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Kubotek Releases KeyCreator Version 7 for Mechanical Design 

Kubotek USA announced the release of KeyCreator™ 7.0 CAD/CAM software.  KeyCreator 7.0 includes numerous performance improvements and customer-driven productivity enhancements, as well as additional advances in Kubotek’s unique direct modeling technology. 

KeyCreator 7.0 expands the capabilities of the breakthrough new Direct Dimension-driven Editing function to allow greater use of angular dimensions to rotate faces on a solid model. Direct Dimension-driven Editing was unveiled by Kubotek in January 2007, and further enhanced in a June release. Direct Dimension-driven Editing allows users to use an intuitive parametric editing interface on any solid at any time.  

For improved system performance for users who receive or generate very large design files KeyCreator 7.0 has increased support for lightweight loading of 3D model data. The Kubotek CKD file format has also been expanded to support inclusion of lightweight 3D copies of solid and surface models, significantly reducing the time and system memory used to open a large file for review. KeyCreator contains many visualization tools such as cutting planes which allow extensive review of lightweight models.  

HASCO to Introduce Hot Runner Innovations at K 

Among the new developments to be presented by HASCO at K 2007 is the universal needle valve Z10710/.  Its flexible construction allows it to be used as a single needle valve or multiple applications between the nozzle and manifold system.

Developments learned from prototype molds can thus be transferred one-to-one to production molds. The Z107/ also allows the compact system of back-to-back needle valve systems for multi-daylight and tandem molds.

HASCO's assortment of hot runner innovations for K 2007 is rounded off by a completely revised nozzle program Z202/ Value Shot. A variety of new tip geometries with needle valve variants, wide-range of additional dimensions and technical improvements with regard to pressure loss, color change and gate quality which go hand in hand with further optimization in the production of the Value Shot. This new self-enclosed nozzle program can be marketed at an even more favorable price than its successful predecessor, the Z201/. 

Mastercam’s Maintenance Release Delivers New and Enhanced Toolpath Control 

CNC Software announces the release of Mastercam X2’s Maintenance Release (MR2).  This release is now available to all Maintenance customers and all new Mastercam customers and introduces significant new capabilities, including: 

• Peel Milling Toolpath - Delivering powerful high speed cutting to 2D projects, this new toolpath moves the tool in and “peels” away material, layer by layer.

• Operations Manager - The OM pane can now float to a different area of the graphics window or to a separate screen when working with dual monitors.

• Create Boundary Function - Now calculate the boundary using shallow areas, theoretical rest areas, cutter contact areas, and enhanced silhouette boundary controls. 

• Multiaxis Enhancements - Many powerful enhancements are included in the advanced multiaxis toolpaths. Examples include new “by region” machining, and expanded entry and exit macros.

• Swept Surfaces Improvements - New techniques and options provide more sweep orientation control options, greater flexibility in the use of multiple along and cross curves, and better accuracy for matching those curves while using less data to define the resulting NURB surface.