Precision Machining Technology Review March 2022: Software

Using the right software can help precision machinists grow their business, ensuring efficient and reliable production of metal parts. Software used by machine shops includes CAD/CAM to program machine tools and shop management software such as ERP to manage their manufacturing operations.

Every month, we’re putting together a Technology Showcase, highlighting some of the product information that PM received from supplier companies. For March, we focused on software, including an integrated portfolio of engineering software, services and application development platform; an updated CAD/CAM software suite to enhance applications ranging from 2.5D to five-axis; an upgrade solution for legacy CNC machines for faster, more reliable and more secure options; and more as described below.

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Read PM’s February Technology Review.

Click on each link below to read the full product post:

Siemens Launches Cloud-Based Xcelerator as a Service

Siemens’ XaaS is designed to enable innovative product design and manufacturing via digital threads to ensure data is accessible when and where it is needed. Photo Credit: Siemens

Siemens is expanding its Xcelerator portfolio with the introduction of its cloud-based Xcelerator as a Service (XaaS). Xcelerator is an integrated portfolio of engineering software, services and application development platform that brings together the company’s industry technologies to help customers speed digital transformation. It is said to enable innovative product design and manufacturing via digital threads to ensure data is accessible when and where it is needed. Through a comprehensive digital twin, organizations can optimize their products and processes throughout the life cycle, the company says.

Open Mind hyperMill CAD/CAM Software for Finishing

Photo credit: Open Mind

Open Mind Technologies’ hyperMill 2021.2 CAD/CAM software suite update is said to offer enhancements for applications ranging from 2.5D to five-axis. Open Mind has introduced more capabilities in hyperMill 2021.2 additive manufacturing, including a weave mode that generates a tool path in a wave-shaped movement to apply material to contours or to fill areas. This enables the application area to be widened and the thickness to be increased for the individual movement.

iTSpeeX’s Athena Voice-Activated Technology Simplifies Machine Programming

iTSpeeX’s Athena voice-activated technology. Photo Credit: iTSpeeX

The iTSpeeX’s Athena is a voice-activated technology developed to help machine tool builders provide more productive and efficient equipment to manufacturing companies that are always looking for ways to increase productivity. The voice assistant interacts with machine tool operators via a machine’s existing control screen or a separate display.

FANUC Retrofitting CNC Systems Against Cyberattacks

The Panel i Replacement Program retrofits FANUC CNCs with a powerful industrial PC available with touch or non-touch LCD display. Photo Credit: FANUC

FANUC America, a supplier of CNCs, robotics and machine tools, is offering an upgrade solution for legacy CNC machines running on operating systems older than Windows 10. The Panel i Replacement Program retrofits FANUC CNCs with a powerful industrial PC available with touch or non-touch LCD display, solid-state drives and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, the company says.

Quoting Platform Extracts, Annotates PDF Data for Improved Estimates

Paperless Parts' enhanced quoting platform. Photo Credit: Paperless Parts

Paperless Parts enhances its quoting platform for job shops with a PDF feature that unlocks PDF files commonly shared with request for quotes (RFQs) and makes the technical data within them more accessible and actionable. The PDF feature extracts and annotates the PDF data for improved quoting, which helps manufacturers better understand part intricacies, improve estimation accuracy and reliably open the quoting process beyond estimators. As a result, job shop manufacturers and fabricators can turn quotes around faster, and estimates are more accurate and consistent.

Wintriss OEE, Data Collection Software

Photo Credit: Wintriss

Wintriss Controls Group’s ShopFloorConnect is an overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and data collection software designed to improve productivity. Wintriss says the latest functionality in ShopFloorConnect software promotes increased efficiency and reduced downtime, including when remote monitoring is required. The software can increase manufacturing capacity and profitability by identifying and quantifying excessive production losses and bottlenecks.

TDM Tool Management Software Offers Configurable Dashboard

TDM Global Line software. Photo Credit: TDM Systems

TDM Systems’ latest versions of its TDM and TDM Global Line of tool management software offer enhancements and new modules that help users reduce tooling costs and increase machining efficiency. Using TDG Global Line, users can achieve greater transparency for their tooling costs and key figures by individually configuring the dashboard with relevant reports either displayed in the dashboard, printed out or simply transferred to Excel.