Hexagon Streamlines Additive Build and Finishing Software

New CAM software introduced by Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division provides the digital tools needed to prepare 3D-printed components for manufacturing using powder bed fusion (PBF) technologies. According to the company, because hybrid manufacturing entails performing both additive and subtractive processes, integrating build-preparation tools within CAM software streamlines workflows per part and offers significant efficiency improvements when scaling up additive manufacturing volumes.

Hexagon’s Esprit CAM software now offers a build preparation workflow within the CAM environment to provide a single, streamlined platform for both the additive build and finishing operations. Its Part-to-Build workflow was developed to change the preparation of rapid prototypes to industrialization with a CAM experience that includes build-preparation steps and the programming tools for post-processing printed parts with wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) and milling machine tools. The Part-to-Build workflow is said to address part preparation and job preparation with dedicated functionality within one piece of software, enabling volume efficiencies and automating repetitive tasks such as slicing.

Designed for CAM programmers, Esprit CAM’s build preparation employs a workflow based on parametric data that reportedly ensures high accuracy and adherence to the geometry of the original CAD model until it is sliced in preparation for 3D printing. The software reads and manipulates all popular parametric CAD formats and automatically identifies those surfaces that require support. The software also assists with the creation of support structures, generating parametric surfaces with teeth, fragmentation and perforation. Support generation can be automated for future builds by assigning a pre-set to a region in the surface, capturing valuable production know-how and improving future productivity. Esprit CAM also provides an STL (mesh) slicer that leverages a built-in software kernel.

Once a part is sliced, it can be imported to the software’s job preparation environment and re-used whenever needed. Here, exposure strategies are automatically assigned according to the chosen machine set-up. As the part is already sliced, the programmer need only nest them and the corresponding machine file is generated based on the target machine set-up.