2017 - Graitec

What's New

2017

What's New in Advance Workshop 2017

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Table of Contents

NEW INTERFACE LANGUAGES ................................................................................................................. 4

UNICODE FULLY SUPPORTED .................................................................................................................. 5

NEW DRIVERS FOR CNC MACHINES ........................................................................................................ 6

NEW XSR IMPORT FEATURE .................................................................................................................... 7

CONTEXT-SENSITIVE HELP IMPLEMENTED ................................................................................................ 8

NEW DXF IMPORT ALGORITHM ................................................................................................................ 9

NEW FEEDBACK MODULE ...................................................................................................................... 10

NEW DRIVER FOR MANAGING PLATE NESTING ....................................................................................... 11

NEW VERNET CNC FEEDBACK DRIVER ............................................................................................... 12

NEW INOVATECH ENGINEERING FEEDBACK DRIVER ....................................................................... 13

NEW VALUE FEATURE IN STOCK ............................................................................................................ 14

NEW WORK CENTERS GROUPING / FILTER ............................................................................................. 15

NEW TIME READER REPORTS ................................................................................................................ 16

NEW ALGORITHM FOR BAR NESTING ..................................................................................................... 18

NEW WELD TYPE FILTER IN ASSEMBLY ................................................................................................. 19

NEW FEATURE FOR SALES ORDER MANAGEMENT ................................................................................. 20

NEW NOTCH TYPE IN SKETCH PART ...................................................................................................... 21

GRAITEC BIM CONNECT INTEGRATED ................................................................................................. 22

EXTENDED PROFILE RANGE .................................................................................................................. 24

NEW REPORT FOR MATERIALS TRACEABILITY ....................................................................................... 26

PART AND ASSEMBLY RENAMING .......................................................................................................... 27

NEW CAD FEATURE: COPY HOLE ON OTHER FLANGE ........................................................................... 28

FAST INPUT ........................................................................................................................................... 29

NEW CAM-FICEP IMPORT .................................................................................................................... 30

NEW PROPERTY FIELDS IN “NEW ORDER” ............................................................................................. 31


4

New Interface Languages

Advance Workshop 2017 is now available in several new languages:


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Unicode Fully Supported Advance Workshop 2017 fully supports Unicode, and thus can natively display content in international character sets.


6

New Drivers for CNC Machines New drivers for CNC machines have been added:

VERNET BEHRINGER A new driver was created for exporting parts and bars to the new Vernet CNC machines, in APROMAV format. The exported format is complete with all necessary information to generate cuts, holes and marking.

HGG TUBE Advance Workshop is now able to import PCD files and create a specific file for each tube to process.

ALMA DRIVER Advance Workshop is now able to send single plate and sheets stock to the Almà nesting software, and to load all nesting results.

FICEP DRIVER A new driver was implemented for managing “Stozza”, a specific punching operation for angle/plate profiles. This operation is used only on FICEP CNC, for angles.

Another development is the use of a script file for managing the macro (typical notching operation for every FICEP CNC machine, such as a robot or the new Vanguard machine). This script now allows you to manage every type of CNC (before, only robot CNCs could be managed).

INOVATECH ENGINNERING Created for the Canadian/USA market, this new driver can manage profiles and plates for SteelPRO 900, a new CNC machine.

SteelPRO 900 is a complete robotic beam line and plate cutting machine. It is managed from two different software apps: Inovatech SteelPRO Nester for the beam line, and ProNest 2015 for plate nesting.

Advance Workshop can communicate with both software. For SteelPRO Nester, Advance Workshop creates a specific XML file. For ProNest 2015, it creates DSTV files and a specific text file for parts and sheets stock.


7

New XSR Import Feature

This new feature allows you to import lists generated by Tekla software (XSR format), including part/assembly hierarchies.

With the help of this implementation, Advance Workshop can appeal to companies using Tekla for design, and looking for an MRP system for production management.

After you select the file, the file data is automatically loaded. You can make changes, then confirm using the “Set Parameters” button.

Use the “Create Xlist from XSR” command to create an Xlist in the same folder from where you have loaded the XSR file.


8

Context-sensitive Help Implemented The feature has been revamped and now provides help based on context. By accessing the feature, users can get information about the currently active dialog box without having to manually navigate the contents of the help file.


9

New DXF Import Algorithm A new algorithm for DXF import has been added, following several client requests for importing plates with very specific shapes and within texts.

This new implementation allows Advance Workshop to import any type of DXF. Another advantage is that it can convert circles into holes or an inline, depending on the diameter.

The purpose of this new feature is to expand the ability to import DXF format.


10

New Feedback Module A new external module has been added to Advance Workshop. It is installed available separately, in the Advance Workshop installation folder (usually, C:\Program Files (x86)\Graitec\Advance Workshop\2017\FEEDBACK.DAT).

This new module can be installed in workshop PCs for checking the production status. It doesn’t need the main Advance Workshop module (it is standalone).

Directly connected to Advance Workshop database (Mysql), the Feedback module allows to: check the daily production schedule; record the production of every single part, assembly, nesting; record the activities assigned to each individual employee; preview Parts, Nesting, Assemblies (only in specific format loaded from Autodesk Advance Steel); record certificates.

The module can receive data from the barcode scanner in “real time” or in “batch mode”.

It is an essential tool for the control of production and the workers’ activity from the workshop.


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New Driver for Managing Plate Nesting This new driver connects Advance Workshop with other plate nesting software. It is used for managing plate nesting in Advance Workshop.

With the new “AW.WC4N” driver, Advance Workshop users can now manage plate nesting, connecting Advance Workshop with the most important plate nesting software, such as Sigmanest, Almà, Pronest, etc.

Advance Workshop communicates with these nesting programs through specific formats developed together with software producers. It sends all the plates organized by thickness and material, along with stock sheets, and receives nesting results in return.

You can also view a preview of the nesting sheet created, with all data.

CNC for plate cutting (oxy / plasma, etc.)

CNC unable to provide time feedback


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New VERNET CNC Feedback Driver This driver makes it possible to read back real time production data from VERNET production machines. The system is able to read the production time (parts and bar nesting) and return all data on the report for each order.

The driver was developed for Cimolai Russia and Press Steel.


13

New INOVATECH ENGINEERING Feedback Driver This driver makes it possible to read back real production data from Inovatech SteelPRO 900 machines.

Real data is read directly from a web application. When loaded from Advance Workshop, the data can be modified, for example, by changing the certificate. Afterwards, all parts and nesting are automatically discharged.

The driver was developed for Davco Ltd. (Canada).


14

New Value Feature in Stock In Advance Workshop 2017, you can add the price of each element in Stock.

When creating a purchase order, it is possible to add a value for weight (for beams and sheet plates) or the unitary price (for bolts or generic). This value allows you to obtain the total Stock value or to know the prices of materials used in a specific order.


15

New Work Centers Grouping / Filter In Advance Workshop 2017, you can sort data by simply dragging a column.

Using this feature, you can create a multi-level sorting. For example, you can do a sorting by order, followed by a sorting by profile, or description.


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New Time Reader Reports New reports are available in the “Reports Manager” tab, in the “Time Reader Reports” panel:

These reports are excellent tools for analyzing the production and understanding how the company is working. Importing production times directly from CNC machines using the Time Reader module allows you to know the times of each process running in the CNC.

These lists are one more tool for making the right decisions on how to manage production and knowing the productivity of your work centers.

The “Order Time” report provides the production time per every part. It gives the production time read in a CNC machine for each part, divided according to the process (cut, drill, mill, etc.).


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The “Workshift per profile” report contains the daily production times sorted for profiles. It gives the production time for specific profiles produced in a day in a specific time range (workshift).

The “Workshift per order” report contains the daily production times sorted for orders. It gives the

production time for specific orders produced in a day in a specific time range (workshift).


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New Algorithm for Bar Nesting A new algorithm for automatic bar nesting has been added. This improvement allows a better performance and a further reduction of waste.

Two specific points were targeted: Stock optimization: this feature tries to combine the search of material in stock, in order to minimize

the use of material. Minimum waste in the bar for each section: for each profile selected, all generated waste will be

greater or equal to this value. This will determine a better management of the profiles remaining in your stock. For example, if, for an IPE300 profile, your value is 1 m, you will never have remaining bars below one meter.

Add new parameters to the profile database, to manage the waste length for each section type.


19

New Weld Type Filter in Assembly Advance Workshop 2017 comes with a new filter for sorting assemblies with different weld types in “Process definition”.

This filter was created out of the need to separate the welded assemblies in different welding centers, depending on the welding type and the capacity of each individual center (each welding center can have different welders with different certifications).


20

New Feature for Sales Order Management The management of sale orders directly from stock has been improved. Now, the user has a faster way to select items directly from stock.

This improvement came from the need to select bars or sheets having a specific certificate (in the same order, you can have bars with the same profile, but with different certificates).


21

New Notch Type in Sketch Part New notch types have been added, and the future introduction of new figures has been facilitated, to offer greater processing possibilities for clients using Advance Workshop CAD to draw beams.

The new notch types were added in response to requests coming from service centers such as “MPL” or “Vanoli”, that need to design new parts every day to be processed using the robot. They have to draw DSTV (nc, nc1) files, because they do not receive them from their customers.


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GRAITEC BIM Connect Integrated GRAITEC BIM Connect is an extension which allows bidirectional intelligent BIM data sharing with GRAITEC products.

The GRAITEC BIM Connect plug-in is available in Advance Workshop 2017, allowing better interoperability with Autodesk® Advance Steel. GTC data sharing with Advance Workshop is now possible for complete projects exported from Autodesk Advance Steel.

The following workflow is used:

In Autodesk® Advance Steel, “Export & Import”, use the “Advance export” command to export your complete model.

In Advance Workshop, “Home” tab, access the “Import GTCX / SMLX” command:


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Browse for the model exported from Advance Steel and use it to create an Xlist and a new order.

Select a specific output folder or just use the default path provided, and create NC files to get the individual parts in the model. Once you set the details for the Xlist file and create it, a new dialog opens so that the import process can be finalized by creating a new order for the model.


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Extended Profile Range Users can now extend the range of profiles available in Advance Workshop, with the new feature which allows them to store similar profiles from different countries in the profiles database.

Advance Steel users are now able to use specific GTC profiles by importing the Advance Steel profile base directly from the “Profiles Database” dialog box. It is possible to select whole categories or just certain standards from a category, depending on the user’s needs.

The profiles and their characteristics can then be accessed from the “Profiles Database” dialog.


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Other profiles can be imported using the Import button in the “Families Database” dialog box.

This import feature is based on specific Excel files, which are uploaded by selecting the destination folder. The user can also import materials and welding through this feature. Just select the folder containing the profiles, material and/or welding Excel files, and a new family will be created for them. The import can then be accessed through the “Profiles”, “Material” and “Welding Manager” commands in the ribbon.

To be able to upload an Excel file with profiles, users must observe the file naming convention “Shapes_Name”.


26

New Report for Materials Traceability Advance Workshop now includes a new report for parts (profiles and beams) material traceability.

This new document was created in Advance Workshop to allow the builder to ensure the traceability of the materials according to the new norms (EN1090).

This report is the result of production control managed inside of Advance Workshop. When the material is loaded into the AW stock, it is immediately labeled and associated with a certificate. This way, when it is used in production it shares all of its properties to the product parts. In the report, you can see where and when a part was produced, and what material was used for it.


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Part and Assembly Renaming

Following a request from the steel service centre (for internal management), it is now possible to change/rename/replace all part and assembly names from “Edit Order”.


28

New CAD Feature: Copy Hole on Other Flange

Following a request from the steel service centre, it is now possible to copy holes between two flanges from “Sketch Part”. For example, it is possible copy holes from the Upper flange to the Lower flange on an H profile.

This feature can be used with profile types such as H/I/L/U/C and allows users to speed up the design of profiles.


29

Fast Input

It is now possible to create a new order from an Excel file.

Users can enter all the necessary information, such as the section, material, length, name, and cut type, in an Excel sheet, and efficiently create production orders with profiles.

Advance Workshop transforms the custom list in an order ready to be sent to production, and checks for errors. It also allows you to have a list with your order.

This improvement was included in the standard version following a customization request from Press-Steel (France).


30

New CAM-FICEP Import

Advance Workshop now allows you to import CAM files generated from FICEP/Steel Projects.


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New Property Fields in “New Order”

New property fields have been added in the “New Order” dialog.

Documents

2017 - Graitec