Integrated CAD/CAM At Its Best 

Missler Software and HOMAG proudly announce a high-level strategic partnership between the 2 companies. HOMAG customers will profit from this partnership thanks to TopSolid'WoodCam directly running their machines. TopSolid'Wood, Missler Software's integrated CAD/CAM solution for the wood industry, outputs to the CNC plant floor through TopSolid'WoodCam, an integrated CAM solution which automatically produces the ISO code, via a post processor, to manufacture parts on CNC machinery.

The HOMAG Group is a world-leading manufacturer of machines, installations and systems and is considered one of the only manufacturers offering complete solutions in woodworking. The group manufacturers sawing, pressing and laminating, sizing, edge banding, drilling, assembly, packaging, handling and grinding equipment. In addition to furniture making and assembly parts for walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors the HOMAG Group also manufactures machines for the building of wooden houses.

The cooperation of HOMAG and Missler Software represents a big advantage for both companies. According to Jean-Marie Pattberg, head of CAD/CAM applications at HOMAG: “Missler Software is currently working with our team in order to develop specific post processors to optimise the control of HOMAG machines with TopSolid'WoodCam. The following functions have been worked on: milling, drilling, sawing, edge banding, aggregates, C-axis, 5-axis (simultaneous) machining. As a company we not only sell high-quality machines; it is very important for us to offer excellent CAM software to our customers. We are, therefore, very happy to work with Missler Software and its global reseller network to provide machines and software that work for the wood industry.“

Dominique Laffret , Vice President for strategic relationships at Missler Software adds: “It is important for us to work closely with leading machine manufacturers like HOMAG. Our aim is to closely follow the development of new machines and adapt our software to machine trends. Currently we already benefit from complete associativity between design and manufacturing and have developed specific functions to control HOMAG multifunction machines.”

In a recent PLM report published in France "Marché Français du PLM 2007" Missler Software was classified as "2nd CAD and 2nd CAM Mid Range software developer in France, in front of Autodesk and SolidWorks."

This is certainly a remarkable result for Missler Software whose position has been underestimated by many in the past (see www.01consulting.net). According to Marc Choquin, Sales Director France: "Missler Software has been an important CAD/CAM developer for 20 years now. This report confirms what we have known internally within the company for a long time: TopSolid is a leading CAD and CAM solution worldwide."

Within France the name TopSolid is often associated with pure CAM. While TopSolid'Cam is probably the Number 1 CAM solution used in France (according to internal Missler Software management) TopSolid'Design is also a prominent CAD mechanical software on the market. People sometimes forget that TopSolid'Design is a very powerful design solution (which can be used completely independently from the rest of the TopSolid range. Nonetheless, greatest productivity gains are achieved when using the integrated CAD/CAM TopSolid solution)

This report clearly shows the dominance of TopSolid in both CAD and CAM Mid Range mechanical markets in France.

You too can become a TopSolid Design Contest winner!

And you could win one of the following prizes:

• A state-of-the-art laptop computer
• A smartphone
• An integrated PDA/GPA
• An all expenses paid weekend away for 2
• An Ipod

For further details and contest rules see www.topsolid.com/news/designcontest

Don't forget that all participating projects must be submitted by 15 December 2007

Missler Software and resellers have recently taken part in the International flagship metalworking trade fair, EMO (which closed its doors in Hannover last week). With 166,000 visitors from right across the globe visiting the metalworking fair and over 2000 exhibitors, this year's show can be considered a great success.

EMO is without a doubt one of Missler Software's most important international trade fairs. According to Arnaud de Boisboissel, International Sales Director at Missler Software "It is a unique meeting point for our customers and resellers. At this year's show we had a large corporate stand and we were also present on the stands of 2 leading machine tool manufacturers."

Missler Software has just launched its new Polish web site www.topsolid.pl in collaboration with its Polish VAR TopSolution. Missler Software has been present on the Polish market since 2004 and the new corporate web site is an indication of the company's commitment to this 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 now available in Polish. This new web site for the Polish market adds itself to the list of TopSolid web sites available in English, French, German, Brazilian, Chinese, Italian (and Spanish and Portuguese before the end of the year).

TopSolution, TopSolid VAR in Poland , targets 3 main markets with the TopSolid range of software: Wood making, Mold making and Mechanical Engineering. The wood industry has been a primary focus of the Polish company who has participated in such important trade fairs as the Drema International Woodworking fair in 2005 and 2007. Poland is, in fact, one of the largest furniture makers in Europe , thereby offering huge opportunities for TopSolid'Wood, Missler Software's integrated CAD/CAM solution for the wood industry.

Just like any other international company, the printing machine manufacturer, Koenig & Bauer, faces the perpetual challenge of getting its products to market - worldwide - as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. The manufacturing process has its part to play in this. By using TopSolid'Cam from Missler Software, the company is looking to accelerate its NC programming and reduce the run-in and machining times.

Following an extended selection procedure, KBA opted in May last year to introduce TopSolid'Cam for NC programming across the company. The Missler Software solution won through not only on account of its versatility with respect to production techniques, but also because, compared to the rival systems, it offered the best support for the multifunctional turning-drilling-milling centres from WFL Millturn Technologies, used by KBA on all its sites. “The close ties with WFL was one of the major reasons for choosing Missler Software", says Mr. Göttker. “The fact that we could also use TopSolid'Cam for everything else only occurred to us later.” In addition to its technical aspects, the software was notable for its straightforward operator guidance, which appealed to the NC programming users from the very start.

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 let's take a look at TopSolid'Progress and Automatic Stock.

Video commentary

It is possible to automatically define the stock for the different parts in the tool. Here, the punch height changes from 85mm to 142.25mm. The stock given in the BOM is automatically updated. Please note that the stock accuracy can be defined in the properties function.

Minimum requirements to read videos

2 formats are possible: AVI and WMV

• 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

Thanks to the BlankWizard and FormingWizard modules now available with TopSolid, companies can treat deformed parts created by stamping operations. Blank Wizard and Forming Wizard, co-developped by AutoForm Engineering and Missler Software, are available with TopSolid'Design and TopSolid'Progress. These modules integrate AutoForm Engineering's OneStep Technology. AutoForm Engineering is recognised as a worldwide leader in the development of specialized simulation and die face design software for the automotive and sheet metal forming industries.

BlankWizard and Forming Wizard enable the following:

• Rapidly obtain blanks of sheet metal or stamped parts
• Assist operators in the estimation of material needed
• Identify risk zones during the stamping of the part
• Define strip creation layout for complex parts in the manufacturing of progressive dies

BlankWizard and FormingWizard can be used with the TopSolid'Design module for the treatment of very deformed parts created by stamping operations.

In addition to the treatment of very deformed parts, the use of BlankWizard and FormingWizard with TopSolid'Progress enable blank creation, calculation of intermediary deformation stages and strip layout creation.

For further information on BlankWizard and FormingWizard please contact your local VAR or send an email to international@topsolid.com

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