Archive for the ‘CAD Software’ Category

LOS ANGELES, CA , Jan 25, 2008 – Westec 2008 features the unveiling of two major developments in CNC Software’s Mastercam CAD/CAM software. Attendees will get the first look at Mastercam’s new Feature Based Machining (FBM) as well as the Mastercam for SolidWorks add-in. Both will showcased in booth # 3258 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA on March 31 – April 3.

Feature-Based Machining (FBM)

Mastercam’s new Feature-Based Machining automates the machining process. This offers shops dramatic speed improvements and allows for great reductions in programming time. Mastercam’s FBM will automatically evaluate the part and program pockets, contours, bosses, and drilling routines with minimal user input. New users to Mastercam will be machining 2D solid parts sooner thanks to FBM’s ease of use and short learning curve.

Mastercam for SolidWorks

Mastercam for SolidWorks is fully integrated CAM that runs seamlessly in SolidWorks. SolidWorks users can now program their parts directly within SolidWorks using Mastercam’s industry-leading toolpaths and machining strategies.

Mastercam’s latest release, X2MR2 will also be demonstrated in the booth. Stop by to learn about the Mastercam X2 features including: -

• The new Peel Milling toolpath moves the tool in and “peels” away material, layer by layer.
• The Operations Manager pane can now float to a different area of the graphics window or to a separate screen when you are working with dual monitors.
• The Create Boundary function greatly expands Mastercam’s toolpath boundary creation, restricting the toolpaths to highly specific areas.
• Many powerful multi-axis enhancements are included in the advanced multi-axis toolpaths.
• Common edge optimization in nesting is now supported.

About Mastercam

Developed by CNC Software, Inc., Mastercam is Windows-based CAD/CAM software for 2- through 5-axis milling and turning; 2- and 4-axis wire EDM; 2D and 3D design, surface, and solid modeling; artistic relief cutting, and 2D and 3D routing. CNC Software is a privately owned corporation founded in 1984. The U.S.-based company provides Mastercam CAD/CAM solutions to more than 124,936 installations in 75 countries in industries including mold-making, prototyping, automotive, medical, aerospace, and consumer products. Mastercam runs under Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, and is compatible with all other CAD/CAM systems. For more information about CNC Software, Inc. and its Mastercam family of products, contact CNC Software, Inc., M – F, 8 AM – 6 PM EST at (800) 228-2877 or (860) 875-5006, 671 Old Post Road, Tolland, CT 06084. Or visit www.mastercam.com.

OPEN MIND Technologies CAM software product integrated within Solidworks and receives highest partner status.

The new hyperMILL® V9.7 from OPEN MIND offers CAD integration with SolidWorks®. SolidWorks Corporation, developer of the popular Solidworks CAD product has certified the integration of OPEN MIND’s complete solution and has designated hyperMILL® as a ‘Certified Gold Product’. This is SolidWorks’ highest award based on outstanding integration, quality and interoperability.

To receive the ‘Certified Gold Product’ award, the partner product must go through a multilevel certification process. The requirements include full integration of the software user interface within SolidWorks® and associative database linking of the geometric data of SolidWorks®. In addition, SolidWorks® reference customers must be able to use the software product effectively. In-house product tests are also conducted at SolidWorks to determine whether its high requirements are fulfilled. OPEN MIND Technologies released hyperMILL® V9.7, including the SolidWorks® integration in October 2007. And now hyperMILL® has now successfully completed and passed the certification process.

Integrated process chains for CAD users
“Our CAD-integrated CAM solution hyperMILL® has the advantage of allowing SolidWorks® users to implement integrated process chains on their existing user interface,” explains Frank Eckstein, responsible for hyperMILL® in SolidWorks in the Application Technology division at OPEN MIND. “In our software solution, the CAD and CAM systems both access the same database. A uniform data model is used for the entire process. This helps ensure transparency and accuracy in the production process and prevents errors.”
About OPEN MIND Technologies AG

OPEN MIND Technologies AG ( www.openmind-tech.com) is a leading developer of CAD/CAM software and postprocessors for designing and manufacturing complex moulds and parts. OPEN MIND offers an extensive range of products, from 2D feature-oriented solutions for milling standard parts through to software for 5-axis simultaneous machining. With their hyperMILL® software, which is used in the automotive, tool and mould manufacturing, mechanical engineering and aerospace industries, OPEN MIND Technologies AG is represented in all the important markets in Asia, Europe and North America. OPEN MIND Technologies AG is a Mensch und Maschine company ( www.mum.de).

Further information:
Alan Levine
Email Contact

January 28, 2008 — The latest version V16, under the slogan of ‘Twice the power of V8’, includes a raft of new features aimed at providing enhanced functionality for interactive tasked and further automation for users looking for semi or completely unmanned solutions. JETCAM will also be increasing the number of end user releases in 2008, ensuring that customers can immediately take advantage of each new feature as soon as it is available.

JETCAM Expert V16’s sequencing routines have been optimised to further improve the cutting path which can considerably reduce the overall cutting time of complex nests. A new reporting engine has also been included to provide comprehensive and customisable reports. A report designer is included, where users can simply drag and drop the required fields or tables of information onto the page. Single component or complete nest images can also be added. Reports of any size or format can be generated, including labels for single label printers.

Further development specific to punching machines has also been announced. Automatic tooling placement logic has been further optimised, providing users of punching machines with the same level of automation as profiling machines. Tools are automatically placed on the component based on highly configurable parameters. This information is then carried through to all related nests – if the component is updated then this is automatically reflected on the nest. ‘Tool teach mode’ further enhances the automatic tooling facilities by allowing JETCAM to ‘learn’ a user’s preferred method of tooling a particular contour.

JETCAM’s free form high performance nesting module (FFHPN) for V16 has also undergone further development, with the latest release offering even greater efficiencies. With metal prices increasing even a 1% material saving can quickly mount up to a considerable amount. JETCAM is also offering prospective customers a free ‘nesting benchmark comparison’ whereby they will compare a user’s existing nests with one created through FFHPN.

Commented Mike Weber, Managing Director JETCAM International s.a.r.l.; “These features in Release V16, when combined allow a JETCAM Expert system to rapidly become self-sufficient. It intelligently and accurately applies logic so that the whole CAM process can become truly hands-off, especially when JETCAM’s Remote Control Processing (RCP) system is employed. With our knowledge of the complexities of today’s powerful CNC machines this frees the operator for other tasks, maximises machine runtime and reduces material waste. For any size of organisation this level of automation has to be their goal to remain competitive in today’s climate of cost reductions. Companies employing manufacturing efficiency methodologies such as ‘Six Sigma’ will benefit from a system that provides a data-driven approaches to problem solving with a focus on customer impact. Any business purchase has to be justified by return on investment, and JETCAM continues to deliver this in three key areas: material utilisation, machine cycle time and programming time.”

V16 will be available for download from the JETCAM.com web site in February 2008. Existing customers under maintenance will be able to download the software immediately at no cost. Customers out of maintenance need only to purchase a maintenance contract to gain access to the latest features – there is no additional upgrade price to pay.

For more information please contact Martin Bailey at Email Contact. Product box shots and company logos are available for immediate download from www.jetcam.com/logos.htm.

Contact information:

JETCAM International
Terrasses du Port
2 Avenue des Ligures
MC98000
Monaco

Tel : +44 870 760 6469

Web: www.jetcam.com

E-mail: Email Contact

A company, which has taken over the UK agency for the Japanese Nisshinbo CNC punching machines, press brakes and shears, recommends Radan’s CAD/CAM systems for their programming

Machine tool trading company RPA has been involved in the sheet metalworking market for some 17 years, specialising in the supply of CNC punch presses. The company recommends Radan’s powerful sheet metal CAD/CAM software. RPA’s chief engineer. John Nobles, said: ‘Well established worldwide, Radan’s success lies in its wealth of industry experience.

It was established when NC machines had computers the size of an office and only 52k of memory.

Yet the company is so on top of today’s ‘game’ that, in the heart of China, it was already proven on Yawei machines months before Nisshinbo-Japan had given the punch presses its seal of approval for export to Europe and the US’.

RPA’s team of machine tool engineers supports the whole range of CNC sheet metalworking machines, as follows.

* press brakes (brake presses).

* Guillotines.

* Laser cutting and profiling systems.

* De-coilers.

* Plasma-arc cutting machines.

* punching machines and CNC turret punch presses.

RPA’s main business activity revolves around a continuous machine rebuild programme buying used machines, subjecting them to a full ‘blueprint’ refurbishment and then recommissioning them as warranted rebuilds.

Six years ago Nisshinbo withdrew from the European machine tool market and appointed RPA as its sole agent for punching machines, press brakes and shears for the UK, Ireland and the Middle East.

This involves holding all of the machine records and an extensive stock of consigned spares.

Meanwhile, Nisshinbo set up an engineering base within Yawei Machine Tools of China to oversee the redesign and manufacture of a new range of punching machines.

RPA’s general sales manager, Sonny Brown, said: ‘We were also appointed as Yawei-Nisshinbo agent for the UK, providing sales and support and continuing to recommend Radan to all of our customers.

The re-introduction of the Nisshinbo machines to the UK market has resulted in the two companies working much closer together’.

RPA’s initial launch of Nisshinbo equipment will concentrate on the HPI and HPH range of punching machines.

This CNC hydraulic 300kN (30 tonf) punching machine design has an all bridge-framed structure and has axis ranges of 1250 x 1250mm to 1500 x 2500mm.

Competitively priced, they carry even higher specifications than the earlier Nisshinbos, said RPA.

The design includes the following features.

* Powered clamps and tool hoists.

* Brush tables.

* Lowered die mounts for easy changing.

* Multiplicity of auto-index stations.

* Twin-track turret layouts.

‘The machine rebuild programme continues, but we have found it necessary to introduce material handling as an option,’ said Nobles.

‘Our customers are now able to purchase affordable used machines with all the facilities offered with new equipment and the ability to work ‘lights out”.

Nobles added: ‘This has involved more extensive use of Radan software, as the customer requires a more holistic approach to the introduction of part programming onto the shop floor’.

* About RPA – since 1990 Berkshire-based machine tool trading company RPA Limited has specialised in the supply and support of both new and warranted rebuild CNC punch presses.

Please visit .

* About Radan – Radan is the most powerful sheet metal CAD/CAM software in the world, helping customers increase their material utilisation and reduce inventory and offers a significant return on investment.

Radan is a principal brand of the Planit Group recently ranked by CIMdata as the worl’’s fastest growing CAM vendor, with most industrial users.

* About Planit – Planit is a global supplier of design and manufacturing software for the engineering, woodworking and stone industries.

The company provides its customers with products and services that enable them to improve the productivity of their machine tools, shorten design and manufacturing time, optimise material usage and deliver high quality goods and services to their customers.

Planit’s solutions are best-in-class within their respective markets and are integral to the success of thousands of companies of every size around the globe. Request a free brochure from Radan Computational….

CAD/CAM and nesting software programs all CNC punching and profiling machines and has been optimised to to further improve the cutting path in complex nests

Jetcam International has announced its latest version V16 of its Expert CAD/CAM and nesting software for all CNC punching and profiling machines. Offering twice the power of the earlier V8 system, the latest version V16 includes features aimed at providing enhanced functionality for interactive tasked and further automation for users looking for semi or completely unmanned systems.

Jetcam will also be increasing the number of end user releases in 2008, ensuring that users can immediately take advantage of each new feature as soon as it is available.

JETCAM Expert V16’s sequencing routines have been optimised to further improve the cutting path, which can considerably reduce the overall cutting time of complex nests.

A new reporting engine has also been included to provide comprehensive and customisable reports.

A report designer is included, where users can simply ‘drag and drop’ the required fields or tables of information onto the page.

Single component or complete nest images can also be added.

* CNC punching – further development specific to punching machines has also been announced.

Automatic tooling placement logic has been further optimised, providing users of punching machines with the same level of automation as profiling machines.

Tools are automatically placed on the component based on highly configurable parameters.

This information is then carried through to all related nests – if the component is updated then this is automatically reflected on the nest.

‘Tool teach mode’ further enhances the automatic tooling facilities by allowing JETCAM to ‘learn’ a user’s preferred method of tooling a particular contour.

* Nesting – JETCAM’s free form high performance nesting module (FFHPN) for V16 has also undergone further development, with the latest release offering even greater efficiencies.

With metal prices increasing even a 1% material saving can quickly mount up to a considerable amount, said Jetcam to manufacturingtalk.com.

Jetcam is also offering prospective customers a free ‘nesting benchmark comparison’ whereby they will compare a user’s existing nests with one created through FFHPN.

Commented Mike Weber, managing director Jetcam International: ‘These features in Release V16, when combined allow a JETCAM Expert system to rapidly become self-sufficient.

It intelligently and accurately applies logic so that the whole CAM process can become truly hands-off, especially when JETCAM’s Remote Control Processing (RCP) system is employed’ He continued: ‘With our knowledge of the complexities of today’s powerful CNC machines this frees the operator for other tasks, maximises machine runtime and reduces material waste.

For any size of organisation this level of automation has to be their goal to remain competitive in today’s climate of cost reductions.

Companies employing manufacturing efficiency methodologies such as ‘Six Sigma’ will benefit from a system that provides a data-driven approaches to problem solving with a focus on customer impact.

Any business purchase has to be justified by return on investment, and JETCAM continues to deliver this in three key areas: material utilisation, machine cycle time and programming time’.

V16 will be available for download from the JETCAM.com web site in February 2008.

Existing customers under maintenance will be able to download the software immediately at no cost.

Customers out of maintenance need only to purchase a maintenance contract to gain access to the latest features – there is no additional upgrade price to pay.

Special modes for advanced multi-axis machining

Newport Beach, California February 1, 2008 Available from NCCS, NCL multi-axis machining software is used in the aerospace, automotive and turbo machinery industry. NCCS has released its latest version of NCL 9.5, which offers an enhanced blend of automated and user-controlled toolpath generation techniques.

Special Modes

NCL offers special modes that give users the ability to generate more precise toolpaths including:

o The ability to automatically lock the tool axis when generating corners

o The option of the tool axis passing through a point

o The option of the tool axis passing through a 3D curve

o The option of interpolation between a start and end vector

With NCL, users can expect quality, flexibility and absolute tool control. The addition of these special modes helps to minimize programming time and reduce programming inefficiencies.

According to David Schultz, NCCS, Manager of CAD/CAM Applications, NCL offers a unique blend of automated and user-controlled toolpath generation techniques that result in reduced programming time and increased quality. NCL sets the standard for four- and five-axis toolpath generation; there simply is no better solution.

About NCCS

Numerical Control Computer Sciences (NCCS) has been an international supplier of Computer-Aided Manufacturing software and services for over 25 years. A recognized leader in software solutions for multi-axis machining applications, its flagship product NCL, is used by leading manufacturing companies throughout the world. For more information, visit NCCS, website at http://www.nccs.com.

Want to know exactly how a human will interact with your product? The category of digital human modeling software is fast becoming an important tool for engineers to proactively analyze the human fit of their product or workplace before it is built.

NexGen Ergonomics of Montreal, has just released the first update to its HumanCAD digital modeling software since it was released last March. HumanCAD is a unified human modeling software architecture with a more intuitive interface, a plugin system for importing and exporting files with the major CAD tools along with new inverse kinematics.

The new release features the ErgoTools modules, which includes the HumanCAD 3D static biomechanical model as well as interfaces to the University of Michigan 3DSSPP and the 1991 NIOSH lifting equation. Other new features include new camera management that allows for the creation of custom viewpoints and cameras, a new library of hand postures and a variety of bug fixes and enhancements. With this release, HumanCAD also now runs natively on Mac OS X, on both Intel and PowerPC architectures.

SYDNEY, Australia, Feb 8, 2008 – CADDIT announced a new partnership to distribute 3D translation technology for TransMagic, Inc. CADDIT is now the national distributor for all TransMagic “plug-in”, desktop and workgroup solutions for CAD viewing, markup and translation. The agreement between TransMagic, Inc and CADDIT Pty Ltd benefits Australian companies that receive CAD files from different systems, but lack either the licenses or expertise “in house” to reliably read them all.

TransMagic, Inc. writes some of the world’s best 3D CAD translation software, that is, software that can both view and convert files from one CAD format to another. The TransMagic team is widely respected around the world. They are certified partners with many of the world’s most important CAD companies, like Autodesk, SolidWorks and Dassault Systemes. Australian business can now use the new TransMagic translation tools to easily and reliably read data from typically expensive systems like Dassault’s “CATIA” PLM software suite, Unigraphics 3D CAD, Pro/Engineer, SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor and many others.

TransMagic’s easy-to-use, standalone interface does not require any CAD software. All of TransMagic’s Desktop Suites offer 3D CAD file translation, geometry repair, file viewing, redline, cross-section, part volume, mass properties, measurement and collaboration functionality. Parts can also be exported from assemblies for use in any other 3D application. TransMagic ADVANTAGE includes a complete set of geometry and surface Repair tools. For a complete solid-to-solid interoperability solution, the MagicSURFACE features can quickly resurface openings or cover holes with appropriate levels of continuity.

“We are very pleased to be selected to distribute this product in Australia”, said Ben Decker, CADDIT’s business director. “It isn’t just small machine shops and engineering consultants that need software like this. Many large companies prefer the simple interface and low cost, when compared with the overhead of purchasing multiple CAD systems.” TransMagic customers include well-known industry names like Mitsubishi, Caterpillar, Boeing, General Electric and Sony. Nevertheless, CADDIT is working to make the software affordable even for small business doing serious design work. “There are several different modules and configurations we are packaging. The base ELEMENT suite will be priced less than half what most mid-range CAD systems cost.”

“Modern manufacturing companies are faced with complex CAD data exchange problems on a daily basis,” stated Todd Re ade, President of TransMagic, Inc. “CADDIT has shown an exceptional understanding of how to solve these problems using TransMagic products. Australian manufacturing companies have a valuable resource in CADDIT.”

About CADDIT

CADDIT Pty Ltd, an Australian owned company, began marketing TransMagic to Australia in 2007. They provide their own level of technical support for this and many other CAD CAM CAE products. Their head office is located in the Liverpool Fairfax Building in western Sydney. For more information visit at http://www.caddit.net.

About TransMagic, Inc.

TransMagic, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer of 3D CAD translation software products. They are based in Westminster, Colorado, USA and can be contacted via their website at http://www.transmagic.com.