Schott Exhibits Pictures By PC Software For Design

Schott Systeme will be using the Metav exhibition in Dusseldorf to showcase the latest version of its Pictures by PC software for design and machining. This latest release is to include numerous additions to the company's existing full machine-simulation module. By displaying machining directly from generated NC code, this visualisation of milling as it occurs on the shop floor helps to eliminate errors in damaged parts, fixtures and machine crashes.

New additions to this module will include improved collision detection of the machine head against the part and table. The Arix V450 five-axis machining centre will also be added to Schott's available machines. The latest version of Pictures by PCs integrated hybrid surface, solid and mesh modelling tools will also be presented at Metav. Improvements in this area will see the core modeller itself being updated to provide a more tolerant environment for the construction and repair of complex solid and surface components.

To compliment this, customers having to work with scanned or STL data will have access to a suite of tools to aid the analysis, repair and modification of mesh models. Schott Systeme is put a price freeze on its complete CAD/CAM solution. The company will maintain its policy of offering free technical support without the need to purchase a yearly maintenance contract.

Schott Enhances CAM Feature Recognition

Schott Systeme has launched an online video demonstration of its latest freeform feature recognition tools. Designed specifically with mould and model makers in mind, these tools help overcome the limitations of current CAM feature recognition packages, whereby only prismatic items such as pockets and holes are extracted from a model. Schott Systeme's CAD/CAM solution 'Pictures by PC' is able to examine and extract geometry for machining of far greater complexity.

By combining these enhanced recognition tools with the software's latest surface modelling capabilities, users are able to prepare models for machining in a greatly reduced timeframe. Citing mouldtool design as a typical example, all freeform holes on a model, such as those created to house ejector pins, can automatically be covered in a single click, preventing tooling during finishing operations from disappearing into the holes.

Complex features such as the slots created by electrodes can also be automatically covered using the software's advanced surfacing function, again improving finishing operations, but also removing the need to create complex and time-consuming surface patches, as can often be the case with mid-range CAD modellers.

Tapered pocket side walls requiring five-axis 'swarf cutting', characteristic of aerospace components, and freeform chamfers to be finished using five-axis 'end mill' techniques, are all features that can be instantly extracted from a 3D CAD model.

Helping to identify areas that require rest machining, actual radius surfaces within a given size range are automatically identified and extracted for re-machining. Similar tools also allow the selection of 'chained' radius faces, so entire freeform filleted features can be chosen in a single click.

Freeform models may often include numerous planar faces that require the application of normal facing operations. Here, the software searches for and extracts all planar faces on a freeform model, and machines them as individual 2.5D pockets, taking into account at all times the actual 3D model. This removes the possibility of gauging and tool collisions.