magnilux - Astronomy Technology Today

A 3D CAD PRIMER
That all changed dramatically when a
Russian immigrant and mathematics
genius, Samuel P. Geisberg, invented software
in 1985 that revolutionized engineering
design. They called the 3D solid
modeler Pro Engineer.
However, the computational power
needed to use that software was staggering
and hardly user friendly. It needed true
32-bit CPUs and 32-bit operating systems
like Silicon Graphics computers and
Unix, but when used effectively, not only
did they give us powerful engineering
models, but also dramatic visual effects
such as those George Lucas created in the
famous Star Wars epics.
It would take two more technology
breakthroughs, however, before the cost of
3D solid modelers would be brought
down to more acceptable levels. The first
was Bill Gates and his Windows
Operating System. The other was the
advent of Intel’s powerful Pentium series
processors. In 1995, those two advances
made possible the next forward leap in 3D
solid modelers: Solid Works and Solid
Edge. With these advances, one could buy
true 3D solid modelers, and the computer
to run them, for less than $5000 a seat.
To people accustomed to what was
charged for PC-based word processors
and spread sheets, that figure was staggering.
You have to remember, however, that
prior to that breakthrough it was not
uncommon for one fully-featured seat of
Pro Engineer and the requisite training for
several end users to cost as much as
$50,000!
In the years that have elapsed since,
Pro Engineer and SolidWorks have slugged
it out and while both programs have
evolved into powerful design environments,
they are not quite as easy to use as
was once made possible by the Windows
operating system. That, and the continued
high acquisition cost, have made
those programs unsuitable for most
ATMs. Unless there is a demonstrated
professional need for such software, there
was no way that the average amateur telescope
builder is going to justify spending
$5,000 so he can build a $1,000 telescope!
Enter the 20-80 rule
About 100 years ago Italian economist
Vilfredo Pareto discovered that 20
percent of something is often responsible
for 80 percent of the results. It became
known as “Pareto’s Principle” or “The
20/80 Rule.”
While Pareto was initially focused on
the distribution of wealth, it soon became
apparent that his formula accurately predicts
cause-and-effect relationships far
beyond his initial study and across a much
broader range of disciplines than just economics.
His concept that roughly 80 percent
of the effects come from 20 percent
of the causes dominates many aspects of
life to this very day, including the development
of software.
If designers use only 20 percent of the
available commands to develop an idea,
then find out what 20 percent they use,
they can eliminate the rest and charge less
58 Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY