Delcam has introduced a major upgrade to its PS-Estimator software that helps toolmakers produce accurate quotes from CAD models more quickly and is equally valuable in all toolmaking operations - moulds for plastics, rubber, ceramics or glass, casting equipment, press tools and patterns for metal components. The software still uses a complete CAD model rather than a faceted representation to ensure accurate measurements. The new version, however, includes the display of draft angle and wall thickness at any point in the model, in addition to the smoothness shading, curvature analysis and draft shading options available previously.
A number of whole model operations have also been added, including an offset command so that internal surfaces can be generated when only external surfaces have been supplied and an expansion command so that the volume of products such as packaging can be checked and, if necessary, adjusted before work starts on the quote. Copy, mirror and rotate commands are also available, making it easier to produce quotes for multi-cavity moulds or tooling for left and right handed versions of a design.
Model compare functionality has been incorporated so that toolmakers can quickly identify and highlight any changes to the model introduced during the negotiations. Such changes can cause major problems for the toolmaker if the quote is based on an out-of-date component.