Jan 17, 2001 Valor Computerized Systems [NEUER MARKT: VCR] today announced powerful new functionality in release 6.0 of its Trilogy 5000 CAM software for virtual prototyping and assembly and test. This major release contains a number of significant new CAM productivity tools that strengthen Trilogy 5000's position as the best-in-class CAM system for global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) companies. Valor is a global leader in providing productivity software solutions to OEMs and CEMs in the electronics design and manufacturing industry.
"This latest release of Trilogy 5000 solves the time and cost problems associated with handling multiple types of engineering data, such as design data, bills of materials (BOM) and approved vendor lists (AVL)," said Julian Coates, VP Corporate Marketing at Valor. "Based on the open ODB++ data exchange format, this one source of high-level intelligent data moves right down to the factory floor incorporating machine optimization and line balancing functions. The result is well integrated, optimized data to implement in downstream manufacturing operations, for improved manufacturability, reduced costs and shorter NPI cycle times. And as result, Trilogy 5000 is used by the world's leading CEMs as their CAM system of choice," Coates added.
New Standalone BOM Validator
ProBOM is a unique lightweight, standalone tool that has been developed to work with Trilogy 5000 and other engineering systems' data flows for the reading and creation of first version BOMs, early in the assembly cycle. Procurement and NPI engineers can use ProBOM at the earliest stages of manufacturing, typically before the CAD data arrives, to interpret first-round BOMs in order to start checking component stocks, procurement and first-level technical validation. Although a standalone tool, ProBOM allows the BOMs to be integrated into the Trilogy assembly cycle at a later phase as the CAD data becomes available.
ProBOM features rules-based BOM parsing to handle any ASCII format BOM or AVL. Its Excel-like GUI capabilities enable engineers to perform familiar customized viewing and data sorting. This tool also provides fast and complete access to the Valor Parts Library (VPL) synchronizing the requested parts with the physical information held in the component library.
Machine Driving Capabilities Expanded
Trilogy 5000 release 6.0 also includes new assembly machine optimization and line balancing capabilities with support for the Fuji IP3, Panasonic MPA, Universal GSM2 and Siemens Siplace machines. Trilogy 5000's placement machine-driving technologies deliver increased productivity and set-up flexibility, and identify extra production capacity that can be released. The Machine Engineering Package (MEP) optimizes all aspects of assembly machine programming. Absolute kinematic modeling of the machines gives accurate cycle time calculations in advance of committing to production. Trilogy's Line Engineering Package (LEP) ensures maximum productivity for a complete line, simultaneously taking into account the requirements of multiple products in a single set-up.
Online Automated Document Generator
In release 6 of Trilogy 5000, a new, high productivity windows-based documentation generator helps to manage jobs through the factory floor and produce the necessary documentation required at all stages of production. Called ProDOC, it enables manufacturing engineers to quickly and easily build color-coded assembly drawings and instructions based on the structure of the assembly line and the full intelligence of the ODB++ data held in Trilogy.
This online, fully automated documentation tool merges CAD data and/or line balancing changes into an existing document set with minimum alterations and keeps a history of changes for smart revision control. ProDOC utilizes many standard, state-of-the-art drawing and graphics tools and has the ability to integrate existing data files from familiar applications such as Word, Excel etc. With ProDOC engineers can create any required document such as work orders, work flow instructions, technical drawings for manual assembly, shop floor documents, and inspection guides for Q&A. The documents can be printed or looked at via a web-based viewing tool, ideal for shop floor viewing stations, where the user can zoom/highlight/search/query on all component data and instructions.
Intelligent Handling of Legacy Data
Still today, manufacturers have to manage working with legacy data in low-level formats, such as Gerber. Using new and smart reverse engineering functionality, instead of manual and tedious graphical editing, Trilogy 5000 release 6 has the in-built ability to extract and add in first-level component data such as center points and footprints, that is normally only available from the higher level ODB++ and CAD data files. Such integrated data intelligence is crucial in establishing a quick and automated tooling process for optimized manufacturing.
Trilogy's new Component Extractor tool automatically calculates the center point of the components from the pad patterns defined in the low-level incoming graphical files, such as Gerber, DXF and HP-GL. When jobs are delivered to the CEM in such a low-level form, this functionality is particularly important in the solder paste optimization process and generation of component placement files.
For example, from release 6, Trilogy 5000 is able to apply the intelligence of the enhanced Solder Paste Optimizer functions to all jobs, whatever the data source. Users immediately benefit from higher productivity and a more efficient solder paste optimization flow directly impacting the quality of the solder joints and minimizing engineering costs. This tool also provides an added-value bridge between the customer data reality of today and the time when all jobs will arrive into manufacturing with high levels of integrated component data already embedded.
Other release 6 news includes the porting of Trilogy 5000 from Unix to a native Windows GUI, specifically needed for the Windows-based manufacturing environment. Trilogy 5000 release 6 will be available for customers in Q2 2001.
Valor Computerized Systems [NEUER MARKT: VCR] is a global leader in providing business productivity tools throughout the design-through-manufacturing electronics supply chain. Valor is a public company listed on the Neuer Markt of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The company's powerful software tools, based on ODB++, the Valor-funded data format which has quickly become the format of choice for high-level data exchange, ensure the rapid transfer of optimized data from design through manufacturing. Enterprise 3000 DFx system for physical design verification, Trilogy 5000 CAM system for assembly and test engineering, and the unique Valor Parts Library on-line data service are utilized by designers and engineers to deliver enhanced productivity, higher yields, shorter cycle times and increased product quality. All Valor products are sold and supported by a worldwide network that includes global subsidiary offices, VARs and OEM channels.
