Product category:
Electrical design software
News Release from: Delcam | Subject: PS-Moldmaker 3D
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 25 April 2006
Mould design software gets Birmingham
outing
Latest version of mould design software to be shown at the Mach exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham, from 15th to 19th May.
Delcam will show the latest version of its PS-Moldmaker 3D mould design software at the Mach exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham, from 15th to 19th May The main change in this release is much wider use of Delcam's Power Features technology within the databases of standard components
This will make mould design with the software faster, both in the generation of the initial design and when making design modifications.
Other enhancements in the release include full integration of the assembly modelling functionality with the solid modelling commands and automated production of drawings.
Parametric components that contain Power Features react automatically as they are placed within an assembly, adding the necessary fit-features to the connecting components.
For example, if the designer adds an ejector pin to the mould assembly, the software will automatically create the corresponding hole features in the plates through which it passes.
Furthermore, the tolerances between the various components are also defined automatically.
Thus, a sealing-fit hole is placed in the die block and the necessary clearance allowance added to the holes in all the other plates through which the pin passes.
This automatic creation of relationships makes the development of the overall design much quicker than other 3D mould design systems and makes errors in the design process less likely.
Power Features maintain relationships in a similar way to parametric objects in other CAD systems so that, for example, if the ejector pin is moved subsequently, all the associated holes move with it.
However, the degree of associativity is more flexible, such that all component dimensions, tolerances and positions can be modified either individually, as part of a group of similar parts or by using a global edit for multiple groups of components.
As well as making it easier to modify the size and position of components, the release also makes it simpler to swap one component for another.
The component wizard allows changes to be made quickly and easily, either by choosing alternative standard parts from the catalogues or by entering custom sizes.
Assembly modelling is no longer a separate module within PS-Moldmaker.
This lets the user work on individual components and assembly relationships within the same environment without switching from one module to another.
As well as making the software faster to use, this closer integration will make it easier for new users to learn.
All identical parts within an assembly are automatically recognised as instances of the same component so preventing unnecessary duplication of data.
This reduces overall model sizes and makes regeneration of the model after design changes faster.
The new drawing production process can generate automatically the general assembly and all the component drawings required for manufacturing and inspection.
The sole exception is stepped sections, which still need to be produced manually.
With the high degree of automation, the time needed to produce a complete set of drawings for even a complex mould should be no longer than a day.
This compares with the two or three weeks that are typically needed with current drawing methods.
Furthermore, all dimensions are displayed on the drawings as tables of parameters.
This makes it easier and quicker to program 2D machining operations than the more traditional drawing layout with dimensions displayed all around the drawing. Request a free brochure from Delcam ...
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