Published 11/28/2019

Tech Trends: Software Selections

Take a glance at latest software releases and product updates from MoldMaking Technology suppliers, such as SURFCAM from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence’s Production Software, Siemens Digital Industries Software and Kubotek3D.

Heather Wintle

Contributing Writer, MMT, MoldMaking Technology

Software Features Performance Improvements

The latest release of SURFCAM from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence’s Production Software division introduces a five-axis ‘Tilt’ control strategy, combined with a ‘Barrel Cutter.’ A number of new and enhanced features in SURFCAM 2020.0 provide increased productivity for both milling and turning users. And the recently introduced SURFCAM Inspect module includes 13 upgrades. As well as the new ‘side tilt by contact point’ capability, the advanced five-axis cycle also offers further gouge checking in the Swarf command, along with extra control in all strategies.

Simcenter Testlab Enables Better Usage of Test-Based Data

Siemens Digital Industries Software announces the latest release of the Simcenter Testlab software suite, designed to help engineers make quicker decisions by increasing productivity in testing scenarios through new capabilities. It has been specifically designed to offer test teams all the capabilities they need to innovate smart products under tight schedules. Now, test-based data is used not only for validation and certification, but also earlier in the development cycle, during simulation and design.

App Provides Product Information and Holemaking Solutions

Allied Machine & Engineering, a global manufacturer of holemaking and finishing cutting tools, releases their free mobile app, Solution Hub, available now for download on both the Apple Store and Google Play. The app is an expansion of the original Allied Machine app, now reimagined as a centralized “hub” of Allied product information and holemaking solutions. Solution Hub offers quick access to free online utilities, videos, tap drill charts, operation manuals, technical guides and digital catalogs for drilling, boring, threading, reaming, roller-burnishing and more. With its sleek design, customers get all the essential components of Allied Machine’s website in a mobile-friendly layout for easier, on-the-go navigation.

Software Product Line Update Includes File Translators, Measurement and Visualization Features

Kubotek3D announced the 2.0 release of the K‑Compare CAD file discrepancy reporting and K-Display MCAD visualization software products. This release includes the maiden version of the K-Compare Revision product for creating reports detailing the differences between two versions of the same CAD model. The other three products in these product lines have been enhanced since their last major release with eight updated CAD file translators and several new measurement and/or visualization functions.

Software Includes Part Unfolding, Enhanced Reverse, Mold-Tool Design and Plastic Flow Analysis

The latest release of VISI CAD/CAM from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence’s Production Software business, improves mold and progressive-die design processes, along with enhancement to the Reverse module, specifically designed for the mold and die market. New part-unfolding technology has been introduced in VISI 2020.0, giving the ability to work directly on the original solid part without needing to extract the model’s skin. Sheet-metal part recognition now provides an improved graphical representation of the part analyzed by identifying bends, planar faces and features. Enhancements to the Reverse module provide new functionalities for both Reverse and Casting processes, giving greater flexibility for both processes. Features such as clipping plane management for point scanning, planar face and draft analysis on mesh data, adapting a mesh to a boundary and best fit improve the reverse process from point scanning to solid model generation, and manufacturing.

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