CAD CAM & controls
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Case Studies
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Three views of the
Plasticut product
produced using VISI.
CADCAM was successfully used in the product design, mould tool design and
manufacture for a safe and simple pipe cutter for plastic plumbing pipes.
Plastics progress for plumbers
BASED in Berkshire, Scott Tools is a relatively new
engineering company with fresh ideas and an innovative
approach to mould design, development and manufacturing.
Founded in May 2008 by a team of experienced engineers
and industry-respected Ken Whittaker, Scott Tools has a
reputation for efficiently supplying quality tooling to market
sectors such as automotive, medical and construction.
Working closely with Rothenberger, a market leader in
the development and distribution of sophisticated pipe tools
and machines, Scott Tools has participated in the
development and production of the Plasticut, a safe and
simple to use pipe cutter for plastic plumbing pipes for both
professional and DIY use. Adam Jenkins, Production
Director says Plasticut ‘is a unique design with no moving
parts and ideal for use in confined spaces. A simple click and
twist action creates a clean and square cut with no pipe
distortion, which may otherwise be a cause of joint leaks.’
The Plasticut product has been designed and
manufactured internally using the latest CADCAM
UK Skills and World Skills Competition are supported by CAD/CAM developer
Calgary bound
AS regular supporters of the World Skills event, Mastercam and UK Distributors 4D Engineering, were more than
happy to help with the local UK Skills competition to select the CNC Milling and CNC Turning members that will join
the 30 strong UK squad competing in this event, which this year will be held in Calgary in September. 4D provided
initial training and additional onsite support throughout the competition to ensure the competitors were able to use
the Mastercam systems to full effect.
The new UK Skills squad members were announced at a special event at Canada House, Trafalgar Square, which
celebrated the success of the squad so far and went on to highlight the importance of skills in the UK. The squad
members have earned the right to be proud of themselves having won their places after a tough selection process
which took place at various college sites including the Warwickshire College Trident Centre where the CNC
Programming Competition took place in January.
This year, three students were competing to meet the necessary qualifying standard: Elliot New and Christopher
Coates from Bentley Motors, and Fraser McLean from Rolls Royce plc. All three candidates were given components
to programme from detail drawings, so a combination of CAD and then CAM toolpath generation, post processing
and toolpath verification methods using the latest Mastercam X system were all employed before machining the
components. The UK Skills squad announcement confirmed that all three CNC Programming competitors met the
tough qualifying standards and will now go forward to World Skills 09 where again Mastercam will be used for the
CNC Programming section at the Calgary event later this year. Mastercam will again be providing on site support for
this event and hope the UK squad achieve the success they deserve. www.mastercam.co.uk
technology from Vero Software. ‘We have historic knowledge
of the Vero products and were already aware of the software
benefits. We knew these were the tools to ensure we remain
competitive in such demanding times’ says Jenkins.
The component design and mould tool have all been
constructed using VISI Modelling and VISI Mould, a
Parasolid based hybrid solid and surface modelling system.
Tim Neeves, Design Engineer, explains the design process:
‘The models were originally constructed in 3D and sent for
rapid prototyping before tool design. While this was great for
studying aesthetics, the robustness of the samples didn’t
allow for live testing. During the development cycle, to
ensure each product size was correct, a second prototype was
machined directly from nylon blocks for pipe-cutting trials.
‘It was during this stage that we decided to add strengthening
ribs and alter the screw position to lock the blade’ explains
Neeves. With the product design agreed, all tooling was
designed using VISI Mould and the product moulded using
PA66 glass filled nylon. Says Neeves: ‘Having an integrated
system allows us to maximise the use of the data from the 3D
mould design’.
All NC toolpaths are created using machining Strategist, a
powerful 3D CAM solution that can be used either in the
CADCAM office or the shop-floor. ‘With demands for evershorter
lead times and improved quality, high speed
machining is becoming more widely adopted and
machining Strategist has allowed us to run our Bridgeport
VMC 600X and Haas Super Mill at increased feedrates
because of the smooth continuous tool motion. The direct
interface between the CADCAM system and Wire EDM
links the stages of tool manufacture’, concludes Neeves.
www.vero-software.com
Elliot New, Christopher Coates
and Fraser McLean
72 MWP march 2009
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