Smart Molding International 3-2021

simulation 38 smart_molding international 3/2021 Hexagon empowers mould-and-die manufacturers T he transition from engineer - ing to production can be pro - longed without the right tools to efficiently prepare solid models for manufacturing, impacting profitability. By providing WORKNC customers with access to its robust and fully featured CAD application, DESIGNER compan - ion, Hexagon has made it easier to prepare any mould or die for machin - ing while simplifying the challenge of working with a wide range of file types from different CAD tools used in the in - dustry. Because the software provides specialist tools for mould-and-die en - gineering out of the box, the resulting workflow significantly simplifies the preparation of models that are both feasible and optimised for efficient production. Introducing universal access to CAD preparation helps users to accelerate the process of healing missing fac - es, extending surfaces, and capping holes and pockets in preparation for manufacturing. It also provides direct modelling functions that are easier, more intuitive, and less limiting than traditional parametric modelling. Us - ers can also employ a hybrid design approach that combines surface and solid entities through direct-modelling techniques. Once ready, users can send solid models directly from DESIGNER to WORKNC, and the integrated work - flow will save them time by ensuring accurate models are automatically as - signed as stock and part. “We are providing every shop with out-of-the-box access to powerful mould and die workflows, so industry professionals have everything they need to ensure that parts are not only manufacturable, but they are also machined to the designer’s intent and produced as efficiently as possible,” said Market and Product Manager Miguel Johann. “Universal CAD access simplifies the often-arduous process of preparing models for production while introducing a one-click transfer of completed designs directly to CAM software, which makes the entire pro - cess even faster.” Once a model is prepared, new ad - vances in WORKNC’s programming capabilities reduce the time spent cal - culating toolpaths and help to gener - ate faster and more efficient code for reduced cycle times. Used with a spiral toolpath option, the software’s 3-axis parallel finishing strategy supports compensation for any tool shape, in - cluding lens cutters, barrel cutters and Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has provided all mould and die shops using its WORKNC computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software with immediate access to its powerful model preparation software, integrating production workflows from any computer-aided design (CAD) model format to CAM so they can machine parts more efficiently and avoid costly errors.