What is PARTNER/ASPAN
PARTNER/ASPAN is a powerful CAD/CAM application recognized worldwide as one of the simplest programs, that provides one of the most friendly user experience, in the field of CAD/CAM programs for the CNC machining of wood, aluminum, and plastic with numerical control machines. It can manage different types of machines of different manufacturers and allows the user to easily create a drawing and convert it to part-program for CNC machines. Furthermore, the program is very powerful with a hundred high-level commands, functions and options.
We are proud to say that any of the problems experienced by our customers over the years have been solved by our internal troubleshooting SERVICE (service-disk). We reproduce and solve errors here at ATool Software without the need to intervene at customer sites.
PARTNER/ASPAN is an integrated CAD-CAM program. Users draw their production parts quickly and easily in the CAD environment and then transfer these to the CAM environment to prepare the optimized machine programs needed to actually produce the part.
A set of easy to understand commands (e.g. “Draw Holes”, “Draw Grooves”) and automatic routines (e.g. “Assign tools”, “Optimize machining sequence”) make it easy for users to define the machining operations to be performed on the unfinished parts.
The subdivision of the working environments allows the user to be easily guided throughout all development and operation phases:
SUPERVISOR ENVIRONMENT
The main or Supervisor environment, which appears after the program has started, displays the preview image of the current drawing, on the right, and the list of the current archive along with search and selection options. If the drawing has been processed in the CAM environment, machine efficiency is displayed at the top right of the screen (ratio between empty shifts and real operations).
From the Supervisor Environment, it is possible to carry out import or edit procedures for machine configuration and tooling and to run all other program environments.
CAD ENVIRONMENT
This is the drawing environment used to create graphics entities such as various types of holes (e.g. standard, countersunk, in lines, angled, hole barriers, etc.) and routings (e.g. straight grooves, arcs, ellipses, rectangles, points, etc.). Standard commands (e.g. “Join”, “Rotate”, “Auto-join”) and advanced functions (e.g. “Text”, “Empty area”, “Inclined surfaces”) are used to create the desired drawings.
CAM ENVIRONMENT
This is the environment where drawings are converted into machine programs by using a series of utilities for operations such as automatically assigning tools and optimizing machining sequences. A series of special commands (e.g. “Lead-in/Lead-out”, “Multi-machining”) makes it possible to configure the machine program with the exact specifications (e.g. tools, speed, worktable) of the machine currently being used.
In addition to being a very easy-to-use and quick program, PARTNER/ASPAN provides the most advanced user with an efficient internal macro language, APL (ATool Software Programming Language). With APL users can create new CAD and CAM commands to optimize their design procedures.
PARTNER/ASPAN can be linked to a variety of external programs such as “AutoCAD”, “IMOS”, “KDCw”, “Pattern System”, “Cabinet Ware” and “Drill Mate” by using ASC, an ATool Software proprietary format, and DXF files. This means that users can prepare designs with their drawing program of choice and then use PARTNER/ASPAN functions to generate the machine programs necessary. Linking one program to another is made easy by a series of PARTNER/ASPAN utilities such as the possibility to “import CSV file”.
A connection bridge between different machines
PARTNER/ASPAN can handle several machine types and allows the user to generate programs for multiple machines starting out from a single drawing. PARTNER-ASPAN can also reconstruct a drawing starting out from a machine program. This function can be used as a vital link between machines making it possible to pass data from one machine to another (“a connection bridge between different machines”). Machines from the world’s leading manufacturers such as Morbidelli, SCM, Biesse, Busellato, Anderson, CMS, Homag, Masterwood, Samec, CO.B.A.L.M., Cosmec and many others are supported by PARTNER/ASPAN.
N.B.: In any case, please contact ATool Software by providing your machine model and type of CNC equipment used so that we can check your machine's support and assess your particular needs/case.
Machine and tooling configuration is also made easy by an import procedure for configuration data directly from the machine. This operation allows the user to be up and running in a few and simple steps without wasting time with long setting procedures.
Optional modules
PARTNER/ASPAN is a modular system (MO.S.T. - ModularSoftware Tool) suitable for your specific requirements and composed of the following optional modules:
Distributed versions
PARTNER/ASPAN is available in two different versions:
- START EDITION (SE)
- PROFESSIONAL EDITION (PRO)
The SE version compared to the PRO version is more simplified and with the following differences:
(following here some of the differences between the two versions)
- with the SE version, it is possible to manage only one CNC machine configuration. The PRO version can be configured for more than one CNC machine configuration;
- the PRO version includes the automatic assignment of the tools, that is not available in the SE version;
- the PRO version includes layer management system, available both in CAD and CAM environments, that is not available in the SE version;
- the PRO version can be extended by using its internal programming macro language APL (MACRO), which allows you to create additional commands and wizard procedures. Macro language is not available in the SE version;
Screenshots
Informative videos
Introducing PARTNER/ASPAN
PARTNER/ASPAN: main features
PARTNER/ASPAN: general informations
How to purchase it
It is possible to purchase PARTNER/ASPAN and its optional modules, contacting directly ATool Software S.r.l. or one of the official dealers specified in the apposite section of this website.
