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
- Multiple components that need to be cut, formed, and joined
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.
WSi reads the STEP file and splits it into separate articles — one per distinct raw material (sheet or tube). The import dialog shows all detected articles.
Configure each article:
- Set the Sheet material and Thickness for each part
- Set the Multiplicity (number of identical parts, e.g. 4 identical legs)
- Click OK when all entries are set
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 |
| Sheet Metal Folding | Parts with fold lines | Automatically applied to appropriate geometries |
| 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 — Manually add surface treatment
Surface treatment processes are not added automatically. You add them manually after the assembly is complete.
With the Joining node selected in the Graph View, open the Node Context Menu (right-click):
Powder Coating
- Select the Joining node (or the last node in the article's sequence) in the Graph View
- Right-click → Append node(s)
- Choose Powder Coating from the process selector
- WSi opens the coating dialog automatically — set the layer thickness and coating colour (if applicable)
- Confirm — a Coating node appears in the graph
Spray Painting
- Select the Joining node (or the last node in the article's sequence) in the Graph View
- Right-click → Append node(s)
- Choose Spray Painting from the process selector
- WSi opens the coating dialog automatically — set the paint type, coverage area, and cost per litre
- Confirm
Hot Dip Galvanizing / Electro Galvanizing / Anodizing
Use the same Append node(s) flow and choose the coating type from the process selector. For hot dip galvanizing and electro galvanizing, WSi fills in the coating parameters automatically — there is no dialog to configure. For anodizing, set the parameters in the coating dialog as with powder coating and spray painting.
Step 4 — Manually add machining operations
Machining (drilling, tapping, countersinking) is not added automatically. You add these manually when the design requires machined features.
Countersinking
- Select the part or process node in the Tree View
- Right-click → Append node(s) (or Prepend node(s))
- Choose Countersinking from the process selector
- WSi automatically proposes countersunk holes based on the fastener database
- Accept the proposal or add positions manually
- Review the countersink diameter and depth parameters
Tapping
- Select the part with drilled holes
- Right-click → Append node(s) (or Prepend node(s))
- Choose Tapping from the process selector
- Choose the thread size and thread standard (metric, UNC, etc.)
- WSi proposes which holes should be tapped
- 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 5 — Manually add user-defined processes
For non-standard operations not covered by the standard process types, WSi provides User Defined workstep nodes.
- Select the last node in the graph
- Right-click → Append node(s)
- Choose a User Defined process from the process selector
- Choose a category and enter the process parameters
User-defined processes can have custom calculation formulas. See Custom Calculations.
Step 6 — Review the complete cost
Open the Cost Analysis panel (Window → Cost Analysis).
The report shows the full project cost including:
- Material consumption per article
- Cutting time and cost per operation
- Bend time and tooling cost
- Joining time (welding, brazing, bonding)
- Surface treatment cost (coating, painting)
- Machining time (drilling, tapping, countersinking)
Click any article in the Tree View to see its article-level breakdown in the Details panel.
Step 7 — Export the project
Click File → Export → Project Export or press Ctrl+E.
Enable the files you need:
| File | What it contains |
|---|---|
| WSi Project | The full project file for saving or sharing |
| Quotation | A formatted .docx with full cost breakdown |
| Job Cards | Per-operation instructions for the workshop |
| STEP Files | 3D geometry for each article |
| BOM CSV | Bill of materials for procurement |
Click Export. WSi saves all enabled files to your configured export folder.
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 |
| Sheet Metal Folding | Automatic | Runs after Sheet Cutting where geometry requires it |
| Joining | Automatic | Proposed after all parts are processed |
| Powder Coating | Manual | Append node(s) → Powder Coating |
| Spray Painting | Manual | Append node(s) → Spray Painting |
| Countersinking | Manual | Append node(s) → Countersinking |
| Tapping | Manual | Append node(s) → Tapping |
| Drilling | Manual | Append node(s) → Drilling |
| MIG Welding | Automatic (via Joining) | Included in Joining node |
| 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