CAMWorks ShopFloor Unifies CAD/CAM Part Data to Avoid Errors

 

HCL Technologies has released CAMWorks ShopFloor, which provides tools for companies to adopt smart manufacturing/Industry 4.0 initiatives by moving beyond 2D drawings or static digital files. With the software, 3D digital models capture extensive data from the part design files and provide tools that machinists can use to produce parts with fewer miscommunications between the design and manufacturing departments, the company says.

CAMWorks ShopFloor is said to reduce errors by eliminating the need to repeatedly transfer part data to 2D drawings or other formats. Upon completion of a CAD part file, the designer publishes a CAMWorks ShopFloor file, which is transferred to the machinist. A complete CAD viewer enables the machinist to display the native design model with GD&T information and annotations for the 3D part model. Users can rotate, zoom, pan and section view the model. They can also take linear, radial, angular and area measurements. The MBD and PMI data can be viewed, searched and filtered.

The software provides a single source of part data in order to eliminate delays caused by questions as well as material waste caused by machining an outdated version of a part. All the information for a part is contained in a single file and is viewed under a single interface. CAMWorks ShopFloor includes automatic file checking to detect changes in either the CAD or CAM file and alert the user to avoid machining the wrong revision of the part and maintain associativity along the digital thread.

In addition to full toolpath simulation, CAMWorks ShopFloor also includes a step-through simulation option for each operation or the entire program. A CNC Editor, with back-plotting capabilities, allows the machinist to review and make any final changes.