The latest version of Tracecut, Renishaw's market leadingdigitising software, features a new optional surfacing module.TraceSurf will create true CAD surfaces suitable for export toany CAD system. Tracecut Version 23 also features new standardoptions including 2 and a half D profiling, full modellingcapability, a module for turbine blade tip refurbishment andsimple dimensioning. Tracecut controls the data capture routinesfor all Renishaw digitising systems, enables data to bemanipulated by techniques including mirroring, scaling, rotation,translation and male/female inversion, and automatically createssplit lines.

The software generates NC part programs to machinemoulds, dies, press tools and EDM electrodes, with tool diameterand machining path totally independent of the stylus diameter andscan paths.

As an alternative, CAD outputs can be created.

Thenew TraceSurf module will allow Tracecut users to benefit fromthe seamless transfer of digitised data to CAD systems, in eitherIGES or STL formats, eliminating the problems of transferringlarge files of point-cloud data.

TraceSurf will simplify thecreation of surfaces using powerful features such as a'triangulation wizard' which automatically producestrue surface CAD triangle data from digitised data.

Otherfunctions include data trimming to remove extraneous areas ofdata, line construction, curve fitting, surface fitting and theability to reverse surfaces.

Additional features include checksfor surface smoothness, and an error analysis function thatallows users to set tolerance bands for surface fit.

Users ofTraceSurf will also benefit from the powerful combination ofdigitising and CAD technologies.

Major applications include thecreation of accurate CAD models from handcrafted parts, theaddition of complex details or decorations to the surfaces ofstandard products, the development of new parts from existingcomponents, and minor styling changes to physical models in thefinal stages of product development.

A powerful new featurewithin Tracecut Version 23 is the ability to scan an object indifferent orientations and then merge the data to create a singlemodel.

Using an indexer or automated indexing probe head,complete objects can be scanned, and users are able to view thefull model in any orientation, allowing checks for data integrityprior to toolpath generation.

Complete machining programs for theobject are produced within Tracecut.

To address the need tocapture 2D profiles with varying Z heights, Tracecut Version 23also includes a 2 and a half D scanning capability, allowing thescanning of components with internal corners or grooves that arenot at a constant Z height.

The refurbishment of turbine bladesis a complex area of manufacture.

A new module within TracecutVersion 23 offers a specific solution, allowing the scanning andre-machining of blade tips.

With a Tracecut a user can scan ablade, extrapolate the profile, and generate a helical machiningprogram to remove any excess material which has been welded ontothe blade tips during the repair process.

The top of the bladetip can also be trimmed, and a 'squealer' cut in thetop of the blade.

Simple dimensioning of components is alsopossible with this latest version, including inspection reportgeneration.

Whilst this module does not have the fullsophisticated measurement capabilities of a CMM, it includes thefacility to measure edges, single points, spheres, bores, bosses,arcs and widths, and calculate distances between features.TraceSurf and Tracecut Version 23 will significantly enhance thefunctionality for users of Renishaw's data capture systems,whether using contact or laser probe versions of the Cyclonescanning machine, machine tool scanning sensors or probes mountedto co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs).