In partnership with CAMufacturing Solutions Inc. in Windsor, Ontario, Mastercam in Tolland, Connecticut, offers the APlus Add-On for additive manufacturing for use with the CAD/CAM software developer's Mastercam Mill, Mastercam Lathe or Mastercam Router licenses — except for Entry. Using the same Mastercam interface, APlus customers can reportedly program, backplot and post process like they would with traditional toolpaths.

APlus supports directed energy deposition and has toolpaths developed specifically to handle any AM geometry. "APlus brings additive manufacturing to the Mastercam user in a form that is consistent with the workflow used for over 40 years," said Mastercam Technical Product Manager Kenneth Fortier. "Direct energy deposition is making its way into many machine shops, and being able to program hybrid machines or dedicated additive manufacturing machines using Mastercam makes the transition seamless. With the hybrid process of alternating adding material and milling allows parts with internally machined features to be created that would have been impossible without additive."

Using APlus, for example, is appropriate when repairing a blade where the tips are showing wear. To repair the part, the user machines away the worn tips using a suitable toolpath in Mastercam. With APlus, a user can deposit material onto the machined surfaces to a near-net shape before machining the 3D-printed sections to the desired specifications. This process can dramatically lower costs compared to buying or machining a new blade, or even stocking spare parts.

For more information, visit www.mastercam.com .