With a wide range of production capabilities, France-based Erpro Group is able to adapt to the needs of its customers by offering them a range of prototype parts, from pre-production to mass production. In this environment, WorkPlan and WorkNC software from Hexagon play a key role.

The group uses production planning software from Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division to automate and manage processes such as job costing, quotations, sales order processing, planning, quality, time, purchasing and stock management.

Workshops in a number of companies throughout the group also use WorkNC, Hexagon’s automatic CNC software for surface and solid models in mould, die and tooling applications for two- to five-axis CNC programming.

“We abandoned the first ERP system we had acquired because it was not suited to our needs,” recalls Cyrille Vue, director at the holding company. “A new contract we were tendering for required simplicity, speed, agility and flexibility from the future software package. At the end of our comparison of various systems on the market, we chose WorkPlan software.”

He adds: “The flow of information in WorkPlan must be continuous and precise. This is particularly important when we’re looking at the profitability of an operation. In this respect, the software has fully supported the growth of Erpro Group, acting as its production planning backbone.”

The Erpro Group has also invested in Hexagon’s WorkNC CAM software, which now plays an important role in the workshops, particularly on the Erpro site.

“With WorkNC, we are able to machine a 3D-printed part on a five-axis machining centre, from the same CAD file,” says Vue.
This is where WORKNC comes into its own, as there are new parts that require manufacturing every day, all of which require new programs.

For further information
www.worknc.com

Asco Power Technologies, based in Welcome, North Carolina, manufactures automatic transfer switches, switchgear and other power management products. The company has used Jetcam Expert nesting software since receiving it alongside a Finn-Power 880 CNC punch press back in 1997. Notably, the software’s performance provided a stark contrast to the different nesting software systems being used to drive other machines in Asco’s facility at the time.

James Hunley, fabrication specialist recalls: “We used a range of nesting software systems supplied alongside machines at the time, with varying issues. One was particularly slow and not user-friendly – more of a CAD system than software designed for punching.”

After using Jetcam Expert alongside the other systems, Hunley realised that it was outperforming them in every way.
“We started to wonder what else it could drive,” he says. “It was the most user-friendly, and financially it was cheaper than other systems. Why, when we can do things faster in Jetcam, would we not use it for everything?”
The decision was made around 2005 to standardise on Jetcam Expert for all new machines.

“We’ve run a number of benchmark comparisons over the years and each time Jetcam outperformed other systems, both in terms of overall speed of programming and nesting efficiency,” says Hunley. “Programming was up to 75% quicker, while nesting efficiency could be as much as 14% better. In addition, the machine path optimisation allowed jobs to run faster with code generated by Jetcam.”

He concludes: “Over the years I’ve dealt with maybe six or seven other systems, and Jetcam is superior to all of them.”

For further information
www.jetcam.co.uk

A free evaluation licence from Alphacam meant that a manufacturer could put a machine awaiting commissioning to work producing essential PPE for front-line health workers. Codem Composites had recently invested in a pre-owned Blackman & White CNC cutting machine, with a bed capacity of 2.2 sq m, to cut carbon fibre pre-impregnated with an epoxy resin. The carbon fibre serves to make components for the motorsport industry and satellite dishes.

“The machine hadn’t been fully commissioned and we had post-processing issues with the software and interface – we didn’t want to invest several thousand pounds in software immediately, given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19,” explains managing director Kevin Doherty. “However, when we got the call asking us to cut NHS scrubs, we approached Alphacam to help get the machine up and running. Alphacam supported our efforts by providing us with a free evaluation licence.”

The software gave Codem complete flexibility and speed of production by optimising nests. Running at a capacity of around 500 full sets of scrubs a week, the Blackman & White machine cuts components for a group of volunteers in Northamptonshire to put together.

Alphacam accurately interrogates the DXF file for each of the patterns, and computes all permutations and variables.

“So rather than someone having to work everything out manually, such as what we are going to cut, how we are going to cut it, and what’s got to go where, we simply input which components we need in which sizes,” he says. “Alphacam does the rest, including helping us with the correct cutting speeds and feed rates. The first cut parts came off the machine within 24 hours of installing the software.”

For further information
www.alphacam.com

The range of machine tools from the Chiron Group has become even smarter with the new ProtectLine and CutLine software solutions. Available in the UK & Ireland from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG), the modules form part of the SmartLine portfolio, making it possible to increase productivity, improve part quality and boost machine availability and capacity.

ProtectLine allows companies to prevent potentially significant, expensive damage and production downtime. The system is characterised by a digital twin that runs ahead of the physical machine in ‘real time’ during operational mode. For instance, if the digital twin encounters problems or even a crash, the software shuts the machine down in a controlled manner that preventively protects it from collisions.

According to ETG, one of the main features that sets this software solution apart from other established systems is that the simulated model always corresponds to the current production situation. Machine crashes can be reliably prevented, even in the case of small adjustments or operating errors. A further advantage is that ProtectLine integrates directly into the new TouchLine control panel.

ProtectLine fully replicates the physical machine, including the complete machine tool, cutting tools and tool holders, as well as the workpiece. Just like a ‘real’ machine, the software enables virtual tool changes and simulates a virtual machining process in parallel to the actual machining process.

Through this simulation, the geometry of the virtual workpiece always corresponds to that of the actual workpiece, resulting in a realistic model. Used together, the ProcessLine and ProtectLine modules of the SmartLine portfolio form an integrated digital process chain.

For further information
www.engtechgroup.com

Bowers Group is introducing the latest Verisurf 3D CAD inspection software into the UK and Ireland marketplace. Offering a direct connection to Trimos portable arms and the C-Line series of portable CMMs, Verisurf software provides a 3D measurement platform for manufacturing inspection and reverse engineering.

Verisurf 3D metrology applications support quality inspection to verify design intent, but also find favour for tool building, guided assembly and more. The software allows manufacturers to overcome many challenges, such as complying with customer quality requirements, confirming conformance to design specifications, and automating and verifying the manual inspection process.

Notably, the software increases the CAD inspection capability of the Trimos Arm, alongside the ability to offer Trimos Arm 3D laser-scanning solutions that were previously unavailable. Verisurf can also build a CAD model from a physical part with its reverse-engineering capabilities, and is composed of integrated metrology modules available in specific combinations or single product suites.

Verisurf uses a windows-standard interface and opens all popular CAD file formats, as well as working with all CMMs, including portable arms, laser trackers and projectors, scanners, and photogrammetry systems.

The Inspection Suite is cost-effective and simple to expand as needs increase. With its easy-to-learn and easy-to-use interface, the software enables users to quickly verify finished parts against normal 3D data or blueprints. Complete first-article inspection also supports the generation of meaningful reports in seconds, using a variety of business presentation formats.

The 3D Scanning & Inspection suite integrates Verisurf’s CAD, measure and analysis modules, while the proprietary CAD-based architecture can read any file format, interoperate with any common portable CMM, and has flexible reporting capabilities.

For further information
www.bowersgroup.co.uk