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Delcam will launch a new modelling partner product for its PartMaker CAM system for turn-mill equipment and Swiss-type lathes at the IMTS 2010 exhibition to be held in Chicago from 13th to 17th September. The new product, called the PowerSHAPE Companion for PartMaker, is based on Delcam's PowerSHAPE design software, which is already used at thousands of subcontractors and toolmakers around the world alongside Delcam's PowerMILL CAM system for high-speed and five-axis machining. This new 3D CAD offering includes functionality for creating solid models, data repair, editing part designs for manufacture, and for the design of machining accessories, such as tool holders and machine components.
Like the PartMaker CAM suite, the PowerSHAPE Companion for PartMaker is based on the Parasolid Solid modelling kernel, assuring interoperability with both PartMaker and all other major CAD/CAM systems.
The data repair functionality in the PowerSHAPE Companion for PartMaker includes PowerSHAPE's Solid Doctor. This allows users to read in, and repair, models from all sources, including standard formats like IGES and STEP, plus native files, such as CATIA, Siemens NX and Pro/Engineer, and output a file that can be read directly into PartMaker.
With the Solid Doctor, PartMaker users will be able to tackle all the common problems that can be found when translating low-precision and incomplete data, including gaps and overlaps between surfaces, or duplicated and missing surfaces, and generate a valid, high-precision solid model ready for programming.
The Solid Doctor uses a combination of automatic data repair tools, plus surface creation and editing options available within PowerSHAPE. This combination means that simple repairs can be carried out quickly and easily, while more complex problems can be overcome by deleting and replacing surfaces within the model.
The PowerSHAPE Companion for PartMaker will allow user to create 3D solid models from 2D drawings. It will also provide of range of other sophisticated CAD tools.
The PowerSHAPE Companion for PartMaker is also able to modify any aspects of the part that might cause difficulties in manufacturing. These could include adding chamfers to avoid secondary operations like de-burring, or adjusting or removing fillets that could add machining time and cost to a part. The same tools can also be used to generate any extra geometry needed for machining.
Additionally, the extra modelling tools can also be used in conjunction with PartMaker's Full Machine Simulation module to design machine components includes turrets, gang slides or custom tool holders.
"The PowerSHAPE Companion for PartMaker will help PartMaker users be more capable in a competitive global manufacturing environment,'' according to Hanan Fishman, President of the PartMaker Division of Delcam Plc. "This new product gives our users the ability to better meet their customers ever-increasing engineering demands and will allow them to manufacture more sophisticated and complicated parts in a more cost-effective manner. Being able to undertake file repair and other modelling tasks on the shop floor gives extra capabilities to PartMaker users that can both make them more productive and minimize machine down time.''
"As this new product is based on Delcam's PowerSHAPE design product, it is easily the most capable 3D-design product being offered in conjunction with a PC-based CAM system on the market today. It will be supported directly by PartMaker's industry-leading support team, providing users a single source of support for their engineering and manufacturing needs,'' added Mr. Fishman.
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