Software & Digital Solutions

Gibbs and Associates, developer of GibbsCAM software for programming CNC machine tools, offers two new GibbsCAM options specialized for simplifying the machining of turbo machinery parts (rotary parts with blades).

For the July 2011 Get With The Program column, Cutting Tool Engineering turned to Okuma America Corp. to address remote control for machine diagnostics.

Gibbs and Associates announced that it has released GibbsCAM 2011, with dozens of enhancements to make NC programming easier and faster.

Part Time columnist Bill Kennedy visits a Minnesota job shop that makes "light" work of a challenging part in the June issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

END USER: Single Source Inc., (574) 656-3400, www.singlesourceinc.us. CHALLENGE: Reduce programming and setup times when producing increasingly complex parts. SOLUTION: A combination of CAD/CAM software and mill/turn machines. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: DMG/Mori Seiki USA Inc., (877) 275-6674, www.dmgmoriseikiusa.com; DP Technology Corp., (805) 388-6000, www.dptechnology.com; Ellison Technologies, (630) 393-8900, www.ellisontechnologies.com

END USER: Alpha Machining and Grinding Inc., (704) 871-2183, www.alphamachiningandgrinding.com. CHALLENGE: Achieve cost savings through multiple process improvements. SOLUTION: Magnetic workholding and variable-index, variable-helix endmills. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Alpha Workholding Solutions, (877) 217-6900, www.alphaworkholding.com; CGC Tools Inc., (866) 888-9600, www.cgctool.com; Turning Concepts, (704) 849-9209, www.turningconcepts.com

The Get With The Program column for the May 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering looks at designing cutting tools using finite element analysis.

CTE Editor Alan Richter covers a cognitive factory that "thinks" for itself in his April 2011 Look Ahead column.

END USER: Holmatro USA, (410) 768-9662, www.holmatro-usa.com. CHALLENGE: Maximize productivity by facilitating tool acquisition and application. SOLUTION: Electronic tool catalog and application recommendation software. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Iscar Metals Inc., (888) ISCAR88, www.iscar.com/ita or www.iscarmetals.com

Get With The Program column for the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering looks at software that can handle material problems as they arise.

Makino has released its new real-time machine process monitoring and data management software solution, the MPmax (Machine Productivity Maximizer).

CAM and simulation software packages enable productive programming of multitasking machines—particularly as they become 'ultratasking' machines.