RS Components Brings 3D Design Capability to all Engineers with DesignSpark Mechanical

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RS Components Brings 3D Design Capability to all Engineers with DesignSpark Mechanical

OXFORD, England, September 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

           Free, fast and intuitive design software opens up new possibilities for

                  engineers from concept design through to manufacturing

    RS Components (RS) and Allied Electronics (Allied), the trading brands of
Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the world's leading high service distributor of
electronics and maintenance products, today announced a significant development in the
history of 3D design software with the launch of DesignSpark Mechanical, a new 3D solid
modelling and assembly tool that is available to all - totally free of charge.

    Developed in conjunction with SpaceClaim, the leading provider of flexible and
affordable 3D modelling software for engineers, the new easy-to-use DesignSpark Mechanical
will bring major benefits to design engineers around the world and is available in
multiple languages. It is a significant step in the evolution of the DesignSpark online
resource hub for the engineering community.

    The availability of DesignSpark Mechanical overcomes the two major barriers to entry
faced by potential users who do not currently have access to a 3D design solution, but who
could benefit enormously from the use of 3D modelling to quickly develop sophisticated
concepts and products. These impediments are the prohibitive costs and the considerable
investment in learning time associated with traditional 3D CAD tools. Not only is
DesignSpark Mechanical free, its simplicity of use means that engineers and others
involved in product development can become fully conversant with the software within
minutes, rather than the weeks or months required to become skilled with traditional 3D
CAD tools.

    "The launch of DesignSpark Mechanical is the first time a 3D design tool with this
level of sophistication has been made freely available. Engineers will love using
modelling software that is so intuitive and flexible," said Glenn Jarrett, Global Head of
Product Marketing at RS Components. "The use of DesignSpark Mechanical early in the design
cycle can eliminate much of the time-consuming rework associated with traditional product
development processes. This is a highly significant initiative that helps engineers to
bring innovative products to market quickly, and DesignSpark Mechanical's STL output
format enables direct export of designs to 3D printers."

    With access to more than 38,000 3D models in the extensive DesignSpark online
component library, DesignSpark Mechanical gives all engineers the ability to rapidly
undertake an end-to-end design with professional-grade modelling tools that are at zero
cost. RS and Allied have also collaborated with world-leading 3D content company
TraceParts to provide access to millions of models from the online tracepartsonline.net
CAD portal in DesignSpark Mechanical format.

    "Allied and RS are partnering with SpaceClaim to launch DesignSpark Mechanical, which
combines the power and ease-of-use of direct modelling technology from SpaceClaim with
access to the massive library of standard parts from RS and Allied, trusted by millions of
engineers around the world," said Rich Moore, vice president of business development for
SpaceClaim. "Feature-based CAD is more difficult to learn and with DesignSpark Mechanical,
users can rapidly create 3D models to accelerate engineering design and improve their
competitive advantage."

    The active base of 3D CAD seats globally is currently estimated at approximately 1.5
million. However, it is also estimated that there are an additional 20 million engineers
globally who do not currently use 3D CAD, but could significantly benefit from a tool such
as DesignSpark Mechanical. It will not only enable design engineers to be more creative,
but will also support a more efficient product development process, allowing the
production of professional concepts right through to delivering highly detailed and
dimensioned manufacturing blueprints.

    DesignSpark Mechanical employs a powerful methodology called 'direct modelling', which
is very different from traditional feature- or parametric-based 3D CAD software. The tool
uses simple gestures that enable real-time editing and instant feedback, making it
possible for engineers and others to create geometry and easily explore ideas and product
concepts in 3D. All basic designs can be achieved quickly and easily via the use of the
software's four basic tools - Pull, Move, Fill and Combine - in addition to its employment
of familiar Windows keyboard shortcuts such as cut/paste, undo/redo, which makes it highly
intuitive for new users.

    The software can also be used as a complementary 3D tool in the product development
process for the creation of early concept designs, for instance, alongside 3D CAD tools
that are already in use today. The tool can remove bottlenecks in the early design process
by allowing changes and additions in seconds, rather than having to wait for the CAD
department using the traditional 3D tools to rework the design.

    3D designs can also be exported in STL, the standard file format to enable rapid
prototyping builds and computer-aided manufacturing, in addition to providing the ability
to quickly obtain Bill-of-Materials (BOM) quotes via the RS and Allied websites. The tool
can also import circuit layout files in IDF format from any PCB design tool, including the
award-winning DesignSpark PCB software.

    DesignSpark Mechanical is available for free download from
http://www.designspark.com/mechanical. Access further information at
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=press&file 13/16-09-designspark-mechanical
. Support can be found on the DesignSpark community at!
_http://www.designspark.com.

    About RS Components

    RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc,
the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products. With
operations in 32 countries, we offer more than 550,000 products through the internet,
catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping around 44,000
parcels a day. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include electronics,
automation and control, test and measurement, electrical and mechanical components.

    Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial
year ended 31 March 2013 had revenues of GBP1.24bn.

    For more information, please visit the website at http://www.rs-components.com.

    Further information is available via these links:

    Twitter: @RSElectronics; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS

    RS Components on Linkedin

    http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components

    Relevant Links:

    Electrocomponents plc [http://www.electrocomponents.com ]

    http://www.electrocomponents.com

    RS Components [http://www.rs-components.com ]

    http://www.rs-components.com

    DesignSpark

    http://www.designspark.com

RS Components

CONTACT: Editorial Contact: Lisa Townsend, PR Manager - EMEA, RS Components, lisa.townsend@rs-components.com, +44(0)1536-209026; PR Agency Contact: Janice Fenton, Account Director, Publitek Technology PR, janice.fenton@publitek.com, +44(0)1225-470000; Joanne Youson, Global Product Marketing PR Manager, RS Components, joanne.youson@rs-components.com, +44(0)1536-405752

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