SOFTWARE UPDATE NEWS ABOUT DIGITAL MANUFACTURING TOOLS AND SOFTWARE Estimating Costs with 3D Feature Recognition s
Manufacturing Engineering: Why do shops need cost- estimating software? Dave LaJoie: Generally speaking, shops implement cost-estimating software to increase the speed, accuracy and consistency of the estimating and quoting. Cost-esti- mating software provides them with a database system that ‘calculates’ material costs and labor hours rather than relying on the experience of the estimator. It standardizes the way a company does its estimating so that inexperienced, as well as experienced personnel, can provide that function. A shop that uses cost-estimating software enables an estimator to put together a quote in minutes, as opposed to hours. ME: Your Costimator software recently added 3DFX func- tionality for feature recognition. Describe this capability and what does it offer users? LaJoie: 3DFX allows our users to increase the speed and accuracy of the estimating process by automatically grabbing or ‘extracting’ part features and associated proper- ties from a 3D CAD model and importing these features into Costimator, rather than having to manually enter the
information. Adding automatic feature recognition technol- ogy that instantly identifi es part dimensions and features is a signifi cant time saver for estimators. 3DFX supports over 30- plus fi le formats including AutoCAD, STEP, IGES, Creo, Pro/ Engineer, NX, JT, SolidWorks, Solid Edge and Inventor. The software also includes an easy-to-use, rules-based feature modeling tool that enables users to develop their own user- defi ned parameters as to how part feature information will be translated and then processed/manufactured, based on their manufacturing environment. The 3DFX functionality is
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a fully integrated add-on for Costimator and is easy to use, even for the inexperienced estimator. We have also added new features, including enhanced cost models, cost/profi t reports and SQL Server 2014 compatibility along with 3DFX in the recently released Costimator Version 14. ME: What key shop problems can be solved with feature
recognition cost estimating? LaJoie: The main problem feature recognition cost estimating solves is the time it takes to generate an estimate. We’ve seen estimating times lowered by as much as 90% using 3DFX, while substantially improving cost-estimating ac- curacy and consistency. Up until recently, most shops rarely received solid models for estimating, so feature recognition technology had no benefi t for them. Today, over 70% of our customers can get solid models from their customers to estimate from. Our OEM customers, many of whom use our product to cost out new product designs or to get a better understanding of what their parts should cost to manufac- ture, all have access to 3D models, so 3DFX and feature recognition is an immediate benefi t to them.
“Adding automatic feature recognition technology that instantly identifi es part dimensions and features is a signifi cant time saver for estimators.”
ME: How does the latest Costimator compare with other available estimating software? LaJoie: The main benefi ts Costimator brings to manu-
facturers are the volume of industry-validated cost models and data [speeds & feeds, time standards, etc.] the system contains, the number of manufacturing processes the system supports [machining, fabrication, welding, stamping, castings, forgings, printed-circuit-board assembly, etc.], the fl exibility and confi gurability of the system, and the ability to estimate from a 3D CAD model with 3DFX. The system can be used by
Dave LaJoie
Vice President, Sales and Marketing MTI Systems Inc.
West Springfi eld, MA
www.mtisystems.com
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