Why choose SSC for your next CAD project?
SSC Laser Cutting maintains a skilled in-house team of trained CAD/CAM users to provide our draughting services. These team members work on initial CAD designs and alterations of your parts or components ahead of production. As a result, we are able to advise you on how to create the optimal product design to suit laser cutting technology. We can also assist in development, evaluation and manufacturing.
CAD software vs manual draughting
We believe that CAD software is superior to manual draughting as it allows for more complex parts. It enables our designers to lay out initial designs which can be amended as often as necessary and we can make multiple iterations within seconds. This allows our users the freedom to test out ideas without time constraints.
Experimentation is a critical activity within the design process because it allows for initial troubleshooting to highlight any issues ahead of production.
Understanding how to use CAD software in the context of laser cutting is something that your project will need. A CAD user who specialises in working in other fields will not understand the intricacies of how laser cutters and press brakes work. Only a user with this specific expertise will be able to adjust your designs to align best with the capabilities of the machinery.
Computer-aided design and draughting
Beyond the design stage, there is much more that computers can do. Computer-aided manufacturing enables SSC’s highly experienced operators to maintain exact control of their machinery at every stage of the production process. CAM software will mean the difference between having a final product that exceeds your expectations and one that will fall short.
CAM software is so effective because it allows for parts to be crafted without being impacted by what is going on in the rest of the facility. Your product will receive the full attention of the machinery. By computerising the entire production process, this enables SSC Laser Cutting to create superior products with incredible efficiency.
Our integration of CAD and CAM is the reason why we can create your unique parts quicker and to a clear deadline. All of this is underpinned by a dedication to ensuring you have a personal service.
Our portable QCT Inspecta measuring arm
Our QCT Inspecta 2600 is a 3D measuring arm ideal for quality control, inspection, reverse engineering, digitising and rapid prototyping.
The arm makes precise measurements with a point detection system and, as the probe is guided around a part, creates an accurate 3D model of that part, even where the most intricate of dimensions are involved.
Located in a clean room at our manufacturing centre in Hixon, the arm gives us the capability to measure, draw and replicate parts in-house, giving us a significant point of difference against most of our competition and providing a start point for customers who have a physical part but no corresponding drawings or CAD models. We can quickly produce full CAD drawings without the need to outsource, saving both time and money in the process.
Here are some further details of what the arm does for us:
Inspection
The measuring arm is ideal for measuring intricate parts. Using this technology we can produce in-house initial sample inspection (ISIR) reports, as well as other types of quality reports (SPC, ISO, LEAN), eliminating the cost and lead time of outsourcing.
The machine is stable, accurate, light and can be easily transported, making it an invaluable tool for inspecting inconveniently located or immovable parts.
Quality Control
Internally, this machine can also help us check and approve the parts we make, enabling us to confirm tolerances and ensure we are manufacturing to the required specification, keeping our quality and service levels high.
Prototyping
Where there is a need for a customer to move quickly from a mock-up or model to a full prototype part, we can use the arm to rapidly create a CAD drawing, run this through our CAM software and create a prototype part in next to no time. We can go through as many iterations as necessary until the customer is completely happy with its design and functionality.
Reverse Engineering of Specialist Components
Throughout the various industries that depend on precision engineering, the loss of component designs is an issue that can impact many businesses. In the absence of an exact design, it can make it impossible to craft replacement parts or components in the event of machinery breaking down. An inability to function is something that no business can tolerate, as every hour lost is going to hurt your bottom line.
SSC Laser Cutting understands just how important it can be to have a contingency plan, given the millions invested in our own facilities, equipment and staff. This is why we provide a service to reverse engineer 2D components and create flawless designs that will allow for the exact production of your parts or components. This can be for replacements or for physical prototypes that you provide us.
Reverse engineering is one of the most commonly requested areas from our QCT Inspecta 2600 Manual Measuring Arm service. Being able to call upon a specialist who has the physical machinery and technical expertise to accurately reverse engineer complex parts is incredibly tough. SSC has invested in those areas to help clients with whatever needs might arise.
Using our highly advanced QCT Inpecta Arm, it is possible to turn flat components or parts into DXF or DWG files within mere seconds. The ability to reverse engineer with such precision and speed is only possible when you work with a market-leader like SSC.
FAQs
If your question isn't answered, get in touch and we'd be happy to assist.
Do I need to supply CAD files?
Not necessarily, if you are able to supply a sketch or a detailed description of the parts you require, our in-house CAD team will be able to produce the files required for laser cutting.
Can you produce parts from a sample?
Yes we can, we have equipment which allows us to scan parts that will accurately create the required CAD file. Just drop the part off at our head office or pop it in the post.
What K factor do you use for your bending profiles?
We don’t as we use our bending software VPSS4i which is an Amada based program, if you can model your drawing with a radius requested then we will try to match with the die that is closest to this and with the logarithms in the background this will create a flat pattern.
What type of files can you accept for flat?
For flat profiles only, our common import type is DXF, DWG or NC (DSTV). We can import PDF’s however this is dependent of the quality of the PDF file provided. For folded profiles we prefer STP or IGS/IGES as these allow us to flatten out by the using the specified tooling, a detailed PDF is also ideal as this is what we issue to the shopfloor when we come to produce your part.
What type of files can you accept for tube?
STP or IGS along with a detailed PDF so that we can check to ensure that we are producing as requested when at programming and workshop stage.
Can you explain the type of cut-XA or XY?
Please click here for a detailed explanation of the two.
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Get in touch
Need help or a quote?
SSC Laser, Hangar 5 New Road, Hixon, Stafford, ST18 0PJ
sales@ssclaser.co.uk
01889 270 241
Mon - Thurs : 8am - 5pm
Fri : 8am - 3pm
