Topsolid opens two new subsidiaries

France headquartered Topsolid is pursuing its international growth strategy with the acquisition of two of its historical distributors in Belgium and the Czech Republic.

These new acquisitions are part of the Topsolid 4.0 strategic plan, which aims to accelerate its international development and its product offering as part of industry’s digitalisation.

Richard Lamure, CEO of Topsolid Group SAS, says: “We had two very good opportunities to expand our direct presence abroad. I’m very pleased to expand the Topsolid family and further strengthen our presence in Europe.”
A Topsolid partner for over 17 years, Belgium-based 4D Services has a strong team and recognised technical expertise. The company, which now becomes Topsolid Belgium, will be managed by Pieter Cornelis and Kurt Neuckermans, the two existing managers of 4D Services, who state: “Our common objective is to strengthen our operational capacities on technical and commercial levels. This will help us continue providing more service to our customers and reinforce our presence in the Belgian market.”

Centersoft has been present for 10 years in the group’s network of 70 distributors and is the only TopSolid reseller in the Czech Republic. Topsolid Czech will be managed by Karel Preis, CEO of Centersoft, who says: “We’re very confident about the development prospects of Topsolid Czech. The Czech Republic is historically a country with a strong mechanical culture,

and Topsolid CADCAM solutions – in particular TopSolid’Cam – have great potential for success.”

For further information www.topsolid.com

Vericut V9.1 raises bar for simulation

The latest Vericut version 9.1 CNC machine simulation, verification and optimisation software from CG Tech is said to raise the bar for CNC simulation with several new features that increase efficiency and empower users to do more in less time.

New visibility options, plus enhancements to tool-path optimisation, additive manufacturing, tooling and multi-tool stations, and measuring and inspection/reporting, are just a few of the noteworthy features in this latest release. Hundreds of customer-driven improvements and software requests were also incorporated in the new version.

“Vericut 9.1 continues to enhance the user experience through ongoing advancements in graphics and display controls, streamlined user controls, and more new capabilities and features than ever before,” says product manager, Gene Granata. “Version 9.1 also introduces a ‘Learn’ mode for Force optimisation – a form of artificial intelligence for faster/easier NC program optimisation. Using Learn mode, almost anyone can create highly optimised NC programs from existing programs, without the need to start again.”

New visibility features have been added to the project tree and Vericut’s right-click convenience menus for components and models, enabling users to toggle between visible and invisible states, or to enable/disable 3D objects for the simulation. Users can quickly see unobstructed views of the cutting process and gain better access to the part by removing enclosures, models of sheet metal or shrouding, and other ‘in-the-way’ objects via ‘Invisible’ or ‘disable’ actions.

Features have also been added to ‘Auto-Diff’, giving users a higher degree of control over component visibility, such as when fixture models should appear.

For further information www.cgtech.com

Compressor partnership

Lontra, a Midlands-based specialist in engineering, manufacturing and digital services, has named Blyth-based Universal Wolf as manufacturing partner for its Blade Compressor enclosures.

With production due to start this month, the deal is expected to scale over time to many millions of pounds per annum for Lontra’s Northumberland-based partner. Lontra’s Blade Compressor is said to be the first clean-sheet compressor design in over 80 years, and can be used across a variety of engineering-based sectors, including aerospace and automotive.

For further information www.lontra.co.uk

OAS reaches anniversary

The Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) training centre is celebrating its one-year anniversary as the first learners at the state-of-the-art Culham-based facility begin their on-the-job training.

OAS, based at Culham Science Centre near Abingdon, offers high-quality training for apprentice engineers and technicians at technology businesses in the Thames Valley. The facility has already delivered training to over 90 learners working for more than 20 local businesses, and the team has ambitious plans for the next 12 months.

For further information www.oas.ukaea.uk

Robot controller improves precision

Following several years of development, TM Robotics has released the new TS5000 robot controller. The new controller forms a launch pad for the next generation of industrial robots from Shibaura Machine — formerly known as Toshiba Machine. Boasting faster position control, the TS5000 improves robot precision and shortens cycle times.

The TS5000 robot controller has been engineered by Shibaura Machine’s experts in Japan. Compared with previous controllers, the TS5000 provides improved synchronisation and control. Positioning cycles are three times faster than previous models, allowing more control during fast movements. Combined with an automatic adjustment function for acceleration, these features reduce vibration and stress.

Communication functions of the TS5000 have also been enhanced. The controller enables real-time data transmission between the robot and controller, allowing manufacturers to integrate the system into a smart factory environment. Additionally, this improved communication enables vibration analysis for predictive and preventative maintenance.

The new TS5000 has dedicated ports for status feedback and control, allowing additional ports for priority communications such as vision interfacing and control. For non-protocol communication, the TS5000 boasts eight ports — a four-fold increase on the previous TS3000 model.

As well as improved communication, the TS5000’s physical features have been upgraded. Achieving a 33% smaller footprint than previous controllers and weighing just 10 kg, the controller has minimal impact on factory footprint. This compact design also allows for easy installation.

Alongside the new controller, TM Robotics has released the new TP5000 teach pendant as an optional add-on. Sometimes referred to as a ‘teach box’, a robot’s teach pendant is used to control the robot manually. This addition is important for maintenance and troubleshooting purposes, as well as fine tuning the robot after installation is complete.

For further information www.tmrobotics.com