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Autodesk and DN Solutions adopt ModuleWorks’ Manufacturing Data Exchange Specification

“It is a pleasure to see two leading software and hardware innovators validate the impact MDES can have on the industry and their trust in ModuleWorks as a steward of this open specification.”

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ModuleWorks has announced that Autodesk and DN Solutions (formally Doosan Machine Tools) have opted to adopt its Manufacturing Data Exchange Specification (MDES). The software provider hopes that MDES can bring more value to the manufacturing industry through its capabilities of connecting different technologies across hardware and software systems.

Key information:

MDES is an open specification for exchanging digital representations of manufacturing equipment across multiple steps between software and hardware systems, covering tool components, assemblies, fixtures, stocks, setups, and their mounting in machine tools. ModuleWorks aims to facilitate the formation of an open ecosystem using MDES. The ecosystem can then be used by any company to exchange machining data between various hardware and software platforms.

CAD/CAM vendor Autodesk and CNC machine tool builders DN Solutions are two of the first companies to adopt MDES. Both companies did this in the hopes that the technology would simplify and optimise the transfer of data between the two solutions, with the aim of improving workflow between the CAM programming office and the shop floor.

“It is a pleasure to see two leading software and hardware innovators validate the impact MDES can have on the industry and their trust in ModuleWorks as a steward of this open specification,” said Dr Yavuz Murtezaoglu, Founder & Managing Director of ModuleWorks. “As a neutral software provider, we are committed to our partners for the fast-paced development of software components for CAD/CAM system developers, CNC Controller Manufacturers and Machine Tool Builders. With MDES, we extend our commitment to any manufacturing stakeholder who can benefit from simplifying manufacturing data exchange and reducing barriers to software adoption.”

The CAM/CAD vendor is ModuleWorks’ strategic partner, with Autodesk having integrated the toolpath into its Fusion 360 product. MDES allows Fusion 360 users to output MDES data, which provides additional information for the machining process. There is also an added additional benefit of reducing the set-up time on the CNC machine.

“From inception, our intent with Fusion has been a platform that brings cloud technology’s advancements to all the people, machines and software involved in the design and manufacturing process,” said Al Whatmough, Director, Product Design and Manufacturing Solutions at Autodesk. “We’re eliminating bottlenecks that reduce accurate and effective communication. Smarter machines on the shop floor, using CAM data, will yield better outcomes when they understand an operator’s intent, rather than just blindly follow commands. The MDES open standard is the major step the industry needs toward improving the problematic communication between CAM software and machine tools. We’re excited to see this new standard enable companies like DN Solutions to offer machines that further increase manufacturing productivity.”

Whereas DN Solutions wishes to bring more functionality, like the ModuleWorks Machining Simulation and Collision Avoidance System, to its CNC machines.

“At DN Solutions, we strive for continuous innovation of our integrated manufacturing solutions with a focus on user-friendly digital transformation technology to enable smart factories,” said Wonjong Kim, CEO of DN Solutions. “Our partnership with ModuleWorks brings additional technological value to our machines by minimising risks and reducing machine setup time. Early adoption of MDES will ensure that machine operators can harness our latest technology to optimise their processes with less setup time. We are excited to see support of MDES from industry leaders such as Autodesk which will accelerate widescale adoption of the new open standard.”

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