The implementation of CAD/CAM software throughout the development cycle is critical to toolmakers. There are five main points to look for in the selection of CAD/CAM software for mold design and manufacturing: […]
New, efficient desktop 3-D design software eliminates these problems by creating an unambiguous solid model of a mold assembly. Working with topologically complete and accurate models, engineers and designers can ensure that parts fit properly and function as intended before tools are made. […]
3-D design differs from 2-D design in a pivotal way: in 2-D, drawings are the master documents that define how each part in a tool assembly should be made and illustrate how the product comes together. […]
What if you could run almost all of your CNC machines, not just your high-speed equipment, 10, 20, even 30 percent or more without tool life or equipment longevity decreasing, and improve the surface finish of your molds. […]
Because of the additional complexity of multi-task programs with their multiple tools cutting at the same time, multiple spindles, and parts being exchanged between multiple spindles, the need to accurately simulate and validate the programs before executing them on the machine tool becomes very important. Within machine simulation, there are a number of distinct phases: [...]
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. […]