Delcam, the UK's largest CADCAM software supplier, and Renishaw, one of the world's leading metrology companies, have entered into a development partnership to broaden the functionality within Renishaw's Tracecut software. This will greatly expand the ways in which digitised data captured with Renishaw's equipment can be used, either that collected by dedicated scanners like the Cyclone digitising system or from Renishaw probes fitted onto co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs) or machine tools. The main addition will be the ability to create CAD surfaces from the digitised data that can then be transferred into any CAD system, including Delcam's PowerSHAPE program.

The combination of digitising and CAD has three main applications; developing new parts from existing components; adding complex decorations or features onto the surfaces of standard products; and making minor styling changes to physical models in the final stages of product development.

Other options include creating CAD models from physical models for use by analysis packages; generation of surface data from prototype parts for subsequent manufacture of mass production tooling; archiving legacy models as CAD files; and capturing data for computer visualisation and animation.

'Currently, Tracecut is the market leader in reverse manufacturing systems but to date we have limited the CAD output functionality,' explained Gerry Bowyer, Product Manager, Renishaw's Digitising Products Division.

'By expanding the software's capabilities in this manner, we will be opening up a huge range of alternative applications for users of our digitising equipment.' 'The new functionality for Tracecut will be based on existing code within our CopyCAD reverse engineering suite,' said Delcam Product Manger, Chris Lawrie.

'We will be developing a new interface for the new module and also optimising the software for the processing of Renishaw's data formats.

Even so, we expect to be beta testing the new programs during the Summer, with customer release planned for the Autumn.' 'We are extremely pleased to be working together with Renishaw on this development,' commented Delcam's International Sales Director, Tim Mitchell.

'We are both UK companies that have become recognised internationally as leaders in their respective fields.

We also serve many of the same industries including product designers, stylists and toolmakers; providing tools to increase their productivity and improve their quality in today's competitive manufacturing environment.' 'The new software will be available through our subsidiaries and distribution channel worldwide,' concluded Peter Wells, Director and General Manager, Renishaw's Digitising Products Division.

'We are confident that it will open many new business opportunities for Renishaw.' COMPANY BACKGROUNDS Delcam plc is the world's leading developer of CADCAM computer software for the three-dimensional design and manufacture of complex shapes.

The company has enjoyed particular success in the toolmaking industry.

It is firmly established as the world's leading international supplier of specialist software for this sector.

Delcam's power solution software is distributed by over 70 subsidiaries, joint ventures and resellers in 50 countries and is used by over 10,000 customers on more than 3,000 sites worldwide.

Renishaw plc stands at the forefront of automated metrology.

The Group's products provide manufacturers with the ability to machine components accurately, and perform measurement traceable to International Standards.

Wherever precision manufacturing is required, the use of Renishaw's products ensures that exacting specifications are met, with cost-effective methods.