JETCAM Orders Controller Premium II v1.04 Released

JETCAM International today announced the release of version 1.04 of its JETCAM Orders Controller (JOC) Premium II. Originally launched at the JEC Composites show in Paris in March 2013 the latest version includes features aimed at both profiling and punching users, and makes the ideal companion to an existing JETCAM Expert CAD/CAM system.

JOC Premium II’s core functionality is as a remote ordering system, allowing production staff to queue CAD files for automatic component geometry entry and tooling, and to also build unlimited worksheets of either components or complex assemblies to be sent to JETCAM Expert for automatic nesting.

A number of key new features have been added to this new release:

• Parametrics Support: Users of JETCAM Expert’s interactive and automatic parametric programming modules now have a built in editor within JOC Premium II. In addition to being able to create and edit standard parametric programs there is an automatic parametric ‘.DO’ file generator, allowing users to use JETCAM’s parametric programming to quickly create a whole family of component files from basic parameters.
• Nest Costing: The ability to quickly obtain a costing for sheet metal components has traditionally been problematic for many companies. With JOC Premium II you can combine several of its key features to quickly import CAD files, create tooled component files using JETCAM Expert’s Single Component Automatic Processing (SCAP) facility and immediately build nests with resulting detailed part costing. Users can look at the cost of the part on each single nest or parts averaged across multiple nests, taking potential remnants, scrap, machine and operator costs into account. The information can also be exported for analysis or import into legacy data systems.
• Tool information: CNC punch users often need to identify where tools are used, either on selected components or previously generated nests. This may be because a tool is broken or out of stock, or because they want to reduce the number of tools they use. JOC Premium II not only allows you to identify which parts or nests contain one or more tools, but also shows a nest tool graph detailing the number of nests that each tool is used on. A slider and zoom controls allows the user to quickly focus on the higher or lower numbers, and data can be quickly exported to CSV for further analysis or importing into legacy data systems.

Version 1.04 includes a number of other minor new features and enhancements to existing functions, which are also backed up by comprehensive video tutorials, allowing staff to get up and running without further training or costs. Custom processors can be easily written to reshape data coming in via the CAD or Order import to ensure seamless data transfer from other systems.

Martin Bailey, general manager for JETCAM International commented; “We were excited to be able to release this feature-rich update so soon after the initial launch. Each feature stands on its own strength but together they deliver benefits greater than the sum of their parts. JOC Premium II is great for companies that have a lot of data – be it CAD files, component files, assemblies, tools or nests. Information can be immediately filtered and grouped to help users make sense of it, and we've included importing and exporting of all relevant data.”

Visit www.jetcam.com for detail.

LEDAS Ships LGS 2D Geometric Constraint Solver v3.0

LEDAS Ltd., an independent provider of variational design tools, component technologies, and software development services for the CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM market, today announced version 3.0 of its LGS 2D geometric constraint solver. As a core component of parametric drawing applications, LGS 2D allows users to express design intent through geometric constraints and driving dimensions applied to 2D points, lines, curves, and other elements of sketches and drawings.

Since its first release in 2004, the LGS 2D software component has been licensed and embedded by several CAD/CAM/CAE vendors into parametric drawing applications. In five years, LEDAS has released eight intermediate versions of LGS 2D.

New Features in LGS 2D 3.0

Version 3.0 of LGS 2D adds support for NURBS curves, equal curvature geometric constraints, memory management, and many additional improvements.

NURBS (non-uniform rational B-spline) curves are commonly used in computer-aided design and computer graphics applications. Previous versions of LGS 2D supported NURBS curves, but required that they be evaluated on the application side. Whereas application developers before had to implement callback functions to regenerate the shapes of curves, they will now find that working with NURBS curves is as easy as working with lines and circles in LGS 2D 3.0. The application simply calls the spline creation function, passing all needed parameters (algebraic degree, control points, knots and weights), and then the solver evaluates the spline. This new feature reduces the software development cycle and shortens the time to market for a new parametric drawing application.

An even greater advantage to using the new NURBS curves support is the significant performance improvement. The derivatives of NURBS evaluation functions needed for numerical methods of constraint solving are now expressed analytically and computed by the solver.

Version 3.0 supports a new form of geometric constraint, equal curvature. It is useful for parametric drawing applications that require smooth (G2) tangencies between curves. In this case, application developers create both tangency and equal curvature constraints between two curves (or between a curve and a circle or a line) and then make the corresponding "help" parameters equal.

Version 3.0 allows application developers to define custom sets of memory management tools for controlling and optimizing memory use. This new feature is critical for applications that deal with large drawings, which are typically composed of thousands of geometric elements.

LGS 2D 3.0 also contains many other improvements, such as alignments for tangency constraints with curves, versioning for binary dump, and journaling enhancements. Several bugs in the autoconstraining function have been fixed, and issues reported by LEDAS customers have been resolved.

"LGS 2D is used by our customers to implement powerful parametric drawing functions, which are compatible with the capabilities of mainstream MCAD systems, but at an affordable price," said Dmitry Ushakov, Director of Product Management, LEDAS Ltd. "Our new version 3.0 is another significant step towards this direction: it introduces new functions aimed at supporting advanced user requirements yet shortening the application development time."

An integration module has also been created, which allows version 3.0 of LGS 2D to be used with applications based on DWGdirect of the Open Design Alliance (ODA). This integration module was developed jointly by LEDAS and the ODA, and it provides DWGdirect-based applications with support for constraints contained in the DWG 2010 file format.

Please Visit http://www.ledas.com/ for more information.

Related Post:

• LEDAS Ships Driving Dimensions Plug-in v1.2 for SketchUp
• LEDAS Ships LGS 3D Geometric Constraint Solver v2.0
• LEDAS Adds Assemblies & Kinematics plug-in to Rhino

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VX CAD/CAM 2009 v14.2 Released

VX Corporation, a pioneering developer of integrated CAD/CAM solutions, announced today the release of VX 2009 v14.2, which is now available for download from support.vx.com. This release not only contains many enhancements in drafting, modeling and 2-5 axis CAM, but there is a significant performance enhancement to the direct edit shape morph technology and improved sectioning of unhealed imported parts.

As a step to increase performance, customers can now build a "light- weight" morph feature that can be edited and tweaked more rapidly.

In this example, Morph is used to directly edit the bend angle of this forging This enhancement is especially important to customers that use shape morphing for non-stylistic applications, like bending and unbending parts, model repair, back draft correction and applying over bend.

VX has always been able to produce section views of unhealed imported parts for quoting and inspection, but this latest enhancement rounds out the tool kit by now supporting bent sections of open shapes.

"These latest enhancements to VX 2009 version 14.2 are just two examples of our responsiveness to our customer needs." said Bob Fischer, VX Vice President Sales and Marketing "We are continually striving to provide customer-driven updates to our software."

Customers running earlier versions of VX 2009 can download and install this update from support.vx.com. Customers running older versions of VX (VX 2008 V13.xx and earlier) can purchase an update to V14 from the VX web store or from their local reseller.

Visit http://www.vx.com/ for more information.

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Planit e2i 2010 R1 Includes Stock Control Feature

Planit Software’s manufacturing management system - e2i – has just delivered significant enhancements in its 2010 R1 release.

e2i tracks and manages cost and quotations throughout the design and manufacturing process and for many Radan customers is a critical element in achieving a competitive advantage.

Included in 2010 R1’s developments is Stock control, which has been redesigned to make management more intuitive. Users can now manage the total quantity of a stock item in relation to real time supply and demand, rather than individual allocations. Stock Control has been enhanced to enable users to record the consumption of raw materials at the point of use. Dave Caughley, Development Manager for e2i, is excited by the newly re-engineered Stock Control feature as he explains “Stock Control is a powerful feature within e2i and with the current cost of materials, every extra job that can be squeezed out of stored material is a financial boost to our customers.”

e2i 2010 R1 also benefits from enhancements to the Sybase PowerBuilder and InfoMaker tools. These upgrades give customers a much improved environment to create reports, for example, the new development tools have allowed the addition of calendar controls to help users set date fields. In addition these developments have enabled users to benefit from new reporting tools, which allow the creation of new tree-style reports.

The latest release of e2i supports both Windows Vista and Microsoft’s latest release Windows 7.

e2i will now also benefit from CLS -  Planit’s new licensing system. This provides users with additional functionality including license management, where users can “reserve” licenses so they are always available to them.

Visit http://www.planit.com/ for more information.

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DP Technology Ships ESPRIT 2010

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) industry leader DP Technology is pleased to announce that ESPRIT® 2010, the production release of the latest version of its ESPRIT flagship product, is now shipping.

New developments within this latest version of ESPRIT place great emphasis on providing existing ESPRIT customers with additional tools that will increase their productivity.

"We believe that concentrating on serving the needs of our existing customers is the best investment we can make,” says Chuck Mathews, DP's vice president and director of product development. “With the 2010 release of ESPRIT, more than ever before, we are utilizing the latest computer technology to solve the practical real-world challenges our customers face on a daily basis.”

ESPRIT 2010 has been optimized to fully embrace the capabilities of the latest multi-core computers, an especially valued time-saving characteristic for 3-axis and 5-axis programming. ESPRIT 2010 runs on Microsoft® Windows® XP, Windows® Vista™ and Windows® 7™ operating systems.

Improvements That Every Customer Will Enjoy
Every ESPRIT customer will enjoy the benefits of an all new, faster-to-use, graphical user interface (GUI) used to define machining operations throughout ESPRIT. This new tree-style GUI is used to define machining parameters used for cutting parts in milling, turning and wire EDM programming. Using the new GUI, cutting parameters are entered and immediately validated for the given workpiece. The GUI also adapts to display only questions pertinent to the given cutting environment, minimizing the number of choices the programmer needs to consider. The new tree-style GUI uses a small portion of the screen, providing the programmer with a clear, unobstructed view of the workpiece at all times. This new GUI is designed to look familiar to existing ESPRIT customers, allowing them to easily transition to and gain the productivity benefits of ESPRIT 2010.

Thanks to the new multi-threaded stock automation engine in ESPRIT 2010, customers can now benefit from instantly starting the part program simulation at any time and at any point in the program. This new feature eliminates the need to simulate all operations from the beginning or to save the results of previous simulations. Now ESPRIT customers can start a simulation with the stock that results from the completion of all previous operations without first waiting for the simulation of the previous operation. The use of multi-threading technology — with which stock calculations are done in the background, which doesn't slow the programmer down — makes this ideal scenario a reality in ESPRIT 2010.

Machining pockets has just become significantly easier with ESPRIT 2010 due to advancements in feature recognition. The upgraded advanced feature recognition now automatically recognizes pockets with any combination of open and closed walls, fillets, chamfers and tapered walls. In addition, undercut areas that can't be reached with the given tooling are automatically excluded. These new pocket features may also be based on native CAD features, resulting in the features in ESPRIT being associative with the original CAD model. As a result, if the CAD model changes, the user is notified and can choose whether to automatically update the ESPRIT feature and its associated machining to match the CAD model. This association is maintained from the CAD model to the finished toolpath.

Support for the Latest CNC Machine Tools
ESPRIT 2010 offers dramatic improvements in the support of integrated multi-tasking, mill-turn machine tools. All ESPRIT milling and turning machining capability, from 2-axis turning to 5-axis milling, is available for any type of mill-turn machine tool, including lathes that perform milling, mills that perform turning, Swiss-style machines and other “integrated mill-turn machining centers.” In the 2010 release, support for these multi-tasking machine tools has been enhanced through increased flexibility in cutting tool configurations and orientations, enabling the support of a wide variety of machines. The newly added support for additional rotary axes, three or more, allows the ESPRIT customer to completely program and easily simulate the most complex and sophisticated machine tools currently available on the market.

For the ESPRIT wire-EDM customer, the 2010 version includes support for EDM machines with rotary axes. This allows EDM programmers to perform wire-EDM cutting in 5- and 6-axis using turn-and-burn (indexing the rotary table), and turn-while-burn full 5-axis simultaneous cutting with a rotary table. This new version also provides EDM programming with an innovative new 4-axis pocketing, no-core cutting, machining cycle.

New 3D Machining Techniques
ESPRIT 2010 includes 13 new FreeForm 3- and 5-axis machining cycles that are available for milling, mill-turn and Swiss-turn machine tools. These high-speed, multi-axis machining cycles offer a wide variety of new choices and capabilities for ESPRIT customers who are performing 3D machining. Additions for 3-axis include a new roughing cycle that can also be used for rest-machining, seven new finishing cycles and three specialized cycles — 3D contouring, pencil tracing and corner machining. Two new specialized 5-axis machining cycles are also included within this release, swarf machining and impeller machining. All of these machining cycles, which add up to a tremendous amount of new technology, will be provided to existing ESPRIT FreeForm customers as part of their ESPRIT software maintenance contract (SMC).

Availability
ESPRIT 2010 is now shipping to existing ESPRIT customers with active software maintenance contracts (SMC). We expect that all North American customers will receive their updates before the end of 2009. International SMC updates are starting in December and will continue into the first quarter of 2010. ESPRIT 2010 is also available now to new ESPRIT customers.

Visit http://www.dptechnology.com/ for more information.

 

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ASCON to announce the awaited launch of its flagship MCAD Solution

ASCON Group, developer and vendor of professional CAD/AEC/PLM solutions, is pleased to present release of its new, improved and even more powerful and easy-learning version of professional 3D and 2D software solution for Mechanical CAD – KOMPAS-3D V11.

This new release suggests novelties to increase efficiency, quality and speed of designing process, to make fast and simple familiarization with the software, to provide special tools for vertical industries domains, such as steel construction, piping, sheet-metal design. KOMPAS-3D V11 users still get all these powerful abilities at a very reasonable price. We are pleased to share with you brief information about the innovative features and new add-ons in KOMPAS-3D V11.

3D Parametric Modelling and Design Improvements

New features for 3D modeling of parts and assemblies: Mechanical mates in assembly help to simulate movement, Local coordinate in 3D systems considerably increase possibility of part and assembly modelling, Scale for 3D models help change a scale of parts, Different types of assembly loading help increase speed of working with large assemblies more than 10 times. Bend by Sketch, Part to assembly and Assembly to part transformation and many others increase efficiency and speed of 3D modelling process.

Trial and Demo mode protection update

Since now all the interested are able to get 30-Days full-functioning Trial version of KOMPAS-3D absolutely for FREE.

A capability is introduced for working with the solution and its components in 30 days period for familiarization and trying in use all the wide range of features of KOMPAS solutions.

Download Professional KOMPAS-3D V11 at ascon.net/download.php.

Unwrap library

The add-on is included in the basic package of KOMPAS-3D V11. The library is intended to automate the design of dust, gas and air flues, pipelines and similar parts of sheet material. This add-on automates labour-consuming calculations and constructions and considerably increases the speed of creation of working drawing for blanks of such parts.

Standard Parts library

The database supplied with KOMPAS-3D V11 and contains fasteners according to DIN and ISO standards.

Steel structures 3D

The library is also included in the delivery package. It is intended for automation of design process of metal constructions from metal rolling profiles.

Interface improvements

Context bar – it contains buttons of the frequently used editing commands and is displayed on the screen at selecting objects of the document and considerably increase speed of working with KOMPAS-3D.

New Icon Design – contains different sizes of icons, which able to supply High resolution Displays supporting. Extended command toolbars gives more for interface customization.

New abilities for 3D curves and surfaces modeling

The new commands for creating of 3D-lines considerably improve design of complex 3D paths and trajectories.

The Deviation of Surfaces helps to measure the mutual deviation of two faces (or a face and a surface).

Import/Export improvements

Enhancements in import of various CAD formats (SAT, STEP, IGES, Parasolid, STL) etc. Today it is possible to import 3D-models from DXF and DWG in KOMPAS-3D.

New features for working with 2D documents

The Multiline command creates a multiline – geometrical object consisting of several lines that are equidistant to the reference line.

The Cut command is introduced in the Edit menu. It hides the portions of the raster image that are out of closed contour.

Using of Hyperlinks – a capability is introduced for creation of hyperlinks to current document objects, external files, web pages, e-mail addresses. The hyperlink is added to the object of the document as one of properties.

 

Visit http://ascon.net/ for more information.

 

 

Technorati: ASCON,CAD,CAM,AEC,3D,3D Exchange,KOMPAS-3D

     

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Dassault 3DVIA Composer Integrates with KineoWorks

Dassault Systems, a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that the leading technology for automatic motion and path planning from Kineo Computer Aided Motion (Kineo CAM), an independent software developer, has been integrated with 3DVIA Composer. This integration, named 3DVIA Path Planning, allows users to effectively communicate the most complicated steps of interactive documentation with automatically generated, lifelike animations, rather than photos and text.

Assembly and maintenance tasks of tightly fitting components have always been difficult to describe, regardless of the communication tool used. These processes are complex to explain using traditional photo and text instructions, often leading to misinterpretation, reduced quality, or damage to sensitive components. A potential solution to this challenge is to provide users with 3D interactive and animated instructions, which are more effective in communicating difficult concepts. For example, an assembly worker with a 3D animated instruction for the difficult removal of a component is better equipped to successfully remove the part than a colleague that has been provided instructions with images and text. Creating these 3D animations, unfortunately, has traditionally been difficult and time consuming.

The combination of 3DVIA Composer and 3DVIA Path Planning now automates the creation process to deliver top-in-class lifelike experiences that improve comprehension and error-free execution by end users.

“We are very pleased that our software technology has been integrated within 3DVIA Composer, making it easier for users to access the power of our collision detection engine,” said Laurent Maniscalco, CEO Kineo CAM. “With 3DVIA Path Planning, content creators can automatically generate non-colliding animated paths between desired components, helping to quickly plan and illustrate complex processes.”

3DVIA Composer revolutionizes the product documentation process for enterprises of all sizes. With its easy-to-use, desktop content-creation system, 3DVIA Composer quickly automates the creation of assembly and disassembly procedures, technical illustrations, interactive 3D product experiences, training materials, marketing materials, sales tools and more.

“With shrinking budgets and increasing pressures to bring products to market quickly, companies are unable to spend as much time creating technical documentation as they would like,” said Garth Coleman, director product marketing, 3DVIA, Dassault Systems. “Kineo CAM offers incredible capabilities that benefit our users in industries that are tasked with providing improved and more comprehensive instructions on shrinking budgets and delivery times. By combining the ability to create complex animations using 3DVIA Path Planning with the superior interactive capabilities of 3DVIA Composer, companies can easily create lifelike 3D experiences to improve comprehension of complex technical procedures.”

 

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SYCODE Releases Inventor File Import Plug-in for AutoCAD

SYCODE has released an Autodesk Inventor file import plug-in for AutoCAD. The plug-in allows users to import Inventor part and assembly files into AutoCAD without the need of an Inventor license on the computer or network.

"We have been receiving requests from AutoCAD users wanting to import part and assembly files created in Autodesk Inventor,” explains Deelip Menezes, Founder and CEO of SYCODE. "Inventor already has the ability to exchange 3D data with AutoCAD via the AEC Exchange method. However, this method requires a license of Inventor in order to perform the conversion. In the event that an AutoCAD user gets an Inventor Part (IPT) or Assembly (IAM) file and does not have access to Inventor, there is no way to get the 3D data stored in the IPT or IAM file into AutoCAD. That is precisely when Inventor Import for AutoCAD will come in handy”.

Inventor Import for AutoCAD can read Inventor part IPT files from Inventor 6 to Inventor 2010 and assembly IAM files from Inventor 11 to Inventor 2010. The plug-in is powered by the widely used 3D InterOp technology from Spatial. 3D InterOp is the industry standard for proprietary CAD file format data exchange and is used in almost all the major CAD systems. Besides data exchange 3D InterOp also offers powerful repairing and healing features which are extensively used in Inventor Import for AutoCAD. Repairing involves checking the file for corrupted data and fixing the invalid data. Healing corrects the differences in precision. Inventor Import for AutoCAD also creates a detailed log file which is extremely useful in identifying data translation problems and aids in locating and fixing errors.

Inventor Import for AutoCAD works with AutoCAD 2000 through to AutoCAD 2010, 32 Bit as well as 64 Bit and is available as a fully functional trial. The plug-in comes with an installer and detailed documentation in the form of a compiled HTML help file which contains a step-by-step tutorial to get the end user started in the shortest possible time.

Visit http://www.sycode.com/ for more information.

Related Post:

• SYCODE Releases ESRI Shape File Import Plug-ins
• iCADsales Offer progeCAD 2010 Pro Free Upgrade
• Autodesk Ships Free AutoCAD Civil 3D Importer for Trimble Business Center-HCE

LEDAS Ships Driving Dimensions Plug-in v1.2 for SketchUp

New update of Driving Dimensions plug-in significantly improves quality, stability, and performance; introduces multi-language support

LEDAS Ltd., an independent provider of variational design tools, technology components and software development services for CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM market, today announced the availability of version 1.2 of its Driving Dimensions plug-in for Google SketchUp software. The Driving Dimensions product line from LEDAS is aimed at making advanced MCAD technology available at an affordable price to all users of popular 3D software.

Version 1.2 contains significant improvements in quality, stability, and performance. This was made possible because it is based on the next generation of LGS 3D geometric constraint solving software component recently released by LEDAS. The new version generates solutions that users would expect to see as outcomes. When users now modify the parameters of driving dimensions, most edges and faces remain unchanged; the only ones to change are those needed to satisfy the new parameter values. In addition, the time to solve constraints has been significantly reduced, with the Driving Dimensions plug-in now up to ten times faster than the previous version on large models.

A new feature in Driving Dimensions version 1.2 is multi-language support. Now all tooltips and system messages can be translated to other languages. Version 1.2 comes with English and Japanese built-in. (Translation into Japanese was performed by EBATECH of Japan, a reseller of LEDAS solutions in Japan.)

LEDAS invites uses of the free version of Driving Dimensions to help translate the plug-in to different languages. As compensation, LEDAS will provide all collaborators with Pro licenses of the Driving Dimensions plug-in for SketchUp at no charge.

"The Driving Dimensions plug-in for SketchUp is our most popular software," said Dmitry Ushakov, Director of Product Management, LEDAS Ltd. "The free version of our plug-in has been downloaded by more than 15,000 SketchUp users worldwide since the first public beta was released a year ago. Significant feedback from users of both the free and Pro versions is allowing us to improve the quality of our software, and is giving us fresh ideas on new functions."

Visit http://www.ledas.com/ for more information.

Related Post:

• LEDAS Ships LGS 3D Geometric Constraint Solver v2.0
• LEDAS Adds Assemblies & Kinematics plug-in to Rhino

ModuleWorks v2009.12 to Launch at EuroMold

ModuleWorks, the leading supplier of CAD/CAM components for toolpath generation and simulation, has announced the latest release of its CAM components, version 2009.12. The new release will debut in the New Hall (Hall 11, Stand 102) at EuroMold in Frankfurt from 2nd-5th December. It offers a range of new features across the product range, further expanding capability for 3-5 Axis toolpath creation and simulation.

ModuleWorks 2009.12 is available in both 32 and 64 bit versions as partners are seeing increasing demand for native 64 bit technology to take advantage of the increased memory availability and latest processor technology;  this is expected to increase as customers evaluate upgrade options for the new Windows 7 OS. New smoothing strategies for 5-Axis machining continue to be refined, extending them across the full range of toolpaths and also giving the option for smooth link moves. 3-Axis machining has a new roughing option to automatically detect and machine flats areas while Constant Cusp finishing has a new high to low ordering option to complement the inside-out and outside-in strategies. Performance and toolpath quality continue to be a focus; Rest Roughing has significant performance improvements while fragmentation removal and small segment removal improves all toolpaths.

Simulation of Stock removal now offers improved zoom options allowing detailed definition of small areas to be shown with full definition of sharp edges where present. The stock model can be progressively zoomed as shown in the sequence of images below. Simulator also now has an easy toggle to fully show, show as transparent or hide each graphical element.

Visit http://www.moduleworks.com/ for more information.

Related Post:

• TopSolid’Mold 2010 on its way
• Lantek Continues Innovating with Lantek Expert III
• LEDAS Ships LGS 3D Geometric Constraint Solver v2.0

Mastercam X4 Router: Spotlight on Nesting

High yields can be crucial to a job’s profitability. Mastercam Router includes essential nesting capabilities that assure optimal material usage for the highest possible yields.

Mastercam Router X4 has Nesting Drag and Drop support, allowing you to perform automatic nesting with just enough manual intervention to achieve the best possible result in the least amount of time.

Another useful feature is the ability to automatically generate a toolpath for vertical and horizontal cut-offs. The options allow you to trim either the horizontal or vertical cut-off first, which will preserve rectangular remnants for future use.

Mastercam X4 Router now includes sophisticated interlocking nesting tools as a standard part of the powerful design and NC programming package. Highlights include:

• Fast, efficient interlocking part nesting maximizes material use.
• Double-sided nesting allows the flexibility of nesting parts with front- and back-side operations.
• Common-edge nesting maximizes material usage and reduces machining time.
• Automatic onion skinning maximizes vacuum during heavy cutting.
• Create custom part labels and nested sheet reports.

For more information on Mastercam Router, please visit http://www.mastercamrouter.com./

Related Post:

• Mastercam X4: Spotlight on Lathe
• CNC Software Releases Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks

Mastercam X4: Spotlight on Lathe

Mastercam X4 Lathe is here with a new suite of CAD/CAM tools focused on delivering speed and efficiency for your machining jobs. From roughing and finishing to easy grooving and threading, Mastercam Lathe has been designed to reduce programmer interaction and increase machining flexibility.

Powerful Part Modeling
Mastercam’s streamlined CAD engine makes design work easier than ever before. Each piece of geometry you create is “live,” letting you quickly modify it until it’s exactly what you want.

Precise Turning

Mastercam X4 Lathe delivers a streamlined set of programming tools, including:

• “Quick Toolpaths” for programming parts with just a few clicks.
• Optimized facing including roughing and finishing.
• Complete threading with multiple starts, diameter calculation, and user customizable thread tables.
• In addition to turning, full 3- to 5-axis milling, including machines with B-axis tooling arms.
• Grooving with multiple depth cuts and pecking.
• Easily assign groove depth, width, wall angles, corner radius, chamfer, and corner dwells.
• Stock recognition for optimized turning toolpaths with minimal user interaction.
• Comprehensive lead-in/lead-out controls minimize the need to modify the CAD model to control tool motion.
• Steady rest option supports long work pieces, minimizing deflection from tool pressure and material weight.

Designed for Ease

• Fully associative toolpaths are linked with your geometry. Modify any element of the job and immediately get updated toolpaths without starting over.
• Mastercam’s CAD File Change Recognition tracks files from Mastercam or any other CAD system and will show you what’s been changed for easy toolpath updating.
• Comprehensive insert libraries including Sandvik®, Kennametal®, Iscar®, and Valentine®.
• See your part as it will come off the machine with solid model toolpath verification.

For more information about Mastercam X4 Lathe, please visit www.mastercamlathe.com

Related Post:

• CNC Software Releases Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks

TopSolid’Mold 2010 on its way

Missler Software has announced the launch of TopSolid'Mold 2010 which will be released in February 2010. TopSolid'Mold is an integrated CAD/CAM solution for the design of molds and the machining of tools for mold makers and cutting tool makers. To be efficient a CAD mold making solution should propose increased automation for repetitive mold design operations. In order to manage all projects the CAD software should ideally be completely integrated with a CAD/CAM solution that can manage all shaped forms, general mechanical engineering and machining operations in a parametric and associative way. Thanks to these qualities TopSolid'Mold has become a worldwide reference in the design and manufacture of molds.

TopSolid'Mold manages the design of the mold, the machining of the mold base, milling mold cavities, electrode production and mold assembly.

Advanced collaborative work possibilities
Since the 2009 version TopSolid'Mold manages the design of a mold in a collaborative environment. Several designers can now work on the same project at the same time. An example of this principle would be a detailed plate where one operators looks after cooling circuits and another looks after movement definition. TopSolid's collaborative work options, which are unique on the market, offer significant productivity gains in complex tool design. TopSolid'Mold 2010 offers important improvements in collaborative design thanks to its improved ergonomy and advanced management of modification conflicts.

Improved positioning of runners and gates
TopSolid'Mold 2010 offers very powerful functions for the design and management of various feeding elements (positioning of gates, runners, injection sections ...)

New standard component libraries
On average 70% of a manufactured product is made up of standard elements. Hence the need to constantly improve and offer more standard components. TopSolid'Mold 2010 offers new and more complex components such as equipped drawers.

Improved attribution tools : manage imported elements as if you created them yourself
TopSolid'Mold 2010 allows users to easily use elements imported from a component supplier's website. By using the new « Plate Allocation » function an imported mold base will behave in the same way as a mold base designed natively using TopSolid.

Direct link with CadMould, plastic injection simulation solution
The direct link with the CadMould software allows TopSolid customers to directly benefit from the advantages of plastic simulation. This new partnership offers TopSolid'Mold users an optimised tool for the design of plastic parts and can be used as a first step in determining the feasibility, quality and cost of designing their parts and injection molds.

Visit http://www.topsolid.com/ for more information.

InnovMetric to Show PolyWorks v11 at EuroMold

InnovMetric Software Inc., the leading supplier of hybrid 3D metrology solutions for engineering and manufacturing, will demonstrate the latest intermediate release of PolyWorks V11 at EuroMold 2009, a trade fair held from December 2nd to December 5th in Frankfurt, Germany.

A hybrid metrology solution is one that offers the flexibility of combining high-density point cloud digitizers and tactile probing devices within the same measurement task, ensuring optimal accuracy and speed in all circumstances. Leading the field of industrial point-cloud-based inspection for nearly 10 years, InnovMetric has developed and released in 2009 an outstanding set of new functionalities for tactile probing, including:

• A new flexible Digital Readout (DRO) with configurable appearance and contents, statistics, and tolerancing
• A powerful Build/Inspect mode for measurement-driven assembly
• Guided six surface points and RPS alignment techniques
• Real-time bundle adjustment for large volume metrology
• Temperature compensation by specifying material and temperature or by best-fitting targets

Keeping the same high standards that has made its reputation, InnovMetric has, in all cases, equaled or surpassed the implementation of commonly used probing software, propelling PolyWorks as the only true hybrid 3D metrology software platform on the market.

Visit http://www.innovmetric.com/ for more information.

Lantek Continues Innovating with Lantek Expert III

Lantek announces the release of Expert III Quotes. This component of the innovative Lantek Expert III Suite, allows for stand-alone generation of accurate quotes with Nest previews for estimating.

Lantek, the world’s largest provider of integrated CAD, CAM, Nesting, ERP and Automation solutions, continues to innovate with the Expert product line. Expert III provides integral management of all business processes for metalworking and manufacturing companies. The release of Lantek Expert III Quotes enables users to quote sheet metal parts accurately and quickly. The module is designed specifically for quoting and estimating professionals and does not require advanced expertise in CAD/CAM or part design.

“In designing Expert III Quotes, we relied on our strong research of manufacturing companies as well as our global knowledgebase of sheet metal manufacturing. We knew that our customers, fabricators and manufacturers, needed a powerful and flexible tool to make quoting easier and more accurate", said Zuriñe Sáenz, Product Manager. “We wanted to develop a solution for quoting and estimating professionals, or business managers, that did not require in-depth knowledge of parts design. So, we developed an easy and intuitive tool".

Lantek Expert III Quotes integrates these important functions:

• A Stand-Alone Quotation Tool
• Quote Generation from Lantek Expert II
• Cost versus Price Calculation and Comparison
• Automatic Part Creation
• Quote History

Maximum Flexibility and Precision

The main innovation of Lantek Expert III Quotes is the capability to preview Nests, with or without the Lantek Expert Nesting product, in order to calculate the optimized cost and price of parts quickly, upstream. In addition, Expert III Quotes accounts for key cutting machine parameters allowing cost accuracy.

With Expert III Quotes, geometry definition is flexible. Parts can be imported from neutral files such as DXF, from existing Lantek files, or created with QuickDraw technology. The system automatically makes Nests upon selection of a sheet metal blank. The number of parts that can be made from the blank are automatically calculated.

Expert III Quotes is configured for the customer’s specific environment allowing for quoting precision. When a Nest is generated, the system produces a quote that accounts for the cutting time of each part included in the Nest.

These features provide accurate costs for the material, manpower and the machines to be used. Costs automatically adjust to updated job requirements. Moreover, Lantek Expert III Quotes enables simple comparison of cost and price. Quotations are integrated with the sales process for complete traceability. Users can track all quotes generated and can re-launch a closed quote, modify specific data and run it once more. Lantek Expert III Quotes allows customers to achieve maximum profitability through material utilization and time savings and is backed by Lantek’s outstanding local customer support.

Visit http://www.lanteksms.com/ for more information.

LEDAS Ships LGS 3D Geometric Constraint Solver v2.0

LEDAS Ltd., an independent provider of variational design tools, component technologies, and software development services for CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM market, today announced the availability of version 2.0 of its LGS 3D geometric constraint solver. As a core component of parametric 3D modeling applications, LGS 3D allows users to express their design intent through geometric constraints and driving dimensions.

Since its first release in 2005, a dozen CAD/CAM/CAE vendors have licensed the LGS 3D software component, embedding it into applications that perform assembly design, motion simulation, and history-free 3D geometry editing. It now used by thousands engineers, architects, and designers around the globe. During last four years, LEDAS released five intermediate versions of LGS 3D – from 1.1 to 1.5.

New Features in LGS 3D

The new LGS 3D version 2.0 contains significant functional enhancements that were suggested by LEDAS customers. It also boosts performance and improves stability. These improvements were obtained after several man-years of testing the components with different applications on thousands of commercial scenarios.

A new API function supports the definition of simultaneous movements by several geometric objects, each with a different rotation and translation. LEDAS customers can now employ more sophisticated scenarios of motion simulation. On the application side, version 2.0 defines optional memory management tools for controlling and optimizing memory use. This new feature is crucial for CAD/CAM/CAE applications that model large assemblies.

The time LGS 3D takes to solve constraints has been significantly reduced, and it is now up to ten times faster than v1.5 for large models. The over-defined constraint diagnostics algorithm has been improved, a function crucial to 3D geometry editing applications that generate many constraints automatically to keep design intent.

Version 2.0 of LGS 3D is already embedded in several commercial applications running on Windows XP/Vista and Mac OS X, including recent versions of the Driving Dimensions plug-in for Google SketchUp and McNeel & Associates’ Rhinoceros. The Driving Dimensions plug-ins aims at making advanced mechanical CAD technology available to all users of popular 3D software at an affordable price. For more information, visit http://www.DrivingDimensions.com.

"LGS 3D v.2.0 is ideal solution for those who are looking to implement state-of-the art constraint solving technology in their software for a reasonable price," explained Dmitry Ushakov, Director of Product Management, LEDAS Ltd. "Each month we receive evaluation requests from CAD vendors for our LGS 2D and 3D components. We are pleased to collaborate with all software developers – be it large established vendors or small start-ups – by proposing affordable licensing conditions and lifetime technical support."

Related Post:

• LEDAS Adds Assemblies & Kinematics plug-in to Rhino

IRONCAD 2009 Released for MCAD

IronCAD is pleased to announce the latest release of the industries fastest and easiest to use 3D design solutions IRONCAD and INOVATE. Many customer driven feature enhancements have been implemented in this latest version including these key items:

• Innovative and Structured Part Modes in a Single Environment
• Integrated Fully Functional 2D Mechanical Design Tool
• User Interface Improvements Including:
  • Support for the Fluent Ribbon User Interface
  • Improved Interface Icons for Clarity and Accessibility
• Support for Multiple Body Parts Including Copy/Delete Functions
• Reference Datum Features (Plane, Axis, and Point) Support
• Enhanced Feature Commands Including Pattern, Scale and Mirror
• Strong Reference Association Support for 3D Curves and Surface
• User Selection List Capability for Direct Access to Face/Edge/Vertex Locations
• Many 2D Sketch Improvements in User Interface and Capabilities
• Dynamic Direct Editing Improvements Including:
  • Automatic Selection Controls and Graphical Representations
  • Automatic TriBall Activation for Improved Productivity
  • Direct Editing Driving Smart Dimension Capability
• Improved SmartAssembly Connection and Display Capabilities
• Side-by-Side Application Support for IronCAD Products
• Freely Distributable IRONCAD Scene (.ics) Viewer and CAXA EXB Viewer
• Updated Partner Programs Including 32-Bit and 64-Bit IronPro Support
• Limited time, a free of charge CAXA Draft license with IRONCAD license

Visit http://www.ironcad.com/ for more information.

Related Post:

• Schott Systeme Launching New Design & Machining Functions Within Pictures by PC 3.4 CAD/CAM Software
• CNC Software Releases Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks

Delcam Launch Integrated CAM at SolidWorks World

Delcam, the world’s leading specialist supplier of machining software, will launch its integrated CAM system for SolidWorks at the SolidWorks World 2010 exhibition to be held in Anaheim, California, from 31^st January to 3rd February.  This initial version of Delcam for SolidWorks will include the company’s industry-leading technology for drilling and two- through five-axis milling.  Future releases will cover the full range of machining operations, including turning, mill-turn and wire EDM.

Delcam for SolidWorks combines the benefits associated with Delcam’s PowerMILL and FeatureCAM CAM systems.  It is based on Delcam’s proven machining algorithms that are already used by more than 30,000 customers around the world.  For example, the software will offer PowerMILL’s exceptional speed of toolpath calculation, plus all of advanced strategies for high-speed machining, including trochoidal roughing, spiral finishing and Delcam’s patented Race-Line Machining technique.  These strategies ensure increased productivity, maximum tool life and immaculate surface finish, even when cutting the hardest, most challenging materials.

At the same time, Delcam for SolidWorks will have the same strong focus on ease-of-use as FeatureCAM, including all of the knowledge-based automation that makes it so consistent and reliable.  Most importantly, the software will include FeatureCAM’s Automatic Feature Recognition system which automatically extracts detailed feature information from the SolidWorks model.  The system not only recognizes holes and pockets within the model but also groups similar holes by size and type automatically, and indentifies draft on pocket walls, and any fillets or chamfers within the pocket.  Once the features have been identified, Delcam for SolidWorks undertakes automatic selection of cutting tools, machining strategies, and feeds and speeds, to complete the programming operation.

Delcam for SolidWorks will, of course, be fully integrated into the SolidWorks environment so that the program looks and behaves like SolidWorks.  It will offer full associativity so that any changes in the CAD model will be reflected automatically in the toolpaths.  However, this associativity will be more intelligent than that offered in many other integrated CAM systems.  Delcam for SolidWorks will not simply modify the existing toolpaths but will also review the choice of cutting tools and machining strategies, and change them if necessary.

All toolpaths generated with Delcam for SolidWorks can be checked by the integrated simulation module on the computer before being passed to the machine tool.  Finally, the software comes with Delcam’s full range of post-processors to allow fast accurate data transfer to all leading types of machining equipment.

Delcam for SolidWorks marks a new direction for Delcam.  Previously, the company has supplied all of its machining software as stand-alone systems that can be linked to any CAD program.  "We have received many requests from customers that want to be able to undertake their CAM programming from within the SolidWorks environment,” explained Tom McCollough, Vice President of FeatureCAM Development, who has overseen the creation of the new program.  "Delcam for SolidWorks provides direct access to Delcam’s world-leading CAM algorithms from within this leading design software.”

At SolidWorks World, Delcam will meet with leading international SolidWorks dealers to establish a strong distribution channel for its new product.  Any SolidWorks representatives that are interested in reselling Delcam’s new software are invited to visit the company on booth 315.

Visit http://www.delcam.com/ for more information.

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• CNC Software Releases Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks
• LEDAS Adds Assemblies & Kinematics plug-in to Rhino

Schott Systeme Launching New Design & Machining Functions Within Pictures by PC 3.4 CAD/CAM Software.

Helping mold tool companies to remain competitive, German software developer Schott Systeme have frozen their pricing for the 12th year running, while at the same time launching a raft of new design and machining functions within their latest Pictures by PC 3.4 CAD/CAM software.

Outlining the company's pricing policy, company founder and owner Hans-Joachim Schott states, “Our aim is to enable our customers to invest in the very latest CAD/CAM technology, for every single CNC machine tool, while keeping both purchase and operating costs to a bare minimum.” This policy means that their complete moldtool package for design and machining continues to remain under €10,000. With ongoing maintenance costs also being a major consideration, Herr Schott continues “Our customers have to earn money with us, so we have retained our 25 year old policy of not charging for yearly maintenance, instead offering free life time support, while giving our customers the choice of when they wish to purchase major upgrades.”

Focussing on their new software release, Schott Systeme have developed this latest version with the streamlining of the moldtool design and machining process very much in mind. This process starts with the quick and ‘clean’ import of customer models, and here Schott Systeme have enhanced their data import facilities to include the very latest versions of STEP and 3D IGES Solid formats. However for customers having to deal with poor quality data, considerable thought has been put into actual model repair, with an entirely new range of advanced surfacing functionality and a more advanced ‘Healing’ suite. Their existing ‘Tribrid’ mixed modeling techniques have also been improved to help customers working with STL mesh models, enabling them to construct core and cavity molds from mixed mesh, solid and surface models. This is also being accompanied by a new suite of mesh analysis, repair and handling tools.

Pictures by PC 3.4 also sees a number of enhancements to speed up the machining of mold tools. Firstly the software now utilises multi core processing, with users receiving an instant improvement in toolpath calculation times from between 30-50% on dual core PC’s, and from 40-60% on quad core versions, with additional gains achievable by using their latest 64bit version. The company has in addition further enhanced their ‘Freeform Feature Recognition’ module, aiding in the automatic extraction of complex freeform mold features to machine, such as tapered walls and freeform chamfers.

The company will be using this years Euromold exhibition to both celebrate their 26th anniversary, in addition to showcasing these latest CAD/CAM enhancements. Visitors are welcome in Hall 11 on Stand C63.

Visit http://www.schott-systeme.com/ for detail information.

Roland Offers Free Upgrade for LEC-300 Inkjet Printer/Cutter

In appreciation of our LEC-300 customers' continued loyalty and support, we are pleased to provide a substantial upgrade free of charge. It's our way of showing customers our gratitude and our commitment to partnering with business everywhere to deliver the ultimate in quality, value and performance.

Our free LEC-300 Value-Up Service enables current LEC-300 customers to increase productivity by (1) dramatically reducing white waste ink and (2) being able to run the LEC-300 unattended. These benefits were realized thanks to the requests from our LEC-300 users. The upgrade kit includes a firmware updater and the latest Roland VersaWorks software. The kit can be downloaded to your computer from our web site.

Visit http://www.rolanddg.com/2009lec_valueup.html for detail.