SolidWorks 2018 features an integrated, end-to-end solution for the design-to-manufacturing process that enables businesses of any size to rethink how components and products are made. Powered by Dassault Systèmes’ 3DExperience platform, SolidWorks 2018 supports a complete design through manufacturing strategy with solutions that simplify the interactions between disciplines across the product development workflow.

“Lots of designs involve welding plate and sheet-metal parts, and most people use ‘tab and slot’ techniques for self-fixturing the parts for welding,” says Edson Gebo, owner, Digital Detail & Design. “The new tab and slot feature saves a lot of time versus having to create these features manually, which helps get designs to the shop faster.”
With SolidWorks 2018, teams can collaborate concurrently to more rapidly and cost-efficiently design a product or part, validate its function and manufacturability, manage its data and related processes, streamline and automate its manufacturing, and inspect it. Any changes in design or manufacturing are fast and easy to manage, and automatically flow to all related models, programs, drawings and documentation, thanks to intellectual property embedded early on in the design process.
A key feature in the latest version of SolidWorks is SolidWorks CAM, a new application that provides rules-based machining with knowledge capture to allow for the automation of manufacturing programming. Designers and engineers can gain a greater understanding of how their designs are made, make more informed decisions, and quickly create prototype parts and manufacture in-house to control quality, cost and delivery. This application also enables teams to execute new build-to-order strategies with custom parts that are automatically designed and programmed in seconds rather than hours.
For further information www.solidworks.co.uk

Among the companies to first introduce simultaneous five-axis machining into its region has chosen the VISI integrated CADCAM system from Vero Software to drive its CNC machine tools.

Modulo Tre, which was founded in 1995 by partners Alessandro Corà, Marco Dal Bianco and Gilberto Dal Pozzo, now has a large fleet of latest-generation machines. Adopting five-axis technology means the company can machine a range of components such as hollow and grooved profiles, with deep and sloping holes, without material constraints.
Here, the need for reliable and simple CADCAM integration led Modulo Tre – based at Schio, Northern Vicenza in Italy – to introduce VISI.
“For complex five-axis machining, it’s crucial to be able to drive almost with your eyes closed, avoiding collisions and tool issues that could compromise the entire workpiece machining process,” says Corà. “Machines often work round-the-clock, so a simulator is indispensable for operations in unattended areas.”
Among the most popular VISI functionality, according to Dal Bianco, is the ability to automatically recognise machined features such as holes and pockets, and generate the appropriate toolpaths. He says that as VISI is an integrated system, machining individual plates can be accomplished automatically through feature recognition: “All holes are recognised automatically and the correct machining cycle applied. For complex machining, VISI allows us to handle high-speed and five-axis operations, as well as traditional milling.”
VISI also delivers a wide range of multi-axis machining strategies suited to the development of turbine impellers, one of Modulo Tre’s main business areas.
For further information www.visicadcam.com