CAD/CAM Software Improves Cooling Channel Management for Moldmaking

Version 2016 R1 of Vero’s Visi CAD/CAM software includes updates across the platform while maintaining its emphasis on mold, tool and die making. An updated graphic user interface includes quick-access toolbars, live icon combinations on the mouse, improved hidden line removal and geometry selection by “free-shape” brush. Additionally, updated CAD translators support third-party formats including Inventor 2016, layer categories for NX and attribute hole mapping for Catia 5. Other features boost user efficiency, including picking and sketching enhancements, associativity improvements for 3D dimensions, a redesigned part revision manager, and multiple plotview updates.

Specific developments for moldmaking include improved cooling channel management with support for solid groups, CAD transformations, and updated catalog components such as plugs, connectors and baffles. Additional enhancements include a new tool to produce lubrication grooves and a rewritten database tool to manage and edit 3D standard element libraries.

Enhancements to 2D machining include significant speed improvements especially on complex patterns, a final clearance milling path for zigzag tool paths, and improved linking for pocketing operations. For 3D machining operations, the user interface has been simplified to help define the geometry piece, stock and additional faces. An updated CAM engine provides better memory management and improved performance, enabling Visi to run multi-threads for a single toolpath calculation. This means that a single toolpath build can be split into parallel calculations, significantly reducing the total build time, according to the company. Wire EDM developments include 64-bit engine support, improved four-axis offset support and feature recognition for constant tapered apertures.

Additional updates to the CAM software include improved analytic material removal, updated stock/model comparison, and a new “toolpath enquirer” tool that enables the user to analyze the underlying toolpath data and search by geometry, such as elements shorter than a given length or vertical arcs.