The best results in terms of accuracy and quality of surface finish are obtained using contact RE systems. Contact systems have several fundamental advantages over noncontact systems: treatment of surfaces to prevent reflections is not required, […]
Applications of RE in manufacturing are widespread. There are many instances in which an existing part or prototype requires reproduction, but lacks the computer data necessary to do so with accuracy and repeatability. […]
Reverse engineering (RE), the process by which an existing item is identically reproduced, becomes necessary when a physical prototype exists, but an accurate geometric data file of the part does not. […]
Data translation between CAD and CAM software applications is very high on the list of problems for buyers. The standard format IGES and the popular VDA in Europe are often flavored by software developers to fit their database structures. When choosing a system to fit your manufacturing needs, […]
While this may seem obvious to some, many companies become so impressed by the gadgets and features that software developers throw at them that they sometimes forget what they need. In order for design engineers to fully use CAD/CAM to make molds or parts, four key elements need to be in place: […]
As talented toolmakers leave the field and fewer workers enter it, the importance of capturing the knowledge of skilled workers is critical to moving a business forward.Companies spend a lot of money training a worker to become a good toolmaker. The costs include years of training on machines, […]
Roughing is one area where a shop can significantly reduce machining time with a CAM system that uses advanced algorithms to calculate the shape of the toolpath based on a constant tool load. […]
Automation is not all about data and features, though. Many CAM systems have sophisticated automation integrated into the software that analyzes the part geometry. […]
Another aspect of push-button automation is the use of machinable features. Solid models in CAD/CAM systems are built from a set of interrelated features. In a CAM system, the capability of these features to describe a model is extended to include machining information that becomes integrated into the part model. […]
Automation starts with a database that stores and organizes information about conditions in the shop and how the company machines its parts. The purpose of the database is to create a virtual replica of all the cutting tools, raw material and CNC machines that actually exist on the shop floor. […]