CNC MACHINING
result of the competition and are widely
recognised for their own merits.
For example, Gibbs and Associates,
creator of GibbsCAM, developed a
CAM-based knowledge library. The great
advantage of this for GibbsCAM users is
that the machine shops programming
knowledge can be standardised by
programmers drawing upon a single
library together. Referencing standard-
ised processes ensures the operators
machine the same features in the same
way, and in particular, that they use the
same tooling choices.
The machine shop as a whole can
therefore make machining cycles more
consistent and predictable, and so reduce
the number of different tools it has to
order and track. It can also help with tool
rationalisation, which means a carefully
selected set of tools can be used to do all
the required jobs. The library itself is
based on a file structure that the user
organises by creating directories.
Delcam, which is primarily associated
with mould and die toolmaking, has
recently branched out to cover more
general machining, most notably
automotive, offering specific toolpath
strategies for cylinder port machining.
The company’s FeatureCAM 2008
system offers a variety of methods for
controlling the tool axis in five-axis
simultaneous machining applications.
The user can set a specific lead and/or
lean angle. This can be done either to
access areas unable to be reached with
three-axis machining or to give better
cutting conditions.
Alternatively, the tool angle can be
set in an orientation either to or from
a point, or to or from a line. Many
three-axis toolpaths generated in
FeatureCAM can be converted to a
five-axis toolpath by using automatic
collision avoidance to change the tool
axis when collisions might occur.
The software automatically tilts the
cutter away from the obstacle by the
specified tolerance and then returns the
cutting angle to the value set for the
overall toolpath once the obstacle has
been cleared.
Five-axis drilling is also supported.
This new functionality, coupled
with FeatureCAM’s advanced feature-
recognition, makes it possible to create
drilling programs in seconds for multiple
hole types and sizes. Delcam has also
broadened the range of post-processors
included with the software for Mori Seiki.
New posts have been added for the NT
series of integrated mill-turn centres
and the NZ series of multi-axis
machines — all developed in associa-
tion with Mori Seiki.
Another program that features
several enhancements to increase
manufacturing ability is CGTech’s
Vericut 6.2. This allows engineers to
develop, analyse, inspect and document
the CNC programming and machining
process.
A new ‘NC Program Preview’ offers
the option to process a Vericut program
without actually simulating material
being removed. This quick check is
claimed to be very fast and use much
less memory. In preview mode, Vericut
displays a tool trace of the program
over the design model, checking for
collisions, gouges, minimum excess
and instances where axis limits are
exceeded.
Several new utilities have been
added to the ‘Review’ window, includ-
ing a calculator, user-configurable text
Referencing standardised processes ensures
operators machine the same features in the
same way, and use the same tooling choices
50 the EnGIneeR 21 APRIL–4 MAY 2008
colouring, syntax checking and block
renumbering options.
To complement the milling tool
set-up wizard introduced in Vericut 6.0,
the company has added a turret set-up
wizard, which enables users to load
tools or change their positions in a
turret. Users can also easily create a
swept model of a turret.
The tool manager has also been
enhanced to enable users to describe
the shape, position, and orientation of a
waterjet cutter or a tap in a tap tool
assembly. Tapped holes are visually
differentiated from other drilled,
bored or reamed holes. Vericut checks
for correct feed rate and direction
when using a tap, and also detects if
the tap hole is pre-drilled the correct
size.
So while the automotive sector
favours a handful of CAD/CAM
solutions, many smaller software
developers are successful in this area
because they appeal to subcontractors
working with OEMs.
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