Posted to News on 17th Aug 2010, 16:22
E-Tools reduce engineering time for machine builders
Rexroth is promoting its family of offline and online engineering software and tools (together referred to as E-Tools) that reduce the time required for design, product selection, installation and maintenance.
MTpro factory layout tool simplifies and reduces the time required to select and configure assembly technology systems. This versatile and powerful package includes comprehensive product information and an intuitive layout designer that generates 3D views without the need for a CAD system. Users can save their own assemblies for reuse, and the package can also generate parts lists as well as CAD models that are compatible with most popular CAD systems.
Other E-Tools include: the Pneumatic Circuit Diagram Creator that generates diagrams in compliance with industry standards; Environment Simulator, which enables automation systems to be tested independently of the machines they are designed to control; Linear Motion Technologies Resource, which is based on Rexroth's encyclopaedic Linear Motion Handbook; and the Linear Motion Designer, a professional planning tool for users of linear guides.
Among the many E-Tools available to aid installation is the IndraWorks planning, diagnostics and visualisation package. This comprises: Cambuilder, an intuitive program for cam disk creation; VI-Composer for easy visualisation and parameterisation; and WinStudio, an intelligent program for creating graphical interfaces for HMI terminals. IndraWorks is complemented by the IndraSize drive configurator, which allows optimum drive configurations to be determined in minutes, even for complex applications.
Product selectors and ongoing support
Software aids for product selection cover virtually all of the diverse ranges of equipment offered by Rexroth. There are, for example, guides and electronic catalogues for mobile and industrial hydraulics, pneumatics, electric drives and controls, linear motion and assembly technologies. Also available is a convenient linear motion interchange tool that converts part numbers from other suppliers to Rexroth equivalents.
For equipment that is already in service, the E-Tools for support are described as an invaluable resource. These include easy-to-search spare parts catalogues and technical catalogues containing detailed information about product maintenance and use.
Many of the software packages and tools that make up the wide-ranging family of E-Tools are available as free downloads from the Rexroth website, while others, because of their complexity or other technical constraints, are supplied on CD-ROM. All of the business-ready versions of the software packages are available free of charge (except for MTpro, which comes free as a trial version), and all are compatible with almost any modern PC running recent versions of Microsoft Windows.
