And they don't have to download it to their own computers. For instance, in May, Moldflow of Lexington, Mass., a maker of plastics analysis software, put up a Web site that provides access to iMPA, an electronic version of the company's plastics flow analysis program. The program is hosted on Moldflow's server, which users tap into via the Internet. Plastics analysis has been within financial reach for large companies, but many medium-size and small companies can't afford to purchase the software needed to analyze CAD solid models of plastic parts, said Ken Welch, Moldflow's vice president of marketing. And last February, MSC Software, which is in Costa Mesa, Calif., introduced e.visualNastran, an Internet-based version of the company's FEA program, which lets users perform integrated dynamic motion and FEA simulations on design assemblies.
Users go to the company's Web site, where they subscribe to the software.
Also making use of the Internet, Howards' consulting company, 3dShapes, offers a secure Web site, where engineers can go to see a working analysis they've asked 3dShapes to perform. This allows Howards' customers to see their analysis in an interactive manner and gain a quick understanding of results. They also receive a written report on those results, he added. It seems kind of foolish, when you have the ability to allow people to see things live. Immediate access to results cuts the time spent waiting for the printed version.