innovations SoFTWArE

make it EASy

BySTroNIC ALSo CELEBrATED PrEMIErES oF ITS SoFTWArE AT EUroBLECH 2012.

ABoVE ALL, IT WAS BySoFT 7 – THE LATEST gENErATIoN oF THE ProgrAM PACKAgE

For CUTTINg AND BENDINg – THAT SToLE THE SHoW. WE TAKE A LooK AT SoME

oF THE FUNCTIoNS, oPErATINg PrINCIPLES, AND BENEFITS oF THIS UNIQUE TooL.

Text: Martin Engel, Photos: Bystronic

“even in sheet metal production, almost noth-ing works without software nowadays,” explains Jürgen Hohnhaus, Bystronic’s Head of Develop-ment. This is why Bystronic invests such a signifi-cant share of its resources in software products. Visitors could see this for themselves at the Euro-blech 2012 in Hanover, where Bystronic presented a number of new software solutions.one example was the ByVision machine control package, which has now been adapted – from be-ing solely an application for cutting systems – to also work on pressbrakes. It has been optimized for bending, allowing the user to operate the press-brake via an ultramodern touch screen similar to an oversized smartphone.

Construct in 3D: With the bending module, users can prepare perfect unfolding and bending programs.

However, this was not the only change to ByVision. Bystronic programmers have also enhanced laser cutting processes, by adding numerous new func-tions. These include two notification tools: the Con dition Messenger and the Maintenance Mes senger. The Condition Messenger is a graphic display that shows the operator the status of individual com ponents, informing him when a component should be checked. The Maintenance Messenger indicates to the operator when the system is due for main te nance.

BYsoft 7 with manY innovations

An even greater sensation was created by BySoft 7. This is the latest generation of the Bystronic soft-ware package, offering numerous new possibilities over the previous version. BySoft 7 was one of the highlights at this year’s Euroblech: “BySoft 7 offers a full range of functions, while still being easy to operate,” replies Jürgen Hohnhaus, when asked why BySoft 7 was such a hit at the trade fair. Besides these benefits, Hohnhaus adds that, thanks to the fully integrated Plant Manager, users maintain a full overview of their laser and waterjet cutting pro-cesses at all times, allowing them to execute jobs quickly, reliably and economically.It is when a user wishes to construct a part or a component using BySoft 7 that the software re-veals its first surprise. Just one click launches the latest version of SolidWorks: a 2D and 3D CAD package, enjoying a superb reputation and a world-wide community of fans. This solution, which is in-dependent of Bystronic, offers, among other advan-tages, the possibility of linking cutting and bending processes even more closely with up- and down-stream work processes.

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innovations SoFTWArE

Maximum transparency: The Plant Manager plans, initializes and automatically monitors parts production, offering users access to production and machine data in seconds.

Also at the CAM level, BySoft 7 offers users nu-merous innovations. Inside contours of cut parts, for example, can be automatically reduced to prevent the parts from flicking up. This minimizes the pos-sibility of the cutting nozzle colliding with such piec-es of metal, helping the machine to run even more reliably. greater process reliability is also offered by what is known as spread nesting. This allows the nested parts to be distributed more effectively. BySoft 7 does this by increasing the distance be-tween the parts. Should users wish to go in the opposite direction, they can now make use of a new function called compressed nesting. With this function, BySoft 7 minimizes the safety distance, allowing it to nest even more parts on each metal sheet. Further tools include the optimized common cut, prepiercing of any selected contours, automatic scanning, and many more.By the way, the slogan under which BySoft 7 is mar-keted is, “Make it easy.” After all, the working day at a sheet-metal-processing company is complicat-ed enough. This slogan may be interpreted in two ways: Firstly, BySoft 7 is plausibly structured; there-

fore, it is very easy to operate for first-time users. Secondly, BySoft 7 simplifies the processes within the factory: from nesting parts or creating cutting plans, to generating bending programs and simu-lating bending sequences – the whole nine yards. Everything takes place automatically and on the basis of reliable data.

modular software

What has not changed is the fact that BySoft 7 – like its predecessor – has a modular design. The software comprises four modules: Sheet Process-ing, Bending, Tube Processing, and Plant Manager. These can be purchased individually, as a com-plete package, or in combination, according to the customer’s requirements. With the Sheet Processing and Tube Processing modules, users can construct parts and components, or load and process existing CAD data. This allows them to create perfect cutting programs in the twin-kling of an eye. These two modules reduce the cost of each part, as they make maximum use of the raw material. To achieve this, BySoft 7 uses a num-

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The sheet processing module offers various ways of nesting parts.

ber of methods, such as several nesting techniques. Furthermore, what is known as the Technology Wizard is on hand to further optimize the cutting process by always selecting the appropriate cutting technology. In summary, these modules keep ma-chine processes running securely and reliably – right down to optimizing the cutting sequence to ensure the best possible heat distribution on the metal sheet during cutting.The Bending module also comes complete with SolidWorks, should any CAD work arise. This helps users by optimizing the operational time of the pressbrake, ensuring that it is used to capacity. Parts are no longer programmed on the machine, but rather in BySoft 7. All relevant pressbrake machine and tool data are recorded in BySoft 7, resulting in correct processes and bend-allowance values em-pirically determined by experts. Furthermore, time and money are saved since the complete simula-tion of the bending sequence prevents collisions and costly errors. And because BySoft 7 automati-cally calculates the bending sequence, back-gauge position and tool plan, it is quicker to process orders.

plan Your cutting processes

Just another word on the Plant Manager: This mod-ule plans and monitors all laser cutting and water-jet cutting processes – automatically and based on data. Every ErP system is divided into work cycles along the process chain. one such cycle is the rough planning of the cutting processes. It is here where the Plant Manager steps in to refine the planning process – cutting the number of steps necessary, as

innovations SoFTWArE

“BySoft 7 pays for itself. The software makes sheet

metal processing more pro-ductive and provides the

user with the necessary mar-gins for further growth.”

Jürgen Hohnhaus, Head of Development, Bystronic group

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well as saving time, lowering costs and eliminating sources of error. The Plant Manager takes its data from the ErP system or job management quite in-dependently. It can also import geometries from the CAD program. The software then creates cut-ting plans, before allocating them to the machines. During this process, it takes into account both the specification and workload of each available ma-chine. Divided into the areas of planning, production and statistics, the Plant Manager also provides users with comprehensive production and machine data, keep-ing them fully in the picture about all laser cutting and waterjet cutting operations. “BySoft 7 pays for itself,” is Jürgen Hohnhaus’s clear summary. “The software,” he adds, “makes sheet metal processing more productive and provides the user with the necessary margins for further growth.” All this, in the easiest way imaginable. BySoft 7 – make it easy.

see the Bysoft 7 videos: on our corporate Web site under Products/ Software & Control.

BySoft 7 automatically creates the optimum cutting plan for each sheet.

With the tube processing module, users can construct tubular parts and profiles in the blink of an eye.

innovations SoFTWArE

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