Most mold and die shops rely on three-axis machines to do most of their milling work. Five-axis machines were not considered sturdy enough to mill hard materials used in Class 1 mold cavities. Moreover, five-axis programming was harder to learn and program. In general, these statements remain true. […]
CAM software, as it relates to tool life, does two things: it controls the tool motion and the entry and exit of the workpiece material. The traditional way of driving machines using older algorithms have been superseded by newer tool motion using advanced algorithms—a technique that removes large amounts of material quickly using a dynamic [...]
With most new releases of CAM software, the developer will focus on the latest machining strategies that are available in the system. Over the past two years, however, promotional material for new versions has been full of claims about the ability to support the latest hardware developments, such as background processing and multi-threading. This article [...]
Advanced CAM software products have abilities not only to identify collisions prior to bringing them to a machine, but also avoid these collisions. When collisions are identified, there may be many alternative cutter orientations that can provide a non-interfering instruction. […]
A new approach involving integrating flow simulation software with CAD/CAM software will be discussed in this article. We will show how CAD/CAM/CAE integration reduces the time and effort in running a flow simulation . Flow simulation software products have had limited modeling capabilities and no machining capabilities. […]
Some CAM vendors refer to optimized software as the software best suited for the types of machines, processes or parts being programmed. […]
The biggest change happening in the CAM industry isn’t in the software products themselves, but in the way CAM companies must now do business. Their customers are moving away from controlling everything within the four walls of a single plant and toward a global supply chain. […]
The biggest change happening in the CAM industry isn’t in the software products themselves, but in the way CAM companies must now do business. Their customers are moving away from controlling everything within the four walls of a single plant and toward a global supply chain. […]
A better approach to CAM software development is to follow the logic that machinists themselves use when deciding how to machine a complex 5-axis part. Instead of fragmenting advanced 5-axis functionality, why not present programmers with a single programming process that is familiar and easy to understand? […]
The challenge for moldmakers with multi-axis machines is to generate CNC programs that fully exploit the capabilities of these machines. The goal is to take full advantage of the additional axes of movement—whether on the table or in the tool head—in the most efficient manner while producing an outstanding surface finish. […]