Hypertherm has announced a major version update to ProNest 2023, the company’s advanced CADCAM nesting software for automated profiling. The release contains a collection of new features and ongoing enhancements designed to help customers improve their operational efficiency while reducing non-value-added tasks.

ProNest 2023 includes full functionality for PlateSaver, a SureCut technology that combines the arc stability of X-Definition plasma with specialised software parameters to increase material utilisation when cutting mild steel. In addition, the latest ProNest contains enhancements to Production Manager, a web-based module that seamlessly integrates with Hypertherm’s Edge Connect CNC to capture real-time machine data automatically.

Further improvements include the ability to edit production times for completed nests, set job status changes and search for nests by customer. There is also a feature that merges XPR set-ups. The software will now automatically detect and merge changes made to the process parameters or bevel spreadsheets into a new set-up during installation. Customers can choose to use their existing customisations or the latest factory cut charts.

Finally, the software is even easier to use. Changes to the user interface include a new welcome screen and customisable ribbon. The welcome screen contains an informative dashboard that highlights training videos, application tips and other valuable resources, while the ribbon allows users to add, remove and rearrange tabs. Customers can save different ribbon configurations and easily switch between them as needed, to best fit their workflow.

Tom Stillwell, product marketing manager – CADCAM software products, says: “Our software developers have focused on reducing the waste inherent in most cutting operations. Features like PlateSaver do this by maximising the number of parts on a plate so customers have to buy fewer plates and waste less metal.”

For further information
www.hypertherm.com

Machine tool manufacturer WaldrichSiegen is defined by two words: accuracy and performance. The company specialises in large machine tools and its customers are mainly manufacturers of heavy marine engines, crankshafts and turbine rotors, all of whom are increasingly demanding. That is why WaldrichSiegen has invested in future-oriented technologies such as Vericut simulation, G-code verification and optimisation software.

With the production simulation of NC data, WaldrichSiegen recreates the real machining situation with a “virtual processing machine on the desk”.
The company not only uses Vericut simulation software to streamline its own manufacturing processes, but that of its customers too. Indeed, the company wants to use digital transformation and its integral elements, such as the digital twin in Vericut, to develop new fields of activity and provide customers with real added value.

Timo Hees, application technician at WaldrichSiegen, says: “When a customer orders a machine we often carry out studies upstream so that we can determine and evaluate subsequent machining times at an early stage. It’s well thought out and well done: we simulate the customer’s machining in Vericut to demonstrate the cutting and process times for the parts, even before the actual machine is installed at the customer’s premises. This makes it possible to make valid business decisions at all levels. Vericut is an integral part of the project. The machine is then made available to the customer with the kinematics developed in collaboration and tested by WaldrichSiegen. This is the only way to guarantee that all functions can be performed appropriately, so that the customer can already perform their own simulation and check internally in Vericut if everything is in line with what they had planned.”

For further information
www.cgtech.co.uk

PTC has launched the ninth version of its Creo CAD software with the promise of helping engineers deliver their best product designs in less time. Creo 9 includes core enhancements and advanced features that encourage innovation with emerging features, such as generative design, real-time simulation and additive manufacturing.

Brian Thompson, divisional vice president and general manager of Creo at PTC, says: “We made core improvements like the divide surface capability and stronger design intent management to benefit our users, while also focusing on advanced technologies that transform product design – including simulation, generative design and additive manufacturing. Finally, to better support our users, we’ve strengthened Creo’s ergonomics capabilities.”

Investments across the core modelling environment focus on usability and productivity, including updates to the model tree to make it faster to structure, document and understand design intent. In addition, advanced multi-physics from Ansys have been integrated into the Creo simulation portfolio, while new generative design technology adds important new capabilities that empower engineers to define optimisation studies with designed-in safety factors and natural frequency limits.

There is continued investment in model-based product design, especially in surface finishing and welds, so users can include specialised downstream manufacturing information right on the model, for better efficiency and communication.

Creo 9 also includes expanded ergonomic tools that help designers recognise the uniqueness of users, while helping ensure products comply with health, safety and workplace standards. Using the new vision field analysis capability, engineers can analyse users’ line of sight and field of view when driving or using equipment.

Last but not least, Creo 9 delivers improved control over stochastic and formula-based lattices and user-defined support structures for advanced additive manufacturing use cases.

For further information
www.ptc.com/en/products/creo

Heidenhain says that its new TNC7 CNC supports users from initial design to final machining, from one-off jobs to serial production, and from simple slotting to complex contours. Notably, the control platform lets machine manufacturers adapt the user interface to their machines and offers dynamic development potential for even greater functionality.

The TNC7 will be the basis of future control generations from Heidenhain. Beyond its new look and feel, the control features high-quality hardware components and an individually adaptable user interface. The interface helps users to achieve the best possible result with maximum speed and convenience. Different machining tasks call for individual work environments, which is why users can adapt their screen content through personal favourites, their own home menu for a faster start, and more. As a result, all information and functions are exactly where they need to be.

Based on data entry forms and dialogue guidance, the user interface ensures optimal convenience and navigation aided by a smooth and precise touchscreen. And thanks to its fast operating speed, the control reacts immediately to data input.

The TNC7 enhances familiar Klartext programming with smart functions and newly developed graphical programming. Users are able to draw contours directly on the touchscreen and convert them into dialogue-guided TNC Klartext programming code. Cycles and older contour programs can still be used, including already existing NC programs.

A new, high-performance editor function enables fast and reliable editing of even complex NC programs. Perfect visualisation of the machined part and work envelope make daily work easier, and programs can be simulated at any point without a change in operating mode.

Furthermore, the TNC7 includes the next generation of Dynamic Collision Monitoring (DCM), so users can enjoy complete machine protection thanks to the monitoring of machine elements, tools and clamping devices.

For further information
www.heidenhain.co.uk

Jetcam has released version 3.82 of its Jetcam Orders Controller (JOC) nesting automation software, which includes a raft of new features. Available in two versions – Premium and Premium Automation (PA) – JOC works in conjunction with Jetcam Expert nesting software to streamline and automate the CAD import and nesting process.

When ordering components, customers can now specify a desired sheet size and material stock item on a per-component basis, which will override default settings. This capability gives customers greater control when feeding orders from MRP.

CAD import sees several enhancements. Users can automatically set CAD files queued for import to be the active revision, where a revision is specified. Additional columns are now available to CSV import – order deliver, order priority, allow mirroring and allow common cutting – again shifting control to external systems to affect the nest with minimal user input.

Searching for components on the orders screen is now easier. Where users are using multiple order tabs, perhaps for different machines or shift patterns, they can now enter a component name and immediately see which order tabs include the component.

Component identification within the advanced reports designer has been completely rewritten to handle many more scenarios, such as extremely small components where text could not be easily placed on-screen. Customers also have the capability to modify order IDs on previously created nests – useful when reusing a static nest against a new order and then exporting information back to MRP/ERP.

The batch nest reports generator has also been replaced, vastly improving rendering time for multi-nest, complex reports, resulting in higher resolution nest drawings. A new option allows for components to be coloured on the nest and in tabular data, making part identification much simpler.

For further information
www.jetcam.net