Automated Shop Floor Data Preparation
Blog Post 1.04.03 - Automated Steps to Significantly Increase Engineering Capacity
Automate the labor intensive tasks associated with the manufacturing engineering process. Read More ...
Global Edge Video Blog-1.04
Automated Steps to Significantly Increase Engineering Capacity
The Global Edge Engineering Assistant is an innovative engineering tool that is designed to automate many of the labor-intensive tasks associated with the quoting, engineering and manufacturing workflow process. This starts with the ability to automatically analyze 2D and 3D CAD sheet metal parts and store the CAD Part Parameters. These CAD Part Parameters provide a foundation for Automated Sales Quote Generation, Automated Routing Generation, and the automated preparation of information for the shop floor.
The Global Edge Engineering Assistant is "Your Engineering Virtual Assistant" that assists your engineering team from design to manufacturing with capabilities that include the following:
- Automated CAD Model Analysis
- Manufacturability Testing to Eliminate Shop Floor Errors
- Stores Valuable Tribal Knowledge Accessible throughout Manufacturing Enterprise
- Automated Routing / Work Instruction Generation
- Automated Batch Processing of Parts and Assemblies
- Automated Bend Program Generation
Global Edge Engineering Assistant is your engineering virtual assistant that helps increase engineering capacity with four practical steps that include:
Step 1 - Automated CAD Model Analysis
This step starts with the automated and complete analysis of your 3D CA model sheet metal parts. This process includes the extraction and importation of 48 CAD part parameters for the purpose of driving automated quoting, automated routings and cost rollups. The CAD part parameters are also translated into extended data that is added to your DXF flat files to facilitate automated bend program generation. Click to view CAD Part Parameter Report for example of CAD part parameters captured.
Step 2 - Automated Sheet Metal Batch Unfolding
This step provides the ability to perform Manufacturability Tests on your sheet metal CAD parts to determine if they can be successfully fabricated on the shop floor before leaving engineering. This process includes matching and comparing CAD part parameters with user defined bend processes to determine whether the CAD part parameters fall within the minimum and maximum limits of your bend processes. This includes interference checking of pem, embossment, and louver locations from bend lines.
Step 3 - Automated Shop Floor Data Preparation
This step includes the automated unfolding of your sheet metal CAD parts to generate DXF flat files. Addtionally, this step can automatically adjust sheet metal part bend radiuses and K-Factors to match your bend processes and daily production requirements. This also includes the automatic embedding of extended data into your DXF flat files to facilitate automated bend programming of your press brakes, panel benders, and robotic folders.
Step 4 - Manufacturability Testing
This step includes the automated generation and preparation of shop floor data that optionally starts with the automated generation of routings and cost rollups. This further includes the generation of translated CAD part parameters into specific information to drive CAM bending program software. This information is embedded into DXF flat files as extended data which includes tooling, material, material thickness, standard bend process, etc. The Global Edge software provides Laser Nesting software with manufacturing ready DXF flats adjusted for the proper bending machine tool and tooling.
