April 2008 Edition
westec 2008
Software solutions
The following is a bonus WESTEC section focusing on software, in addition to our special WESTEC section that was published last month. The west coast's premier manufacturing resource will be March 31- April 3 in Los Angeles, CA. Count on WESTEC to put you center stage with over 600 exhibitors showcasing manufacturing's most advanced equipment, knowledgeable and highly skilled manufacturing professionals that will provide aggressive ideas, and the hottest trends. For more information,(click here).
Flexible CNC system
Siemens'
s new Sinumarik 840D solution line is the latest in CNC technology that increases performance and user productivity. The Sinumerik 840D solution line is a universal and flexible CNC system featuring the innovative Sinamics S120 drives that can be used for up to 31 axes. It is a distributed, scalable, open and inter-connecting system offering a wide range of specialized functions for milling, drilling, turning, grinding and handling technologies. The 840D offers users innovative features that increase productivity on the manufacturing floor, especially the challenging segments of high-speed and five-axis aerospace machining.
Booth 3476, Siemens Energy & Automation Inc.
Faster calculation
Delcam's latest release of PowerMILL includes enhancements and speed-ups throughout the program. The improved memory management within the software gives significantly faster calculation times, especially for large, complex components, such as press tools for automotive bodywork, and for smaller, highly-detailed models, such as molds for fine-tolerance and high-accuracy parts. Powerful tool-axis editing has been added that allows the user to select any region of a toolpath and redefine the tool-axis vectors within that region. These new options will enable users to optimize cutting conditions and avoid any sudden machine tool movements that could result in a poor surface finish.
Booth 3368, Delcam Inc.
New functionality
PartMaker Inc.'s latest release, Version 8.5 of its PartMaker CAD/CAM software is for CNC mills, lathes, wire EDM, turn-mill centers and Swiss-type lathes. PartMaker 8.5 features a variety of new functionality and enhanced capability all designed to make PartMaker users more productive across every PartMaker application.
It marks the introduction of the PartMaker Documentation Wizard, an optional module that allows the user to create, preview and print documents with multiple views. PartMaker 8.5 also features a number of enhancements to the PartMaker Full Machine Simulation module. It offers all PartMaker users the ability to create dimensioned drawings easily.
Booth 3368, PartMaker
Enhanced capabilities
A new version of GibbsCAM includes enhanced capabilities across the entire GibbsCAM product family, along with a complete range of three-axis milling functionality with support for high speed machining. A majority of enhancements have been made to the system core so all GibbsCAM modules benefit from them. In addition, there are new three-axis surface machining capabilities that provide more control and flexibility in toolpath generation with integral high speed machining support. The new functionality is keeping with GibbsCAM's tradition of uniquely blending ease-of-use and powerful functionality, a combination that can't be beaten in production machining. Booth 3268, Gibbs and Associates
Booth 3268, Gibbs and Associates
CAD/CAM enhancements
Planit's latest releases of Edgecam and Radan offer new features for the CAD/CAM programmer. Edgecam Version 12 expands on its five-axis machining capabilities and delivers improved CAD data management, faster toolpath generation and new options for hole cycle optimization. Version 12 extends the range of five-axis machine tool support to include head/table configurations for both simultaneous and positional work. This is supported by full machine simulation to aid visualization of the machining process and verify work setup. For sheet metal applications, Radan 08 delivers improved processing times, enhanced 3-D import capabilities and significant nesting improvements.
Booth 3076, Planit
CNC assistance
CGTech's Vericut 6.2 features several enhancements that increase the ability of manufacturing engineers to develop, analyze, inspect and document the CNC programming and machining process. Vericut 6.2 includes several new innovations to simplify validating even the most complex configurations in order to produce better results and reduce the time spent in the programming and machining cycle. Vericut simulates all types of CNC machine tools, including those from leading manufacturers. A new Setup Plan window is added, enabling users to add dimensions or notes to create a drawing of a setup layout or setup plan.
Booth 2628, CG Tech
Software solutions
Mastercam is introducing new Feature-Based Machining software as well as the Mastercam for SolidWorks add-in. Feature-Based Machining automates the machining process. Mastercam's FBM will automatically evaluate the part and program pockets, contours, bosses, and drilling routines with minimal user input. New users to Mastercam will be machining 2D solid parts sooner thanks to FBM's ease of use and short learning curve. Mastercam for SolidWorks is fully integrated CAM that runs seamlessly in SolidWorks. SolidWorks users can now program their parts directly within SolidWorks using Mastercam's industry-leading toolpaths and machining strategies.
Booth 3258, Mastercam
HyperMILL
With the product release of hyperMILL V9.7, Open Mind Technologies AG is now offering SolidWorks users a complete, integrated solution for the very first time. HyperMILL's integrations with Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire, Autodesk Inventor, thinkdesign and hyperCAD 2007.1 have also been updated in this release. Users of these versions can access all of hyperMILL's functional benefits in an integrated manner, including the new millTURN module. The advantage provided by CAD-integrated CAM solutions is that they make continuous process chains a reality.
Booth 2967, Open Mind Technologies AG