Processes
A process is a node in the Graph View — a manufacturing step applied to a part. WSi stores geometry, parameters, and results in each node. Processes are arranged in a directed graph that flows from left (raw material) to right (finished product).
How the process tree works
WSi maintains a Process Tree — a database table that defines every process, its parent, and whether it is active. The tree has two flags per process:
- Active (
active) — enables or disables the process entirely. Inactive processes are hidden from the UI. - Children active (Subprocesses active) — controls the entire sub-tree below a process. Deactivating a parent deactivates all children.
A Work step type is the label WSi shows on a graph node. Several processes can share the same work step type — for example, all three sheet-cutting processes appear as a single Sheet cutting node. The process tree determines which processes are available and which work step types are currently active and reachable.
Automatic and manual worksteps
Not all worksteps are inserted the same way:
| Kind | How inserted | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic | WSi runs these automatically when you import or create a part — you do not click a button | Sheet (on import), Tube (on import), Sheet Cutting, Tube Cutting, Sheet Bending, Joining |
| Manual | You insert these by right-clicking an existing node and choosing Append node(s) or Prepend node(s) — they are not produced automatically | Transform (coating, countersinking, tapping), User Defined |
Automatic worksteps follow the import FSM: when you import a DXF/GEO file, WSi automatically creates a Sheet node and typically runs Sheet Cutting as well. These steps form the backbone of the graph.
Manual worksteps (User-defined process, packaging, transform) must be added by hand. Use them to represent steps that WSi cannot auto-compute — coating operations, special packaging requirements, or custom operations specific to your process.
Process tree hierarchy
The full process hierarchy is shown below. Click any branch node to expand or collapse its children.
- ⚙ marks processes that run automatically — WSi creates the node when you import a part, you do not click a button.
- ✋ marks manual processes — you insert these by right-clicking an existing node and choosing Append node(s) or Prepend node(s).
- Links go to the documented process page; plain labels are intermediate database entries.
Graph workflow summary
The typical graph flows are:
Sheet → Sheet Cutting → (optional: Transform) → Bending → Joining
Tube → Tube Cutting → JoiningTransform (Surface Treatment) nodes can be inserted at several points — after Cutting, after Bending, or after Joining — depending on the process. They are always manual.
Available documented processes
Sheet Processing
These processes work on flat sheet metal.
| Process | Work step type | Auto? | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet | sheet | ⚙️ Automatic | All sheet metal parts — the starting material |
| Laser Sheet Cutting | Sheet cutting | ⚙️ Automatic | Sheet metal cutting (laser) |
| Plasma Sheet Cutting | Sheet cutting | ⚙️ Automatic | Sheet metal cutting (plasma) |
| Waterjet Sheet Cutting | Sheet cutting | ⚙️ Automatic | Sheet metal cutting (waterjet) |
Bending
| Process | Work step type | Auto? | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Die Bending | Sheet bending | ⚙️ Automatic | Sheet metal bending (press brake) |
| Sheet Metal Folding | Sheet bending | ⚙️ Automatic | Sheet metal bending (folding machine) |
Joining
| Process | Work step type | Auto? | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining | joining | ⚙️ Automatic | Arc welding, spot welding, TIG, brazing, bonding |
Surface Treatment
Transform worksteps — manual, insert by right-clicking an existing node and choosing Append node(s) or Prepend node(s).
| Process | Work step type | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| Threading and Finishing | transform | Spray painting, powder coating, countersinking, tapping |
Tube Processing
| Process | Work step type | Auto? | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tube Cutting | Tube cutting | ⚙️ Automatic | Tube and pipe cutting |
Running a process
Automatic processes run without any action from you — WSi creates the node as part of import or creation.
To add a manual process:
- Select the node before or after which the process should be inserted, in the Graph View.
- Right-click the node and choose Append node(s) (to insert after) or Prepend node(s) (to insert before).
- In the process selector dialog, choose the process to insert.
- If prompted, configure the parameters in the dialog that opens. A new graph node appears in the Graph View.
Combining processes
You can run multiple processes on the same part. Each process adds a node to the graph. The order matters — WSi processes nodes from left to right. Drag nodes in the Graph View to reorder them.
TIP
WSi automatically connects processes in the order you run them. To add a process between two existing nodes, drag the new node into the gap.