Geometric Limited, a leader in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Global Engineering Services and Offshore Product Development (OPD) Solutions and Technologies, announces  the  availability  of  a  new  version  4.0  of  its  automated  design  for  manufacturability solution, DFMPro  for  NX™ software. DFMPro version 4.0 delivers enhanced design flexibility with newly-added support for additive manufacturing, tubing and sand casting processes. NX, developed by Siemens’ product lifecycle management (PLM) software business, is an integrated 3D computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering analysis (CAD/CAM/CAE) software.

Companies are changing the way they think, design and manufacture. A next generation technique such as additive manufacturing is gaining widespread adoption in major industries as it offers endless opportunities and opens doors for complex geometries and lightweight parts. However, traditional manufacturing techniques such as sand casting are still going strong.

With a variety of processes being used for manufacturing parts in a single product, DFMPro can help design engineers learn and apply manufacturing best practices for different processes thus avoiding downstream rework and cost problems. Design problems that result in secondary operations and support structures for additive manufacturing and hot spots, porosity, high shrinkage and cracking issues during sand casting process can be avoided. Tubing, leakage and performance issues can be avoided using DFMPro.

With v4.0, NX users can gain access to the introductory additive manufacturing suite on request. In addition, it further strengthens the rules for existing modules such as, milling, assembly and injection molding aimed at reducing rework, improving manufacturing time,   reducing inventory and preventing assembly problems.

“The powerful manufacturability analysis capability provided by DFMPro efficiently leverages, complements and augments CheckMate, an automated, customizable NX tool providing geometry, drafting and standards validation within the CAD user environment,” said Mr Jim  Rusk, Senior Vice President,  Siemens PLM Software. The new version of DFMPro provides NX users greater flexibility to design products using multiple processes, including additive manufacturing, while ensuring that they get their designs right the first time.

“With significant enhancements in the new version of DFMPro, we are helping our NX customers confidently and accurately design products for traditional as well additive manufacturing processes, which is essential for success in today’s competitive environment,” said Mr Sameer Kondejkar, Head of Geometry Technology Solutions Business Unit at Geometric.

• Follow @CNCTimes