Feature Manufacturing software
Software gets laser profiling right first time
Embedded within its Catia CAD system, manufacturer of exhausts and emission control systems, Eminox, uses Planit Software’s advanced Radan CAD/CAM system to speed up programming its laser profiling machines
rail industry customers in both the OEM and retrofit markets. A Swedish sister company produces high volume OEM exhaust systems for established manufacturers such as Scania, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. CAD support engineer, John Rogers,
E
says: “We are a relatively low volume but high variety manufacturer, ranging from a one-off system designed bespoke for a customer to a call off of up to 1,000 units per annum. Because of the variety of parts we run through the workshop we need a robust method of programming the laser machines. We can’t afford to have someone doing a program for one nest all day. We might do up to 200 nests per day and the part variety means that the chances of us ever running the same nest twice are slight. There is no requirement for a nest history. It is quicker to make a new one than to try to find an old file. I believe Radan’s nesting functions are among the most powerful of any CAM system.” Eminox’s ERP system generates
schedules so the production depart- ment knows what to cut, while the design capability comes from Catia with around 14 CAD seats used by the company. The designers create an exhaust system and once the design has been committed to manufacturing,
minox focuses on systems for commercial road transport vehi- cles, passenger service vehicles, off highway manufacturers and
the sheet metal will not be touched by human hands until the profiled part is taken off the laser for rolling or bend- ing. As Rogers says: “There is no inspection at laser production as we expect it to be right first time – there is no margin for error.”
Seemless process
The Catia CAD system flattens the design and informs the ERP system that it will require laser profiling. The 2D profile is then presented to Radan in a DXF format, with the software running seamlessly behind the scenes. Radan interrogates the profile to mea- sure its surface area and ensure it has a closed profile for the laser to process. The area calculation in Radan ensures the correct view of the part has been used for the profile as it checks with the Catia calculation and the two should match within tolerance bands set by Rogers. The software will high-
light if the part cannot be made and the designer can view any problems . “We have to ensure what goes to the
Eminox produces exhaust systems for commercial road transport vehicles, passenger service vehicles, off highway manu- facturers and rail industry customers
laser can be produced without any problems so every part transferred from design to the ERP system for pro- duction will be checked with Radan to ensure there are no problems logged against it. If there are any issues, the software will not allow the part to be transferred. The designer has to cor- rect any issues, such as open contours. Of course, sometimes we will want an open contour and in Radan we can define these profiles with different colours which allows us to select these and accept them because it is what the design calls for,” says Rogers. The checks stop corrupt or invalid
geometry getting through and the designer is unaware that Radan is run- ning in the background of Catia, and does not even need to know how to use the software. The CAD software is integrated with Radan using VBA tools, and is able to open inside Catia. Most component nests are cut from
Eminox’s design capability comes from Catia with around 14 CAD seats used by the company
stainless steel blanks with a nominal sheet size of 2,500 x 1,250 mm, while the thickness varies depending on the function of the finished part. Here Radan is used to create a PDF set-up sheet of the nest and also details where the operator needs to stick bar code labels on the part for full traceability. The bar codes are used for parts pick- ing from the stores prior to assembly. Eminox operates the latest release of
Panit Software T: 01225 721330
www.radan.com Enter 224
Software facilitates good manufacturing practices
G
E Intelligent Platforms has announced the availability of an upgrade to its industry standard Proficy software CIMPLICITY, version 8.1, a visualisation and control solution used in a variety of industries including oil and gas,
discrete manufacturing, power generation, marine and energy industries. The solution features programming enhancements, regulatory compliance tools and an alarm association feature, in
addition to full compatibility with GE’s CIMPLICITY GlobalView allowing web access to this HMI/SCADA solution. Gimmi Filice, product manager for GE’s Proficy CIMPLICITY product says: “This new version delivers key new
additions to CIMPLICITY’s objects and classes, enabling programmers and engineers to develop faster and maintain complex systems easier, achieving a sustainable competitive advantage and ultimately a lower cost of ownership.” “Proficy CIMPLICITY 8.1 is another example of GE’s ongoing commitment to the CIMPLICITY HMI/SCADA platform,”
says Claire Cerrato, general manager automation software for GE Intelligent Platforms.
GE Intelligent Platforms
www.ge-ip.com T: 01327 322570 Enter 225
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Radan which offers a powerful Project Nesting control used by the company to place additional Kanban parts into spaces available on nested sheets. For Eminox, these Kanban parts are regu- larly used components common to a lot of the designs produced. Rogers says: “We have seen a five
per cent reduction in material usage which we measure as scrap allowance, and we might be able to squeeze some more out. We also believe the up time on the lasers has increased in terms of collision avoidance due to better pro- gram control. “We have been using Radan as an
operation tool but the plan is to use it as a strategic tactical planning tool for efficiency gains. The software’s inte- gration into Catia and our ERP system allows Radan to do far more than could be done with our previous CAM software,” he concludes.
MAY 2010 Automation
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