Cadnetix Corp has signed an OEM agreement with Sun Microsystems for a standard platform for users of its software who want to do more than just do printed circuit board design on thier workstations. The agreement is valued at $15m over the next 18 months: Cadnetix will buy complete workstations, with operating and communications software, add its complete line of CAE, CAD, and CAM software, and sell the things as integrated turnkey systems. Applications from Cadnetix include schematic capture, digital and analogue simulation, ASIC design, printed circuit board placement and routing, and manufacturing tools for fabrication, assembly and test interface. The Cadnetix/Sun workstation family will form the basis of the Concept 3 generation of integrated CAE/CAD/CAM tools. Concept 3 includes a new global co-ordinate database, a comprehensive set of new application tools and engines, and an open system architecture based on Unix, Ethernet and NFS. ATs are also an essential part of Concept 3. New applications available in Concept 3 include analogue simulation, flexible field routing, and high-frequency design. The new Cadnetix systems will initially be based on the Sun 3/60 colour workstation and two systems will be offered, the CDX9600 Series for CAE applications and the CDX56000S for CAD development. The CAD system adds Cadnetix’ 400,000 vector-per second graphics processor, designed specifically for circuit board designers. The CAE system will be available from November and the CAD from December. The systems have an entry-level price of UKP59,900. Separately Sun has signed a $25m OEM deal with Cimlinc Inc of Elk Grove, Illinois under which Cimlinc’s 32-bit CIM software will run on Sun technical workstations and networked systems. Under the OEM hardware agreement, Cimlinc will buy the Sun 3/60 desktop system and other workstations for turnkey resale with Cimlinc mechanical design, manufacturing, and information handling software packages. Cimlinc/Sun systems for manufacturing or intelligent documentation start at under $18,000. And Sun has also signed up Silicon Compiler Systems as an OEM customer: the company is in for about $3m of Sun workstations for software development and support.
Content from our partners
