CAD/CAM, tubes, bending, quoting and the specialist CAD for CAM modelling tool all benefit from a number of enhancements in the latest version of Radan sheetmetal software.
Radan 2021 takes an important step for manufacturers operating punching machines and who want to optimise batches of nests. It is now possible to use Radnest Ultimate on punch.
Product Manager Olaf Körner says optimising nests with the module can reduce the number of raw material sheets by 8% a year: “Manufacturers spending hundreds of thousands of pounds a year will appreciate those savings – not only from a material usage perspective but also the fact that having more parts on a sheet takes less time to produce the batch,” he explains.
Set-up sheets can now be automatically generated and sent to each machine, saving around 50 minutes in an average day producing up to 80 nests. The NC code for the job goes to the machine, and the set-up sheet to the operator. Now the task is accomplished through a simple tick box, and the sheet is always up to date, with no chance of omissions or errors.
There are three important updates to multi-part nesting:
Common line cutting can now be carried out even if the ends have cut-outs in the design. Two overlapping cuts can be converted to a common line cut sequence where two specific aspects are met: firstly, the end features must be produced with a single cut; and secondly, the end cuts must overlap by at least 25%. This means that up to three quarters of all tube parts can now be considered for common line cutting.
Radbend now reduces handling when calculating sequences automatically, by lessening the need for tool and part rotations: “Every time operators have to turn a part around, either by themselves or with a colleague, it takes time. This new piece of functionality calculates a better sequence meaning it can be fed into the machine in little steps, improving the handling,” Mr Körner adds.
“And the tool editor now shows important additional information by default, making it more user-friendly.”
Additionally, a 2D shape can quickly be modified in Radraft now and updated in Radquote: “Some quoting systems on the market can’t easily change a part graphically,” Mr Körner advises. “The benefit of this enhancement to Radquote is that if you’ve received a file that’s not 100% accurate it can readily be edited in Radraft and the updated file read by Radquote.”
For example, there are six different ways of sending Designer data into Radan CAD/CAM, including sending flat patterns of all parts to be added to a nest project, and sending a single part for opening geometry in the part editor.
Designer now indicates bends where the design radius differs from the expected result radius when using V-width as the unfolding method. This is important for the unfolding process and the finished look of the component.
“Feedback is now provided on overlapping unfolds. Sometimes, when a 3D model is unfolded, it doesn’t work – faces clash on top of each other. The user is now notified of this and shown the issue graphically,” Mr Körner affirms.
Another new function adds watertight corner reliefs, showing in 2D what it will look like to make in 3D. And the Split Edge command can now deal with arcs, making it faster to open a closed edge.
In conclusion, Olaf Körner says: “Radan 2021 achieves our target of bringing items of functionality off preview and into the full release. It represents another state-of-the-art version of the software for sheetmetal companies working on models they have designed themselves, or imported as CAD files from other systems.”
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