CAD/CAM Software

Good optimization software must take into account all the known challenges to optimal machining, which include heat, vibration, deflection, chip buildup, material hardness and a machine tool's horsepower, torque, rigidity, spindle speed, maximum feed rate and accuracy. What's more, end users must also select the appropriate cutting tools and machining parameters.

Presented here is the second part of a two-part series of columns about the importance of becoming familiar with CNC programming code. The following describes the steps involved in manually writing a program.

In the first part of this two-part series, I looked at what actually happens in the cutting zone and how that knowledge allows end users to select the best possible cutting tool and CAD/CAM strategy for a particular material to optimize material removal. This second part covers why it is important to adopt this approach not only for all CNC machining processes, but as a significant production cost-saving measure companywide and industrywide.n

HEIDENHAIN Corp. offers the current version of TNCremo software package for communication between PCs and HEIDENHAIN controls or programming stations via direct online download. Past versions were only available on DVD.

Shop Operations column looks at the benefits of becoming familiar with CAM software.

CNC machining takes a blend of computer skills and machining skills. Some competent machinists, especially old-timers, lack the computer skills needed to go from print to part using CNC machines. I previously lacked the computer skills, but couldn't tolerate not having complete control of the jobs I was running. Therefore, I taught myself the computer side of CNC machining so I could create my own programs.

Four major players involved in industrial automation are collaborating on the development of a platform that connects CNC machines, robots, peripheral devices and sensors. The purpose of the system is to deliver analytics that optimize manufacturing production.

As CNC machining gets more complicated, the chance of programmer and operator errors increases. These errors can cause collisions involving machine components and workpieces during the cutting process, resulting in downtime and part, tool and machine damage. Costly crashes aren't inevitable, however, thanks to technologies aimed at preventing collisions and minimizing their impact.

Delcam incorporates a wealth of new features into every release of its FeatureCAM product for automating CNC programming. FeatureCAM 2016 R3 available now, delivers a range of new features and improvements such as new toolpath strategies and access to Autodesk A360 collaboration software.

Hypertherm is expanding its support for technical education by offering free licenses of its ProNest CAD/CAM software to North American schools, trade unions and other training facilities. The effort is part of an expansive commitment to the next generation of fabricating professionals.

Barrel cutters are applied for specialized milling applications, and recent advancements in CAM software expand the use of these tools. Geometrically, a barrel cutter has a large cutting radius on its side that closely matches the curvature of a part's surface and allows a large step-over between passes. The result is cycle-time reductions of up to 90 percent when finishing while imparting fine surface finishes.

3D Systems announced the release of GibbsCAM 2016 software for production machining. Building on the Universal Kinematic Machine (UKM) technology of the previous edition, GibbsCAM 2016 delivers a variety of improvements to increase efficiency, accelerate programming speed, and enhance visualization and accuracy for CNC machine programming.