VSA-GDT/PRO AND VSA-3D/PRO SOFTWARE PROVIDES FEATURE BASED 3D TOLERANCE
ANALYSIS FOR PRO/E USERS

(St. Clair Shores, Michigan -- February 17, 1995) Variation Systems
Analysis, Inc. has announced the release of software that provides new
feature-based 3-D tolerance analysis capabilities to users of Pro/ENGINEER
CAD software. One module, VSA-GDT/Pro, extracts features and tolerances
from the Pro/ENGINEER model, analyzes the tolerancing scheme and guides
the user to correct any errors at the component level. Another module,
VSA-3D/Pro, performs a complete 3-D tolerance analysis based on the
fabrication of each part, assembly sequence and methods, and inspection of
the final assembly. VSA-3D/Pro predicts the variation (both statistically
and worst-case) and ranks the contributors to this variation. These
analyses identify variation problems prior to the prototype stage and help
to solve them by allowing the user to quickly change design parameters and
view the results.

VSA-GDT/Pro is completely integrated with Pro/E so that all program
functions are accessed through Pro/E-like menu selections to minimize
training requirements. The program uses a math rule base derived from
ANSI/ISO Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing standards to analyze the
tolerance scheme and produces warning messages if a geometric feature is:
1) not fully constrained in form, orientation, location and size
(underconstrained); 2) controlled by multiple, redundant feature control
frames (overconstrained); 3) related to other features through a complex
or non-unique path, and 4) controlled by a feature control frame that is
not syntactically correct according to the standard. All warning and error
messages can be customized to fit the user's company standards. Since
VSA-GDT/Pro is integrated with Pro/E, any changes made in dimensions,
tolerance values or tolerance types are automatically updated and
analyzed.

Benefits derived from using the software include: 1) Improved
communication, since the entire product development team can automatically
check Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) schemes against the
same standard rule base; 2) Decreased GD&T education time and cost as a
result of the software's consistent interpretation of GD&T through well
documented math rules; 3) Improved quality due to the software's ability
to ensure that dimensional requirements are clearly, correctly, and
unambiguously defined, and 4) Reduced product development time and cost as
a result of improved communications between development disciplines,
unambiguous interpretation of GD&T standards, heightened GD&T expertise
levels, and reduced manual design checking requirements.

Another result of the VSA-GDT/Pro analysis is a product data model that
contains all features and tolerances required for simulated or real
manufacture of the part including datums and tolerances.

The VSA-3D/Pro program then lets the user define assembly requirements,
attachment methods, fixturing and assembly sequence to perform a 3-D
tolerance analysis. The VSA-GDT/Pro model provides the component tolerance
information. The program uses statistical methods to predict the amount of
variation that can occur in an assembly due to all sources of variation.
Additionally, the program determines contributing factors and the percent
of contribution of each factor. The 3-D assembly model is feature based,
meaning that variation is associated not to individual points but rather
to features in the CAD model which considerably simplifies results
interpretation. VSA-GDT/Pro and VSA-3D/Pro sell for a combined package
cost of $13,500 and currently run on Silicon Graphics, Hewlett Packard and
Sun Unix workstations. Networked licensing is available.

VARIATION SYSTEMS ANALYSIS, INC.
300 MAPLE PARK BLVD.
ST.CLAIR SHORES, Ml 48081
PHONE: 810-774-2640
FAX: 810-778-6470

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