Vero Software announced the release of its mold and die product, VISI 20. Version 20 introduces several new features in all areas of the product, with continued emphasis on solutions for mold, tool and die makers.
Graphic enhancements include improved rendering, a programmable dynamic command widget and the ability to fast-view a file before opening to include pan and zoom functionality. In addition, CAD translators have been updated to support SolidWorks and Solid Edge assemblies, and support for PTC Creo and JTopen B-rep entities.
CAD enhancements include the ability to assign constraints to geometrical bodies (concentric, parallel, coincident, distance, etc.), providing the tools to simulate the real movement of tooling, such as the ability to check for collisions with slides, cams, lifters, etc. A re-designed feature manager and 3D boring chart creates and edits complex holes and pockets as well as recognizing features directly from the 3D model or 2D drawing for automated annotation.
Process workflow improvements include the ability to extract wireframe edges, and also concatenate and simplify the extracted elements, remove knot points and split the geometry into correctly formatted curves based on angular deviation. Automating the process in this way speeds up high quality surface creation when working with third-party data.
VISI Progress developments include a new tool building engine, improved unfolding and new middle skin functionality for flanging and blanking operations. Other enhancements include a completely rewritten explode tool for 3D assemblies (with the ability to record the explode movements), improved standard component catalogues and continued collaboration with CADENAS.
VISI Flow, for plastic flow analysis, is now 64-bit compatible, and capable of benefiting from additional hardware performance. Other developments include new tools for the thermal analysis of conformal cooling. This process provides the ability to analyze 3D cooling circuits produced using rapid prototyping techniques and impossible to manufacture using traditional drilling/boring cycles. In addition, improvements to sequential molding, gas assisted and over-molding ensure mold makers benefit from the latest cutting edge technologies.
CAM improvements include the ability to distribute the toolpath computation onto different machines connected to the same private network. New toolpath algorithms include a new roughing strategy, improved auto rest machining, new multi-axis side wall machining and new multi-axis roughing. The new roughing strategy reduces rapid moments, optimizes step-over when using values above 50% of the tool diameter, and propagates high-speed transitions and corner pip movements, avoiding feed reduction while machining.
For more information, visit Vero Software.
Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.
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