News & Events
Press Releases : September 8, 2004

KUBOTEK PARTNERS WITH NORTHWOOD DESIGNS TO ENHANCE TOOLPATH FUNCTIONS
Northwood Designs' MetaCut Utilities Now Shipping with KeyCreator 3.0.2

Marlboro, MA - September 8, 2004 - Kubotek USA today announced it has signed an OEM deal with Northwood Designs, to embed portions of its MetaCut Utilities 3.0 (MCU) as the engine behind Toolpath Verification features in Kubotek's widely used KeyCreator modeling and machining software. Additionally, a 30-day trial version of the full MetaCut Utilities will ship with KeyCreator 3.0.2 this month.

Kubotek's KeyCreator, the evolution of CADKEY, is a leading solution for the design, development and tooling process of award-winning products. The innovative solution uses Kubotek's geometry-based approach to design and manufacturing and is particularly adept at working with 3D and solids.

"KeyCreator helps design engineers develop innovative products for today's competitive market," said Robert Bean, chief operating officer, Kubotek USA. "But design is only one aspect of the manufacturing process - in the end; manufacturability is a determining factor of success. By adding MetaCut Utilities to KeyCreator, we are making it easier for our customers to not only design creatively, but also manufacture products competitively."

The new Toolpath Verification functions in KeyCreator 3.0.2 can automatically transfer selected stock, toolpaths, and tools to the MetaCut Utilities interface for detailed analysis. MetaCut Utilities enable toolpath functions to verify, graphically edit, backplot, analyze, problem solve, revision control, reverse post to DXF files and DNC send and receive. MetaCut Utilities offers a best-in-class feature set for easier and more rapid creation of toolpaths throughout the manufacturing process.

"The tight integration of KeyCreator and MetaCut Utilities Verification engine gives Kubotek customers an exceptionally fast and informative verification of their toolpaths," said Bill Elliott, president and CEO, Northwood Designs. "With the addition of the direct link to the stand-alone G-Code version of MCU, customers have inexpensive and painless access to the most complete set of G-Code utilities available at any price."

As part of the agreement between the two companies, Northwood Designs becomes a Kubotek Integrated Technology Partner. Kubotek Integrated Technology Partners offer technology that is integrated into KeyCreator and enhance the value to the customer.

For information on joining the Kubotek Partner Program, please contact: partners@kubotekusa.com.

About KeyCreator
Kubotek's KeyCreator builds on the heritage of CADKEY, the first true 3D MCAD software for the desktop. KeyCreator combines both the latest in geometry-based design and modeling technology, and a legacy of success in helping customers in the design of tooling, complex machinery, fixtures, molds, dies in a multitude of product development industries including automotive, aerospace, heavy equipment, sports equipment, medical device, and many more.

The KeyCreator creation engineering product line includes multidimensional design and drafting, NC programming and reverse engineering capabilities. The rapidly expanding product line features the company's unique geometry-based foundation with localized feature editing and sophisticated deformation techniques. These capabilities are particularly useful for design teams working with advanced designs of solid models because KeyCreator blends surface, solids and wireframe modeling, allowing easy modification and editing functionality.

Learn more about KeyCreator
The "CADKEY Evolution Tour," a series of free half-day events, is designed to introduce CADKEY customers to KeyCreator design and manufacturing software -- the evolution of CADKEY -- and demonstrate its ease-of-use. Registration for specific dates is available online at www.kubotekusa.com/roadshow. Attendees will receive a free trial-version of the software and will also be registered to win an HP Pavilion notebook PC at each event.

About Kubotek
Kubotek USA, Inc., headquartered in Marlborough, MA, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kubotek Corporation. Kubotek USA develops and manufactures KeyCreator software (formerly CADKEY) and is responsible for sales, marketing, distribution and support for the Americas, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. More than 20,000 global customers use Kubotek design and manufacturing software.

Kubotek Corporation was founded in 1985 in Osaka, Japan, and has been publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since 2001. Kubotek Corporation is a worldwide leader in creation engineering - the development of technologies for modeling, measuring and machining in industrial businesses large and small.

Visit Kubotek at: www.kubotekusa.com.

Editorial Note: Images available

Kubotek, KeyCreator, and CADKEY are registered trademarks or trademarks of Kubotek Corporation. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.