Coord3, Adept SILMA partnership marries design process to shop floor quality processes
The combined SILMA and Coord3 software will feature a tight integration of SILMA's CimStation Inspection CAD-based off-line programming software with the real-time Coord3's ARCO on-line metrology engine, which controls the CMM and evaluates data.
The joint architecture will allow information to flow from the design department to the CMM on the shop floor by utilizing the 3-D CAD data throughout the quality process. The DMIS standard for CMM programming will be used, ensuring maximum inspection part program interoperability with other CMM manufacturers.
Enhancing CimStation Inspection to operate in both an on-line and off-line mode will result in faster creation of CMM part programs, higher quality programs, and more flexible utilization of global manufacturing resources on the shop floor over and above the gains available with only off-line programming.
"Manufacturers are demanding a seamless on-line and off-line CAD-based programming environment to extract the most value from their CMM equipment and quality processes," says Alberto Piovano, commercial director of Coord3. "The SILMA-Coord3 software partnership will allow Coord3 customers to achieve that goal."
"This partnership in effect marries the design process to the shop floor quality process by putting SILMA software directly on the CMM," says Eric Jacobs, director of Marketing for SILMA. "Coord3 customers will gain significant efficiency improvements and cost savings in their quality processes as more and more manufacturers go to paperless manufacturing and 3-D CAD-based programming becomes the only way to create part programs for the CMM."
CimStation Inspection creates CMM programs from 3-D CAD data long before a physical part exists and without tying up the actual CMM thus saving manufacturers significant time and money.
CimStation Inspection features high-end graphics and is the only CMM off-line programming and simulation software with support for probe changers, rotary tables and other programmable CMM peripherals. It is ideal for customers with automatic CMMs who need to generate new part programs frequently and quickly using their existing 3-D CAD models.
CAD models are read directly and seamlessly from IBM CATIA, PTC Pro/ENGINEER and CADDS, SDRC I-DEAS, and UGS Unigraphics. Platforms supported include Windows NT, HP-UX, SGI IRIX, IBM AIX, and Sun Solaris.
Edited by Jim Lardear
Managing Editor, PlantAutomation.com