More mold work going overseas may bring manufacturing cost savings, but it opens up the possibility of intellectual property (IP) being compromised. Fortunately there are ways to protect IP—some more efficient than others. This article will discuss how to best protect your shop’s IP. […]
Recent years have seen a number of articles on the benefits of closer integration of CAD and CAM. Of course, integrated CAD/CAM systems from a single company have been available since 1972. […]
The secret of hard milling has been around for awhile. The problem is that people often don’t want to accept the requirements because of the necessary investment. You can’t take any shortcuts and expect to get results. […]
These all meet the dictionary definition of “optimization”. However, one of the fastest ways for a moldmaker to achieve a dramatic improvement in efficiency and reduce NC program cycle time is to automatically optimize their NC program feedrates. […]
Some CAM vendors refer to optimized software as the software best suited for the types of machines, processes or parts being programmed. […]
Digital prototyping gives designers and engineers the ability to virtually explore a complete product before it is built—so they can design, visualize and simulate products from the conceptual design phase through the manufacturing process. By using a digital prototype, users access real-world performance of a design with less reliance on costly physical prototypes. [...]
In the hard milling process there are a number of concerns. For example, a build-up of heat during the cutting process can cause premature tool wear, trapped/welded chips, spindle growth, spindle/cutter vibration and part piece rigidity. […]
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. […]
There are three types of magnetic chucks: permanent, electro magnetic and permanent electro magnetic. Permanent magnets switch on and off through the alignment of permanent magnets within the chuck to the mild steel surface on top of the chuck. […]
As the mold industry adjusts to a global economy, American mold builders need to find ways to compete with countries that have significantly lower labor cost. […]