Welcome to the second TopSolid enduser newsletter. We are pleased to announce that we have had many new subscriptions to the newsletter over the month of October. We are convinced that this bulletin will provide interesting and informative news on the TopSolid range and what’s happening in Missler Software and with our resellers. For any feedback or questions please contact em.hickey@topsolid.com.

Some of the key differentiating points of TopSolid’Mold are:

• Unbeatable draft creation – TopSolid’Mold is one of the only software’s capable of generating 2D drafts to meet mold makers needs. It offers all the specific functions of mold makers in the draft creation.
  
• Management of the entire tool – TopSolid’Mold manages both the molded product and the carcass of the mold.
  
• An industry-specific solution – TopSolid’Mold is a solution designed especially for the mold making industry. Missler Software has worked with the tool-making sector for the past 15 years and listens and responds to toolmakers needs.
  
• Replacement of parts – TopSolid’Mold is capable of detecting changes made to the imported part and is equipped with an assistant to deal with necessary modifications to the mold-parting surface.
  
• Integration with TopSolid’Cam – Designing tools with TopSolid’Mold involves the use of plaques, die sets and components recognized by TopSolid’Cam. This means that the machining schedule is automatically generated in 2D and 3D. As in the draft creation any changes made to the mold will be automatically updated in the machining process.

Thanks to the full integration between TopSolid’Design, TopSolid’Mold and TopSolid’Cam a complete integration is possible from design to the manufacture of products and molds.

Matsushita is a perfect example of a customer which illustrates product and mold design under the same roof and using the same software In 1996 the Panasonic division of Matsushita decided it was time to invest in a 3D CAD software. The key criteria for the company was finding one software capable of designing both the product and the mold. TopSolid, one of the only solutions capable of responding to this requirement, was chosen by Panasonic and the company is now equipped with 55 TopSolid stations.

TopSolid has permitted Matsushita to save valuable time in the 3D design of parts and tools. According to a Matsushita engineer “The leadtime for the mold base has decreased from 55 days down to 29 days for the front panel of the small stereo system, and 45 days down to 24 days for the portable CD player.” The automatic recognition of any modifications made on the part in subsequent tool fabrication has also proved to be an important factor for the company.

TopSolid’Mold at Brazilian mold-making seminar

Fernando Lucio Software, TopSolid reseller in Brazil, has recently participated in a mold making seminar in Brazil. Participating in the seminar with the TopSolid reseller were such well known companies as Arburg (injector machine manufacturers), Simcon (injection simulation), Moldmasters (hot runner manufacturers) etc. All participants are major players in the plastics sector and specialized in different areas of the injection mold process. Missler Software, collaborates closely with companies in the mold making sector such as Hasco, Strack Normalien, Rabourdin, Polimold, etc. Arburg in Germany is in fact a TopSolid customer, using TopSolid’Cam for the machining of injection machines.

The seminar welcomed in the region of 200 managers, directors and supervisors of mold making companies. Collaboration among companies of all stages of the mold making process was a central theme of the seminar and gave visitors an opportunity to get valuable information from industry experts.

TopSolid’Wood present at leading construction trade fair in France

TopSolid’Wood, the TopSolid module dedicated to the wood industry, will be present at the important French construction trade fair Batimat, 7-12 November.

TopSolid’Wood is an integrated design, manufacturing and management (CAD/CAM/PDM) software specialized for wood processing. It comprises comprehensive standard components and processes specific to the wood industry. It offers powerful modelling functions, optimised assembly management and facilitated communication with customers and manufacturing. TopSolid’Wood was officially launched on the international market at the World trade fair for the Forestry and Wood Industries, Ligna in May 2005. With a 60% increase in sales in France in 2004, TopSolid’Wood is quickly becoming a CAD/CAM reference in the wood industry.

Wünkhaus specializes in the design, development and production of electrical components and appliances for mines. The company is equipped with 3 TopSolid’Pro, 1 TopSolid’Cam and 1 TopSolid’Mold and is a perfect example of successful CAD/CAM integration from design right through to manufacturing.

Click here for the rest of the report

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 take a look at TopSolid’Mold’s ejector pins:

Video commentary
Ejector Pins, Insertion, Head trimming

Thanks to TopSolid’Mold there are specific processes for the insertion of ejector pins in your mold design which allow a trimming of these ejector pin heads if located too close together. After the trimming operation you can manage a common pocket with different settings. If you add an ejector pin later on TopSolid’Mold will add this in the common pocket provided the height of the new pin is compatible. If this is not the case TopSolid’Mold will create a specific pocket for this ejector pin.

Minimum requirements to read videos

• To read the AVI file the Techsmith codec has to be installed first, click here to download it.
• To read the WMV file the lastest version of Windows Media Player available here is required.

November is a busy month for TopSolid trade fairs. With participation in education, mechanical, mold making, sheet metal and subcontracting trade fairs the diversity of the TopSolid line will be exhibited.

Missler Software is currently in full preparation for the launch of TopSolid’2006. Resellers will receive necessary product information at the 5th International Reseller Conference, 26-29 October, and reseller training will take place over the month of November and December to be ready for the launch before the end of 2005. Further information re the launch of TopSolid’2006 will be available in future editions of the enduser newsletter.