SofTech’s CADRA® NC ® brings flexible, yet comprehensive multi-axis numerical control (NC) programming capabilities to the CADRA family of CAD/CAM products from SofTech. It adds tightly integrated NC capabilities to your CADRA system, enabling you to generate 2 to 5 axis NC programs and to control a diverse mix of CNC machine tools easily via the CADRA NC post-processor.
CADRA NC provides an array of tools for quickly and efficiently converting CAD designs into manufacturing databases. The database is converted from binary into ASCII format, arc and vectors are replaced with infinite length geometric elements (so machining can be accomplished without creating additional geometry) and the database is updated relative to the print tolerances.
CADRA NC provides complete control over the graphic display as you program a part. You can pan/zoom, rotate parts, obtain 3D projections, and view the tools in relation to the parts. Programming can be done in either 2D or 3D and the manufacturing engineer can easily set cutting direction, tooling sequences, and machining methods.
CADRA® Customers
Since 1983, CADRA CAD/CAM solutions have successfully helped thousands of mechanical manufacturing companies around the world achieve significant improvements in design productivity and product quality. These companies rely on CADRA solutions to help them design and manufacture a wide range of mechanical parts, products, and machinery in almost every industry.
CADRA has played a major a role in a number of high profile projects including: the Canadian oil pipeline; the Sea Wolf, the U.S. Navy's next-generation attack submarine; and the sophisticated luggage handling systems used at some of the world's busiest air terminals including London's Heathrow.
SofTech has taken a modular approach to solving your CNC requirements. CADRA® NC can be added to your existing CADRA system, one module at a time as your needs grow. Available modules include:
CADRA® NC is an add-on application to CADRA, which runs under a license management system. Under the license manager, applications can run on single systems or local and wide area networks. License management lets you configure your system for maximum resource usage while minimizing software costs.
Full control of machining variables including feed rates, speeds, offsets and other machine features
Dynamic tool display for previewing machining operations
Support for canned CNC cycles — Incorporate canned CNC cycles resident on individual machine tools directly into CADRA NC programs.
Automatic roughing and pocketing routines for removing large amounts of stock from the workplace
Feature based machining — Store and re-use objects, part features and configurations. Program it once and CADRA NC retains the proper settings.
Fully associative tool paths — CADRA NC maintains a direct relationship between the part and its NC tool paths.
Interactive error checking — CADRA NC constantly scans for geometric errors, potential collisions and improper tool sizes; when detected, error messages are generated to warn the user.
Native geometry creation for making modifications to part designs without leaving the NC environment
ASCII database representation — NC programs are saved in an ASCII format so on-the-fly changes can be made without returning to the graphic programming environment.
Parametric editing capabilities — FlexDesign adds powerful variational and parametric capabilities to CADRA NC, enabling you to quickly and easily make design and NC programming changes
Built-in standard high level programming commands such as IF, DO-LOOPS and JUMP — Eliminates need to use FORTRAN or C to create custom sub routines for family of parts programming.
Tool and material libraries — Store often used tools, fixtures and materials
Translators for leading CAD packages — CADRA NC reads CADRA databases directly. Translators are available for reading geometry in other formats including APT (Automatically Programmed Tool), CADAM, CATIA, CADDS4X/5, DXF/DWG and IGES.
User customization tools — Add your own menus, machining methodologies and sequencing to your environment
Post processor generator for writing custom posts for virtually any machine tool
