Creo Parametric Tips

Nov 27, 2024

“Farmbot will be the best farmer for any crop and any location at any time of year” Welcome to the world of Farmbot where technology meets agriculture. Have you ever imagined what it would be like gardening without getting your boots stuck in the mud? Introducing…Farmbot! This robotic tech can plant, water and nurture your crops until harvest - all through the use of a savvy app - with just one click. In this episode, we’re in California to meet Rory Aronson, founder of Farmbot - who shares how this innovative device is reshaping the farming landscape. We get a demo of Farmbot, learn how open source tech is empowering users to create their own tools and hear how Rory wants the Farmbot to be the next must have home appliance. We also hear from Jon Hirschtick, who heads up PTC’s Onshape division and he explains the importance of Onshape and how Farmbot have benefitted from this software.

Apr 24, 2024

“If people could do more with their lives because they’re getting better sleep, that's hugely impactful.” Eight Sleep is at the forefront of transforming the way we rest - come on a journey with us as we delve into this new sleep technology with their latest innovation, the Pod 4 Ultra. The new AI generated mattress can regulate your temperature, detect and prevent snoring and, reminiscent of a reclining chair, it can adjust to alter your body position. In this episode, we’re taken on a tour of the Eight Sleep workshop space by technical program manager, Harry Xiao, who provides us with an insider's look into the innovative features of the Pod 4 Ultra. He guides us through the functionality of autopilot technology, explaining how it ensures a dreamy sleep environment tailored to individual preferences. We also learn about how important rest is in our day to day lives.

May 16, 2024

“The technology challenges we are facing as an industry are not so much how do we grow the size of turbines, but how do we increase their efficiency at their current size.” Wind power is playing a huge role in the global renewable energy landscape. In the United States, electricity generation from wind power is on course to potentially surpass coal-fired electricity generation by 2026. Across Europe, this is already the case, with electricity generation from wind exceeding coal for the first time in the region in Q4 2023*. Vestas Wind Systems, based in Denmark, are world leaders in wind turbines, they’ve installed more than any other company in the world. They have more than 40 years of experience in wind energy and were the first company to reach the 100 GW landmarks for both the installation and service of wind turbines. With higher than ever demand for wind energy, wind turbines are getting larger. However, that creates its own challenges, not least ensuring the whole supply chain stays sustainable. In this episode, we find out how Vestas is taking on that challenge through initiatives such as ensuring crucial components like blades are recyclable, or that wind turbine towers can be made using low-emission steel. Our producer Peter Nørgaard Mathiasen went to the Vestas headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark, to meet Pedro Pastilha, the Head of Onshore Product Management. He tells us more about the wind industry and the future of wind production.

Mar 11, 2024

Today, we're diving into the groundbreaking world of nano voxel, a company specializing in two photon polymerization, 3d printing technology, or in other words, 3d printing in miniature. They aim to transform micromanufacturing by replicating parts into silicon molds with unmatched precision. Our producer Aaron visited Nanovoxel's state of the art facilities to meet founder Domenico Foglia. Hear how their incredible feats of micromanufacturing can create a baby Yoda the size of a grain of sand, or an entire castle crafted on a pencil tip.

Sep 16, 2024

Dec 11, 2024

Jan 7, 2025

“What Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man sees, symbols overlaid on the real world, giving him all sorts of information in colour while he’s flying around at speed, that’s the kind of thing that Striker II does” When a fighter pilot is flying a high-speed jet, every second counts. In futuristic TV and movies we’ve got used to seeing pilots reading displays right in front of their eyes, think Iron Man and Top Gun. Well real life is catching up with the revolutionary Striker II Digital Helmet-Mounted Display made by BAE Systems. BAE Systems is one the world’s leading aerospace innovators but their history goes back a long way at their site in Rochester, England. Once a plant that built aircraft during WW2, it’s now the birthplace of augmented reality in aviation, shaping the future of both military and commercial aviation. Nigel Kidd, has worked on the groundbreaking technology that powers Striker II since its inception, Alongside him Paul Harrison, manages the flight simulation facility at Rochester, where they simulate various flight scenarios, from fast jets to commercial aircraft. They explain how Striker II integrates advanced technologies to reduce pilot stress and enhance safety, including a digital night vision that replaces bulky goggles and a potential 3D Audio system for spatial sound recognition.

Dec 6, 2023

“The genesis of Xenith was basically: there’s gotta be a better way.” Athletes who play American Football regularly face high-impact tackles, the force of which can feel like being hit by a baby whale. As more research is being done into the potential effects of repeated head trauma on an athlete’s health, there is a renewed focus on safety measures in the sport being driven from the top down by the NFL. Xenith was founded in 2006 by Vin Ferrara, who had played college football as a quarterback and was interested in creating a new game-changing type of helmet. Xenith’s unique approach is to use adaptive technology which allows the helmet to move independently to the athlete’s head on impact, protecting them from the majority of the force. Now, Xenith’s helmets are used across the globe and the company makes various different types of protective equipment including helmets, shoulder pads and core guards from their headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. In this episode Chief Engineer Ron Jadischke takes us around their HQ to demonstrate some of the impact testing performed on their new helmets and explain the technology “under the hood” of certain models. We also hear from Brian Thompson, who head’s up PTC’s CAD division, to talk about how PTC’s CREO technology can help Xenith find new ways to improve athlete safety.

Dec 5, 2023

Iconic British designer Dame Vivienne Westwood set up her fashion brand in the 1970s, reflecting the rebellious spirit of the era and embracing punk and counterculture. Its motto is “buy less, choose well, make it last.” We head to the Vivenne Westwood HQ in Milan to talk to meet Giorgio Ravasio, the brand’s Country Manager for Italy, he walks us around the shop floor of their flagship store and talks about how the company is embracing technology to stay at the forefront of a highly competitive fashion industry.

Jan 21, 2025

"Manufacturing is critical to our national security, our health and our ability to explore new worlds and advance the human condition… VulcanForms exists to move manufacturing forward and be a small piece, hopefully a very important piece, of that future.” VulcanForms is an MIT-born company that builds and operates advanced digital manufacturing infrastructure, founded in 2015. It’s named after Vulcan, the roman god of fire and metalworking. Why? Because the company has developed an innovative new way of manufacturing intricate metal parts on an industrial scale. They use metal additive manufacturing, a form of 3D printing to print engineered metal components that require precise designs and complex structures. This means they can have a production line that can at one time be making components for medical devices, then switch to making consumer electronics, and another week be making products for aviation, space exploration or the defence industry. What’s more this production line is quieter, cleaner and greener than ever more! Manufacturing components this way instead of the traditional method of forging them cuts down on costs and removes the need for a supply chain. In this episode, Co-Founder John Hart takes us around VulcanOne, VulcanForm’s Digital Design Lab in Massachusetts, to find out more We also hear from Brian Thompson at PTC, who tells us about how the 3D CAD software Creo helps the team at VulcanForms collaborate on their designs to perfect this alternative manufacturing process.

Dec 6, 2023

“We’re giving the opportunity for people to do a lot of technical work, that generally doesn't happen too often in Kenya” If you’ve been to East Africa you may be familiar with “boda bodas.” If not, they’re small taxi bikes, commonly used by couriers or to transport people. There are 1.2 million of them in Kenya alone, that’s a lot of combustion engines on the roads, and removing them is the problem that Roam Electric are helping to solve Roam was founded in 2017. They started out making electric safari vehicles (no surprise being located right on the edge of the national park) but they now aim to create an electric future for Africa by producing easy-to-use, affordable electric vehicles. As well as developing innovative electric buses as the country’s newest and greenest mass transit solution, they also build an electric motorcycle called the Roam Air, primarily targeted at boda boda riders. In this episode we head to Nairobi to visit Roam’s HQ to meet Masa Kituyi and Dennis Wakaba who show us round the shop floor, take a spin on a Roam Air and hear how the technology and design behind these motorcycles is the future of mobility in Africa. The other fascinating aspect of this story is the positive impact that the company is having locally. The workforce is 39% female and they’re a success story in talent development in Kenya. We also hear from Jon Hirschtick at PTC, who tells us about how the Onshape software helps the whole team at Roam collaborate seamlessly in the design process and management of the whole manufacturing journey.

Dec 6, 2023

“How can we make this so it physically works, but also how can we make it so that it looks amazing as well?” From James Bond to Mission Impossible to The Great Escape, chances are you have probably seen a Triumph motorcycle on the silver screen. Triumph’s most famous bikes are probably their iconic 1960s Bonneville range, but they make a wide range of classic, urban and adventure bikes, and also supply engines for racing bikes, with some models having even broken land- speed records. The company was founded in 1902 and they currently sell around 100,000 bikes each year all around the world. The sleek design which made the 1960s models so famous is very important to the brand, but they also need to include all of the modern hardware that today’s consumers expect, from cruise control to infotainment. Our producer Helen visited Triumph’s headquarters in Hinckley to meet Chief Design Office Geoff Hurst. He showed her around their offices and the on-site Visitor Centre, and explained how clever design is required for their contemporary bikes to maintain all the style of their 1960s models, but include all of the technological advances of the 2020s. We also hear from Mark Lobo at PTC, who tells us about how the Windchill software is ideal for automotive and motorcycle manufacturing companies like Triumph who value quality and attention to detail.

Dec 6, 2023

“We are on the brink of a robotic revolution. In a few years it will be possible to have a robot that is a reasonable member of a family or household” The dream of robotics is to take on the mundane tasks of everyday life, so we can focus on what’s most important to us. With developments in artificial intelligence happening at such a rapid pace, that future is drawing ever closer. So what’s needed to bring AI and robotics together in a way that’s truly transformational for humanity? When will we have our own Rosie The Robot from the Jetsons? IT solutions company isento is opening robotics up to everybody with pib - their printable intelligent bot. Pib is a 3D printed robot with a humanoid face, moving arms and a torso - but the hope is that one day it’ll be so much more. We meet the visionary behind pib and CEO of isento Jürgen Baier. In this episode he explores the features of pib, and how he’s enlisting the help of the global community to achieve isento’s bold ambitions for the project. We also hear from Jon Hirschtick, who heads up PTC’s Onshape division. He explains the benefits of Onshape’s ease of use technology in Isento’s mission to make pib accessible to all.

Nov 30, 2023

“They wanted to prototype technologies for telexistence… so it’s essentially where you have a remote operator… controlling a robotic autonomous system.” If you are injured in a disaster zone, it is critical that you receive medical care as urgently as possible. But what if the environment is not safe for medics to enter? Either because it is a war zone or because there are hazardous materials around. That’s where AMRC’s VR technology can help. The Advanced Medical Robotics Centre at the University of Sheffield, UK has created pioneering robotics technology to get medics into difficult-to-access areas to triage patients. Using medical telexistence (MediTel) technology, medics can operate a remote controlled robot to reach the patients, and wear a virtual reality headset which places them in that environment. The robots are equipped with medical devices which allow the medics to carry out checks including taking the patient's pulse, administering pain relief and palpitating their abdomen. Meanwhile the headset is so realistic that it feels like the user is there on the ground, with the view from the robot moving in real time as they move their heads. AMRC is hoping to use this technology in the next 1-2 years to save lives in dangerous environments. In this episode we head to Sheffield to visit AMRC’s Digital Design Lab to meet David King, who demonstrates how realistic their MediTel VR technology is.

Dec 6, 2023

“There’s nothing really else out there that compares to this…. It’s the closest to real life you can get without actually going out on track in a car.“ Imagine being able to race round all the world’s top Formula One circuits and feel every bump and bit of understeer without actually having to travel anywhere. Or to be able to test drive a road car that hasn’t been built yet on the motorway. Dynisma creates driving simulators that make this possible. Founded by ex-F1 engineer Ash Warne, Dynisma develops incredibly realistic driving simulators for both motorsport teams and the car industry. What sets their simulators apart though is how quickly they respond, in milliseconds, so drivers feel like they’re driving a real car. Our host (and motor racing fan) Paul Haimes joined Ash in Dynisma’s office in Somerset to learn more about how they build state of the art simulators - and to have a test drive in their flagship DMG-1 model simulator. Paul drives the DMG-1 around the famous Spa Francorchamps F1 circuit, guided around by junior Aston Martin driver Tom Canning, to feel the responsiveness and realism of the simulator. Ash also takes us around their manufacturing site to see the simulators in construction, and tells us about how incredibly accurate simulators can help motorsport teams and manufacturers cut down on travel and plan for a greener future. We also hear from Jon Hirschtick at PTC, who tells us about how OnShape’s cloud-based system can help Dynisma engineers to be more collaborative and get to the cutting edge of simulation.

Dec 6, 2023

“We’re using the eye as a window to the health of the body. We’re developing solutions to some of humanity’s greatest healthcare challenges.” Our eyes contain a vast amount of information about our health, but they’re an untapped resource. Assessing the eye requires contact, and that can be uncomfortable and unsafe, so it’s often avoided. That’s why Occuity’s technology is game-changing. Their contactless handheld devices not only unlock the full power of the eye and open up a world of healthcare opportunities, but they’re also so easy to use that patients can assess themselves. In this episode we meet Occuity’s head of marketing Richard Kadri-Langford, and design engineer Jamie Serjeant. They take us on a tour of Occuity’s HQ in Reading in the UK, to learn about two of their devices, the PM1 Pachymeter and their non-invasive glucose metre Indigo. We even get a peak behind the scenes in the ‘Midnight Room’, their secret development lab. We also hear from Jon Hirschtick who explains how Occuity uses PTC’s PTC’s CAD solution Onshape to create the intricate and visually striking designs they pride themselves on.

Dec 4, 2023

“This, as an innovation… something people thought was impossible. It really changes the game in how we deliver radiotherapy to cancer patients.” Fighting cancer is not an easy task. Each body responds differently and each tumor is unique - so treatment must be personalized and precise. But, as companies like Elekta push forward advancements in the field, cancer care is becoming more targeted and effective than ever before. Elekta is a company creating cutting-edge linear accelerators, devices that deliver life-saving radiation therapy. In this episode we meet Chris Gilpin, Chris Flint and Mark Range at the company’s HQ in the UK. Find out how radiation therapy works, and why it’s playing an increasingly important role in cancer prevention. Get up close with the machines and take a tour through the factory to see how they’re built. And learn how Elekta’s IntelliMax system is bringing radiotherapy to underserved and remote countries all over the world.

Nov 30, 2023

“Imagination is one of the most profound human qualities. Every great achievement in human history has started as a work of imagination.” Beginning life as a passion project, Genesis Custom Sabers has since grown into Rob Petkau’s full time job. From cobbled together ‘junk sabers’ to immaculately crafted illuminated swords, Rob has honed his craft over the years, and now places only the highest quality sabers in the hands of wannabe Jedis. In this episode Rob explores the evolution of his designs, and how advances in technology have allowed him to create perfectly custom fit blades. He explains how he creates and designs the sound fonts that bring the sabers to life. And he discusses the immense appreciation he has for his fans, some who treat their sabers as ‘shelf queens’, and others, like Jimmy, who test (and break) them in combat.

Nov 30, 2023

“We believe that Africa shouldn’t be trailing behind the developing world in green initiatives, but that actually Africa is primed to lead the drive to green initiatives.” Around the world, over 3 billion people don’t have access to motorised transport. This means that farmers in emerging economies can struggle to get their produce to market. They might have to carry heavy loads long distances, or pay to rent a bike which isn’t suited to dangerous roads, all because they can’t afford to buy a truck. OxDelivers is working to change all this by allowing farmers to rent space in their electric OxTrucks. As the farmers are only paying for the space they need, the system remains affordable and allows them to take more goods to market and make more profit. The OxDelivers system is currently operating in Rwanda, but they aim to expand to other emerging markets. The OxTrucks have been designed to be durable enough to negotiate the hilly Rwandan roads, and fully electric to keep costs down and to be less polluting. Our producer Helen visited their HQ in Leamington Spa in the UK to find out more about how OxDelivers are constantly innovating and improving their trucks to give the best possible service to their customers. We also hear from Jon Hirschtick at PTC, who tells us about how OnShape’s cloud-based system can suit a small start-up like OxDelivers and help their engineers to work collaboratively with their office in Rwanda.

Dec 6, 2023

“The project has definitely made me more curious about all the kinds of subjects I had to delve into for the project… also resilience, I think, is a big part of it.“ Education is vital for inspiring the engineers of tomorrow. In this special episode of the podcast we ask: are we encouraging enough young people to go into engineering to meet the demand for innovation? We speak to Jordan Cox from PTC’s Education segment about the importance of inspiring the next generation to study STEM subjects, and how the company is supporting academia in creating the engineers of the future. We also head to Germany to meet Steve Sandhoop, a high school student at the Gymnasium in den Filder Benden, who is living proof that giving students access to technology to get involved in engineering can yield great results. Steve created a robot arm designed to carry out knee surgery as part of his final project at school. Not content with just building the robot, he also created an accurate life-size model of a human knee for it to operate on. He 3D printed all parts of his robot arm and the model knee in the school “fab lab” (short for fabrication lab) and consulted with a surgeon to make the model anatomically correct. Steve designed the robotic arm in PTC’s Onshape CAD software. We hear about how the project has ignited an interest in engineering and software for Steve and how vital it was for him to have the tools and support provided for him by his school.

Dec 5, 2023

Creo Parametric Tips

51 - NASA’s Next Giant Leap: The Tech Behind the Artemis Mission

Episode 37 - Farmbot: A journey into digital gardening

Episode 38 - Eight Sleep: The Tech Unlocking a Better Night’s Sleep

Episode 32 - Vestas: How large can wind turbines get, and is bigger always better?

Episode 42 - NanoVoxel: Taking tiny 3D printing to the next level

52 - Energyminer: Transforming Rivers Into Renewable Energy Sources

53 - The Future of Gifts: The Cutting-edge Gifts You Could Be Giving in 2025

Episode 27 - BAE Systems: Vision of the Future for Fighter Pilots

Episode 17 - Xenith: Football helmet technology that is changing the game for athletes

54 - Vivienne Westwood: Where Punk Spirit Meets Cutting-Edge Technology

Episode 26 - VulcanForms: Laser Focused on the Production Line of the Future

Episode 24 - Roam: Electrifying Africa’s Mobility

Episode 23 - Triumph: Iconic Motorcycles Which Were the Choice of Steve McQueen and James Bond

Episode 10 - isento GmbH: A Robot for Every Household

Episode 25 - AMRC: The Robots Saving Lives in Danger Zones

Episode 21 - Dynisma: The Ultra-realistic Driving Simulators Training F1’s Biggest Stars

Episode 11 - Occuity: The Future of Health Lies Behind Our Eyes

Episode 4 - Elekta: Connecting the World to Fight Cancer

Episode 2 - Genesis Custom Sabers: Handcrafted Lightsabers for Real Life Jedis

Episode 22 - OX Delivers: The World’s First Clean-transport Ecosystem Transforming Lives in Rwanda

Episode 19 - Education in Engineering: The Student Who Built a Surgical Robot Arm

Creo Tips and Techniques Webcast Series (West)

Creo Tips & Techniques Webcast Series (East)