MachineWorks Ltd. is a component software manufacturer that provides NC simulation and verification toolkits. The company's components have been adopted by software and hardware manufacturers looking for a solution that combines speed, accuracy and stability. It is ideally suited for complex machining simulation, clash detection and full machine simulation.

Missler Software has been using MachineWorks' components since 1997. Algorithms supplied by MachineWorks are used for verification purposes, notably collision control verification. The company regularly compares the options offered by leading companies which provide verification and analysis capabilities. The creation of algorithms in-house has also been considered by Missler Software at different stages in the past.

The result of regular benchmarking and analysis has seen MachineWorks come through as the clear leader in its field for Missler Software. According to Dominique Laffret, Vice President of Strategic Relationships at Missler Software, “There is really no comparison between the algorithms provided by MachineWorks and its competitors. Machine Works is the clear leader in this domain and all major CAM editors as well as machine-tool manufacturers work with the company. Working with such an industry specialist as MachineWorks is also a selling point for us. We have a very solid relationship with MachineWorks for many years now and we rely on the software's capabilities of identifying gouges, rest material and clashes. As we are a major player in the CAM industry we recognize that it is important that we concentrate on what we do best. We prefer to leave verification to the industry specialists and concentrate on the complex business of CAM development ourselves.”

You have heard on several occasions that TopSolid is a unique CAD/CAM solution. So here are just 2 reasons why TopSolid is such a powerful and unique solution.

TopSolid is the only 3D parametric modeling and design system that has been developed for use in a manufacturing environment and not purely for design. This means that all design functions have been created with a view to subsequent manufacturing operations. Up until now companies have had to patch together 2,3 or sometimes even more separate products from different suppliers to get a complete suite of design and manufacturing capability.

Put simply, TopSolid offers all the capabilities of the well known modeling products that have no machining ability at all and then combines these to a highly sophisticated CNC programming system that can simulate machine tools of all types including 5-axis milling, turning and combination multifunction machines.

The benefit of this unique approach to the end user is huge. To begin with there is absolutely no loss of data between the design and the machining stages. In fact, many useful additional items such as tolerances, surface finish and even machining techniques can be embedded into the model and be automatically interpreted and acted upon by the Cam system. Secondly the design model and the Cam program remain linked in a 2-way exchange of information. This means that when a customer requires a change it's simply a matter of changing the model and the toolpaths are automatically updated along with any drawings or other manufacturing information. TopSolid is a parametric modeler, which means that changes to the model are automatically adapted by the software. This makes even major alterations a piece of cake.

The second major distinguishing point of TopSolid is its expertise in different domains of activity. Based on the central TopSolid CAD/CAM modules specific solutions have been developed to meet the particular requirements of the following industries: TopSolid'Mold and TopSolid'Progress for tool makers, TopSolid'Design and TopSolid'Cam for the mechanical engineering industry, TopSolid'Wood and TopSolid'WoodCam for the wood industry, TopSolid'Fold and TopSolid'PunchCut for the sheet metal industry, etc. Such an integrated solution from design right through to manufacturing can help small and medium sized companies greatly improve quality and reduce costs. Due to the industry specific solutions offered by TopSolid comanies can work with materials which they would previosuly not have been capable of managing.

Missler Software has just launched its new German web site www.topsolid.de. The new site reflects the major importance of the German speaking market for Missler Software. Within Europe, Germany and its neighbouring German speaking countries represent Missler Software's most important export market.

Visitors can easily discover all there is to know about the TopSolid range of CAD/CAM solutions on offer, customer references, TopSolid resellers, product videos, etc. Market specific information as well as technical information is available in German.

Missler Software is currently working on updating its Chinese and Italian web sites which should be available over the coming weeks.

With increasing market growth, the Italian nautical sector is a source of technological innovation and a worldwide reference for its know-how and continued technological research. The economical success enjoyed by this sector has pushed it to invest in new technology and thereby greatly increase its know-how (to levels close to those enjoyed in the automobile sector)

The universities of Genova and La Spezia (sister universities) play an important role in the success of the Italian marine industry and have trained its principal architects. Such architects as Massimo Picco from Picco Yacht Design studied in this school. In order to increase the value-added of its students and to prepare them for a very competitive market, professors Ferrando and Garroni decided to integrate a new CAD system in the university. After analysing the principal CAD solutions on the marketplace TopSolid was chosen.

TopSolid is an integrated CAD/CAM solution which is capable of offering powerful tools from 2D design to the total management of complex assemblies. Based on a solid-wire frame hybrid kernel, TopSolid manages all stages of a project from the initial hull draft until the completion of the interior design. Another highly differentiating feature of TopSolid is that it offers job-specific solutions for all elements found on a boat: sheet metal structures, piping, interior design, specific component libraries for the industry, etc. Wood and sheet metal solutions are available thereby offering a complete CAD/CAM solution (TopSolid'Wood, TopSolid'WoodCam, TopSolid'PunchCut, …)

Missler Software Italy has had notable success in the nautical sector in Italy over the past years with such renowned references as: Vismara Yacht Design, Picco Yacht Design, OpacMare, MMGI, Cori Sail… The departments of Naval Architecture and Industrial Design of the Universities of Genova and La Spezia are now equipped with 70 TopSolid'Design licences, substantially adding to this success.

Leipert Maschinenbau GmbH specializes in high-precision machining of oversize heavyweight parts. Leipert uses Missler Software's TopSolid'Cam 3D CAD/CAM solution for CAM programming, the objective being to increase overall productivity and the quality of CNC programs. The company estimates an increase in productivity between 20 and 30% thanks to TopSolid'Cam.

Using 3D for CAM programming also ensures that Leipert gets ever more complex orders from their customers, such as the complete machining of a turbine casing including intermediate assembly. “We have become more competitive and can serve new customers,” says Jeroen van de Ven.

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You are a TopSolid operator and you would like some tips on what your software is capable of doing. Each newsletter will include a highlight of the month accompanied by an avi of a TopSolid module.
This month let's take a look at TopSolid'Wood machining processes.

Video commentary

The « Define tool » function (which can be found in the menu Assembly, define component) allows one or several processes to be associated to a component. There are 4 major process families:

• Local operation on a shape
• Union of shapes
• Substraction of shapes
• Concatenation of profiles

The aim of a tool is to activate the processes of a model in the assembly document. The component thereby creates its own machining operations which eliminates any subsequent assembly errors. (we do not make a hole to put a dowel in it but rather a dowel is created which makes its own hole)

With the 2006 version of TopSolid'Wood it is possible to define a propagation in terms of a tool. In the attached example the aim is to obtain a shelf component and bracket (to hold the shelf in place) which automate the drilling and the shelf creates its own multi-drilling.

The fact that we propagate the bracket process enables us to drill several holes in one go. This evolution is compatible with certain types of propagation operations such as linear, circular, rectangular, matrix, multiplication and the sum of all these as well as specific wood propagations such as step, distance and centred step.

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All Missler Software and reseller trade fairs will be published here each month and can also be found on http://www.topsolid.com/news/shows/showslist.asp