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Discusses factors hindering interoperability in the computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided modeling (CAM) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) software industry. Benefits of open source, in which the source code of the application is provided; Profitability of the file formats business; How reverse engineering is a testament to engineering persistence and the driving desire for open standards.

Discusses the designing of finite element analysis (FEA) models. Triangles versus quads; Production of eight-node hex elements of more accurate and faster FEA results; Modeling with tetrahedrons and hexahedron. INSET: Untitled (Houdini software package)..

The article discusses that finite element analysis (FEA) software answers questions about the effects of stress, fluid flow, heat transfer, electrical fields, magnetics, vibrations, and acoustic forces, among other environmental forces. It used to be that only multidegreed analysts working with minicomputers, mainframes, or supercomputers could do FEA. It was a specialty that often required months to complete. Even today, in some companies, designers have to throw their analysis requests "over the wall" to a stress guru and wait three months or longer for results.