Mech. Design at Mach Speed CAD by function.

Designing a mechanical system is simple -- you take your idea and convert it to shapes and objects. Using software, the illustration can then be "run" in animation or tested with other software tools like FEA.

MechSoft-Profi, on the other hand, uses a different approach. If the intent is to draw a gear, not only does the program ask for pitch, number of teeth and tooth width, but it also requests parameters such as input power, speed, gear material or allowable stress, lubrication conditions and more. The program then calculates the complete gear design based on standard engineering formulas. If power or speed requirements change, the engineer can return to the component, identify the parameter change, and the software then updates everything. The list of objects that can be designed by this means includes gears, chains, v-belts, timing belts, ball and roller bearings, cams, shafts, bolted connections, welding, soldering, shafting, splines, crimped joints, keyways, press fits and various styles of springs. There is a complete standard component library that includes bushings, spacers, threaded fasteners, flanges, gearbox casings, levers, pipe and tube fittings, and a full range of structural steel shapes and rolle d section profiles. If the power input is changed for a gearbox system designed in MechSoft-Profi, for example, the program will make optimization recommendations through the entire gearbox, then redraw the new system.

Originally produced by CAdis, a Czech company, and distributed by MechSoft.com, Inc., Austin, TX, the software also performs beam strength calculations and 2D finite element stress analysis, plus packs a sheet metal unfolder, tolerance study module, 2D drawing setup and configuration tools, a layer manager and a project database manager. Designed objects can be stored as Mechanical Desktop models, standard R14 ACIS models or directly as 2D drafting views. Programs that MechSoft-Profi integrates with include Solid Edge, SolidWorks, Desktop 4.0, and AutoCAD 2000 and LT 2000.