SOFTWARE
family business that started trading back in 1946. Initially concentrating its manufacturing skills on the production of trackwork for model railway enthusiasts, the company has grown exponentially. To support this the company relies on VISI CAD/CAM/ CAE software from Hexagon in its design and manufacturing facility. Located on the idyllic South Devon
A
coast, PECO is a company that has expanded from its humble beginnings of manufacturing individual components to producing HO/OO ready-made track and then on to all things ‘model railway’. This includes ‘Pecorama’ one of Devon’s leading tourist attractions with a model railway exhibition and model shop, a ride-on miniature steam railway, a gallery and award-winning gardens, and industry- leading model railway publications. As a company with a ‘fan base’ as well as a customer base, PECO is a world-renowned brand in the model rail industry. From the foundations that stem from manufacturing a simple coupling, PECO now runs a facility that produces over 3,000 product lines. Discussing this, Simon Cockerham
from PECO says: “We make everything that is part of the hobby building model railway industry. We have been in business since the 1940s and started as a company making very small couplings that hook two pieces of rolling stock together. It has expanded from there to a business that makes everything from concepts to the final product.” With a manufacturing site that hosts
state-of-the-art technology, PECO relies on VISI CAD/CAM/CAE software for its workflows. As Simon continues: “We use VISI throughout our manufacturing facility, from concept through to the final press
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
or mould tool being created. We have numerous licences of VISI throughout our many departments and we also use VISI to generate laser-cut wooden kits for customers with textures upon them. It is also used to create the instructions that will guide enthusiasts and users on how to assemble the equipment.” As one of the world’s leading PC-based
CAD/CAE/CAM software solutions, VISI incorporates modules such as Modelling, Analysis, Mould Design, Flow, Electrode Design, Die Tool Design, 2.5, 3 and 5-axis Toolpaths, Blanks and Reverse. This provides PECO with the facility to create solid models, design, analyse, validate, and prepare mould tool geometries, and perform pre- and post-production analyses of plastic parts. With dedicated modules for creating electrodes, designing dedicated progressive die design and press tools, comprehensive machining strategies and even reverse engineering of editable solid models from scanned data. Simon adds: “One of the key reasons
that we have VISI in our environment and that we have been customers for
almost 17 years is because it is very reliable and comprehensive. We have an intimate knowledge of the VISI environment and systems across the experienced generations of designers and toolmakers who are here. This means we have the experience to support more junior members of the team.” The holistic Hexagon mould and die
workflow removes blockers so the team can try new ideas. Simon explains: “We use VISI throughout most of our departments, especially within the wider ‘innovations department’. This means we use VISI for everything from design to producing wooden laser-cut kits for the factory to producing custom machinery for our production facilities. We also use VISI for all of our press and mould tooling too. The benefits of having VISI in the workplace are the integration between plot view, CAD/CAM, and the ability to create surface translations for mould flow analysis and laser ablation files. It streamlines integration between departments.” Over the years, PECO has standardised
its workflows on Hexagon’s mould and die software and positively impacted its business. Simon concludes: “We know we have saved a lot of time and money with VISI. The savings are down to the VISI software having all of the components and modules we require to take our products from concept through to production and export all around the world – all from under one roof.”
www.hexagonmi.com
42 / WELDING WORLD MAGAZINE - ISSUE 05 - SEPTEMBER 2024
s one of the world’s leading manufacturers of model railways, PECO is a forward-looking
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