SolidCAM SolidShop | All the things You Want To Know

SolidShop is a complete suite of producing administration instruments launched in SolidCAM 2023 SP3. It’s based mostly on the mixing of CIMCO merchandise and is designed to supply an entire digital manufacturing ecosystem for CNC machine retailers utilizing SolidCAM.

What’s SolidShop?

The SolidShop Suite gives a bunch of performance relying in your wants. At its core, it’s a sophisticated NC code editor that permits you to back-plot your packages and do full toolpath verification or simulation. Moreover, SolidShop PDM gives a system to securely management packages and paperwork alongside their revisions.

SolidShop additionally has a dependable Direct Numerical Management (DNC) that provides communication between consumer computer systems and the CNC machines. That is both to feed packages to the machines with no need to manually switch the file or to allow real-time machine monitoring of the store ground productiveness.

Key advantages of SolidShop in SolidCAM

• Streamlines CNC programming, administration, quoting, and manufacturing planning.
• Enhances store ground communication and doc administration.
• Offers dashboards for manufacturing administration and high quality management.
• Helps ISO 9001 and AS 9100 audits by managing inspection plans and high quality paperwork.
• Allows real-time machine monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
• SolidShop is absolutely built-in with SolidCAM, providing a seamless workflow from design and CAM programming to buy ground execution and monitoring, making it a strong answer for contemporary CNC machine retailers.

SolidShop Editor

The SolidShop Editor in SolidCAM is a strong device for CNC programmers and operators, providing a number of key benefits:

• Complete NC Code Enhancing: The Editor gives superior options for modifying, evaluating, and managing NC code, making it straightforward to change and optimize packages.
• Simulation Capabilities: It might simulate CNC cycles, together with probing, roughing, turning, threading, and pocket cycles on milling machines. This enables customers to visualise and confirm adjustments earlier than operating them on the machine, decreasing the chance of errors.
• Legacy and Parametric Program Help: The Editor can deal with legacy information and parametric packages that will not be appropriate with different methods, making certain flexibility for outlets with various programming wants.
• Collision and Over-Journey Detection: The Editor can detect collisions and over-travel throughout simulation, offering an additional layer of security and confidence earlier than precise machining.
• Price-Efficient G-code Simulation: In comparison with different G-code simulation options (like Vericut, which might be very costly), the SolidShop Editor affords related important options at a fraction of the fee.
• Operator Empowerment: Operators can use the Editor on the store ground to generate, simulate, and monitor G-codes, making certain that adjustments made within the workplace or on the ground are at all times updated and traceable.

G-Code Machine Confirm

G-Code Machine Confirm has a whole lot of time-saving capabilities your group may leverage.

Among the key advantages embody:

• True G-Code Simulation: It simulates the precise G-code that shall be despatched to your CNC machine, not simply the toolpath generated by the CAM system. This implies you see precisely what your machine will do, together with all post-processed code, subprograms, and customized macros.
• Error Detection Earlier than Machining: By operating a simulation of the actual G-code, you may catch errors resembling collisions, over-travel, incorrect device calls, or syntax points earlier than they attain the machine. This helps forestall pricey errors and potential machine injury.
• Helps Complicated Cycles and Probing: G-Code Machine Confirm can simulate advanced canned cycles, probing routines, and customized machine logic that will not be seen in normal CAM simulation.
• Confidence for Operators and Programmers: Each programmers and operators can belief that what they see within the simulation is what’s going to occur on the store ground, decreasing the necessity for dry runs and growing confidence within the course of.
• Saves Time and Cash: By verifying the G-code earlier than operating it on the machine, you scale back setup time, keep away from scrapped elements, and decrease machine downtime.
• Integration with Store Ground Workflow: G-Code Machine Confirm is built-in into the SolidShop suite, making it straightforward to make use of alongside different instruments for modifying, managing, and monitoring NC packages.
• Price-Efficient Resolution: It gives lots of the advantages of high-end G-code verification software program at a a lot decrease price, making superior simulation accessible to extra retailers.

Model and Revision Management

SolidShop PDM in SolidCAM is an excellent answer for CNC machine retailers as a result of it’s particularly designed for manufacturing environments.

Managing program revisions and adjustments

It affords a number of distinctive benefits:

• Manufacturing-Centered Workflows: Not like generic PDM methods (resembling Teamcenter, Enovia, or SolidWorks PDM), SolidShop PDM is constructed with CNC programmers and store ground operators in thoughts. Its workflows are tailor-made to the wants of producing, making it intuitive and environment friendly for managing NC packages, setup sheets, device lists, and associated paperwork.
• Full Integration with DNC and Store Ground Methods: SolidShop PDM is absolutely built-in with DNC software program, permitting seamless switch and administration of NC information between the workplace and the store ground. This eliminates guide processes like utilizing USB sticks, decreasing errors, and bettering traceability.
• Single Supply of Reality:
  All knowledge, resembling packages, paperwork, revisions, and notes, is saved in a centralized database. Programmers and operators at all times work with the newest, authorised variations, making certain consistency and decreasing the chance of errors.
• Change Monitoring and Model Management: Each change to a file or doc is tracked, and former variations might be restored if wanted. That is essential for high quality management, audits, and steady enchancment.
• Dependency Administration and Mass Modifications: The system tracks dependencies between packages, sub-programs, and instruments. For instance, if a device must be changed throughout a number of packages, you may generate a report of all affected information and make mass adjustments effectively.
• Enhanced Communication: Notes and standing flags might be connected to packages, making it straightforward to speak essential data (resembling why a program is locked or ready for a brand new device) with out counting on paper or casual channels.
• Audit and Compliance Help: SolidShop PDM helps corporations put together for ISO 9001 and AS 9100 audits by offering structured, traceable documentation and course of management.
• Scalable and Confirmed: The system is scalable, permitting retailers to start out with simply PDM and DNC and broaden to different modules as wanted. It’s broadly confirmed in 1000’s of installations worldwide.
• Operator Empowerment: Operators can entry the identical knowledge as programmers, make backups, and even roll again adjustments if needed, fostering a collaborative and clear atmosphere.

SolidShop DNC

SolidShop DNC in SolidCAM is a superb answer for CNC machine retailers attributable to its sturdy options and sensible advantages.

Utilizing DNC to regulate machines

• Centralized and Safe File Switch: SolidShop DNC eliminates the necessity for unreliable and insecure strategies like USB sticks, which may introduce viruses and make it troublesome to trace file transfers. As an alternative, it gives a safe, centralized technique to ship and obtain NC packages between the workplace and CNC machines.
• Helps a Broad Vary of Machines: The system can hook up with as much as 4,000 machines, supporting each trendy and legacy CNC controls. It really works with normal RS232 connections, in addition to Wi-Fi and Ethernet for newer tools, making it extremely adaptable to any store ground.
• Full Traceability and Audit Readiness: Each file switch is logged, offering an entire historical past of when and by whom information have been despatched or obtained. That is important for passing ISO audits and sustaining excessive requirements of course of management.
• Integration with Store Ground Units: SolidShop DNC can interface with not solely CNC machines but in addition different store ground units like ovens, furnaces, robots, and conveyors utilizing protocols resembling OPC and Modbus. This enables for complete monitoring and knowledge assortment throughout the whole manufacturing course of.
• Reduces Human Error: By automating file transfers and offering clear information, SolidShop DNC reduces the chance of sending the improper program to a machine or dropping monitor of revisions.
• Simple Infrastructure Integration: The system can make the most of present DNC infrastructure if current, or assist construct new infrastructure as wanted. It’s versatile sufficient to suit into any store’s present setup.
• Scalable and Dependable: Whether or not you may have a small store or a big facility with 1000’s of machines, SolidShop DNC is designed to scale and stay dependable.
• Operator-Pleasant: Operators can simply obtain, ship, and handle information straight from the store ground, bettering effectivity and decreasing downtime.

Machine Monitoring

SolidShop Machine Monitoring in SolidCAM is a strong device for CNC machine retailers.

Immediately monitoring machine standing with SolidShop

It affords a number of key benefits:

• Actual-Time Visibility: It gives reside monitoring of machine standing, together with whether or not machines are operating, idle, or in alarm. This real-time knowledge helps store managers and operators immediately see what’s occurring on the store ground.
• Information-Pushed Resolution Making: By amassing and analyzing machine knowledge, you may establish bottlenecks, downtime causes, and inefficiencies. This allows higher scheduling, upkeep planning, and useful resource allocation.
• Improved Productiveness: With correct machine utilization statistics, you may maximize spindle time, scale back idle intervals, and improve general store throughput.
• Automated Information Assortment: SolidShop Machine Monitoring robotically gathers knowledge from CNC machines and different store ground tools utilizing protocols like OPC and Modbus. This eliminates guide knowledge entry and ensures accuracy.
• Customizable Dashboards and Studies: The system affords dashboards and reviews that may be tailor-made for various roles for operators, supervisors, manufacturing managers, and even assembly rooms. This makes it straightforward to share key efficiency indicators (KPIs) and manufacturing standing throughout the group.
• Helps Steady Enchancment: By monitoring traits and historic efficiency, you may implement lean manufacturing practices, scale back waste, and drive steady enchancment initiatives.
• Audit and Compliance Help: The monitoring knowledge helps with ISO 9001 and AS 9100 audits by offering documented proof of machine efficiency and upkeep.
• Integration with Different SolidShop Modules: Machine Monitoring works seamlessly with different SolidShop modules like PDM and DNC, making a unified ecosystem for store ground administration.
• Operator Empowerment: Operators can see their very own efficiency and machine standing, encouraging accountability and proactive problem-solving.

Job and Useful resource Planning

SolidShop Planner in SolidCAM is a invaluable device for CNC machine retailers as a result of it streamlines and optimizes manufacturing scheduling and useful resource administration.

Planning jobs based mostly on the present workload

Right here’s why it stands out:

• Centralized Scheduling: SolidShop Planner gives a single, unified platform to schedule jobs, machines, and assets. This eliminates confusion from utilizing spreadsheets or whiteboards and ensures everyone seems to be working from the identical up-to-date plan.
• Actual-Time Updates: The planner is related to machine monitoring and store ground knowledge, so schedules robotically replace based mostly on precise machine standing and job progress. This enables for fast changes when priorities or situations change.
• Visible Job Monitoring: It affords clear, visible representations of job queues, machine assignments, and manufacturing timelines. This makes it straightforward to identify bottlenecks, delays, or underutilized assets at a look.
• Improved On-Time Supply: By optimizing job sequencing and useful resource allocation, SolidShop Planner helps be sure that jobs are accomplished on schedule, bettering buyer satisfaction and store reliability.
• What-If Evaluation: The system permits you to simulate completely different scheduling eventualities, so you may see the affect of including new jobs, altering priorities, or reallocating assets earlier than making choices.
• Seamless Integration: SolidShop Planner works in concord with different SolidShop modules like PDM, DNC, and Machine Monitoring, creating a totally built-in digital manufacturing atmosphere.
• Lowered Downtime and Extra time: By balancing workloads and stopping over-scheduling, the planner helps decrease machine downtime and pointless extra time, resulting in price financial savings.
• Simple Communication: Everybody from the workplace to the store ground can entry the present schedule, decreasing miscommunication and making certain all group members are aligned.

Notice the Energy of SolidShop

SolidCAM and SolidShop present a sturdy toolset that nearly any machine programmer or operator can leverage. From easy 2-axis operations to advanced Swiss-style machining or full-stack store integration, we’re right here to help that journey. Not matter the use case, SolidCAM has an answer for you.

Able to implement SolidShop to enhance your manufacturing processes? Contact us right here.