Software Streamlines Design to Manufacturing Process

 

HCL Technologies releases CAMWorks ShopFloor, which provides tools for companies to meet smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 initiatives by moving beyond 2D drawings or static digital files. With CAMWorks ShopFloor, 3D digital models capture extensive data from the part design files and provide tools that machinists can utilize to produce parts with fewer miscommunications between the design and manufacturing departments.

The software reduces errors by eliminating the need to repeatedly transfer part data to 2D drawings or other formats. Upon completion of a CAD part file, the designer publishes a CAMWorks ShopFloor file, which is transferred to the machinist. CAMWorks ShopFloor includes a complete CAD viewer, allowing the machinist to display the native design model with GD&T dimensional information and annotations of the 3D part model. Machinists can rotate, zoom, pan and section view the model. They can also take linear, radial, angular and area measurements. The MBD and PMI data can be viewed, searched and filtered.

CAMWorks ShopFloor includes automatic file checking to detect changes in either the CAD or CAM file and alert the user, to avoid machining the wrong revision of the part and maintain associativity along the digital thread. In addition to full toolpath simulation, the software also includes a step-through simulation option for each operation or the entire program. This gives the machinist the option to review each operation at the machine, without walking the machine through each cutting step or dry-running the program. Digital setup sheets and tool lists are also generated and can be sent along with the 3D part models and CNC programs.