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MATERIALISE MIMICS SOFTWARE TO SUPPORT ABAQUS
01 December 2004 - Materialise NV
| Materialise has joined the Abaqus Partner Program. Abaqus is a leading provider of advanced finite element analysis (FEA) software, technology and services. |
Materialise, a company specialising in software development for rapid prototyping and industrial design applications, has joined the Abaqus Partner Program. Abaqus is a leading provider of advanced finite element analysis (FEA) software, technology and services. Through membership in the Program, Materialise has developed a new interface for its Mimics software; Abaqus FEA models can be seamlessly created from scanned images from Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) devices, dramatically shortening the time to create accurate models for biomedical engineering and design. Materialise is active in a broad range of markets, excelling in its rapid prototyping services in the medical arena. It has a specialised medical division producing software packages including an interface called Mimics, which allows CT and MRI scans, for example, to be rigorously analysed via advanced three-dimensional image processing tools.
MR and CT imaging equipment are being increasingly used within hospitals. Scanning applications include medical diagnosis and the planning of subsequent treatment, both surgical and pharmaceutical. The anatomical data is typically displayed either as a series of 2D slices, or with Mimics as additional software, as a 3D computer graphic. Mimics is a fully integrated, user-friendly 3D image processing and editing software that translates the CT or MRI data into 3D CAD, FEA or Rapid Prototyping (STL) data formats, facilitating the rapid development of products such as implants, aiding planning and design, and subsequent surgical implantation. With its FEA Module, Mimics offers a direct link from scanned images to Finite Element Analysis model data by exporting the files in the appropriate file format. 3D objects are calculated based on the scanned images and finite element meshes can be generated. The Remesher in the Mimics FEA Module assures that one ends up with the most optimal input for the FEA package. Materials can be assigned to the volumetric meshes, based on the Hounsfield Units in the scanned images. The combination of Mimics and Abaqus provides an excellent solution for predicting the effect of mechanical impacts and loadings, conducting thermal simulations of anatomy, and performing virtual prototyping of medical devices with no risk to subjects.
Technical CT scanners are also often used within automotive and aeronautic industries as non-destructive quality technology, as well as for reverse engineering applications. Mimics and Abaqus can be used to create FEA models and perform appropriate simulations.
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About: Materialise NV
Begun as a joint venture with the University of Leuven-Belgium, Materialise was one of the first European rapid prototyping service bureaus. It has since grown into a European supplier of plastic prototype solutions, and today is a worldwide leader in the rapid prototyping industry. Materialise offers a broad range of rapid prototyping, tooling and digital CAD software. In addition, Materialise prototypes and software have established a reputation in medicine and dentistry, with clinicians the world over using them in the most complex surgical cases. Its design products division concentrates on the development of rapid manufacturing. The company is privately owned with several subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and the USA, and employs over 300 people in its 4 divisions.* Materialise Industrial Services to "materialise" technical prototypes and small series through the most advanced prototyping and tooling techniques.
* Materialise Software to develop the technical software applications that allow a more efficient use of the rapid prototyping techniques.
* Materialise Medical to create medical models using these prototyping techniques and to develop medical software packages that are used by clinicians worldwide to assist them in the most complex cases of surgery.
* Materialise.MGX to manufacture design products for the end-user market. MGX is the youngest division and it draws on the knowledge and expertise of the prototyping division. |
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• For December 2004
• From Materialise NV
• For Rapid Prototyping (Software)
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