FOCUS ON CAD / CAM
ALMA CAM Weld OLP software working on an ambitious green plan ; we have already reduced 9 % of our carbon impact and will work with partners and customers to further reduce raw material consumption . We are developing nesting algorithms and can add functionalities to our software to help customers reuse offcuts and improve their nesting for more positive impacts on the environment .
ALMA at Global Industrie 2024
At Global Industrie 2024 in Paris , France , recently Alma presented its full range of CAD / CAM software applications for 2D / 3D cutting , sheet metal work and robotics , integrated in the Almacam suite or available via the web . From quotation to workshop , these applications manage the entire digital sheet metal workflow and cover :
■ Nesting and CAM for 2D cutting ( laser , plasma , oxycutting , waterjet ), punching-nibbling and routing ( Almacam Cut / Punch / Routing and the web application Nest & Cut ).
■ 3D CAD for sheet metal and mechanical design ( SpaceClaimSMOPlus ).
■ CAD assembly import , unfolding of sheet metal parts and offline programming of press brakes ( Assembly2cam , Unfold , Almacam Bend ).
■ Production management ( integration with ERP , job orders and stock management , workshop station , production planning etc .).
■ Sheet metal quoting ( Almaquote , Webquote ).
■ CAM for 3D cutting , tube and profile cutting ( Almacam Tube and Almacam Space Cut ).
■ Offline programming of welding robots ( Almacam Weld ).
The focus was on version 4.0 of Almacam and its different modules , with major upgrades to the Almaquote for faster and accurate quotations : management of multi-level BOMs with the associated operations ; graphics tools to analyse key information relating to quotes ; the option to make precise quotes on tubes and profiles and direct connection to the Assembly2cam CAD assembly importing module .
With Almaquote , Alma also provides Webquote , a web service that automates the preparation and processing of quotes and facilitates exchanges between subcontractors and ordering parties . In Webquote , users can now import and unfold 3D sheet metal parts and instantly calculate the cost of cutting and bending operations for reliable quotes online .
The Almacam Pass offer , Alma ’ s subscription-based offer with no minimum period requirement , was also highlighted . This CAM software enables industrial companies to use Almacam in a simple and flexible way to program their cutting machines and draw up their quotes . It enables them to avoid making a major investment and benefit from an all-inclusive service .
“ Offline programming of welding robots was also in the spotlight on the stand , with Almacam Weld ‘ s latest innovations enabling even greater progress to be made in reducing programming times , automation and improving the quality of robot programs . Particularly noteworthy was the automatic creation of relocation programs , which saves users precious time ,” added the company .
2 . Automation and robotics . We notice a growing demand for robotic welding , for example . The challenge is to increase productivity and address the current welder shortage . Our Almacam Weld software meets requirements for small batch , complex assembly work produced by multi-axis machines . We continue to invest in our product and believe that we can increase our turnover in the robotics / automation market , and especially for robotic welding .
3 . Cloud . We have noticed that cloud software is now expected by the market and there is great potential for this . As part of our cloud strategy , we have developed two solutions for this market : Nest & Cut ( our nesting software for the cloud ) and Component libraries that are available as web services . Component is used by software editors ; it is a development component and we provide end-user software as well as Component libraries to help software editors to develop their own software . We developed the nesting algorithm inhouse for our own software but we also sell the components to other software companies who wish to develop their own software . These are available as web services . Customers for this include machine-tool builders that develop their own software .
ISMR : Please explain the benefits of Software as a Service ( SaaS ) for sheetmetal manufacturers .
EM : More and more people are using software as a service ( SaaS ). Our Nest & Cut product is a good example . Simplicity , readiness-touse , speed , ease of use and low cost are paramount , combined with powerful nesting . After quick online purchase , users can nest parts with no installation or training needed and can instantly start driving their machines . We combine basic CAM features with premium nesting . It also means we can supply more freelancers and smaller companies . It is not just offering ‘ CAM on the web ’ but a new , and more convenient , way for users to work with CAM .
42 | ismr . net | ISMR May 2024