- Performance
- Details
- Suites
- Example
HiCAD – For the entire sheet metal process chain
Thanks to the stability and malleability of sheet metal parts in conjunction with modern production technologies, complex sheet metal products, which are used in very many industries, can nowadays be created from one single piece.
With HiCAD we can offer you a comprehensive solution for the entire process chain - from the first draft, the designing of the 3-D CAD model and the linking of the ERP system through to the creation of the finished sheet metal product.
Sheet metal-specific CAD functions, various automatisms such as bending simulation, sheet development and the taking into account of different production technologies enable you to launch your products much faster and in top quality – whether semi-finished products, or complex assemblies, thin sheets or metal plates with a thickness of 40 mm and more.
With HiCAD you can face great time pressure with composure, have more time for the wishes of your customers and improve your machine utilisation.
The highlights
- 2-D and 3-D
- Special sheet metal functions
- Assembly-based modelling
- Parametric and non-parametric designing
- Pipes and vessels
- Punching and forming tools
- Automatic creation of production documents
- Bending simulation
- Automatic development and blank calculation
- Cost calculation tool
- CAM interface
- Easy and intuitive operation
HiCAD – From the concept to the finished sheet metal product
HiCAD offers a consistent, integrated CAD solution for the entire process chain in sheet metal processing – from the concept through to the finished sheet metal product. Conceive the base sheet directly in3-D, or convert existing 2-D data or 3-D solids - also from other CAD systems if required - for a direct, further processing in HiCAD.
- Create detail drawings of your CAD model. HiCAD allows a convenient insertion of vessels and pipe parts of various types, without requiring any additional design efforts.
- Use the sheet metal-specific CAD functions of HiCAD for an efficient processing of your sheet metal products: Adding or folding of flanges, bores, corner processing, punching or forming etc.
- Bending simulations automatically unfold the model to enable an easier processing and provide a clearer overview, even of very complex models.
- Make arrangements for the actual production already during the CAD design phase by assigning all required technology and production parameters to your sheet metal models.
- At the push of a button, HiCAD automatically calculates the correct development, generates the corresponding drawing with dimensioned blank, and creates other production-relevant documents – such as workshop drawings, bills of materials or overbend tables. Furthermore, the cost calculation tool enables you to estimate production costs for laser cutting processes.
- Direct interfaces enable a linking of HiCAD to various CAM systems. Here, your construction data are immediately processed further, to form the basis for the generation of the NC machine programs.
HiCAD – CAD suites and extension modules for sheet metal processing
For your sheet metal processing tasks you can choose between the following configuration levels of HiCAD:
- HiCAD Sheet Metal suite
2-D variant technology, 3-D, 3-D fasteners, special functions for sheet metal processing - HiCAD Sheet Metal suite premium
2-D drawing functions, variant technology, 3-D, 3-D fasteners, special functions for sheet metal processing
If you are frequently dealing with cross-sectoral projects, you should also take a look at our solutions for mechanical engineering, plant engineering, steel engineering, glass, metal and facade engineering and metal working shops. Thanks to its modular structure, HiCAD can be customised and expanded, for instance, by our HELiOS PDM/PLM modules and our HiCAD extension modules, to perfectly match your individual requirements. And, via an interface to HELiCON, your HiCAD data can also be used for product configuration.
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HiCAD – Sheet Metal functions |
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Sheet Metal |
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Create sheets |
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Base sheet with and without technology data |
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Pipes and Vessels |
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Sheet from sketch and along sketch |
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Connecting sheet between sketches |
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Sheet from 2-D development |
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Sheet from solid |
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Sheet from surface |
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Add flanges |
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Attach flanges, with and without bend zones |
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Attach sketch, Z-fold and flanges from solids |
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Flanges along surface, flanges from sketch, attach bend zones |
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Hinges and border lips |
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Bend zones and corner processing |
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New bend zone with shortening or incising of connecting sheets |
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Automatic mitre cut creation |
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Manipulation of sheet parts by lengthening of flanges or closing of corners |
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Trimming of sheets and bend zones |
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Process sheets |
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Fold flanges |
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Bending simulation |
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Welded corners and flaps |
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Clean up intersections |
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Specify coating and processing direction |
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Adjust bend zones |
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Close bend zones (drainage areas) |
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Cut off corners |
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Punching, embossing, forming |
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Cam joints |
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Itemisation with identical part search |
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Workshop drawings for sheet metal parts |
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Sheet development |
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Automatic development calculation, changing of technology parameters, options for simplified development |
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Auto-synchronisation of developments |
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Scale change, auto-dimensioning and deletion of links |
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Various development methods |
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Change bend radius |
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Material file for springback behaviour |
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Change sheets without feature |
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DXF export of blanks as section contour or complete with bend zones and angles |
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Automatic DXF export |
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WiCAM Export |
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TopsGeo Export |
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Convert sheet to solids |
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Create sheet sections |
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Overbend table |
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Update sheets from HiCAD 2 |
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Cost calculation |
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Calculation of estimated production costs for laser-cut Sheet Metal parts |
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HiCAD – CAD suites for Sheet Metal Processing |
Suite |
Suite premium |
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Basic functions |
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2-D drawing functions |
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3-D modelling |
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3-D fasteners |
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Simulations |
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Plot Manager |
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Sheet Metal basic |
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Sheet Metal professional |
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Report Manager professional |
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Drawing derivation, i.e. |
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Document and Drawing Management for Civil Engineering (BIM) * |
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* only in conjunction with HELiOS Engineer +
HiCAD Sheet Metal – An example from practice
Suplacon b.v. – Industry: Sheet metal processing
Suplacon b.v. in Emmeloord, The Netherlands, specialises in the industrial co-supplying of sheet metal work. The process range of Suplacon includes high-precision and high-speed laser-cutting, punching, cutting, bench pressing and MIG/MAG welding. As an extremely flexible supplier, Suplacon always works in close cooperation with its customers - whether it concerns the laser cutting process, the manufacturing of semi-finished or finished products.
Such a wide range of services requires an absolutely consistent process chain - from the concept to the finished product. This could be realised by a combination of the CAD system HiCAD, the PLM system HELiOS and WiCAM. The sheet metal specialists at Suplacon can face great time pressure with composure, as many processes could be automated. Therefore, Suplacon has not only more time to react flexibly to customer wishes, but can also tap the full potential of their expensive NC machines.
Jellard Koers, General Manager at Suplacon: "The ISD and WiCAM have proven very efficient business partners. They understand our aims and integrate their know-how and experience in our projects. Basically, such a partnership is best described as a harmonic interaction between people, ideas and the suitable software - something that is absolutely essential to the success of our projects."