Working in cooperation with the French company, TFTLabs SAS, OPEN MIND Technologies AG has developed a CAD conversion interface that converts CATIA V5 data to hyperCAD®-S data both quickly and flexibly. The new CAD conversion portal is especially designed for users who only need to transfer models occasionally and companies that are not yet in a position to assess their future conversion volume. The interface is a ‘Service-on-Demand’ that is called only when it is actually required. Costs are therefore only incurred when the service is used and users are charged on an appealing pay-per-use basis.

The conversion portal is fast and simple to use. Clicking the ‘CAD Conversion Portal’ tab in hyperCAD®-S opens a menu window for selecting the CATIA V5 models. Before the model data is converted the user is shown a 3D preview. If everything is correct, the conversion can start. The data is immediately available for processing in hyperCAD®-S. The interface is a cloud service that downloads the conversion software. This means that the actual transfer of data always takes place on the user’s local computer. The user can be certain that no CAD models are transferred. In addition, the web-based ‘Transfer-on-Demand’ always ensures that the latest conversion software is used.

“There is always enormous pressure to adapt CAD data conversion software. Our new on-demand interface allows us to offer hyperCAD®-S users, who only need to convert CATIA V5 models occasionally, a flexible solution with no up-front licensing costs,” explains Hagen Rühlich, Technical Director at OPEN MIND. And François Chrétien, Chief Scientist at TFTLabs SAS, adds: “We are pleased to have been able to convince OPEN MIND – one of the world’s leading CAM/CAD manufacturers – of the benefits of our ‘Open 3D solution for the Web’. OPEN MIND can rely on our over 20 years of experience in the area of interoperability.” The partners’ plan for the future is to expand their offering and support other CAD formats in addition to CATIA V5.

FARO Technologies, Inc., the world’s most trusted source for 3D measurement, imaging and realization technology, announces the release of FARO® CAM2® Measure 10.5, its latest software for the FaroArm®, FARO® Laser ScanArm® and FARO® Laser Tracker.

CAM2 Measure 10.5 leads the market with its capability to connect multiple 3D measurement devices, within the same coordinate system, and simultaneously scan into a single seat of software on one computer. This capability allows users to seamlessly scan large objects with higher speed and precise accuracy in order to complete 3D scanning jobs faster. “The new CAM2 Measure 10.5 provides significant advancements that support our customers’ needs to measure faster and more efficiently with improved ease-of-use,” stated Kathleen J. Hall, Senior Vice President and Managing Director – Americas.

Significant advancements to Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) functionality provide users with streamlined analysis and visual reporting.  A part inspection can now be displayed just like a print to easily visualize and determine part quality. This enhanced functionality eliminates the need to look at each feature in sequence to make the same determination.

Workflow efficiencies are maximized with the ability to automate repeat inspections by programing data analysis to automatically occur after the measurements are taken. This new capability reduces required training time, significantly reduces the risk of operator error, and accelerates job completion times. Additional enhancements include expanded point cloud capacity and the ability to easily scan trimmed edges.  Users are now able to collect over 20 times more data than our previous versions while maintaining accelerated processing speed. New capabilities also allow trimmed edges on materials such as sheet metal to be easily scanned, essentially eliminating the need to collect hard-probed measurements on part edges. “The capability to connect multiple devices for simultaneous 3D scanning, automating repeat inspections, and enhanced GD&T functionality represent major advancements in our metrology software.  We are excited to launch this new release, and further enable our customers to use our world-class products to drive productivity gains,” Ms. Hall concluded.

ZW3D, one of the world’s leading suppliers of advanced CAD/CAM solutions for the manufacturing industry, announced that it has been selected by Able Tech industries Ltd. (Able Tech) for improving the efficiency of precision mold making. Able Tech, a Hong Kong invested enterprise, specializes in mold making, plastic part injection and secondary processing. 85% of their clients are from Japan and Japanese enterprises in China, like Panasonic, DAKIN, Canon and Sony etc.

The Need

Able Tech focuses on precision mold making and invests heavily on their overall production lines. To maximize flexible capital operation and enlarge their market share, they needed a fully functional 3D CAD platform for designing high-tech craft of molds at affordable prices.

The Solution

Having advantages in price and function, ZW3D was finally chosen by Able Tech to be fully applied in the enterprise, tremendously alleviating the pressure of finance and strengthening the flexibility of procurement.

“ZW3D has many unexpected functional advantages such as unique hybrid modeling which can flexibly realize the interchange between solid and surface. The proper price greatly eases our company’s internal financial pressure. The price of foreign software is five times that of ZW3D. Moreover, local services can quickly respond to our requirements, and give sufficient technology supports as well as training services,” said Mr. Huang, IT Manager at Able Tech. Plus, with the powerful data interface and repair capacity, ZW3D is able to collaborate with the former 2D design software. Besides, the direct edit function makes modification more flexible and convenient, shortening the products’ design cycle immensely. Huang added,“In the future, we would very much like to be in close contact and progress together with ZW3D.”

Delcam will launch the 2016 version of its PowerMILL programming software for five-axis and high-speed machining at the Manufacturing & Engineering North East exhibition to be held at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, on 8th and 9th July.

The main enhancement in PowerMILL 2016 will be the ability to mirror complete machining projects in one operation and to maintain automatically the machining characteristics, for example to choose automatically whether climb or conventional milling should be used. Previously, only individual toolpaths could be mirrored.

Automatic mirroring will save considerable time whenever right- and left-hand versions are needed of a part or tool. It will also be faster to program the machining of symmetrical objects since it will be possible to program one half and then mirror the toolpaths to complete the program.

To ensure that the mirroring has performed as expected, the new option will be able to be used with the ability, introduced in PowerMILL 2015 R2, to undertake complete verification of a project for machine-tool issues such as collisions. Comprehensive verification can be performed, including ensuring that the machine tool is capable of running the mirrored toolpaths, as well as checking for both machine-tool collisions and tooling collisions.

PowerMILL 2015 R2 also saw the introduction of the ability to simulate machine-tool movements as tool changes are executed. The capability has been enhanced in the 2016 release by allowing more complex tool changes to be simulated, in particular those involving a carousel mechanism.

Other improvements to simulation in PowerMILL 2016 include a new form to print out the position of the cutting-tool tip during simulation, an auto-translucency option that will allow viewing of the table attach point at all times and the ability to draw translucently the safe areas for rapid moves.

Development work has continued on the optional modules for PowerMILL as well as to the main program. In particular, a new, more efficient strategy to machine single blades has been developed for the Blades, Blisks & Impellors module, and a constant-Z machining option has been added to the module for programming the machining of ribs into tooling.

At its Mulhouse plant in Alsace, PSA Peugeot Citroën depends on hyperMILL®, a CAM/CAD system from OPEN MIND Technologies AG. The car manufacturer produces aluminium moulds and tools for forging and thermoforming at the plant. Since introducing hyperMILL®, PSA has benefited from the numerous options for automation offered by NC programming.

In the past, PSA employees had to write their own macros if they wanted to make it easier to program recurring geometric shapes. The macros were time-consuming to maintain, and constantly had to be adapted to new software versions. In the search for new CAM software, hyperMILL® stood out as the obvious choice because it offers numerous options for automated programming; intelligent macros are just one example. Today, the software is being used in all areas.

“hyperMILL® is a forward-looking solution offering innovative technologies for 2D, 3D, HSC, mill/turn and 5x machining. We were impressed by its intuitive user interface, its simple and transparent management of complex processes and its straightforward way of including user-defined macro instructions and maintaining them in later versions,” reports Laurent Sifferlen, who is responsible for tool and CAD/CAM quality in the PSA workgroup.

Serge Locher, a programmer at PSA, explains: “We were able to automate the transfer of CAD models from CATIA, and discovered in the process that we were able to eliminate all of the sources of errors that can arise during automation, for example during drilling. We could reuse our macro instructions for drilling or machining work and use them to create new instructions directly in hyperMILL®.”

Roughing with hyperMAXX®

The PSA plant in Mulhouse employs hyperMAXX®, a high-performance cutting module. Fully integrated into hyperMILL®, this roughing module ensures optimal milling paths and maximum material removal. It translates into time savings of roughly 30 per cent for PSA, while also drastically reducing wear and tear on tools.

5ME brings its cryogenic machining technology and productivity-boosting software solutions to AeroDef 2015 in Dallas, TX. The exhibit  will demonstrate how the advantages of cryogenic machining technology – including faster processing speeds, longer tool life and increased part quality – optimize productivity, cost and resource control to produce higher quality parts with shorter delivery times and lower environmental impact.
“Cryogenic machining is particularly suited to the processing of tough materials like hardened/stainless/alloy steels, Inconel and composites, which are all commonly used in aerospace part production,” said Pete Tecos, Executive Vice President of 5ME. “Its sustainability advantages include the elimination of coolants and associated equipment, no need to wash chips, reduced energy costs, and no fumes, mist, or slip hazards – all of which contribute to a safer, more healthy work environment. It is a data-driven process because we can monitor temperature, flow rates, speeds/feeds, tool life, removal rates and energy consumption to enable greener, cleaner and more profitable production.”
The AeroDef exhibit will also feature new software solutions from 5ME. The new Freedom eLOGTM Dashboards module allows users to create personalized views of shop floor asset data, while e$CORETM – a new report that provides a monetized version of manufacturing performance based on the six span-time categories as defined by the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT). Part of the company’s Freedom eLog software suite, e$CORE provides full transparency into manufacturing gains or losses in terms of dollars, putting the amount of money being saved or wasted in the manufacturing plant at management’s fingertips.
A new hardware module, the Freedom Digital Interface (FDI) with integral MTConnect, allows shops with legacy equipment to monitor machine tool performance using the company’s Freedom eLOG, or other MTConnect monitoring software.
Freedom eLOG automatically extracts critical manufacturing data to produce web-based reports and analytics on asset utilization, availability, performance, quality and OEE. It is brand, asset and process agnostic and is MTConnect-compliant. The software integrates seamlessly with ERP, MES, Maintenance and Quality business systems and can be accessed anytime via smartphone or tablet device. “Customers using Freedom eLOG have reported productivity improvements of up to 50 percent,” added Tecos. “The software provides real-time monitoring and analysis, machine diagnostics, and a comprehensive array of manufacturing metrics.”
5ME provides asset monitoring and manufacturing efficiency software, cryogenic machining systems for any brand machine tool, application engineering as well as tooling and coolant solutions.