Production Machining

JUN 2017

Production Machining - Your access to the precision machining industrial buyer.

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need a CAM product that can readily import any type of CAD model. Shops that opt for CAD/CAM should look for systems that have specific CAD or CAM capabilities to streamline model preparation. Utility Certain capabilities of a CAM system need to be considered relative to the application needs of the shop. e system needs to reasonably cover the types of parts that the shop manufactures and the types of CNC equipment that are used (mills, five-axis, mill-turn, routers, EDM, and so on). Careful consideration should also be given to future needs so the system can efficiently support equipment purchases down the road. e ability of operators to learn the system and take full advantage of its features is also important. e more intuitive the operator interface is and the easier it is to use, the faster staff will be able to adapt to the new software. If some of the staff already has experience with software that is being considered, their feedback can be helpful both in the purchasing process and in future training requirements. During the evaluation process, canned demos can be interesting and provide a nice overview of the software's capabilities. But the best way to get the necessary insight is to see the software applied to an actual part from the shop or at least one that is compa- rable. e CAD/CAM rep should be willing to walk through the programming process of such a part to provide a feel for the workflow, process and capabilities of the software. Machine postprocessors act as the link between the CAM software and the machine tool in much the same way that a printer driver links a laptop to a printer. us, they are an impor- tant, but sometimes overlooked consideration in CAM evaluation. Postprocessors should either already exist for the shop's equip- ment or, if specialized postprocessors need to be devel- oped, the CAM software dealer should be able to interface with a developer to ensure the shop gets exactly what is needed. is issue is particularly important for production machining shops because it is one of the most frequent issues that can delay achieving full utilization of the equip- ment. Without it, the shop may find itself unable to use some of its existing equipment. Business Performance Improvement e software should provide tools (constant chip-load machining toolpaths and accurate cutting tool and machine simulation) to improve machining efficiency without the fear of damaging parts and expensive equipment. ese types of tools are increasingly important, as materials, part geometries and surface finishes become more complex. e ability to provide efficient toolpaths can reduce operating costs through reduced cutting tool wear, improved CNC equipment usage with off-line programming capabilities, and reduced lead times through high-efficiency practices such as single setup and high density manufacturing. A shop that pays careful attention to these considerations should be able to cover the cost of its new CAM system quickly. Expandability CAM suppliers typically work hard on the back end to keep up with the latest developments with machine tools, working closely with machine tool vendors to be able to support new machines as they are released. Even in rare instances where a machine is not immediately supported by a CAM system, the software company should be quick to write the postprocessor for it. It is good for a shop to be aware of its CAM supplier's capabilities in this area. :: Most manufacturing shops make huge annual investments in CNC equipment. A comparatively small investment in CAD/CAM software can protect the new equipment invest- ment by making sure it runs efficiently and safely. At the Mastercam Manufacturing Lab, CNC machines such as this one are rotated in and out to test their latest features and optimize CAM software capabilities to support them. Select the Right CAD/CAM productionmachining.com :: 33

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