Customized configuration is a key component of digital engineering

With the integration of digital technologies and the automation of information systems, engineering 4.0 (or digital engineering) has revolutionized object design, manufacturing, and production processes. This is how tailor-made configuration has emerged. Digital tools empower users to hyper-personalize their products by playing with various combinations. For that, the customer can adjust his modifications on a 3D simulation to achieve the desired result. In an increasingly competitive production environment, hyper-personalized configuration answers to the growing trend towards mass customization. It is also a solution to the consumers’ desire for personalization and the resulting need for production flexibility. Nowadays, industries wishing to remain competitive must be able to rapidly modify their production lines without losing quality. Therefore, it is essential for them to invest in a high-performance tool capable of multiplying configurations.  

Hyper-personalized configuration: a tool beneficial to all levels of a business

Hyper-personalized configuration is primarily seen as a sales support tool, but its benefits go way beyond the sales department alone – particularly in industry. Customized configuration provides numerous advantages at various levels of the business, including:

• A tenfold increase in production reliability: 3D visualization and details of modifications, made by the design office, during the design phase, enable the manufacturing of error-free complex products.
• Offering consistent prices with real-time updates: with customized configuration, you can monitor real-time price adjustments based on changes made during the design phase. This allows you to sell and produce at the best price without reducing profit margins.
• Expanding your market reach: the number of configurations enables access to a broader customer base. Moreover, customized configurations create a seamless connection between the design and the final product. Consequently, the production begins only after an order is place by the customer.
• Empowering customers: as decision-makers from start to finish of the design process, users can hyper-personalize their products. Customized configuration reduces the discussions between the customer and the design office and significantly reduces the time spent on the project by the latter.
• Improving the competitiveness of all businesses: large corporations, SMEs, SMIs… This technology is accessible to all types of industry. Indeed, in the context of a mass production strategy, small businesses may struggle to remain profitable if they are unable to expand to produce more. Thanks to customized configuration, small and medium-sized businesses can get more profitable without significantly increasing their production.

The range of CAD, CAM, ERP and PDM TopSolid solutions

Top Solid’Design: custom configuration for manufacturers

TopSolid’Design is CAD software designed to optimize the work of the design office at every stage of the design process. With this in mind the Product Configuration module enables designers to propose customized configurations. The process is straightforward: parts are configured from the 3D model and its possible variants. Everything is designed using native design office data. With just a few clicks, users can customize the product’s appearance to match their wishes and budget, with real-time adaptability. At the end of the configuration process, the design office takes the reconfigured file, makes the modifications required by the user, and sends it to manufacturing. Our Product Configuration module is suitable for both B2B (for industrial customers, resellers, or partners) and B2C. This module meets the user’s demand for customization while streamlining the design office’s workflow. As a modular solution, TopSolid’Design is compatible with most market formats, including our TopSolid’Cam manufacturing software – without any loss of data. Our flexible solution is adapted to the needs of industry designers. It offers:

• full traceability throughout the design process,
• time-saving benefits for the design office through collaborative work,
• sharing of native CAD files,
• …and robust data security and access control.

Try TopSolid’Design: Contact us now!

More precise than traditional machining operations, grinding enables the surface of a product to be finely modified thanks to the abrasive machining technique. Nevertheless, investing in the right machine tools to perform this type of operation represents a significant cost for companies, more so as their piloting can prove difficult for programmers. To facilitate grinding on these machine tools, some manufacturers are exploring the possibilities offered by CAD/CAM. But what additional advantages does CAD/CAM offer this activity? Here’s how.

The challenges of rectification

By employing the principle of abrasive machining, grinding achieves exceptionally high dimensional accuracy on parts, enabling us to meet customer requirements better. Whereas traditional machining operations involve the removal of a swarf, grinding acts more finely on the material, polishing it with a grinding wheel.

While the effectiveness of this method is not in doubt, it nevertheless represents a significant investment for companies: they must purchase the machine tools required for these operations. The challenge for organizations is to measure the profitability of the proposed solutions. To carry out grinding operations, they can:

• Either invest in grinding machines dedicated exclusively to honing.
• Or to invest in combined machines for both machining and grinding.

The limits of “foot-in-the-machine” programming

In the first case, i.e., with a solution that combines machining and grinding, companies can adapt and create grinding programs for the machine.

The disadvantages of this approach are manifold:

• Lack of flexibility: unlike CAM, this programming does not allow machine simulation and collision checks.
• High cost: this type of programming requires the purchase of a grinding machine in addition to the machine tool, plus handling costs.
• Risk of inaccuracy: Moving parts from the machine tool to the grinding machine amplifies the risk of inaccuracy.
• Considerable programming time: programming machine tools and setting up grinding machines can be time-consuming for the teams in charge.

The range of CAD, CAM, ERP and PDM TopSolid solutions

CAD/CAM to optimize grinding on machine tools

Faced with these limitations, some manufacturers have developed combined machines which, thanks to CAD/CAM, allow:

• First, machine a part by milling and turning.
• Grind the same part in a second step.

The part does not need to be moved, as all handling is done on the same machine. This eliminates repositioning errors caused by moving the part from the machining center to the grinding machine and saves valuable handling time.

Point of attention: the need for a dedicated grinding CAD/CAM tool

For companies equipped with machines that combine machining and grinding, choosing the right CAD/CAM software is crucial. Only some CAD/CAM solutions contain dedicated grinding operations; some propose diverting machining operations into grinding operations. This is not a very relevant approach, as the method used to pilot a grinding wheel differs significantly from that used in milling or turning.

This type of solution offers no added value to the programmer, who is forced to manually adjust the ISO code to obtain the correct surface finish on the part. This is why companies are strongly advised to opt for a CAD/CAM tool that has specifically designed the grinding operation.

TopSolid’Cam: a software designed to optimize grinding on machine tools

TopSolid’Cam is a complete, high-performance CAD/CAM software package that supports and facilitates the design work of programmers thanks to:

• Easy and complete solution integration.
• Interoperability with all CAD software.
• A self-managed working environment.
• Production optimization thanks to a duplication process.
• Different simulation levels.
• Change management and tracking.
• An answer to a wide range of milling and machining needs.

More specifically, TopSolid’Cam’s “grinding on machining center” functionality enables customers equipped with machine tools to combine machining and grinding to optimize the management of this operation. Indeed, the solution offers the possibility of programming the grinding process directly from the software, even before the part is mounted on the machine. Designed explicitly for on-machine grinding, this functionality adapts to the characteristics of each operation and facilitates the programmer’s work.

Would you like to learn more about TopSolid’s machining center grinding functionality? Ask our team for a demonstration.

Experience, know-how, and commitment: the recipe for a successful company

Backed by over twenty years of experience, Rabumeca has gradually expanded into the food, pharmaceutical, steel, and environmental sectors. Today, it employs 20 people and expects sales of 2.7 million euros in 2021. At the heart of the company’s project is the determination to offer quality services within set deadlines and the desire to establish a relationship of trust with its customers and business partners.

Rabumeca’s deployment in various industrial sectors has enabled the company’s employees to develop a wide range of technical skills. Over the years, the company managed by Sébastien Bridet has also expanded its expertise through a policy of investment aimed at improving equipment reliability and performance. The collaboration with TOPSOLID came naturally.

Rabumeca and TOPSOLID: A Recent History

In need of new CAD software to boost productivity, Rabumeca launched a call for tenders in 2020. For the company, the choice of TOPSOLID was obvious: “We chose TopSolid because they were the only ones who understood us and listened to our needs. The people we spoke to were experts in their field, and they knew how to adapt their design software to our manufacturing process“, says Sébastien Bridet.

In application, employees use TopSolid’Design to launch manufacturing and design products for special machines. Nicolas Laibe, project manager at Rabumeca, describes the process in detail: “I use TopSolid’Design to retrieve 3D files from customers and provide the technical information required for the project. I use the sheet metal and tube recognition modules to obtain the documents required for manufacturing. In this way, the software enables him to construct “everything from laser flattening to bending sheets, assembly drawings for sub-assemblies, and assembly drawings with all the corresponding bills of materials.”

TopSolid’Design supports Rabumeca’s development.

Specialized CAD/CAM software, TopSolid’Design efficiently supports Rabumeca’s projects. An accurate productivity tool, the teams particularly appreciate its ease of use.

Support throughout the entire process

In TOPSOLID, Rabumeca found a pedagogical partner who was able to guide the company’s employees through the software: “We had a 6-day TopSolid’Design training course at TOPSOLID headquarters, and we had a specific training course on our premises, adapted to our needs“, explains Sébastien Bridget. In his opinion, the quality of the support staff made the difference: “We found people who were able to respond to our needs and questions daily and who were able to support us throughout the implementation of the software.

Ease of use

For project managers, TopSolid’Design represents an added value to design, mainly ease of use. Nicolas Laibe explains: “I find TopSolid’Design very easy to use; it helps us have the right documents. It’s logical and clear, with the right icons and functions. It’s very similar to what we use in the workshop.

Productivity gains

More generally, TopSolid’Design has given the company a real boost in productivity. With over a year’s hindsight, Rabumeca’s managing director comments: “TopSolid has enabled us to automate all the tasks we used to do manually. The working documents saved us enormous time when we launched our processes. According to him, the productivity gains achieved by the company thanks to the software are far from negligible: “We estimate that we have gained around 30% in productivity in the methods department“, he asserts.

The range of CAD, CAM, ERP and PDM TopSolid solutions

Development prospects are closely linked to TOPSOLID.

Rabumeca’s objective for the near future is to develop its functionalities to meet its customers’ needs even more effectively. Sébastien Bridget wishes to integrate TopSolid’s quotation module into his organization. By setting up facilitating systems, this module makes obtaining a result close to workshop reality possible via a 2D or 3D part drawing. Proud of their achievements, TOPSOLID will again be delighted to support them in this process!