CAD/CAM Software

The Christmas season and its traditions may have faded into memory, but one traditional Christmas icon now has a metal counterpart that will last for many Christmases to come.

Scytec Consulting Inc. President and CEO Josh Davids and CGTech Director of Product Management Gene Granata discussed the ability of CGTech's Vericut software to produce CNC simulation, verification, optimization and connecting to CNC machines.

Success and tech support lead an Denmark company to deploy Numroto across its entire production floor.

The HxGN Production Machining suite will integrate common workflows to help teams reduce error and eliminate redundant tasks at every stage, from job quotation and design review through production, quality assurance, and product delivery. By offering a suite of connected products from the Hexagon ecosystem, manufacturers benefit from simplified procurement, implementation, and support. The suite's flexibility makes it suitable for shops of any size, all types of CNC machinery, and any discrete part and material from one-off prototype to high-volume production runs.

The suite supports shops in fully utilizing advanced machine tools, using trusted Hexagon VISI and WORKNC software to help programmers optimise machining cycles and specialised cutting strategies specific to mould production. Prior to machining, CNC programs can be simulated and verified using NCSIMUL, the suite's G-code simulation software, which incorporates the entire machining environment to generate an effective digital twin of the machinery, part, and processes.

NUMroto X breaks new ground in the definition and organization of probing cycles. These can now be recorded in sequences, analogous to grinding operations. In this way, the various probing processes can be clearly displayed and set up by the user. Any number of sequences can be created for the same tool, containing grinding operations, probing and dressing cycles, or both. With the ability to execute other sequences from within sequences, they can be combined in any way, allowing complex manufacturing sequences to be configured while remaining clearly displayed.

CAM Assist uses advanced computational optimisation and AI inference techniques to rapidly determine a professional strategy and toolset needed to manufacture a part, along with the most appropriate cutting speeds and feeds from the user's library. As a result, a Fusion 360 user can today upload a 3D model of a 3-axis component and the software determines the best milling tools needed from those available, and how they will be used. In seconds, CAM Assist drafts the code required to instruct a CNC machine how to make it, within the user's existing CAM platform.

MDES is an open data exchange specification for the manufacturing industry. It is designed to increase the interoperability of different hardware and software systems across all stages of the product lifecycle, from design and planning to production and quality control. The free-to-use specification enables any company to adopt MDES as a universal language for the digital representation of machining assets such as tool components, assemblies, fixtures, stocks, and setups as well as their mounting in machine tools.

For wireframe 5-axis machining with sphere mills, users can now define which part of the tool is in contact with the drive curve. For example, cutting with the cylindrical part of the flute enables the tool to withstand greater forces and may be more suitable for cutting through certain materials. It can also help to prolong tool life. Cutting with the cylinder can also allow faster cutting speeds for applications that do not require high precision. When high levels of accuracy are needed, users can choose to cut with the tip of the tool.

The addition of quick-turn plating builds on the digital manufacturer's current options for CNC machining, which include advanced anodizing and chromate plating capabilities with flexible lead times. Customers with AS9100 and ITAR needs can access Protolabs' precision machining capabilities and those with more complex, high-requirement parts can tap into the company's digital network of manufacturers at Hubs.

Utilizing ANCA's machine platforms with a robot cell, blanket grinding offers flexibility across a range of tool sizes and applications. Blanket grinding allows for full automation of tools of similar geometries, by consolidating all tool grinding processes into one single machine. A batch of complete finished tools can be produced without interruption directly from lengths of ground bar stock with no operator intervention.

Mastercam developers worked closely with Sandvik Coromant product management to let users import 3D tool assemblies directly into Mastercam's toolpath operations. Users of Mastercam benefit from having the correct tooling for the material and for the type of machining operation, plus an accurate, 3D model that can be used for visualization and collision checking in addition to the time savings.