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CANON'S
CANOBEAM DT-130 HELPS STRATASYS
CREATE THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
Free-Space Optics Ensures Reliable Networking
for Rapid Prototyping Business
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Nov. 1, 2004 — It sounds
like science fiction, but it's not. A person at a
computer draws a 3D object, presses a button, and
a special machine turns that design into an actual
solid item. That machine is called a Rapid Prototyping
System, and it's made by Stratasys Inc., of Eden Prairie,
Minnesota. And when this high-tech leader recently
expanded to a third building they chose Canon's Canobeam
DT-130 Free Space Optics Transceiver System to ensure
that design files sent across their computer network
always result in precision-made prototypes.
"We have a Canon Canobeam connection to a building
we recently opened three-quarters of a mile away across
a four-lane highway," explained Steve Glennon,
Stratasys system administrator. "The four-lane
highway ruled out a fiber link, but line-of-sight
Free Space Optics was the perfect solution."
Stratasys' rapid prototyping systems
enable engineers in high-tech industries such as aerospace
and automotive to turn their computer designs into
precision models that can be tested for form, fit,
and function throughout the product-development process.
Stratasys' need to internally network large amounts
of computer-design data among its three buildings
in addition to its own day-to-day IT requirements
necessitated study into the best options for a high-speed
data link.
"We brought in Technology Management
Corporation, a Sherwood, Minnesota consulting firm,"
Glennon recalled. "They did a study of what we
needed, and presented us with a report on the best
methods of connecting the buildings. They analyzed
our options and costs, including initial versus long-term.
These options included a high-speed radio link, a
high-speed data line leased from the phone company,
and a Free-Space Optical connection. Looking at the
return on investment versus performance for these
options, Free-Space Optical was the clear winner.
It had a return on investment of about a year, so
it was ideal for us."
Once it was clear that Free-Space Optics
was the best solution, the next task was to choose
which brand.
"We chose Canon's Canobeam for
its active optical (Auto-Tracking) connection,"
Glennon revealed. "The problem with most Free
Space Optical systems is that the beam spreads; the
more distant the connection, the wider it gets. Normally
the way to handle that or to handle movement and alignment
issues is to let the beam spread and take a loss in
power, which usually limits the distance that the
buildings can be separated.
"What Canon added to the equation
is their optical expertise. Canobeam has an active
system that aims the beam precisely and spreads it
less. This enables Canobeam to handle movement between
the buildings as well as vibrations and all the things
that a high-precision laser is possibly affected by.
After all, you've got this beam precisely aimed while
cars and trucks are rumbling by, people are walking
around inside the building, and heating & cooling
systems are functioning. All of that can be enough
to throw a laser beam off. But Canobeam can handle
a much tighter-focus beam and optically correct the
aiming while it's in use. We need networking to our
third building to be reliable, and Canobeam provides
that. We also installed a back-up T-1 connection,
but we prefer Canobeam's optical connection for its
higher speed.
"At three-quarters of a mile we
were right at the limit that Canon specifies Free
Space Optical for," Glennon added. "But
we're seeing very high-quality signal strength at
that distance. And although we were most concerned
about fog-the bane of optical connections-I checked
the reading on a recent foggy morning and found that
the signal strength dropped only about 40 percent,
which is very good and sufficient to run the connection
channel at full speed."
Now in its latest generation, the Canobeam
DT-100 series is a proven, reliable, and versatile
solution for low-cost, high-security, high-speed data-transmission
networking at up to 2km (1.24 miles) at 1.25 Gbps
(Gigabits per second). All models in the Canobeam
DT-100 series employ Canon's Automatic Tracking Function
to maintain beam alignment and compensate for vibrations
in the installation base due to temperature, weather,
and other factors. Canobeam systems are protocol-independent
(like fiber), require no radio-frequency permits or
licenses, and are highly secure. Canobeam users include
a wide range of business, government, and educational
institutions.
"We're happy with the job Technology
Management Corporation did, we're happy with the installer,
Peter Schoon of System Support Solutions (Orono, Minnesota),
but we're especially happy with Canobeam," Glennon
concluded.
About Stratasys: Stratasys, Inc. (Nasdaq:
SSYS) is a leading manufacturer of rapid prototyping
and rapid manufacturing systems for automotive, aerospace,
industrial, recreational, electronic, medical, and
consumer product OEMs. Using patented Fused Deposition
Modeling and PolyJet rapid prototyping processes,
Stratasys RP systems create precision three-dimensional
prototyping parts directly from 3D CAD systems for
use in testing form, fit, and function throughout
the design and development process. Stratasys systems
allow design engineers to model highly complex geometries
from high-performance plastics-right from their workstation
or network. These systems require no chemical post
processing, special venting, or facility modification.
For more information, visit www.stratasys.com.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A.,
Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and
industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed
as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America,
and is ranked #35 on the Business Week list of "Top
100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ)
is a top patent-holder of technology, ranking second
overall in the U.S. in 2003, with global revenues
of $29.9 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.
All referenced product names, and other marks, are
trademarks of their respective owners.
EDITORS Please note corporate contact
information for this division:
For more information, please call Canon Broadcast
and Communications Division at 1-800-321-4388 or visit
www.canonbroadcast.com.
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