Global Edge Engineering Assistant
"the Next Big Productivity Advancement in Engineering"
Global Edge Engineering Assistant provides the next big engineering productivity advancement that can be accomplished with four practical steps that include:
- Automated CAD Model Analysis
- Manufacturability Testing
- Automated Sheet Metal Batch Unfolding
- Automated Shop Floor Data Preparation
2:57 Minute Video
Global Edge Engineering Assistant provides the following key features and benefits:
- Automates Labor Intensive Engineering Workflow Tasks
- Provide Manufacturability Testing to Eliminate Shop Floor Rework
- Automated Sheet Metal Batch Unfolding
- Automated Programming of Press Brakes, Panel Benders & Robotic Folders
- Automates Preparation of Shop Floor Information
Key System Features
Global Edge Engineering Assistant includes the four following key system features and steps:
Step 1: Automated CAD Model Analysis
This step starts with the automated and complete analysis of your 3D CAD 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:
1:52 Minute Video
Step 2: Manufacturability Testing
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:
1:41 Minute Video
Step 3: Automated Sheet Metal Batch Unfolding
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:
1:04 Minute Video
Step 4: Automated Shop Floor Data Preparation
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:
2:28 Minute Video
Global Edge Engineering Assistant is your engineering virtual assistant that goes beyond a typical workflow system to help reduce and eliminate actual labor intensive workflow tasks associated with quoting, engineering, and preparing information for the shop floor:
Workflow Diagram
Global Edge Engineering Assistant provides the following workflow to provide your engineering department with increased productivity and capacity:
Automated CAD Model Analysis
Global Edge Engineering Assistant provides Automated CAD Model Analysis to provide complete CAD part parameters that can be utilized in the Quoting, Engineering and Manufacturing workflow process:
The following screen displays the CAD Part Parameters that are automatically calculated:
The "Print" option generates the following CAD Part Parameter Report including the automated generation of Optimal Shop Floor Routings based on comparing CAD Part Parameters with Machine Tool Parameters:
CAD Part Parameter Report
The following section includes the routing steps that were automatically generated based on CAD part parameters and matching machine tool parameters:
Manufacturability Testing
The following section includes the Manufacturability Test Results that are automatically generated by comparing CAD part parameters with matching Bend Processes:
The following is a listing of the possible Manufacturing Error Codes that could be detected when performing a Manufacturability Test on a sheet metal part with the Global Edge Engineering Assistant:
Automated Sheet Metal Batch Unfolding
Global Edge Engineering Assistant provides the capability to generate DXF Flat Files from your SolidWorks sheet metal CAD models. This also includes generating a full variety output files that range from image files, IGES, SAT, STEP and PDF files in single or large batches. Additionally, the software can perform Manufacturability Tests to make sure each sheet metal part can be successfully fabricated on the shop floor before leaving engineering:
Automated Shop Floor Data Preparation
Global Edge Engineering Assistant generates the needed shop floor data required for Automated Bend Programming including necessary routing steps incorporated into DXF Flat Files with extended data that can be integrated Nesting and Scheduling software:
