Missler Software is an international developer of CAD/CAM software for the mechanical engineering, plastic, sheet metal and wood industries. The central idea of an integrated CAD/CAM software is that all products which are designed need to be manufactured; TopSolid offers one fully integrated solution for design and manufacturing. In addition to the development of an excellent CAD/CAM software it is important not to forget the importance of post-processors which manage numerically controlled machines. Without the right post-processor the best CAD/CAM software is of no use; likewise, the most sophisticated machine will not function optimally without the right post-processor. Missler Software offers post-processors which are certified by machine tool manufacturers to optimize your manufacturing costs and times. Missler Software is fully aware of the importance of post-processor generation and has a dedicated internal team to manage this development. This internal team works very closely with machine tool manufacturers in the mechanical engineering, sheet metal and wood domains to develop high-performance post-processors. According to Dominique Laffret, Vice-President of Strategic Relationships at Missler Software « The development of high performance post-processors is not an easy task for any company. We need to collaborate very closely with machine tool manufacturers who assist us thanks to their profound knowledge of the workings of their machines. Multifunction machines are getting more and more complex and we are seeing increasing numbers of these machines being used by our customers. We, therefore, need to work in very close collaboration with machine tool manufacturers to develop and to directly test our post-processors before they arrive at the customer site. In addition, machine manufacturers appreciate the fact that software developers generate one post-processor base for its customers around the world. » Missler Software's post-processor department writes post-processor bases (covering the main machines on the market today) which can be adapted and customized by its agencies in France and its resellers outside France. According to Manuel Bernardo who manages this department “Our job is to develop post-processor bases which will work all over the world. Here in France our engineers based locally throughout the country customize these post-processors depending on customer needs and the exact specifications of the machine, this job is done by our international network of skilled resellers throughout the rest of the world.” Mr. Bernardo's department assures a permanent hotline service for all TopSolid customers and resellers. “Such a service enables us to resolve any problem with the installation of the machine and its post-processor at all times, no matter where in the world. This is really essential for the customer who invests very heavily in the purchase of a machine tool. Thanks to the expertise of our engineers on site and a highly qualified hotline we ensure an optimized set up and follow-up”.
TopSolid'Cam has high-performance post-processors for the majority of complex machines on the market
New TopSolid'Cam interface for VERICUT
Missler Software and CGTech are happy to announce the upcoming availability of a new interface between TopSolid'Cam and VERICUT to improve machine simulation visualisation. The new interface offers important productivity gains for TopSolid'Cam and VERICUT users. Target customers are in fact often users of the 2 software solutions in the aerospace field, working with large mechanical parts, or involved in the machining of prototype parts. Such companies work with multifunction machines or large machining centres and use expensive raw materials. The new interface between TopSolid'Cam and VERICUT in fact allows VERICUT to be opened directly from TopSolid'Cam. All information relating to the part, the stock and the tools used are transferred directly from TopSolid'Cam, thereby eliminating the need to input a second time all of this information. « The interface between TopSolid'Cam and VERICUT is very important for our customers who need to work increasingly quickly in order to stay competitive.” explains Mr. Deniset, Director of CGTech France. « This interface enables our customers to open VERICUT directly from TopSolid while they are working with TopSolid'Cam. This insures a maximum level of integration and interoperability is maintained. In general, it is important for CGTech to work closely with CAD/CAM developers. Missler Software is a CAD/CAM leader on the global market and we are very happy to collaborate closely with the French developer.” The collaboration between Missler Software and CGTech is also important for Missler Software. According to Dominique Laffret, Vice-President of Strategic Relations for Missler Software «In fact we have many customers in common with CGTech. The new interface offers important time gains to these customers when using VERICUT which thereby results in a competitive advantage for these companies. This interface will also help us attract new customers in the future. The development of a direct link towards VERICUT is also an important step in the verification of the ISO code generated by TopSolid'Cam post-processors. The part and machine environment simulation already provided by TopSolid'Cam together with the advanced ISO simulation provided in VERICUT will no doubt help reduce potential collisions.”
The new TopSolid’Cam – VERICUT interface improves machine simulation visualisation
Unique characteristics of TopSolid
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. Until now toolmakers 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 that to a highly sophisticated CNC programming system that can simulate machine tools of all types including 5-axis milling, turning and combination mill-turn 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 and 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 too 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 previously not have been capable of managing.
The TopSolid galaxy for mechanical, moldmaking, sheet metal and wood CAD/CAM
Designed using TopSolid
Customer of the month: Lochanstalt
Lochanstalt Aherhammer Stahlschmidt & Flender GmbH, with its 65 employees, is one of the leading companies in Germany when it comes to precise pressing and forming of perforated steel plates. These plates are used, for example, as sieves in dishwashers, washing machine drums, oven cladding, gratings and ventilation grids, protective grills for motors and machines, façade and wall cladding, balustrades, partition walls and shelving. Now equipped with TopSolid'Progress and TopSolid'Cam the company is confident that it will soon half its project cycle times. TopSolid from Missler Software impressed the designers from the very start through its ease of use and the powerful extra functions of the TopSolid'Progress module for the design of pressing and folding tools. Click here for the rest of the report.
TopSolid Tip of the month: TopSolid'Cam
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 a new tip for TopSolid'Cam.
Video commentary Lathes that carry out turning operations propose an option which enables operators to orientate a tool in lead and lag angles throughout the toolpath. This option enables parts to be machined in 1 operation and/or to use shorter tools. An operator can intervene in the normal to fine time the calculation. The video shows a "simple" toolpath as well as the addition of "constant cutting angle" followed by the edition of the normal.