ZWSOFT Releases ZW3D 2017 Beta

GUANGZHOU, China, Sep 26, 2016 - ZW3D, one of the world's leading suppliers of advanced CAD/CAM solutions for the manufacturing industry, announced the availability of ZW3D 2017 Beta, bringing new features and numerous enhancements to improve efficiency and minimize overheads in the process of designing and manufacturing. 

Expansive Sheet Metal Design to Bring Better User Experience 

One of the most highlighted advancement in ZW3D 2017 beta would be the expansive sheet metal, delivering engineers & designers much better user experience. 

For instance, the newly-added hem flange allows expanded flange creation with all necessary pre-defined hem types provided; the brand-new jog helps users create 2 bends at one time to better suit design technology; the enhanced full flange and partial flange enables users to intuitively control dimension with drag of mouse; the new editing tools are included to avoid reprogramming trouble… 

“We’ve invested a lot of R&D resources in sheet metal module,” said Colin Lin, Director of ZW3D Overseas Business, “You’ll definitely embrace a much more user-friendly & productive ZW3D.” 

High-Performance CAM to Boost Productivity 

The CAM module in ZW3D 2017 beta comes up with lots of new handy functionalities, in a bid to improve the efficiency & reliability of CNC machining. 

For example, the flat finishing operation is added to automatically detect all planes and generate tool-path accordingly at just one click, shrinking the programming time up to 50%; the milling and turning strategies can be simulated in the same environment, helping users intuitively analyze each manufacturing status to safeguard machining process… 

Better File Compression to Facilitate Smoother Exchange 

More flexible control options are provided in configuration form to compress Z3 file. Saving big models in ZW3D 2017 will cost you nearly no time. Especially, the file size of various formats, like NX, Step and z3 etc., can be reduced by 30% compared with previous versions, greatly saving the transferring time of data communication.

About ZW3D CAD/CAM

ZW3D, an integrated CAD/CAM solution designed for the complete product development process, features the fastest kernel for Solid-surface Hybrid Modeling, non-solid mold parting and smart CNC Machining tactics from 2 axis to 5 axis. It brings customers endless benefits such as reduced costs, optimized design workflow and improved efficiency. For more information about ZW3D, visit http://www.zwsoft.com/ZW3D/ or follow ZWSOFT on facebook.

Bricsys BricsCAD V16.2 Enhances User Interface, 3D Modeling

GENT, Belgium, Feb 18, 2016 - Bricsys announces the release of a major update to greatly enhance BricsCAD V16, its flagship 3D design software. The innovative CAD system builds on the world standard .dwg format to provide 2D drafting, 3D modeling, sheet metal design, and BIM architecture in a single platform. The update includes improvements in 3D modeling and UI.

Improved User Interface

• BricsCAD’s unique Quad cursor gains a new tabbed layout designed to give our users faster access to groups within the Quad. Atop the Quad cursor is a new information field that reports data about selected entities or over which the cursor is currently hovering.
• When the Quad cursor hovers over multiple entities, our users now press the Tab key to cycle them, with the current entity type displayed by the Quad. Holding down the Ctrl key while in selection mode can now be used to highlight sub-entities of associative arrays, mleaders, and polylines.
• When the new rollover tips function is activated, then the additional properties of the entities are displayed. This is helpful when users need to check properties, such as the lengths of edges on 3D solids.
• Any length, area, or volume property is now displayed using the preferred units through the new PropUnits variable. The units defined by the InsUnits variable are used as the base units for unit conversions.
• Hyperlinks contained in drawings are now exported in PDF files.

Greater 3D Usability

BricsCAD V16.2 now allows our users to place dynamic UCS on curved faces. Unlike all other CAD systems, DUCS is no longer restricted to flat faces.

A new 3dOsMode variable controls entity snapping to various kinds of geometry on 3D solids. Along with BricsCAD’s 3D parametric constraints, the new option is helpful when our users construct and edit 3D solid models.

The SectionPlane and BimSection entities are extended with a new Clip Display status.

Pricing and Availability

BricsCAD V16.2 is a free update to our customers, and is available in many languages on the Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. The English version for Windows is available for download today. Additional languages and platforms will be released in the weeks to come. The free download from www.bricsys.com/bricscad provides a 30-day trial of all functions of the Platinum edition.

With BricsCAD you get more for less. Pricing of BricsCAD V16 starts at just €450/$550. Other editions and additional solutions offer sheet metal design, BIM planning, and 3D data exchange are all based on the .dwg format.

About Bricsys

Bricsys is a global provider of dwg engineering design software brought to market under the BricsCAD brand. With relentless commitment to the success of the BricsCAD community, Bricsys is focused on providing an industrial strength CAD software platform and industry leading support at a compelling price to customers in the AEC, GIS, civil engineering, process and power, and mechanical CAD markets. Founded in 2002, Bricsys is a founding member of the Open Design Alliance. For more information, visit http://www.bricsys.com.

AutoForm Hydro 2016 Unveiled for Sheet Metal Forming

WILEN B WOLLERAU, Switzerland, Jan 29, 2016 - AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has unveiled its latest software AutoForm Hydro 2016. This version of AutoForm Hydro has many significant enhancements including a completely new unique set of functionalities for springback compensation. Based on accurate springback simulation results, AutoForm Hydro 2016 allows for efficient springback compensation after bending and hydroforming operations.

Springback compensation of bending operation

AutoForm Hydro is AutoForm’s state-of-the-art solution for rapid tool design for tube hydroforming processes as well as for the simulation of these processes. The latest software version, AutoForm Hydro 2016, offers new functionalities and significant enhancements. The most important one is springback compensation of bending and hydroforming operations.

Springback compensation of hydroforming operation

The bending compensation is achieved through the generation of a new bending line using the same springback value in the opposite direction and compensation of process parameters while the tool geometries remain unchanged. The hydroforming compensation takes into account springback after the hydroforming operation and all springback modes such as translation, twisting and crowning. The automatic update of tool geometries results in compensated tools which can be easily exported. By identifying and analysing the root cause of springback, engineers are able to define the most effective compensation strategy for the project at hand.

In addition to this new and unique functionality in tube hydroforming, AutoForm Hydro 2016 also provides enhancements in process description and tool design such as force controlled axial tools for bending and hydroforming operations, appropriate positioning before bending operation, generation of fillet radius for upper and lower dies as well as volume controlled hydroforming. The comprehensive in-depth understanding and validation of the entire hydroforming process leads to shorter development time and reduced tooling, material and production costs.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “AutoForm Hydro 2016 enables our users to reach a new level of competitiveness in tube hydroforming. This is the only software on the market today which allows for springback compensation in tube hydroforming. The ability to carry out feasibility, springback calculation and its compensation already in the process engineering stage reduces additional costly efforts for redesign in the CAD stage and results in significant time savings in tool making and tryout. With AutoForm Hydro 2016, part designers, process engineers as well as tool and die makers are well-equipped to meet the increasing demands in terms of part complexity, ever higher part quality requirements, implementation of new materials as well as ever shorter lead times and higher cost pressures.”

For more information about AutoForm and its products, visit http://www.autoform.com/.

AutoForm-HemPlannerplus Integrates with AutoFormplus R6

WILEN B WOLLERAU, Switzerland, Nov 2, 2015 - AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, presents its enhanced AutoForm-HemPlannerplus software, which is now fully integrated in the AutoFormplus R6 version. This integration offers all the advantages of AutoFormplus R6’s efficient workflow and a newly enhanced graphical user interface.

Roll hemming process concept

The accuracy of the hemming operation is very important since it affects the surface appearance and surface quality of the component. Material deformations, which occur during the hemming process, can lead to dimensional deviations and other typical hemming defects, including splits and wrinkles in the flange, material overlaps in the corner areas and material roll-in. To address these important issues, AutoForm Engineering offers the enhanced version of AutoForm-HemPlannerplus, which allows for the efficient planning of hemming process.

Evaluation of hemming defects and material roll-in

AutoForm-HemPlannerplus, which is now fully integrated in AutoFormplus R6, enables users to easily define and optimize the hemming operation. In combination with AutoForm-Solverplus, this software offers immediate benefits, such as: efficient planning of hemming processes to meet quality and cost requirements, effective implementation for early feasibility and final validation studies, rapid identification of typical hemming defects, prediction of full assembly springback after hemming as well as easy data exchange internally between different departments and externally between OEMs and suppliers. In addition, this software allows for compensation of inner and outer parts as well as any adjustments of the hemming equipment.

AutoForm-HemPlannerplus supports roll, conventional die and table top hemming. Depending on the product development process phase, the software supports two use cases, namely quick and advanced hemming. Quick hemming is used in the early stages of product development and production planning when the die layout of the drawing and forming operations is still not available. Advanced hemming is used in process engineering when the detailed definition of the forming operations is already available.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “In combination with our powerful solver algorithms, AutoForm-HemPlannerplus ensures the efficient planning of hemming processes. Users will benefit greatly from a fully integrated hemming solution provided by AutoFormplus R6. The new level of speed which can be achieved is a particular highlight of the software. Depending on the selected hemming process and geometry, a hood can now be simulated in just two to six hours, which represents a significant additional benefit for users working in this field.”

For more information about AutoForm and its products, visit http://www.autoform.com/.

Bricsys Releases BricsCAD V16

GENT, Belgium, Oct 28, 2015 - Bricsys announces the release of its flagship design software, BricsCAD V16. The innovative CAD system powers 2D drafting, 3D modeling, sheet metal design, and BIM architecture -- all on the world standard .dwg file format. It is available on Windows, and soon Mac and Linux.

New 2D and 3D Functions in V16

BricsCAD V16 significantly expands the function of the unique Quad cursor so that it also draws objects, in addition to editing them. The Quad is easily customized in V16.

Users make better drawings through the new dynamically associative array function that creates and edits linear, rectangular, polar, 3D array, and arrays along paths. As well, transparency can be applied to objects, layers, and plotted out. Text is enhanced multi-column paragraphs and automatic stacking of fractions.

Now map tiles can be placed from online cartographic services, and drawings can be located accurately using geographic coordinates.

BricsCAD V16 expands 3D object creation to 3D surfaces, which can be edited just like 3D solids, including those imported from other CAD programs. The new release imports and heals assemblies from MCAD programs like Solidworks and Inventor; in addition, it imports 3D models from the popular SketchUp conceptual modeling tool, and BIM data from IFC files.

BricsCAD BIM (building information model) for architectural design synchronizes 3D models with 2D sections, plans, and details, and reads and writes IFC files from other BIM systems. All building materials and compositions in the BIM database are accessible through the dockable BIM panel. BricsCAD creates room objects in V16 that are bounded by wall objects. Choose windows and doors from the library, or else create your own by setting parameters in the Properties panel.

The redesigned drawing generation feature lets users generate 2D drawings, details, sections, and sheet sets in seconds from 3D, BIM, and sheet metal models using styles.

BricsCAD Sheet Metal

In BricsCAD V16, the sheet metal functions become an optional add-on. New functions in V16 include automatic feature coloring, lofted bends, and additional junction and relief shapes. The all-new batch processing facilities allows users to quickly produce families of sheet metal parts of different sizes. Support for CAM systems is extended to CYBELEC and DELEM.

Hundreds of Third-party Applications

Bricsys’ strong relationship with third-party application developers means users have access to more than 400 applications running on top of BricsCAD. Click here, to browse the online app store. 

The extensive BricsCAD development platform boasts nine programming interfaces, allowing developers to rapidly port applications from other .dwg-based CAD programs, usually without modifying any source code. To learn more about the easy 1-2-3 process to join and post your add-on software, visit www.bricsys.com/bricscad/developers/.

Pricing and Availability

The English version of BricsCAD V16 for Windows is available now. Additional languages and platforms will be released in the weeks to come. The free download provides a 30-day trial of all functions of the Platinum edition.

With BricsCAD you get more for less. Pricing of BricsCAD V16 starts at just €410/$520 for the Classic edition. Other editions and additional solutions offer Sheet Metal design, BIM planning, and 3D data exchange -- all based on the .dwg format.

About Bricsys

Bricsys is a global provider of dwg engineering design software brought to market under the BricsCAD brand. With relentless commitment to the success of the BricsCAD community, Bricsys is focused on providing an industrial strength CAD software platform and industry leading support at a compelling price to customers in the AEC, GIS, civil engineering, process and power, and mechanical CAD markets. Founded in 2002, Bricsys is a founding member of the Open Design Alliance. For more information, visit http://www.bricsys.com. 

ZW3D Celebrates 30th Anniversary

GUANGZHOU, China, Aug 25, 2015 - ZW3D, one of the world's leading suppliers of advanced CAD/CAM solutions for the manufacturing industry, today announced the 30th anniversary of ZW3D CAD/CAM. It’s an occasion to step back and record and also an occasion to muse on the next thirty years ahead.

“30 is an age of vitality and energy for humans, almost vintage for a car, an eternity for an ant and next to nothing for a star…” said Mark Vorwaller, President of ZWSOFT America. “I think, what 30 means to us is the amazing amount of experience that we’ve gathered - 30 years of global partnerships, 30 years of services & 30 years spent on collaboration and invention.”

Back in 1986, ZW3D, developed by Mark as ModelMATE, was one of the 1st commercial PC-based solid modelers. In 1999, Solid-Surface Hybrid Modeling technology, one of the most revolutionary developments in ZW3D, was added, bringing the first hybrid modeler to the industry. This technology eliminates the boundaries between solid and surface modeling, making solid features feasible on surface as well.

“Aesthetics are becoming increasingly important even with industrial products. The ZW3D hybrid modeling is packed with surfacing capabilities we need for the smoothly-contoured designs required for a product like the Power Cap,” said Mark Williams, R&D Manager at Johnstone Safety Products Ltd. “ZW3D really helped us to design this product to not only work well but look best.”

Later on, via a successful alliance with SNK (SHIN NIPPON KOKI CO., LTD. ), a machine tool company, a turnkey solution for manufacturers was integrated. ZW3D had developed into one of the first design-through-manufacturing packages and was awarded “Gold Winner & Product of the Year” by NASA Tech Brief in 2002.

“With our purchase of ZW3D software, we are now designing parts in-house, which offers our customers a turnkey solution from product idea to manufacturing,” said Everton Cope, President of American Stove Parts.

Then, seven years later, Overdrive, ZW3D’s unique engine, was developed. “When it comes to modeling, the Overdrive kernel of ZW3D is among the fastest that I’ve ever seen,” said Atom Zhou, Product of Matsuya Machinery. “As for CAM functions, ZW3D reduces working hours and the amount of material consumed in production.”

Today, ZW3D incorporates with various partner applications, like TraceParts for parts library, FTI for sheet metal, Keyshot for rendering, Simwise for FEA & Eureka for machining etc., to break the limits of CAD/CAM.

“One of the greatest part of being involved in a company watching it grows is to see how ZW3D is used in every day work. It’s all around us and used to design and machine auto parts, consumer products, electrics, molds…” Said Colin Lin, Director of ZW3D Overseas Business. “It’s very exciting to know that we’ve been part of that.”

“The development process we are and will be using is similar to what we used 30 years ago: to listen to our users and partners, fillet out the good ideas from bad ones and make our software better,” added Colin. “In the years to come, ZW3D will be developing towards an ideal solution for middle CAD/CAM market.”

About ZW3D CAD/CAM

ZW3D is cost-effective CAD/CAM software for 3D modeling, mold design, and machining, which takes engineers from concept to finished product in one easy-to-use, single collaborative environment. For more information, visit http://www.zwsoft.com/ZW3D or follow ZWSOFT on Facebook.

AutoFormplus R6 to Support Digital Sheet Metal Process Chain

WILEN B WOLLERAU, Switzerland, Jun 14, 2015 - AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has unveiled the latest software version, AutoFormplus R6. This release offers a new set of powerful functionalities to support users along the entire digital sheet metal process chain.

AutoFormplus R6 allows users to expand the digital process chain through a new set of powerful functionalities. Several new options included in this release, such as for drawbead modeling, blank definition, enhanced springback compensation, systematic process improvement as well as the fully integrated hemming solution, further demonstrate and emphasize AutoForm’s continuous efforts to streamline and accelerate the entire engineering process of sheet metal forming.

AutoFormplus R6 expands the digital process chain with a new set of powerful functionalities.

Evaluation of hemming defects and roll-in

One of the major innovations in AutoFormplus R6 is the so called drawbead reduction strategy used in combination with the adaptive line bead. The main idea behind this innovation is to support users with an easy-to-use and realistic model when determining and optimizing the drawbeads. The reduction strategy defines the order, the measures and the ranges in which a drawbead shape is modified, such as bead height, bead radius or groove radius. In this model, all of the defined measures are combined and made available to the user through one single parameter. Instead of dealing with all kinds of measures and geometries, the user can focus on this single parameter only, which allows for efficient process engineering even when complex parts are analyzed. With this model, drawbead handling in engineering is aligned with the real tryout and very easy to use. This model is now also available for multiple simulations by AutoForm-Sigmaplus.

Another important novelty in this version are the additional options for the blank definition. AutoFormplus R6 offers complex blank types and combinations of patchwork, tailor-welded and tailor-rolled blanks, which results in optimized material usage and cost performance. Chevron blank shapes for embedding provide additional options for material cost optimization. In addition, AutoFormplus R6 provides the best nesting layout while taking into account the variation in costs of different coil widths. The user can calculate the optimal layout of the blank on the coil based on the minimization of material costs as well as the minimization of material usage.

In addition, users of hemming processes will benefit greatly from a fully integrated hemming solution provided by AutoFormplus R6. This integration offers all the advantages of an efficient workflow and a newly enhanced graphical user interface. AutoFormplus R6 supports state-of-the-art hemming technologies, such as roll and table hemming as well as combinations of these. With this version, the user can validate the design of the clamping fixture, check if the spring supported roller follows the predefined trajectory, evaluate potential hemming defects as well as predict full assembly springback. This information forms the basis for compensation of inner and outer parts as well as any adjustments of the hemming equipment. With AutoFormplus R6, depending on the selected hemming process, a hood can be simulated in just two to six hours. This remarkable speed is another tangible benefit for AutoFormplus R6 users.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “In line with the motto of this latest release, ‘expanding the digital process chain’, our users are invited to join us at more than twenty roll-out events all over the world during which they will expand their knowledge and learn how to benefit most from AutoFormplus R6. This new software release enables our users to take further advantage of AutoForm’s continuous efforts to streamline and accelerate the entire engineering process of sheet metal forming.” 

For more information about AutoForm and its products, visit http://www.autoform.com/.

Bricsys Releases BricsCAD V15.2

GENT, Belgium, Apr 30, 2015 - Bricsys announces the release of BricsCAD V15.2, a free update for BricsCAD V15 that offers major new and improved features. 

The major update includes the following highlights.

Quad Cursor Draws

The function of the unique Quad cursor is extended so that it now also draws entities. Users bring up the Quad by clicking the right mouse button to not only modify selected entities, but also place new ones in drawings.

Sheet Metal Junctions

A significant improvement to the sheet metal design facility creates junction features automatically, with BricsCAD supporting several types of junctions.

Junction gaps are automatically preserved, and can be controlled separately by the user. A new system variable defines the target CAM system for unfolding sheet metal parts.

Web Map Service

Map Connect adds correctly located maps to drawings through a connection to a web map service. One or more data layers can be selected for downloading as image files; users can specify the ground resolution and number of tiles into which the data should be divided. The ten most recently used connections are remembered for subsequent sessions. The Geographic Location dialog is redesigned so that users can define and store geographic location data in drawings.

Additional Features

Version 15.2 also offers users the following enhancements, and many more:

• Basic editing of 3D solid faces containing spline geometry
• Offset with preview faces of 3D solids as well as detected boundaries.
• Import 3D data from BIM and SketchUp files
• Stacked multi-line text settings dialog
• Support photometric IES files and web-style lights
• Auto-complete commands by searching for mid-string text

Pricing and Availability

This new update is free. All BricsCAD users with a V15 license can download this major upgrade free of charge from the Bricsys Website. The English language version is available now; translated versions will be made available over the coming weeks. 

New users can try BricsCAD for Windows, Linux, and Mac for 30 days at no charge by downloading them from http://www.bricsys.com.

About Bricsys

Bricsys is a global provider of dwg engineering design software brought to market under the BricsCAD brand. With relentless commitment to the success of the BricsCAD community, Bricsys is focused on providing an industrial strength CAD software platform and industry leading support at a compelling price to customers in the AEC, GIS, civil engineering, process and power, and mechanical CAD markets. Founded in 2002, Bricsys is a founding member of the Open Design Alliance. For more information, visit http://www.bricsys.com.

C3D Labs Introduces C3D Geometric Kernel V16

MOSCOW, Russia, Feb 3, 2015 - C3D Labs is pleased to introduce C3D V16, the latest update of its professional toolset for developing engineering software. V16 extends the capabilities of C3D for creating sophisticated geometric shapes, matures its 2D/3D design functions, and adds powerful features for constructing solids composed of sheet metal.

Most of the improvements made to C3D V16 were requested by customers, fifteen as of now. Overall, the latest release of C3D features more than 100 improvements to the kernel's functionality.

What’s New in C3D V16 ?

For this release, the C3D development team focused on improved the sectioning and cutting processes, adding efficient parallel calculations within the kernel, and on securing threads for binding multiple surfaces. The geometric solver now boasts clustering, journaling, dragging, and reflection symmetry for 3D shapes, as well as advanced options for building parameterized splines. In addition, there are major changes to 2D Boolean operations.

The updated C3D converter imports data in STL and VRML formats, passes attributes during conversion, and adjusts the accuracy of exported STL models. Thanks to optimized multi-threading, data are now processed much faster during the importing of 3D models.

To improve the quality of software products, C3D Labs has extended its reference database to 350,000 3D models, and increased the total number of Boolean operations being tested daily to several million. The lab implemented support for Clang 3.5 and Visual Studio 2013 compilers, the latest C# programming language, an extended list of supported Linux builds, updated test applications for Linux, and a newly illustrated user manual.

C3D Modeler Enhancements

Among the new capabilities of C3D Modeler V16, the following are perhaps of greatest interest to customers:

• In kinematic operations, the elements of solids are cloned for a variety of positions relative to the guide path.
• Threads can now be adjusted according to the initial position and length of the hole in which it is rendered.
• Building shell rings by individual sketches with irregular faces is now performed using the constant bend radius. Building conical polygons through sheet metal bends is now performed through segmentation of the support arches.
• When building sheet metal bodies, the closure of angles is now rendered through the rotary processing of the target area. Users can set different lengths to the left and to the right of the bending extension.
• Edge fillets are created more efficiently, with dramatically fewer inaccuracies and with no building limitations, as compared to the previous versions of C3D.
• The thickness of surfaces can be based on singular (polar) points.
• The tangent line junctions of surfaces built from a web of curves are rendered more smoothly.

C3D Solver Enhancements

The C3D Solver adds a new geometric object called the “cluster.” Essentially, a cluster is a solid body with its own constraint system. Clustering is useful for arranging geometric models against a hierarchy of nested sub-assemblies. In this use case, designers can now employ the same solver instance for an entire assembly. This saves computing resources and speeds up calculations when modifying 3D models.

To facilitate the development of applications, C3D Labs has implemented journaling of all API calls in the 2D solver. All details regarding interactions of the C3D Solver are recorded automatically to file. This allows remote debugging of bugs that are reported by customers, and is especially useful because the same environment in which they use the kernel is not needed by developers.

For assemblies in which some objects are a full or partial mirrored reflection of others, C3D Solver has a new type of geometric constraint for 3D shapes: reflection symmetry. Reflection symmetry can be applied to any geometric object, such as curves on pairs of bodies or external facets.

C3D extends the number of functions used in building parameterized splines in V16. These include the following: a new dragging function; a new interpolated spline function with any type of constraint (such as those available for the ordinary NURBS curves); a new function for recognizing the types of conic sections defined as NURBS curves; and a new constraint for defining spline configurations through its points with fixed coordinates, as well as through vectors of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd derivatives at points with the specified parameters.

C3D Converter Enhancements

The updated C3D converter adjusts the accuracy of exported STL models by three triangulation parameters. These are the maximum deflection, the maximum pivot angle of a normal curve (or surface), and the maximum length of a triangle side.

The update imports polygon models in STL and VRML formats. As well, the software now transfers attributes of items being exported, such as name, designation, and owner.

Thanks to the improved multi-threading capability, C3D V16 converts data much faster when importing models. For instance, it is 1.7 times faster for Parasolid files (x_t, x_b) and 2.2 times faster for STEP files.

About C3D

Existing customers are encouraged to download the updated kernel today. To learn more about the C3D geometric kernel, go to c3dlabs.com/en/products/c3d-kernel/

To submit your request for a C3D V16 evaluation version, register at c3dlabs.com/en/evaluation/

About C3D Labs

C3D Labs specializes in the technologically intensive market of CAD components. The company develops and markets the C3D geometric modeling kernel, which is used by developers of CAD systems and educational institutions. In 2013, C3D Labs became a resident of Skolkovo, Russia's state development office park.

For more information about C3D, visit www.c3dlabs.com/en

AutoForm Announces Training Seminars Program 2015

WOLLERAU, Switzerland, Dec 29, 2014 - AutoForm announces a full range of training seminars for 2015 to meet customers’ needs over the complete range of AutoForm software solutions – from product concept through process design and tryout to production tooling and process robustness.

Software training seminars are offered at two levels: basic and advanced. These seminars are useful to both beginners and experienced AutoForm users. AutoForm also offers customized software training seminars. In addition, AutoForm offers fundamental training seminars in sheet metal forming for part designers, tool makers and process/stamping/ manufacturing engineers.

AutoForm training seminars are carefully designed to help users leverage the significant advantages of AutoForm – ease-of-use, parametric integration and fast and reliable computation – to the best benefit in the above application areas.

Training seminars are held at AutoForm’s offices in the USA, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Japan, Korea as well as in other countries. Upon request, the seminars can also be held at customer sites.

For AutoForm Training Seminars: training dates, click here and for training registration, click here. 

For further information on AutoForm and its products, visit http://www.autoform.com.

ZW3D FastBlank Lite Released to Expand Sheet Metal Functionalities

GUANGZHOU, China, Nov 11, 2014 - ZW3D, one of the world's leading suppliers of advanced CAD/CAM solutions for the manufacturing industry, today announced the global availability of ZW3D FastBlank Lite. FastBlank Lite is a module of ZW3D which delivers powerful new functionalities for developing complex 3D sheet metal part geometries into manufacturable 2D flat pattern developments with high accuracy and efficiency.

Partnering with Forming Technologies Incorporated (FTI), ZW3D developed ZW3D FastBlank Lite to help users in various sheet metal industries, such as Tool & Die, Consumer Product, Machinery, Automotive, Aerospace, etc., to quickly and accurately develop optimal blank shapes or unfold flanges from complex geometries and to calculate material utilization and blank costs.

This integration is a giant leap forward for ZW3D’s sheet metal capabilities. ZW3D FastBlank Lite, based on FTI’s industry-leading metal forming simulation technology, utilizes advanced FEA methods to determine accurate, fully-developed blank shapes for any type of sheet metal parts, from simple brackets to complex metal stampings. Plus, the seamless unification of FastBlank and ZW3D eliminates the risk of data loss through file translation, while keeping users working in the unified collaborative ZW3D environment.

Key features includes:

• Blank Shape Development feature to generate extremely accurate 2D flat patterns for complex geometries within minutes
• Flange Unfold feature to facilitate the development of a strip layout for a progressive die
• Report feature to produce HTML reports with valuable engineering data for quoting and estimating
• Automatic Meshing to hide FEA complexity and support hole filling
• Customizable material library including hundreds of international materials

“The addition of ZW3D FastBlank Lite will dramatically improve formability and product quality, and significantly reduce material costs and the number of stamping trials required in the tooling prove-out stage,” said Felix Gao, Director of ZW3D Overseas Business. “We expect it to be a strategic part of penetration into various industries, especially the Tool & Die industry.”

For more information about ZW3D FastBlank Lite, email at sales@zwsoft.com.

About ZW3D CAD/CAM

ZW3D, an integrated CAD/CAM solution designed for the complete product development process, features the fastest kernel for Solid-surface Hybrid Modeling, non-solid mold parting and smart CNC Machining tactics from 2 axis to 5 axis. It brings customers endless benefits such as reduced costs, optimized design workflow and improved efficiency. For more information, visit http://www.zwsoft.com/zw3d.

About Forming Technologies

Forming Technologies Incorporated (FTI) is the world’s leading developer of computer aided engineering software for design and simulation of sheet metal components. Since 1989, FTI has provided OEMs and suppliers in the automotive, aerospace, and appliance industries with innovative software and training solutions designed to reduce development time and costs. For more information, visit www.forming.com.

AutoForm-QuickLink Exchanges CAD Data in AutoFormplus and CATIA, NX

WILEN B WOLLERAU, Switzerland, Oct 29 - AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has developed AutoForm-QuickLink, a software for bi-directional fast and easy data exchange between AutoFormplus and CAD systems. This software enables process design departments to enhance their work efficiency through more effective collaboration with both in-house and external departments.

AutoForm-QuickLink, AutoForm’s latest software, links AutoForm's expertise in sheet metal forming process simulation with the powerful design functionalities of the CATIA and NX environments. This software is particularly beneficial during the tool design stage, when a die layout is defined and validated for the complete sheet metal forming process.

AutoForm-QuickLink allows for bi-directional data transfer between AutoForm^plus and CAD in both CATIA and NX

There are two major user applications for AutoForm-QuickLink:

• Data export from AutoFormplus into the CAD environment after die-face concept validation carried out in AutoFormplus. Based on the imported process data, CAD users can design the process further. Users who work in the CATIA environment can take advantage of AutoForm-ProcessDesignerforCATIA to rapidly generate CAD quality surfaces in the CATIA environment. Users who work in the NX environment can successfully carry out this procedure using NX native functionalities.
• Data export from CAD systems into the AutoFormplus environment after CAD creation of die faces for final validation simulations carried out in AutoFormplus, including optimization loops.

In both user applications, consistent and fast bi-directional data transfer with AutoForm-QuickLink leads to significant speedup as well as the effective prevention of errors which may occur during manual import and export operations. AutoForm-QuickLink ensures efficient data exchange and improves data consistency, transparency and usability.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: "With AutoForm-QuickLink, CAD users can significantly speed up the CAD design process. This software allows for the selective import and export of geometry and process data between AutoFormplus and CAD systems. Users can easily modify geometry, part position, tipping and cam directions while remaining within the CAD environment. AutoForm-QuickLink also allows for the consistent naming and nomenclature as well as the transfer of the complete operation structure. With all these new features, this innovative software ensures seamless data flow between AutoFormplus and CAD systems and thus greatly facilitates the daily work of process design departments throughout the world."

For more information, visit http://www.autoform.com/.

AutoFormplus R5 Available for Sheet Metal Forming

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has introduced the latest software version AutoFormplus R5. This latest release streamlines sheet metal forming, providing a wide range of new powerful features and improvements for digital planning and validation of sheet metal processes and parts.

Digital stoning method enables easy visualization of surface imperfections

AutoFormplus R5 further streamlines sheet metal forming by advancing AutoForm’s complete software suite. Besides new planning options and tooling features, this release offers several new possibilities to improve the efficiency and reliability of result evaluation. For example, new section plots allow for results to be charted along selected geometry sections and a newly developed issue type for semi-automatic result evaluation allows the user to track the draw-in location and its progression. What is more, the digital stoning analysis has been enhanced to make evaluation and visualization of surface imperfections easier and more accurate.

Draw-in is an added issue type which is suitable for semi-automatic results evaluation; the user can define draw-in target boundary as well as track the draw-in location and its progression by different available colors and icons.

This software also extends systematic process improvement. With AutoFormplus R5, users can easily evaluate which design parameters influence the part quality and to what extent, in both conventional and hot forming processes. Design parameters which have the most influence on the stamped part can be identified already during the process and part design stages. Users are thereby able to make the necessary adjustments and systematically improve the forming process by specifying sophisticated quality criteria such as surface defects and draw-in issues.

In addition, AutoFormplus R5 contains solver improvements which are of significant benefit in terms of increased result accuracy and shorter computation time. An improved contact algorithm leads to even more realistic bending behavior in wall and flanging areas. It also results in a more precise calculation of tool forces and a very realistic representation of wrinkles in the binder area. The new adaptive line bead model takes the current in-die conditions into account. It combines the accuracy of 3D geometric beads with the computing speed of 2D line beads.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “AutoFormplus R5 enhances all of the important aspects of comprehensive digital process planning, giving users the support they need to make the right decisions along the sheet metal forming process chain.”

For further information, visit http://www.autoform.com.