An important update to the CAD operation in the latest WorkNC 2018 R2 (www.worknc.com) CAD/CAM suite from Cheltenham-based Vero Software is the 2-D drawing function in WorkNC Designer.

This is intended to improve communication with the shopfloor by extracting 2-D sections and detail views from 3-D models, while also documenting the part or assembly on a sheet.

A further enhancement is the new ‘Wall Machining Strategy’ — a tool-path for producing vertical walls on large dies. According to Vero, the strategy gives a cleaner and safer tool-path by using the 2-D curves at the top and bottom limits of vertical wall faces.

As a result, the user benefits from a quicker way of calculating and producing the tool-paths.

Meanwhile, ‘Pocket Machining with Waveform’ is a new pattern in the consolidated ‘2-D Pocket Machining’ module, complementing the existing 3-D Waveform roughing strategy. The addition allows curves to be selected (instead of surfaces), thereby shortening calculation times.

Another enhancement allows offsets to be defined when selecting an STL model to be cut from stock; this capability is said to promote safer and more-precise stock analysis, and it is particularly relevant for any parts that may have had heat treatment which resulted in their critical dimensions changing.