I-DEAS Master Series 6 expands on the previous version's VGX technology, making assembly modeling easier.

An automotive outer body was designed using the I-DEAS Master Series.

In Master Series 5, VGX was expanded to include revolutionary process improvements in the way assemblies are modeled. Through these improvements, interacting with assemblies is comparable to the physical process, making I-DEAS assembly modeling even more intuitive and easier- to-use.

I-DEAS Master Series 6 (MS6) continues the expansion of VGX functionality with Variational Assemblies. This re-architecture of the assembly constraint capture mechanism makes assembly modeling even easier to use. VGX assembly constraints are graphically displayed. The symbols resize upon graphic redisplay, and highlighting a symbol with the cursor highlights the entities affected.

With the new VGX assembly constraints come significant enhancements to the relations browser in MS6. The first noticeable change is the graphic display of constraint, which includes associative copy relationships as well as pre-MS6 constraints.

I-DEAS provides concurrent associativity to all members of a product development team — even those from different disciplines — allowing them to remain connected throughout the development process and ensuring that only the latest, most up-to-date information is being used. The software provides libraries for checking in and out parts, assemblies, drawings, and features, while tracking versions and revisions. Team members can create, modify, manage, and share data quickly and efficiently, regardless of their physical location, with the Web-enabling tools provided.

The software's Team Data Manager not only facilitates data access and sharing by providing authorized team members with access to master model data, it also prevents uncontrolled part modification by various users. Data can also be seamlessly transitioned to the enterprise level via the direct I-DEAS/Metaphase interface. Through this interface, I-DEAS product data, as well as data from proprietary programs and other commercial systems, can be managed by SDRC's Metaphase Enterprise software.

Metaphase Enterprise is designed to support the complex, diverse, and changing information management needs. The software's distributed client/server architecture supports a variety of platforms and databases. This information management tool is comprised of the following modules:

•	Object Management Framework — This forms the foundation of the software's object-oriented architecture, providing transparent network-wide access to dispersed information resources via a graphical user interface and Web browser.
•	Life Cycle Manager — The module facilitates enterprise workflow and document routing.
•	Change Control Manager — It supports electronic release and change processes by capturing change proposals, work orders, and work instructions in electronic form and enabling them to be managed by Metaphase.
•	Product Structure Manager — The module provides users with the ability to create and manipulate engineering bills of materials.
•	Advanced Product Configurator — This extends the management configuration information throughout a product's life cycle to support views, effectivities, alternates, substitutes, and options.
•	Part Family Manager — It establishes a parts-classification capability that allows parts to be grouped according to user-designated families.
•	Integrator Toolkit — This solution enables Metaphase implementers to establish a development environment and take advantage of a comprehensive set of tools while adding custom functionality or creating interfaces to external applications.
•	Application Interfaces —These are available for Enterprise Resource Planing (ERP), CAD, ECAD, Configuration Management (CM), and related applications. They facilitate the integration of engineering and manufacturing information and extend the capabilities available through Metaphase Enterprise 3.0.

MS6 also contains new productivity-enhancing CAE capabilities for product simulation. With the new section meshing tools, engineers can easily analyze complex geometry from I-DEAS and other CAD systems without the time-consuming effort traditionally required to remove or suppress detailed product features. To analyze complex geometry, the engineer can place a virtual 'cargo net' over an entire geometric area that may contain multiple surfaces and features and, as the details of the design change, the analysis is fully associative and can be updated automatically.

A number of valuable CAM features have also been added to I-DEAS. The Generative Machining software includes a new flowline machining function, automated hole-making operations, more efficient volume clear, gap handling functions, greater control over toolpath connections, and four new entry and exit functions.

Product engineering and manufacturing are collaborative efforts that cross the organizational and often geographic boundaries. I-DEAS MS6 supports these complex environments through its master model software and integrated data management capabilities. This latest version enables manufacturing annotations to be added directly to the master model. Additionally, dimensions, annotations, and URL's are fully supported in VRML output to enable further OEM and supplier collaboration.