Radan 8.5 incorporates a new user interface with a more familiar look and feel and a wealth of innovative functionality to maximise material utilisation and reduce cycle times.

Windows Vista compatible, Radan 8.5 builds on the extensive technology upgrades and performance improvements of the previous version. These include enhancements to material thickness auto detect and joggle (offset bend) support for RadbendCNC functionality to provide greater reliability and stability of the programming process.

The new release includes enhancements offered with version 8, including support for AutoCAD 2008 .dwg files in addition to colour mapping and filtering during import; enhanced geometry and ‘smart shapes’ functions.

New users will benefit from the tutorial package supplied with Radan 8.5 to help familiarise them with all of its features and functionality in as short a time as possible.

Radraft customers will also notice enhancements that include support for AutoCAD 2008 .dwg files in addition to colour mapping and filtering during import. CAD draughtsmen will appreciate the enhanced geometry and ‘smart shapes’ functions.

The handling of partly used sheets makes significant inroads into reducing material wastage. Offcuts can be automatically recorded for later use by Radan’s Remnant Nesting tools and the nester will evaluate all stored remnants before selecting the best one to use.

Significant enhancements to core performance ensure increased efficiency when producing NC programs for punching and profiling machines. In back-to-back testing, Radan 8.5 produced a typical part (comprising 11406 lines and arcs in 2862 complex profiles) more than 10 times faster than could be achieved in Radan 7. Further functionality includes improved support for shearing machines and pierce variants for profiling machines, resulting in ultimate control over the cutting process.

Radan has a policy of continued development of its software, as product manager Olaf Körner comments: “Radan 8.5 demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that our customers can benefit from maximised productivity.”