Computer Aided Verification
Quality Counts…When bridging the digital model and the physical part, there are potential pitfalls of accuracy and production hang-ups. Pro/ENGINEER Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Software allows design and manufacturing engineers to inspect design integrity and manufacturing processes, thereby “building in” quality early, and inexpensively.
Pro/ENGINEER Plastic Advisor
Mold filling analysis…Problems found after tooling development are always expensive and frustrating. For plastic part design and manufacture, there is a better way. By simulating the plastic-filling process for injection-molded parts, Pro/ENGINEER Plastic Advisor enables engineers to design for manufacturability, uncover problems, and propose remedies, reducing development time and expense.
- Animates plastic injection fill process and automatically creates Web reports within Pro/ENGINEER CAM browser
- Access library of common plastic materials and automatically select from typical injection-molding machine parameters
- Identify optimal injection locations to reduce cycle time and improve product appearance
- Identify potential mold-filling problems such as short shots, air traps, and weld lines
- Improve design quality and reduce manufacturing cycle times and rework of molds
Pro/ENGINEER Computer-Aided Verification
Quality inspection…Ensuring that proper manufacturing processes are conducted is an essential, but potentially expensive proposition. Pro/ENGINEER Computer-Aided Verification delivers a straightforward, economical answer. It allows digital inspections of machined parts and assemblies for quality assurance purposes and supports both CMM machines and laser scanners. Thus, this integral digital quality checking saves time, effort, and money.
- Perform simulation in a complete environment including parts, probes, fixtures and machines
- Generate industry standard DMIS programs for CMM machines
- Gauge quality of machined parts and assemblies, enabling first article inspection
- Reduces need for redesigns because inspection takes place digitally
- Reduces product and development costs via problem resolution before manufacturing
Machining
Cut Metal…NC machining often trails product design, resulting in a lag in the development process and an unnecessary waste of time and money. Although this is often the case, it need not be. Pro/ENGINEER Computer Aided Manufacturing Software allows manufacturing engineers to take a more central role in providing design feedback, while allowing associative NC tool path creation to proceed concurrently with design.
Pro/ENGINEER Complete Machining
Comprehensive machining…Pro/ENGINEER Complete Machining offers a full solution for creation of all types of programs for CNC machines, from the simple to the very complex. It includes the capabilities of Pro/ENGINEER Production Machining, extended to multi-axis machining, encompassing full NC programming capabilities and tool libraries.
- 2 1/2-to 5-axis milling, multi-axis turning and mill/turn (live tooling), and 4-axis wire EDM
- Simplifies storage and reuse of best practices by using proven manufacturing templates
- Improves product quality and manufacturing consistency by generating tool path directly on 3D designs
- As part of an integral CAD/CAM solution, no data translation is required
- Reduces time to market with associative tool path updates to design changes
Pro/ENGINEER Prismatic and Multi-surface Milling
Complete milling…Not all CAM solutions are created equal. Some tools emphasize ease-of-use, others promote cost advantages. The best solution would be price competitive, feature-rich, yet, unlike standalone CAM tools, it would enjoy seamless compatibility with the design. This is Pro/ENGINEER Prismatic and Multi-Surface Milling. A virtual milling “specialist” for prismatic machining, it greatly and affordably increases NC productivity.
- Multi-surface, 3-axis milling, including support for high speed machining, with 4-axis and 5-axis positioning
- NC Program creation, process documentation, post-processing and toolpath verification and simulation
- Improves product quality and manufacturing consistency by generating toolpath directly on solid models
- As part of an integral CAD/CAM solution, no data translation is required
- Reduces time to market with associative toolpath updates to design changes
Pro/ENGINEER NC Sheetmetal
Punch and bend metal…Inefficient sheetmetal manufacturing entails high levels of scrap, and manually-conducted repetitive operations. Eliminating these problems is the domain of Pro/ENGINEER NC Sheetmetal. You gain productivity by automatically creating and optimizing toolpaths using standard and form tools. And, with its smart auto-nesting, you utilize maximum sheet area, reduce scrap and material costs and shorten lead times.
- NC programming for turret punch presses, contouring laser/flame machines, nibbling and shearing
- Automatic tool selection (standard and custom forms) for punching, forming, and nibbling
- Full postprocessor generation capabilities to integrate seamlessly with all CNC machine tools
- Able to machine imported 2D/3D models as well as native Pro/ENGINEER sheetmetal designs
- Reduces scrap via intelligent nesting, decreasing product cost
Pro/ENGINEER Production Machining
Optimized NC Sequences…CAM, if treated secondarily to CAD, can yield opportunities for costly delays and production mistakes. Pro/ENGINEER Production Machining provides manufacturing engineers and job shops with robust NC programming capabilities spanning: milling, turning, and wire EDM. And, since it enjoys seamless compatibility with the design, changes are automatically incorporated. The result: improved time to production and customer responsiveness.
- Includes all the capabilities of prismatic and multi-surface milling
- Supports CNC mills, 2-axis/4-axis CNC lathes, and 2-axis/4-axis CNC wire EDM machines
- Provides low-level NC sequence editing, allowing precise toolpath control and optimization
- Detailed step-by-step production planning instructions improves manufacturing efficiency, and reduces development cost
- Optimized NC programming for families of designs accelerates time-to-volume production
Tooling
Tooling development…Tooling design and production is frequently and unduly constrained by the design schedule, wasting precious time. However, Pro/ENGINEER allows toolmakers to begin their work earlier, directly referencing the 3D design to develop tooling concurrently. And, with the full associativity of Pro/ENGINEER, toolmakers work in complete confidence knowing that design changes will appropriately update all tooling deliverables.
Pro/ENGINEER Tool Design
Core and cavity design…Product design complexity is often over-shadowed by the complexity required of the mold. Pro/ENGINEER Tool Design can create even the most complex single- and multiple-cavity molds. A process-driven workflow guides the user through each step. Automated parting surface creation and automated splitting make it easy for even the occasional user to create complex tooling quickly.
- Define even the most complex geometry for creating single- and multiple-cavity molds and casts
- Evaluate mold draft, undercut and thickness problems and examine forming and secondary forming dies
- Eliminates data translation errors as an integral CAD/CAM solution from conceptual design to manufacturing
- Reduces need for redesigns through automatic updating of tooling models, drawings and electrodes
- Eliminates costly rework via interference checking and mold opening simulation
Pro/ENGINEER Expert Moldbase
Simplified moldbase design…Many toolmakers rely on a 2D CAD approach for designing moldbases. Accordingly, Pro/ENGINEER Expert Moldbase provides an ideal solution. Process-based and easy-to-learn, it allows the toolmaker to work in a familiar 2D environment, while employing all the power and benefits of 3D, drastically cutting lead time.
- Speed design through simple, process-driven workflow to automated moldbase design and detailing
- Includes libraries for 17 moldbase/component suppliers (e.g., screws, ejector pins, sliders, cooling fittings)
- Automatic ejector pin, waterline, and fittings functions, automated runners and waterline checks
- Prevents costly rework and reduces cycle time by eliminating mistakes, via a 3D environment
- Reduces the need for redesigns by automatically updating tooling models, drawings and electrodes
Pro/ENGINEER Complete Mold Design
Total mold design…Professional mold designers now have everything they need to completely design an entire mold assembly – core, cavity and moldbase – in one package. Pro/ENGINEER Complete Mold Design combines all the features of Tool Design and Expert Moldbase, offering a powerful combination of capabilities for specialized mold assembly creation.
- Automates the creation of mold core, cavity, moldbase assemblies, and applicable documentation
- Simple, process oriented workflow results in dramatically faster tool design time
- Eliminates data translation between part design, mold design and NC tool path creation
- Reduces need for redesigns through automatic updating of tooling models, drawings and electrodes
- Eliminates costly rework via interference checking and mold opening simulation
Pro/ENGINEER Progressive Die
Fast progressive die design…Tooling development for progressive dies is best approached with a purpose-built solution. With Pro/ENGINEER Progressive Die software, easy-to-use wizards guide the user through automatic strip layout definition, cut stamp creation, and placement/modification of die components. Documentation, clearance cuts, and drilled holes are created automatically, enabling die designers to avoid manual, error-prone tasks.
- Process-oriented workflow automates progressive die design and detailing, enabling quicker time to production
- Includes large library of die components and fasteners for faster detailed design
- Speeds unbending and identification of features for staging
- Increases design flexibility, allowing new stages to be added even after the die is created
- Increases efficiency through automation of repetitive tasks, such as creating clearance cuts