Archive for the ‘Cam’ Category

« Older Entries

Integrated CAD/CAM has large mold parts library

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

CAD/CAM software for mold designers introduces a design-centric, intelligent, parametric mold library that includes all of the common mold tool component types and cooling channels.

VX Corporation, the pioneering developer of advanced, integrated CAD/CAM solutions for engineers, designers and CNC programmers, announces the release of VX CAD/CAM Version 12.

Significant enhancements in VX Version 12 include new capabilities for mold and industrial designers, enhancements in light-source rendering, raster-to-vector conversion, surface analysis, assembly modeling, drawing layout and extended capabilities of VX’ integrated 2-5 axis CAM.

* Better tools for mold designers – VX Version 12 introduces a new design-centric, intelligent, parametric mold library that includes all of the common mold tool component types and cooling channels.

The library sports a very intuitive interface designed by mold designers for mold designers.

Also included is a new electrode design wizard that makes the 3D definition and 2D layout of electrodes fast and easy.

Other mold enhancements include better parting line gap checking with auto-zoom and wire frame-supported parting line entities.

Industrial Designers work Faster and Smarter For industrial designers, VX CAD/CAM just got better with the release of Version 12.

A new ‘Visualize’ toolbar is added with ‘easy-to-use’ texture mapping that allows designers to map external image files as textures on 2D or 3D surfaces.

This tool supports all popular image formats.

A new image-to-geometry (raster to vector) translator allows designers to import pictures and convert them to sketch geometry.

For engraving on solids and surfaces, a fast new ‘Inlay’ command applies a face inlay based on any wireframe geometry.

Reverse engineering with VX took a major step forward with many ‘Point Cloud’ enhancements.

360 deg surfaces are now supported.

A command to trim/divide point clouds to planes or surfaces has been added as well as the ability to slice/trim multiple point clouds simultaneously.

VX can also sub-divide large STL files to make the data easier to manipulate for reverse engineering or machining.

* CAM enhancements – Version 12 continues to extend the capabilities of its integrated 2-5 axis manufacturing solution referred to as VX CAM.

A new 5-axis isocut tool path tops the list as well as added side cut depth for the current 5-axis swarfcut operation.

3-axis CAM enhancements include new Link/LeadIn/LeadOut for Mill3, spiral and wave support for VX QuickMilling, dynamic shoulder and shank collision checking with automatic tool path correction, and more options for controlling 3-axis engraving.

Rest milling was added to the 2-axis suite of tool paths as well as direct 3D curve machining.

Other CAM enhancements include individual CAM output files, Fixture Offset Registers, Inter Path Move operations, Profile/Containment preview options, Solid Verify CL data or CNC code, and support for open surface boundaries and silhouettes in CAM profiles.

* Other enhancements – VX CAD/CAM Version 12 includes so many user enhancements that only a few can be mentioned here.

With new Assembly Light Sources, designers can create libraries of lighting fixtures that are inserted and positioned as assembly components.

A new method of creating assemblies using in-place modeling is also introduced.

VX can automatically extract each shape in a part as a component, turning the original multi-shape part into a multi-component assembly.

For many designers, this is an especially comfortable way to model assemblies.

‘On-the-fly’ gap detection and reporting builds confidence when designers need to clean up imported data.

Enhanced surface merging with better tangency control across boundary edges of merged faces promotes smoother and more ergonomic designs.

The many drawing layout enhancements include automated title block text using model attributes or variables, improved support for True Type Fonts, aligned cross-sections of trimmed parts and the ability to associate User-defined entities.

* About VX Corporation – VX Corporation is a pioneering developer of CAD/CAM solutions for industrial designers, engineers and CNC programmers.

VX enables speedy design with fully integrated, accurate manufacturing.

Using a blazing fast hybrid modeling engine, engineers can take advantage of the speed of solids with the flexibility of Class A surfaces.

Designers can create, modify, visualize, document and machine a vast array of parts and assemblies.

From the entry-level Modeler, to the complete End-to-End, VX delivers power, performance and productivity.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/vxc/vxc129.html

Posted in CAD, Cam | No Comments »

ESPRIT 2010 CAM Software Now Shipping

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) industry leader DP Technology is pleased to announce that ESPRIT® 2010, the production release of the latest version of its ESPRIT flagship product, is now shipping.


New developments within this latest version of ESPRIT place great emphasis on providing existing ESPRIT customers with additional tools that will increase their productivity.

“We believe that concentrating on serving the needs of our existing customers is the best investment we can make,” says Chuck Mathews, DP’s vice president and director of product development. “With the 2010 release of ESPRIT, more than ever before, we are utilizing the latest computer technology to solve the practical real-world challenges our customers face on a daily basis.”

ESPRIT 2010 has been optimized to fully embrace the capabilities of the latest multi-core computers, an especially valued time-saving characteristic for 3-axis and 5-axis programming. ESPRIT 2010 runs on Microsoft® Windows® XP, Windows® Vista™ and Windows® 7™ operating systems.

Improvements That Every Customer Will Enjoy

Every ESPRIT customer will enjoy the benefits of an all new, faster-to-use, graphical user interface (GUI) used to define machining operations throughout ESPRIT. This new tree-style GUI is used to define machining parameters used for cutting parts in milling, turning and wire EDM programming. Using the new GUI, cutting parameters are entered and immediately validated for the given workpiece. The GUI also adapts to display only questions pertinent to the given cutting environment, minimizing the number of choices the programmer needs to consider.  The new tree-style GUI uses a small portion of the screen, providing the programmer with a clear, unobstructed view of the workpiece at all times. This new GUI is designed to look familiar to existing ESPRIT customers, allowing them to easily transition to and gain the productivity benefits of ESPRIT 2010.

Thanks to the new multi-threaded stock automation engine in ESPRIT 2010, customers can now benefit from instantly starting the part program simulation at any time and at any point in the program. This new feature eliminates the need to simulate all operations from the beginning or to save the results of previous simulations.  Now ESPRIT customers can start a simulation with the stock that results from the completion of all previous operations without first waiting for the simulation of the previous operation. The use of multi-threading technology — with which stock calculations are done in the background, which doesn’t slow the programmer down —  makes this ideal scenario a reality in ESPRIT 2010.

Machining pockets has just become significantly easier with ESPRIT 2010 due to advancements in feature recognition.  The upgraded advanced feature recognition now automatically recognizes pockets with any combination of open and closed walls, fillets, chamfers and tapered walls.  In addition, undercut areas that can’t be reached with the given tooling are automatically excluded.  These new pocket features may also be based on native CAD features, resulting in the features in ESPRIT being associative with the original CAD model.  As a result, if the CAD model changes, the user is notified and can choose whether to automatically update the ESPRIT feature and its associated machining to match the CAD model. This association is maintained from the CAD model to the finished toolpath.

Support for the Latest CNC Machine Tools

ESPRIT 2010 offers dramatic improvements in the support of integrated multi-tasking, mill-turn machine tools.  All ESPRIT milling and turning machining capability, from 2-axis turning to 5-axis milling, is available for any type of mill-turn machine tool, including lathes that perform milling, mills that perform turning, Swiss-style machines and other “integrated mill-turn machining centers.”   In the 2010 release, support for these multi-tasking machine tools has been enhanced through increased flexibility in cutting tool configurations and orientations, enabling the support of a wide variety of machines.  The newly added support for additional rotary axes, three or more, allows the ESPRIT customer to completely program and easily simulate the most complex and sophisticated machine tools currently available on the market.

For the ESPRIT wire-EDM customer, the 2010 version includes support for EDM machines with rotary axes.  This allows EDM programmers to perform wire-EDM cutting in 5- and 6-axis using turn-and-burn (indexing the rotary table), and turn-while-burn full 5-axis simultaneous cutting with a rotary table. This new version also provides EDM programming with an innovative new 4-axis pocketing, no-core cutting, machining cycle.

 

New 3D Machining Techniques

ESPRIT 2010 includes 13 new FreeForm 3- and 5-axis machining cycles that are available for milling, mill-turn and Swiss-turn machine tools.  These high-speed, multi-axis machining cycles offer a wide variety of new choices and capabilities for ESPRIT customers who are performing 3D machining.  Additions for 3-axis include a new roughing cycle  that can also be used for rest-machining, seven new finishing cycles and three specialized cycles — 3D contouring, pencil tracing and corner machining.  Two new specialized 5-axis machining cycles are also included within this release, swarf machining and impeller machining. All of these machining cycles, which add up to a tremendous amount of new technology,  will be provided to existing ESPRIT FreeForm customers as part of their ESPRIT software maintenance contract (SMC).

 

Availability

ESPRIT 2010 is now shipping to existing ESPRIT customers with active software maintenance contracts (SMC).  We expect that all North American customers will receive their updates before the end of  2009.  International SMC updates are starting in December and will continue into the first quarter of 2010.  ESPRIT 2010 is also available now to new ESPRIT customers.

 

About ESPRIT

ESPRIT is a high-performance computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system for a full range of machine tool applications. ESPRIT delivers powerful full-spectrum programming for 2–5 axis milling, 2–22 axis turning, 2–5 axis wire EDM, multitasking mill-turn machining and B-axis machine tools, and high-speed 3- and 5-axis machining.

ESPRIT’s high-performance capabilities include machining any part geometry (solid, surface, or wireframe), universal post processing to format G-code for virtually any machine tool, and solid simulation and verification with dry runs rendered in dynamic solids for optimal part quality and consistency. ESPRIT is 100 percent pure Windows®, and provides a comfortable and familiar user interface for maximum productivity.

 

About DP Technology

DP Technology is a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software market leader with a mission to provide CNC programmers with the most powerful CAM software ever. DP Technology’s flagship product, ESPRIT, captures the company’s vision of technology’s potential and its passion for excellence.

DP Technology maintains its worldwide headquarters in Camarillo, California and product development teams in California; Berlin, Germany, and Florence, Italy. Sales and support operations are located in Europe, Asia, and North and South America. For additional information about DP Technology and ESPRIT, call  +1-805-388-6000  +1-805-388-6000 , send an e-mail to esprit@dptechnology.com, or visit the company Web site at www.dptechnology.com.

http://www10.mcadcafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=767090

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cam | No Comments »

SharpCam 2.5D 3 Axis CAM Available for $595

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
SharpCam is a new simple-to-use, cost-effective and highly functional CAM system that is available to try, buy and download online at www.SharpCam.co.uk for just $595 (£375) (€397.00). The developers believe that this is the first time this online business model has been applied to CADCAM software.

SharpCam is a 2.5D three-axis CAM system aimed at people who don’t need an expensive, high end system. Its strength is that it does the fundamentals extremely well and extremely quickly – even on quite complicated jobs. It is very easy to learn and costs around a tenth of the price of a full five-axis system.

Users can quickly learn to draw or import parts, define tool paths and generate CNC code in a straightforward step-by-step process. CNC code is written as you go, fully post processed and ready to use. The software is fully associative, so every action you take automatically and immediately creates the new tool path, or updates the existing one – with the NC code always in view.

SharpCam provides a library of post processors for different controls, including Fanuc, Heidenhain, Haas and Fadal, that users configure for their specific machine using a simple dialogue system. Users can start making parts without needing to understand how to edit a post processor – or pay the supplier for additional software.

To help new users get programming straight away, SharpCam’s developers offer free remote support and a wealth of online training materials, including videos showing exactly what steps to follow to produce a program.

The software is an ideal entry point for people who don’t already have a CAM system. It also offers companies that already have 2.5D CAM the chance to save time and money using a faster and more efficient alternative. SharpCam’s pocketing is among the fastest on the market, with code produced in a fraction of the time of other systems and shorter tool paths – saving machining time and costs.

SharpCam is also an attractive proposition for larger organisations. Many companies have high end systems that are used by a small number of specialists, but want something less complicated that anyone on the shop floor can use for day-to-day tasks. This might typically include producing jigs and fixtures, maintenance work and one-off tasks.

SharpCam’s managing director Julian Paphitis says: “Many people don’t need complicated CAM software; they want a system that will do three-axis 2D and 2.5D milling very well and very quickly. With SharpCam they can go to our site, download a demo and try it for themselves – and if they like it they can simply buy it online – with all the cost advantages that brings.”

http://www.tenlinks.com/news/PR/sharpcam/113009_sharpcam.htm

Tags: ,
Posted in Cam | No Comments »

CAM speeds CNC wood machining of figure

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

CAM speeds CNC wood machining of figure

Machined from a laminated wooden block using a 20mm roughing tool, a 20mm bullnose cutter 6mm finishing tool, and latest CAM, a 1.90m gure was produced in just 20h.

The production of a life-size figure of Christ in less than half the time taken by current methods has repaid the faith shown by Spanish machine tool company, Bermaq in selecting Licom’s AlphaCAM programming software to demonstrate the capabilities of its latest 5-axis wood working equipment.

Machined from a laminated wooden block using a 20mm roughing tool, a 20mm bullnose cutter and 6 mm finishing tool, the 1.90m high figure was produced in just 20h, a massive 60% saving in the time taken using semi-automatic copy lathes.

The Bermaq/AlphaCAM solution also scored over manually based manufacturing methods by delivering the additional time and cost saving benefits of optional ‘lights out’ operation.

Further features of the application include the use of extended length cutting tools to avoid clashes between the workpiece and the tool holder on the machine’s universal head.

The resulting demonstration piece is a highly detailed machined model, requiring only minimal hand finishing of fine details, such as the texture of the figure’s hair.

“AlphaCAM’s selection as our preferred programming method reflects both the software’s power and ease of use, which perfectly complement the capabilities of our machines,” says Bermaq’s Carlos Tort.

“It also demonstrates the strong relationship we have established between Bermaq and ourselves during the past few years,” adds Ignacio Muino, Head of Licom System’s Spanish operations.

“It underlines AlphaCAM’s position as the leading stone and woodworking machine programming system in Spain and I am sure will pave the way for us to work closely with Bermaq on further joint projects over the coming months.” * About Licom Systems – Licom Systems, along with Radan Computational, HRS and Cabinet Vision Europe, are principal members of Planit Holdings.

The organisation’s product range encompasses design to manufacturing applications and Enterprise Resource Planning software solutions for companies operating throughout the metal, woodworking, stone and sheet metal manufacturing sector.

In addition, Planit International offers leading retail design software.

The group is a multi-million pound global business, with operations in Europe, the Americas, Taiwan and Japan, as well as a network of approved distributors and dealers throughout North and South America, Asia, the Middle East, South Africa and the Pacific Rim.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/lic/lic120.html

Tags:
Posted in Cam | No Comments »

Investing for the Upswing

Friday, July 17th, 2009

For Mori Seiki, orders for machine tools have fallen off slightly since 2007, but the company is optimistic and preparing for the economic upswing it predicts will happen sometime around mid 2010.

NMV-3000 DCG
Mori Seiki’s NMV-3000 DCG

“Now is a very good time for us to think about the future and to invest in it,” said Dr. Masahiko Mori, CEO of Mori Seiki. “Companies that have been working hard up until the recession should have some reserve funds available for such investments and should be focusing on the upswing.”

For Mori Seiki, investing for the economic upswing includes a new state-ofthe- art research and development center, several new and innovative machine designs, a new machine control system, and new pallet system software.

Mori Seiki recently opened its 70,000-sq-ft Digital Technology Laboratory (DTL) in Davis, Calif. The facility is both environmentally and technologically advanced, and features a dedicated thermal isolation chamber, vibration dampening floors, solar power and space to house dozens of machine tools along with a showroom and offices.

The facility has acquired a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDS) Gold Certification. That means the building not only conserves energy and water, it improves the health and safety for both occupants and the community at large.

Adam Hansel, president of DTL, said the facility is located close to Western U.S. customers and serves as the company’s West Coast/Mountain area headquarters.

But, most important, DTL conducts all the analysis of Mori Seiki machines, even those designed at the company’s facilities in Japan.

One notable machine design DTL analyzed was the company’s soon-to-be-released NMV-1500 5-axis vertical machining center. As the smallest machine in a series, the NMV-1500 is geared for high-level processing of small, complex five-axis parts, such as impellers. In fact, the company has already received requests for the machine from shops striving to reduce their impeller machining cycle times to less than five minutes per impeller, which the machine has accomplished in testing.

To achieve the fastest possible partprocessing times, Mori Seiki equipped the NMV-1500 with a 40,000-rpm spindle and optimized the machine’s structure and kinematics. DTL conducted extensive analysis on the NMV-1500 to optimize the machine to the greatest degree possible, and testing focused mainly on the dynamics and rigidity of the machine’s design.

The NMV-1500 will have a pallet system or the option for gantry loading from the top. It is a box-in-box construction that includes an octagonal ram and direct-drive motors in all its rotary axes.

Two other machines resulting from Mori Seiki’s investment in the upswing are the NMV-3000 DCG and the NT-1000. The NMV-3000 is the latest in the company’s multi-axis vertical machining center lineup. It builds on the highly successful design of the NMV-5000 DCG by providing both high-precision machining and ease of use in a compact machine platform. Its X-axis travels 19.68 in. to accommodate workpieces weighing as much as 220 lb.

As the smallest in Mori Seiki’s integrated NT Series machines, the NT-1000 mill-turn is a compact multi-tasking machine with a footprint measuring only 58 sq-ft. The machine is well suited for high-precision medical workpieces.

Another noteworthy machine is Mori Seiki’s NM-1000 ultra-precision machine. Mainly because it was developed entirely by DTL engineers and uses diamond milling or scribing tools to machine part features accurately in micron ranges and generates nanometer- level surface finishes.

On yet another machine technology note, Mori Seiki is offering what’s known as Zero-Chip technology. To eliminate the chip disposal and cleanup issues associated with bridgetype machines, a Zero-Chip system evacuates chips by sucking them up through the machine’s spindle right where the metal cutting takes place.

As investments in controls and software, Mori Seiki developed the MAPPS IV control system and LPS-III cell controller software. LPS-III, with an endof- 2009 release date, will help shops manage their pallet pool systems better. Innovative functions of the software include material management, fixture management, capacity planning, and improved manned/unmanned operations. With this software, Mori Seiki’s goal is not only to increase a shop’s spindle utilization, but also the throughput of parts that can be assembled, shipped and invoiced.

Mori Seiki’s new MAPPS IV control features both a built-in CAM system and post processor. The built-in Esprit CAM system, from DP Technology, comes standard for high-volume machines, and Mori Seiki will pre-install a proven post processor.

Also new to the control is the addition of vertical soft keys on the operator control panel for better operability, and there’s a button for CAM. Operators can do CAM simulations right at the machine.

Other MAPPS IV features are MAPPS ACT (advanced communication technology), which requires only one Ethernet/ IP cable to run other devices such as robots, Mori-Net advanced monitoring system that turns a PC into a plant controller and allows for remote maintenance that’s connected to Mori Seiki’s service center, e-mail notifications of machine status, manuals and maintenance information within the control, and an internal/external monitoring function for handling internal and external cameras for machine monitoring.

http://www.americanmachinist.com/304/Issue/Article/False/84570/Issue

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cam | No Comments »

« Older Entries