CAD/CAM Services
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 & 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.
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, the measuring arm allows us to check and approve the parts we manufacture with a high level of precision. Using the QCT Inspecta arm, we can verify critical dimensions, confirm tolerances and ensure every component meets the required specification before it moves further through production.
By carrying out these checks in-house, we can quickly identify any deviations and maintain consistent quality across batches. This helps us deliver reliable, repeatable results while maintaining the high standards our customers expect.
Prototyping
Where there is a need to move quickly from a mock-up or existing part to a fully manufactured prototype, the QCT Inspecta arm allows us to capture accurate measurements and rapidly create a CAD model. This can then be processed through our CAM software to produce a prototype part in a very short time.
This approach allows us to test designs, refine dimensions and make adjustments quickly. Multiple iterations can be produced efficiently until the customer is completely satisfied with the design, fit and functionality of the final component.
Reverse Engineering Of Specialist Components
Across many industries that rely on precision engineering, the loss of component designs can create serious problems. Without accurate drawings, producing replacement parts when machinery breaks down becomes extremely difficult, leading to costly downtime.
SSC Laser Cutting understands the importance of having a contingency plan. That is why we offer a reverse engineering service that allows us to recreate accurate 2D designs from existing components. These designs can then be used to manufacture exact replacement parts or develop new prototypes.
Reverse engineering is one of the most common applications for our QCT Inspecta 2600 Manual Measuring Arm. This advanced measuring technology allows us to capture precise dimensions and recreate complex components quickly.
Using the QCT Inspecta arm, flat parts can be converted into DXF or DWG files within seconds, allowing accurate CAD files to be generated and parts reproduced with confidence.
Laser Cutting FAQ
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Please click here for a detailed explanation of the two.