Delcam, Renishaw Establish Development Partnership
UK-based CAD/CAM software supplier Delcam and automated metrology leader Renishaw Inc. have entered into a development partnership that will broaden the functionality within Renishaw's Tracecut software. The partnership, which is intended to extend the ways in which digitized data captured with Renishaw's equipment can be used, will address data that is gathered by dedicated scanners (such as the Cyclone digitizing system) or probes fitted onto CMMs or machine tools.
The primary new functionality will give users the ability to create CAD surfaces from digitized data that can be transferred into any CAD system, including Delcam's PowerShape package. PowerShape is a design-for-manufacturing modeling tool that lets you automate and streamline the design of complex 3D parts.
The coupling of digitizing and CAD has benefits in three main applications:
• developing new parts from existing components
• adding complex decorations or features onto the surfaces of standard products
• making minor styling changes to physical models in the final stages of product development
Other ways these technologies work together include creation of CAD models from physical models for use in analysis packages, generation of surface data from prototype parts for subsequent manufacture of mass production tooling, archiving legacy models as CAD files, and capturing data for computer visualisation and animation.
"Currently, Tracecut is the market leader in reverse manufacturing systems but, to date, we have limited the CAD output functionality," explained Gerry Bowyer, product manager of Renishaw's Digitizing Products Division. "By expanding the software's capabilities in this manner, we will be opening up a huge range of alternative applications for users of our digitizing equipment."
According to Delcam Product Manager Chris Lawrie, Tracecut's new functionality will be based on existing code within Delcam's CopyCAD reverse engineering software suite. "We will be developing a new interface for the new module and also optimizing the software for the processing of Renishaw's data formats." Lawrie anticipates beta testing to start this summer, with product release to customers in the fall.
"We are extremely pleased to be working together with Renishaw on this development," commented Tim Mitchell, Delcam's international sales director. "We are both UK companies that have become recognized internationally as leaders in their respective fields. We also serve many of the same industries including product designers, stylists, and toolmakers, providing tools to increase their productivity and improve their quality in today's competitive manufacturing environment."
The new software will be available through subsidiaries and worldwide distribution channels. "We are confident that it will open many new business opportunities for Renishaw," concluded Peter Wells, director and general manager of Renishaw's Digitizing Products Division.
Delcam plc develops CAD/CAM software for 3D design and manufacture of complex shapes and supplies specialty software in the toolmaking industry.
Renishaw plc delivers automated metrology solutions, giving manufacturers the ability to machine components accurately and perform measurements traceable to international standards.
Delcam plc, Small Heath Business Park, Birmingham, UK B10 0HJ. Tel: +44 121 683 1081.
Renishaw plc, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, UK GL12 8JR. Tel: +44 1453 524524.