Expanded Workflow
This guide uses werkbank_hc_mb.step — a 3D workbench assembly — to demonstrate the full manufacturing workflow in WSi. It covers every process type: which ones run automatically and which you add manually.
What the file contains
werkbank_hc_mb.step is an assembly exported as STEP. It contains:
- Sheet metal parts — brackets, panels, support plates
- Tube/profile parts — frame legs, cross members
- Purchased parts — screws, lamp
The assembly represents a typical fabricated metal product: raw materials → cutting → bending → joining → surface treatment → finished assembly.
Step 1 — Import the assembly
Click File → Import files or press Ctrl+I.
Select werkbank_hc_mb.step from the file dialog and click Open.
You can also drag and drop the file onto the WSi window to import it.
Step 2 — Automatic processes run
After import, WSi automatically runs the following processes for each article:
| Process | Applies to | How it runs |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet Cutting | Sheet metal parts | Automatically detects flat faces and creates cutting contours |
| Tube Cutting | Tube/profile parts | Automatically detects cut positions from the geometry |
| Die Bending | Sheet parts with bent features | Automatically creates bend operations from the 3D geometry |
| Countersinking | Sheets and tubes with countersinks in the STEP file | Automatically detects countersinks |
| Joining | Any assembly with multiple processed parts | Automatically proposes joining operations between connected components |
You do not click a button for these — WSi creates the nodes as part of the import.
Open the Graph View to see the full manufacturing graph: each article flows through its cutting and bending steps and into the joining node that assembles the workbench.
Step 3 — Choose the joining process
- Select the Joining node in the Graph View
- Right-click → Edit process
- Choose the matching welding process
- Then enter the parameters, e.g. the Seam length per part
Step 4 — Manually add surface treatment
Surface treatment processes are not added automatically. You add them manually after the assembly is complete. The procedure is the same for every coating process:
- Select the Joining node (or the last node in the article's sequence) in the Graph View
- Right-click → Append node(s)
- Choose the coating process from the process selector, e.g. Powder Coating
- WSi opens the coating dialog automatically — set the coating colour (Coating) and the Mode
- Confirm — a Coating node appears in the graph
Step 5 — Manually add machining operations
Machining (drilling, tapping) is not added automatically. You add these manually when the design requires machined features.
Tapping
- Select the part with drilled holes
- Right-click → Append node(s) (or Prepend node(s))
- Choose Tapping from the process selector
- Select the Tapping node. Right-click → Edit threads and choose the matching thread.
- Confirm
Manual Drilling
Drilling is added the same way — right-click → Append node(s) (or Prepend node(s)) → choose Drilling from the process selector.
Step 6 — Manually add user-defined processes
For non-standard operations not covered by the standard process types, WSi provides User Defined workstep nodes.
- Select the node in the graph after which you want to insert the process
- Right-click → Append node(s)
- Choose a User Defined process from the process selector
User-defined processes can have custom calculation formulas. See Custom Calculations.
Step 7 — Review the complete cost
Open the Cost Analysis panel (Windows → Cost Analysis).
The report shows the full project cost including:
- Sheet and tube consumption
- Time types (setup time and unit time)
- Manufacturing times per process
- Manufacturing costs per process
- Selling price
Click any article in the Tree View to see its article-level breakdown in the Details panel.
Step 8 — Export the project
Choose which files to export under Settings → Client → Project export settings (or press Ctrl+Shift+E).
Enable the files you need:
| File | What it contains |
|---|---|
| WSi file (.wsi) | The full project file for saving or sharing |
| Quotation (.docx) | A formatted document with articles, quantities, and selling prices including scale prices |
| Job Cards (.pdf) | Per-operation instructions for the workshop |
| 3D representation (.step, generated) | 3D geometry for each article |
| BOM CSV file | Bill of materials for procurement |
Then click File → Export → Project export or press Ctrl+E, and choose the folder to save the project to.
Process Summary
| Process | Type | How added |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet Cutting | Automatic | Runs during import for sheet parts |
| Tube Cutting | Automatic | Runs during import for tube parts |
| Die Bending | Automatic | Runs after Sheet Cutting where geometry requires it |
| Joining | Automatic | As the last step for assemblies |
| Powder Coating | Manual | Append node(s) → Powder Coating |
| Spray Painting | Manual | Append node(s) → Spray Painting |
| Countersinking | Automatic | Runs during import for STEP files with modelled countersinks |
| Tapping | Manual | Append node(s) → Tapping |
| Drilling | Manual | Append node(s) → Drilling |
| User Defined | Manual | Append node(s) → User Defined |
See Also
- Import to Quote — a simpler single-part example
- Initial Setup — first-time configuration before importing
- Custom Calculations — write custom cost formulas
- Threading and Finishing — all surface treatment options
- Joining — welding, brazing, and bonding details