Finally, true Solid Modeling for Woodworkers
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If you don't see something here that suites your needs or market, give us a call at 866-498-7498 so we can create a specific demonstration using YOUR products or type of products.
With software as powerful as this, a simple commercial casework demo is only the start. If you've gotten the standard canned demo from other software rep companies, you'll be pleased with our demonstrations. You will see the data created from scratch --- not from a library that was created in a back room somewhere by a highly skilled technician. Don't assume that just because you saw a demo that showed a parametric curved wall or curved cash wrap that a similar product can be created by you --- or your salesman for that matter --- without weeks of work using complex formulas. TopSolid does it in front of you --- on the fly.
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Movies and Quick Tutorials below...
Overviews....
This is a great starting point to understand what TopSolid is and what it can do for your business. In this movie, we take several products that are all in the same room and modify them (and see the adjacent parts automatically resized), move them, animate the doors, drawers or pullouts (showing kinematics), etc. Then, we backup and start a product from scratch --- by drawing in cross section (of course you could import or open a saved cross section also) then extruding it and making it a solid model draw and applying machining (in this case we're using dowell construction and have dado'd in the bottom and have a dado to be used wtih a hardwood drawer runner. We add hardware with rules for placement (by popping a dimension then changing it to be a ratio of the length of the drawer). We create submittal or shop drawings for all parts of this slideout drawer. Later, this product will be put into an open box and work on the kinematics to show movement and stop points. From there, we set up animation of other associated parts that we want to see move as well. We create raised panel doors (from scratch) and make them fully parametric - they can now be used in ANY product you create - even if it's in another job. We apply profile tooling the the rails, stiles and panel DIRECTLY FROM CROSS SECTIONS OF THE TOOLS WE WILL USE IN OUR MACHINE. Add furniture base moulding, miter it, and this job is ready to send to the machine. We've created from scratch and built a product with animations. This is a large movie - 247MB -- but it is a great starting point to understand what true solid modeling for the woodworking industry can do for YOUR plant. No need for long algabraic formulas. Let the power of solid modeling --- and TopSolid --- make your complex designs and manufacturing visualized onscreen before you send it out to the plant floor. Complete Room with products and adding products to it... big movie --- 250MB.
TopSolid - Integrated CAD/CAM - this movie introduces you to TopSolid using a special curved moulding. It goes from design to the machine - including machine simulation. The purpose is to show that with solid modeling, changing assembly sizes and configurations are much easier than using database or 2D CAD programs --- because TopSolid works with the DRAWING... it's the drawn geometry that sets up part associations, not having to specify X,Y,Z co-ordinates to make part associations. Integrated CAD CAM movie - 52MB.
This is another overview of TopSolid as an integrated CAD/CAM solution. Some of the products we show in this movie will be fully detailed in later movies --- showing you the process from start to finish. We show YOUR machine for the machine simulations so you can clearly see if you have problems with pod placement, jigging for fixtures etc. If you have a router with moving tables, that is simulated also. Complete Manufacturing Integration movie is 93MB.
Specific project based movies....
CD Stand - from concept to machine....
In this movie, we'll create a CD stand --- a custom furniture product from scratch. Smooth, flowing, curved base with a modern upper. Like all the movies here, it is created in real time and shows all the steps. The product is created, additional profiles are added to the parts, and the piece is filled with CD's for a realistic look. You need to make submittal and shop drawings, so we do it for you also. At this point, it's ready to machine. CD Stand movie - 90MB.
Here, we'll take the CD Stand and machine it. This movie is just for the base --- a curved part cut out of a rectangular block with a dado and profiling. We have complete machine simulation capabilities. In this example, we put it on a Point To Point and verify the automatic toolpathing that was created in TopSolid. We work in 2.5, 3, 4 and 5 axis. Wood-3-Machining movie is 22MB.
The CD Stand gets more machining - here we'll take the upright and machine the final size and CD slots. Again, full simulation and code output through TopSolid. Wood-4-Machining2 movie is 22MB.
Here is the CD stand back support with dowels and decorative cutouts simulated and code produced on the machine. Wood-5-Machining3 movie is 15MB.
Here, we'll take the CD stand we created earlier, and modify it by adding the decorative cutouts. You will see that since we already have the parts on the simulated machine, when we change the design, the parts change on the pods as well --- because the DESIGN is what is creating the manufacturing information --- at the same time. The modified part is machined. Wood-6-Modification movie is 27MB.
Next, we'll look at creating a rollout drawer for an end table --- we'll start by drawing a cross section, and extruding from there. This example shows adding hardware, shaping parts, applying dados etc. This is a large file - it's 62MB and takes a while to watch -- but shows you the power of the program. Wood Furniture Demo movie - 62MB.
5 Axis work....
Creating geometry and code for 5 axis machines is also part of what TopSolid does -- in this example, we are going to add a dado on the back of a curved part (a chair back). Moulding5X movie is 10MB.
Here is another 5 Axis machine working on a curved chair - shaping and detailing the chair on a fixture. 5AxesMachining movie is 10.3MB
If you have a 5 Axis machine, the power of solid modeling becomes very apparent. Here we'll work with a fully parametric stairway moulding --- a bannister --- this can be shaped by changing the radius, the twist, the length etc... If you draw a contour line, you can have this product follow it and produce the code for the machines... For fun, we also did some engraving on the piece --- yes --- TopSolid does engraving also. In this example, we just did a 1mm plunge, but we can also vary the Z based on the width of the engraving. However, it's important to remember --- this engraving was done on a part that has a face that is both curved AND twisted. This is a big movie at 57MB.
Cabinets and Casework....
In this movie, we'll create a parametric cabinet from scratch. With TopSolid, it's fast to set up YOUR entities which can vary from job to job --- height, width, depth, back inset, different joinery - dados, screws, cams, dowels etc... TopSolid has added Wood Functionality to real solid modeling delivering a fast, efficient design and manufacturing software solution for woodworking. Remember, this is from scratch --- and you have a FULLY parametric product with YOUR machining. You are not having to work from a combination of libraries and a data setup that may or may not have all the variables that you need for YOUR products. This is the beauty of TopSolid. Create you own library of YOUR products quickly. Parametric Cabinet movie is 30MB.
Here is another variation on casework or shaped panel parts --- this is a desk unit with shaped parts that are all parametric and can be varied job to job --- or within this project. This movie goes from concept to machine. Real time recording of the project from start to finish with all modifications. This is a good example of solid modeling, because many of the "parts" are started with lines drawn across the face of another part and extruded from there --- pop them against an opposite face and the part is correctly sized. Because the solid model gives the parts their association, it's easy to resize the product. There is no need to define part associations in X,Y,Z co-ordinates to set up parametrics ---- they are already associated because of the geometry of the design. This CabinetDemo is a 69MB file.
Mortise and Tenon work... TopSolid creates mortise and tenons, dados, blind dados, rabbits, dowel construction, cam construction and screwed construction easily...
Since TopSolid is not just for casework, in this movie, we've taken a bit of a different approach and have designed a sawhorse and are applying mortise and tenon construction methods to it. Of course, this could be used in any type of product, it's simply one of the joint selections that we have made available to you. Shaped parts? No problem with TopSolid. Tenon and Mortise example - is 8MB.
Kinematics - movement can be added to your drawings and assemblies...
This movie shows kinematics... the ability to move parts or assemblies and shows using kinematics to open drawers in a simple box. The amount of extension is based on the length of the slides --- just as the opening angle of the door can be defined etc... During this movie, the drafts- or submittal pages - are automatically updated and linked to any movement of the product. Draft - Positions movie - 3MB
The next movie takes the earlier drawer box on casters and explodes the parts with additional animation created within TopSolid. You control what parts move and when they move. A practical application of this process would be for store fixture companies that send out products for the local sales reps to assemble at their individual stores. An animation like this will help a rep that has no casework experience see how to quickly assemble a product. Drawer Animation movie - 18MB
Nesting...
Nesting is part of TopSolid also... it's true shape nesting. In this example, we are going to take a stairs from a boats companionway and nest them on a router. Curved parts, with dado construction. A nice, tight nest. This StairNesting video is 45MB.
Importing data from other design software... Import from almost any CAD source --- don't just view the imported drawings --- USE them...
This movie shows how to take a standard 2D ACAD file, and use the drawings for a basis for creating a solid model. Save time -- use existing drawings and geometry --- use architectural original plan drawings --- and work from there!!! TopSolid can read ACAD, SolidWorks, SolidEdge, Catia, ProE etc.... Extrude from ACAD demo - 11MB;
Exporting Data to other processing software... Open architecture and configurable DXF files make it easy to talk to other machines/systems...
This movie shows some of the WoodCAM interface - working through BiesseWorks. Again, TopSolid has output capabilites to many different software packages through a configurable DXF module, or we can produce code internally. This TopSolidWoodCAM Interface 2D movie is 34MB.
TopSolid can either process the drawings internally and make code for your machines, or can export data for use in other software. This example shows exporting data to Woodwop for use on a Weeke. ExportWoodWop movie - 1.2MB
5 Axis work....
Marine Industry Powerpoint of images...
We're working with several boat companies that want to design in 3D, be able to confirm design colors and features, then manufacture on CNC machines. Many of the BEST marine architects in Europe use TopSolidWood. Click here to see a Marine Industry PowerPoint presentation.
Creating geometry and code for 5 axis machines is also part of what TopSolid does -- in this example, we are going to add a dado on the back of a curved part (a chair back). Moulding5X movie is 10MB.
Here is another 5 Axis machine working on a curved chair - shaping and detailing the chair on a fixture. 5AxesMachining movie is 10.3MB
If you have a 5 Axis machine, the power of solid modeling becomes very apparent. Here we'll work with a fully parametric stairway moulding --- a bannister --- this can be shaped by changing the radius, the twist, the length etc... If you draw a contour line, you can have this product follow it and produce the code for the machines... For fun, we also did some engraving on the piece --- yes --- TopSolid does engraving also. In this example, we just did a 1mm plunge, but we can also vary the Z based on the width of the engraving. However, it's important to remember --- this engraving was done on a part that has a face that is both curved AND twisted. This is a big movie at 57MB
TopSolid - Airplane propeller being rough cut then finished with TopSolid CAM - longer bit could be on a 3 axis machine - very end of movie shows 5 axis work... LARGE FILE - 116MB