TopSolid'Strato
Additive manufacturing software using the patented Stratoconception® process from CIRTES to manufacture your parts in 3D slices using any material plate
TopSolid'Strato, the additive manufacturing by Stratoconception®
- Additive manufacturing module integrated in the CAD environment
- Breaking down a part into slices
- Integrated assembly features
- Optimization of material consumption
- Automatic generation of tool paths
- Different ways of cutting using micro-milling
- Decision support through numerous libraries
- Unique patented process
Additive manufacturing module integrated in the CAD environment
- Additive manufacturing module integrated in the TopSolid suite.
- Use of a 100% native model (designed or imported in TopSolid).
- Removal of the STL mesh (a standard in additive manufacturing).
- Complete interoperability with other TopSolid software: TopSolid'Design, TopSolid'Cam, etc.
- Changes made to the model result in the update of the slice breakdown, and of the associated machining operations.
- Intuitive to use thanks to the standards of the TopSolid environment.
Breaking down a part into slices
- Slicing design guided by a succession of steps.
- Management of a part in several areas that can be produced with different parameters (axis, slice thickness and material).
- Slicing according to a defined thickness and axis.
- Advanced slicing feature thanks to additional planes and the choice of slice distribution.
- Breaking down slices to produce parts out of the machine gauge.
- Slice hollowing to reduce the weight of a large part or tooling, or to optimize the quantity of material used.
Integrated assembly features
- Adding assembly features to the slice design.
- A range of assembly features:
- Inserts: inserts (standard or manufactured components) which allow the positioning of the slices in relation to each other.
- Jointing with pins and housings: consisting of a male part (the pin) and of a corresponding female part (the housing), integral parts of the slice and machined at the same time as the slice.
- Bridges: assembly elements placed outside of the part and linked to it by a scaffold, for thin or transparent parts.
- Complete nesting: complete nesting of the upper slice in the lower slice.
- Assembly keys: elements for the positioning and maintenance of the disintegrated parts. They are either attached parts, or integrated into the slices.
Optimization of material consumption
- Nesting optimization to distribute all the slices (or parts of slices) in raw material plates, by optimizing the amount of material needed.
- Automatic selection of the slice machining direction based on the slice geometry.
- Placing calibrated pins to position the plate during its turning.
- Identifying the slices in the nesting by an engraving.
- Breaking down slices into parts to use small plates, or to save material for curved slices.
Automatic generation of tool paths
- TopSolid'Strato automatically generates machining operations to produce the slices and assembly elements, according to the available manufacturing methods.
- All the required operations are performed:
- Slice leveling, insert drilling, pin machining, slice roughing and finishing, marking of the slice number.
- Optimized slice finishing strategy using a mix of contouring and sweeping.
- Differentiated machining methods to allow for field adaptations.
Different ways of cutting using micro-milling
- Slice machining either in a nesting, or by stacking, or by combining two modes.
- Double-sided nesting machining mode: slice nesting machining of the two sides by turning the plate to reach the undercut areas.
- Stacking machining allowing successive machining, slice by slice, within the machine.
Decision support through numerous libraries
- Relevant components for the implementation of the process integrated in TopSolid libraries:
- Standard plates of raw materials
- Assembly elements
- Tools and cutting conditions
Unique patented process
- Various fields of application: models, templates, toolings, direct parts, etc.
- Variety of material plates: machinable resins, woods, polymers, metals, etc.
- Easy supply: stock of standard material plates (no raw material required).
- Very large parts (up to several meters).
- Economical: optimization of the material used (additive process), low material cost, low power consumption.
- Simplicity: systematic, whatever the geometry.
- Simple CNC: only 3 axes to produce complex geometries with small micro-milling tools (finishing).
- A French process, patented and developed by CIRTES, R&D center in additive manufacturing with over 30 years of experience (www.cirtes.com).
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TopSolid'Strato at a glance
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TopSolid'Strato
The TopSolid'Strato module developed by CIRTES offers TopSolid 7 users the possibility of producing very large parts. The Stratoconception® Additive Manufacturing process breaks down a part into slices for its manufacture in plate materials.
TopSolid 7
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TopSolid'Strato documentation
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