Advanced tube simulation software from Unison

New Opt2Sim Tube bending simulation software is now available from Unison Ltd, the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation.

“In developing Opt2Sim Tube, our goal was to offer a tube simulation product that would make it simpler and more straightforward than ever before to create virtual parts ready for uploading bending data to the machine,” says Unison’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering. “In Opt2Sim Tube, we give users the ability to drag and drop STEP files into the software program and extract tube data instantly. In addition, users can draw parts by simply entering XYZ or YBC co-ordinates, viewing them in 3D. Bend data is quickly converted into printable reports and users can also extractindividual tube data.”

Unison’s Opt2Sim Tube software sits within the company’s wider Opt2Sim suite of 3D simulation software programs. Developed for ‘design to manufacture’ production strategies, Opt2Sim tube-bending simulation software uses machine and component data to provide a precise, virtual insight into the tube-bending process before commencing production.

Products within the Opt2Sim software suite include a version where both CAD modelling capability and the control engine combine toprovide accurate simulation and enhanced collision detection. Believed to provide unique capabilities for enhanced batch processing, simulated bending takes place on an exact CAD representation of the Unison Breeze or Synergy machine.

Additional options include advanced AI that will always aim to find a solution to even the most complex tube geometry, or whenever detecting a potential collision between tube and machine. The AI feature is particularly useful with right/left machines and when assisting in the development of highly complex parts, such as those used in the oil and gas industry.
For further information www.unisonltd.com

Rapid growth underpinned by PSL Datatrack

Managers at subcontract specialist ADP Precision Engineering were on the lookout for a new production control system following accelerated growth of the business. The Newcastle-based company had been relying upon its Sage 50 accounting software to control production, supported by the manual input of manufacturing data into Excel spreadsheets and Word documents.

ADP recognised the need for software bespoke to the needs of the subcontract precision engineering industry and therefore selected PSL Datatrack, which would not only improve the administration of the company’s existing production processes, but also create a platform for the future.

Anthony Ingledew, ADP’s managing director, says: “We previously had to create a lot of manual documentation but, after the initial setup of PSL Datatrack, the result was a more centralised, efficient and streamlined system, which massively aids the flow of our the business.”

ADP acquired a number of PSL Datatrack modules covering sales, administration, purchasing, technical functions (including process layouts and work in progress), shop-floor data collection, finance and management. It is now possible to import invoicing data to Sage 50, which is now purely for accounting purposes.

One of the initial advantages for ADP was the time saved raising quotations, which became far more accurate and allowed quick adjustment for repeat business.

“We also found the training to be very clear and easy to implement, moving at a pace that suited us,” says Ingledew.“In addition, after-sales support has been excellent. There were a few things that we wanted to tweak, or add to certain reports, and these requests were dealt with in no time by PSL Datatrack.”
For further information www.psldatatrack.com

G-code simulation now available in Mastercam

CNC Software, developer of MastercamCADCAM software, is partnering with CAMWERK to provide customers with an easy to use fully-integrated machine solution called NC2Check.
The integration gives Mastercam customers a solution for avoiding machine damage, downtimes and failures, and makes production and programming even more efficient and error-free.

N2Check precisely simulates the CNC machine and the entire process of machining. By verifying the NC code through NC2Check, users have an NC code-based virtual machine simulation of all movements. NC2Check helps users detect errors that lead to machine downtime, damage to the workpiece, or even expensive collisions on CNC machines before actual machining even begins.

“We are excited to partner with CAMWERK on a complete mapping of the entire machine tool and simulation of NC programs based on G-code and make it available to over 300,000 users,” says Stas Mylek, partnership programmemanager at CNC Software. “The collaborative effort between both companies provides Mastercam users complete machine simulation for detecting issues such as travel limits or potential workpiece collisions before machining takes place.”

NC2Check is an add-on to Mastercam that installs as a single button on the ribbon bar interface. The single button allows users to launch NC2Check to provide full simulation and G-code verification from within the Mastercam session.

Bircan Öztürk, director for CAMWERK, says: “With NC2Check, you can see collisions and errors directly on your PC and run on your machines completely virtually. We do not offer G-code simulation in the classic definition, we offer our customers the freedom to create ideas and creatively use ideas elsewhere in the company instead of looking for errors in the NC program.”
For further information www.mastercam.com

PTC delivers cloud-native simulation in Onshape

PTC has announced the availability of cloud-native simulation as part of its Onshapeproduct development platform. Onshape Simulation enables designers and engineers to perform FEA in a fast and simple way, supporting them to make informed design decisions with structural analysis throughout the product development process.

According to PTC, Onshape is the only CAD and product data management (PDM) tool to offer simulation interwoven with the core design and assembly environment, which helps reduce the time, effort and workflows required to set up and calculate structural analysis.

“This is the first time that CAD, PDM and simulation have all been unified in one cloud-native environment,” says Greg Brown, vice president of Onshape Product Management.
“It’san extremely efficient way for designers to simulate full assemblies, helping them make important time, material and quality decisions earlier in the design process.”

With Onshape Simulation, designers receive accurate mechanical guidance, such as strength and rigidity, without ever leaving the design environment. The CAD model and the simulation model are the same definition, which simplifies the assembly set-up for simulation.

Notably, Onshape uses the existing assembly mates in the definition of the part-to-part interactions, eliminating the need to de-feature, simplify or set up connections for models before running simulations. Users can also explore design variations quickly by simultaneously designing and analysing assemblies with no pre-processing or meshing required. Simulation results automatically refresh when users make changes to Onshape models.

As part of an Onshape document, simulations are version-controlled with built-in PDM – including simulations for all design variations – allowing instant sharing with other users for simple collaboration and decision making.
For further information www.onshape.com

Large order for BAE Systems

Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement with BAE Systems to purchase 436 BvS10 all-terrain vehicles.The joint procurement, worth $760m, is in support of Arctic operations for the Collaborative All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) programme.
“We‘re seeing increased interest from numerous countries for the extreme mobility capabilities offered by the BvS10 and its unarmoured sister vehicle, Beowulf,” says Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hägglunds, which manufactures the vehicles in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.
For further information www.baesystems.com