vice president of technical marketing for Adra.

QuickDim has been a feature of Cadra Design Drafting since version 9.1. The feature was conceived by Adra Application Engineer Rene LoNegro in France and engineered at Adra headquarters. Mayer explained that Adra is interested in re-licensing the patented technology to other CAD/CAM vendors. The patent was issued August 20.

ABOUT CADRA DESIGN DRAFTING

Cadra Design Drafting is Adra's superior CAD solution for two- and three-dimensional drafting. Considered to be one of the fastest and easiest-to-use systems on the market, Cadra Design Drafting brings the drafting board to the computer screen and thereby offers a natural transition for classically trained draftsmen. The product can produce detail, layout, and assembly drawings; generate multiview projections, including isometrics and auxiliary; and create technical illustrations.

ABOUT ADRA SYSTEMS

Adra Systems, Inc., based in Chelmsford, Mass., is dedicated to providing an information infrastructure for integrating people, information and business processes. Adra creates next-generation distributed information and process-management applications for managing and navigating through complex data and organizations. Adra's flagship product, Matrix, is an object-oriented product data management system focused on information lifecycle management. Additionally, Adra offers five CAD/CAM/CAE software solutions under the Cadra trade name: Cadra Design Drafting, Cadra Solids, Cadra NC, Cadra E and Cadra DM.

Adra serves some 1,600 customers in 20 countries, among them AT&T, Fujitsu, General Electric, Goodyear, Hyundai, Motorola, Polaroid, Toshiba, TRW, Volkswagen and Westinghouse. Information on Adra and its products is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.adra.com. -0-

Cadra is a registered trademark of Adra Systems, Inc. Cadra Design Drafting, Cadra Solids, Cadra DM and Cadra NC are trademarks of Adra Systems, Inc. All other brand names are recognized as trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Adra Systems, Inc.

Mark O'Connell or Ralph Mayer

508/937-3700

http://www.adra.com

or

Schwartz Communications

David Close or Christine Gannon

617/431-0770