CAD software suite

CAD/CAMCAMnesting

Overview
Computes Group provides an integrated suite of CAD/CAM and ERP/MES solutions for sheet metal, tube cutting and fabrication industries. The portfolio covers desktop CAD/CAM modules and cloud-based MES/ERP tools to support production planning, machine programming and shop-floor data collection.

Applications and context

• From 2D/3D CAD, quoting and CAM (nesting, milling, punching, tube cutting) to ERP and MES for Industry 4.0/5.0 and Smart Factory integration.
• Target sectors: sheet metal cutting (laser, plasma, waterjet), bending, punching, tube profiling and robotic welding; suitable for SMEs and larger manufacturers focused on production optimisation.

Factory challenges addressed

• Increasingly smaller production batches
• Material characteristic variability
• Shortage of experienced bending operators

Benefits of bending and CAM tools
Offline bending and CAM software enable simulation of bending programs from the office, precise tooling selection, optimization of bending sequences, nesting to reduce material waste and direct transfer of ready programs to operators to minimise machine idle time.

Product family and available modules

• ZWCAD: 2D CAD, DWG compatible, libraries and tools for professional 2D drawings.
• ZW3D Standard: integrated 3D CAD/CAE with hybrid modelling, sheet metal features and MACRO commands to speed modelling.
• Sphera (nesting): configurations include Sphera Lite, Sphera and Sphera + Best Nest for advanced nesting quality.
• ZW3D with milling CAM module: 2–5 axis machining, mould/die modelling and hybrid modelling tools.
• AXI-Punch: CAM system for punching and cutting machines supporting multiple manufacturers.
• Computes Tube: CAD/CAM for tube/3D cutting, nesting and robotic welding processes.
• Autopol: offline bending software supporting many CNCs (STEP, Delem, Esa, Cybelec, etc.).
• Computes MES / FACTORY / PRODUCTION MANAGER: cloud-based MES/ERP solutions for production and warehouse data collection, job control, planning and reporting.
• 5.0 interface with the WATT system: collects production times, unplanned interruptions, processing consumption and energy inefficiencies.

Computes MES — main functionalities

• Order management, bill of materials and production stages
• Manual or automatic data collection from machines and operators
• Statistics and reports by orders, machines, departments and operators

Integration and Industry 4.0/5.0
MES and ERP modules can integrate with energy and predictive maintenance platforms to automatically collect production times, unplanned stops, consumption and inefficiencies. The platform is compatible with other MES/ERP systems or can be used standalone via a dashboard.

Technical specifications

• Product category: CAD/CAM, nesting, bending, ERP/MES for Industry 4.0/5.0
• Vendor: Computes Group
• Supported functions: 2D/3D CAD, nesting (laser/plasma/waterjet), milling CAM (2–5 axis), punching CAM, tube 3D cutting, offline bending, robotic welding programming, ERP/MES production management
• Deployment: desktop CAD/CAM modules and cloud-based MES/ERP
• Key modules: ZWCAD, ZW3D, Sphera, AXI-Punch, Computes Tube, Autopol, Computes MES, FACTORY, PRODUCTION MANAGER
• Integration: postprocessors for many machines and interface for energy/predictive maintenance platform (WATT)