A review by Dr. Joel Orr

Most engineering design is non-deterministic. That means we do not have a set of equations into which we plug our specifications, and out of which pops an optimal design. Rather, we must iterate through a process of trial and error - build a prototype, try it out until it breaks, make changes, and do it again. We continue in this process until we reach the desired specifications - or until we run out of time or money.

It would be nice if we had a tool that could show us something of the behavior of our proposed product at a very early point in the design process. That would help us avoid design dead-ends, and minimize the time-to-market of the product.

This brings us to GrafiCalc. It lets users do their "trial and error" quickly, in a place in which errors are inexpensive. And it enables them to pin down product performance very early in the design cycle.

Roughly, here are the steps for attacking a design challenge with GrafiCalc:

1. Sketch geometry within GrafiCalc or import it from CAD.
2. Constrain the geometry with rules and calculations.
3. Graphically change the geometry and note the resultant numerical and geometric changes, or numerically specify design goals and see the exact geometry "backsolved", automatically.

The seamless bi-directional linking of geometry and calculations in GrafiCalc flexible models allow users to experience instantaneous decision-support feedback while receiving solutions. The main challenge in using this software is in understanding its full power.

GrafiCalc is a powerful design tool. Its price is low enough so as to be almost irrelevant.

Dr. Orr is the most influential CAD industry visionary in the USA. He has served as senior advisor to Autodesk and Bentley Systems, while providing strategic technology consulting services to the Fortune 100 companies. Dr. Orr is currently serving as the Chief Visionary for Cyon Research Group in the USA.