Release Date: 14th June 2005

Icona Solutions announces aesthetica™ v2.0

Latest version of company's unique manufacturing variation simulation and visualisation software introduces major enhancements.

Manchester, UK. 14 June, 2005. - Icona Solutions Limited, the developer of the aestheticaT software solution for visually simulating the effects of component variation, assembly variation and component deformation in automotive assemblies, has announced the availability of aestheticaT version 2.0. The software enables engineers to visualise the impact of predicted production variations on aesthetic quality in order to quickly resolve fit and finish quality issues as early as possible in the design process.

Major new features in version 2.0 include:

• Full compliance with the ASME Y14.5 GD&T standard, including powerful new methods for the visual simulation of form and profile variation on component geometry;
• Improved automatic mesh generation system for accurate representation of complex shapes, with a full range of mesh import and export options;
• Improved constraint engine incorporating "best fit" algorithms for loose assemblies and "optimal fit" solutions for over-constrained systems, employing advanced kinematic analysis techniques;
• Fully integrated support for advanced hardware shaders and multiple light sources, enabling interactive photo-realistic visualisation of aesthetic issues;
• Enhanced support for data exchange with popular solid and surface modeling CAD software products, including support for bill of materials (BoM) and nested product assembly structures.

"With these enhancements aesthetica™ now presents engineers with unrivalled capabilities for conducting optical quality reviews", said Dr. John Maxfield, technical director, Icona Solutions. "The unique coupling of advanced visualisation with the simulation of variation based on ASME Y14.5-compliant GD&T control frames enables engineers to confidently predict and verify the aesthetic integrity of a new product while taking account of the complex stack up of component and assembly variation and part flexibility".

"In addition, the improved data exchange capabilities allow our customers to save even more time, by reducing the amount of data that needs to be entered manually and by enabling visual and numerical output to be easily shared across departments and suppliers", he added.

aesthetica™ version 2.0 is available now. Existing customers of version 1.2 with a current technical support contract will receive a free upgrade to version 2.0.

About Icona Solutions

Founded in 2003, Icona Solutions developed from pioneering work undertaken at the School of Computing, University of Leeds in the UK as part of a government funded (EPSRC) project. The application of Icona's aesthetica™ software enables designers and engineers to simulate the effect of manufacturing variation realistically on a virtual prototype so that aesthetic review can be undertaken on the virtual model. This reduces physical prototyping or expensive post-production re-design. aesthetica software can be used at many stages in the design process, in place of physical prototypes, thereby reducing cost and improving efficiency.

Editorial contacts:
John Maxfield
Tel: +44 (0)1706 629882; e-mail: john.maxfield@iconasolutions.com
Neil McLeod
Tel: +44 (0)1666 504293; e-mail: neilmcleod@btopenworld.com