Showing posts with label EDM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EDM. Show all posts

Monday, September 26, 2016

Zuken Announces Agenda for ZIW Americas 2017

WESTFORD, MA, USA, Sep 26, 2016 - Zuken USA announces that Zuken Innovation World (ZIW) Americas 2017 will take place April 24-26, 2017 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa in Hilton Head Island, SC. The annual event includes Zuken University classes, Expert Bar and a Technology Showcase on April 26.


The agenda features more than 40 sessions including Zuken University classes showcasing how-to and best practices for Zuken’s 2017 releases. Zuken’s Expert Bar and the Technology Showcase provide one-on-one access to Zuken’s technical team and partner solutions.
  • Abstracts are now being accepted online through December 2, 2016 here. 
  • For additional details and deadline information visit the Speakers' Corner. 
  • For more information about attending, speaking or exhibiting at ZIW Americas, contact Conference Manager, Amy Clements, at 972-691-3284 or amy.clements@zukenusa.com.
About Zuken 


Zuken is a global provider of leading-edge software and consulting services for electrical and electronic design and manufacturing. Founded in 1976, Zuken has the longest track record of technological innovation and financial stability in the electronic design automation (EDA) software industry. The company’s extensive experience, technological expertise and agility, combine to create world-class software solutions. Zuken’s transparent working practices and integrity in all aspects of business produce long-lasting and successful customer partnerships that make Zuken a reliable long-term business partner. 

Zuken is focused on being a long-term innovation and growth partner. The security of choosing Zuken is further reinforced by the company’s people—the foundation of Zuken’s success. Coming from a wide range of industry sectors, specializing in many different disciplines and advanced technologies, Zuken’s people relate to and understand each company’s unique requirements. For more information, visit www.zuken.com.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

IronCAD Integrates with SprutCAM

ATLANTA, GA, USA, Mar 27, 2016 - IronCAD, a leading provider of design productivity solutions, announced full integration with the latest version of SprutCAM, a powerful programming system for milling, turning, wire EDM, multi-tasking machine tools and robots.

IronCAD's unique Catalog Drag & Drop technology leads the industry in design reuse and is especially helpful for CNC machine setup and fixture design. The Drag & Drop process offers intuitive part positioning which make it easy to create fixture assemblies, part setup documents and other relevant machining content. IronCAD makes it easy to share this information among your design team and the machine shop for convenient access.

The IronCAD catalog can archive parts with precise datum locations for CNC machining and fixture design and when combined with IronCAD's patented TriBall, customers can position and orient machining parts with ease. IronCAD also delivers a wide range of tools to allow you to keep your manufacturing team closely involved in your CNC projects by including photorealistic rendering, 3D/2D PDF, web publishing of models, and a standalone 3D viewer.

Being a Gold Partner of IronCAD, SprutCAM system allows its users to add a "SprutCAM" button directly in IronCAD. On clicking this button, the current model is transferred and opened directly in SprutCAM. Additionally, while in the IronCAD session, the user is able to keep editing the model and then with a click of the "SprutCAM" button they are able to update the earlier opened model, recalculate the current tool path and generate a new control program. Such associativity ensures convenient working and updating with SprutCAM and the highest efficiency of the machining process due to excellent control programs.

Cary O'Connor, Vice President of Marketing at IronCAD stated, "IronCAD is pleased to announce the SprutCAM integration and the granting of our Gold Partners status to SprutCAM." Cary added, "The SprutCAM integration is a natural extension in the design process and the ability to make changes to the design for manufacturing with the update mechanism to maintain tool paths, provides a significant increase in productivity."

Download the latest version of IronCAD from http://www.ironcad.com/try-it-now and SprutCAM with the IronCAD Integration from http://www.sprutcam.com/downloads.

About IronCAD

Based in Atlanta, GA, IronCAD is a leading provider of 3D Design Productivity Solutions that deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction and productivity. Individual components of this solution can be used standalone, complementary within an existing design environment, or can be used together to collaborate effectively throughout the enterprise to extend productivity. Its flagship product IRONCAD has won many industry awards for its innovative technology and leads the industry in its ease of use and design productivity. For more information on IronCAD, call 1-800-339-7304 or visit www.ironcad.com.

About SprutCAM

SprutCAM with over 25 years of experience is a leading developer and supplier of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software for a full range of machine tool applications. SprutCAM is a powerful, high-performance, full-spectrum programming system for milling, turning, wire EDM, multi-tasking machine tools and robots. SprutCAM has over 5,000 licenses worldwide, managed through its network of dealers and OEMs.

Facts and figures:

  • 2013 - SprutCAM topped the rating of the fastest growing CAM vendor of the world CAM market on the basis of CIMdata's data.
  • 2014 – A new SprutCAM training center in the USA was opened.
  • 2015 – A new SprutCAM training center in Germany was opened.
  • Throughout the world, a new copy of SprutCAM is installed every 40 minutes.
Independent from the branch of industry, SprutCAM will provide you with a wide range of automatic functions on everything from simple to complex machining jobs, which successfully cover and even surpass CAM systems of the upper level. For more information on SprutCAM, call +1-608-849-4430, email info@sprutcamamerica.com or visit www.sprutcam.com.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Delcam Releases PartMaker 2016

BIRMINGHAM, UK, Dec 10, 2015 - Delcam has released the latest version of its PartMaker software for programming CNC mills, lathes, wire EDMs, turn-mill centres and Swiss-type lathes. PartMaker 2016 represents a total game-changer in the field of CAM software for production machining, offering an unprecedented level of power and ease of use.


Major highlights of PartMaker 2016 include powerful 2½ axis milling strategies, support for the import of multiple solid models into a single PartMaker CAM project file, specialist support for broaching, and faster 2D CAD drafting and toolpath selection.

In addition to these technologies, PartMaker Version 2016 includes over fifty additional new features and enhancements. Comprehensive details on all the new features and functionality in PartMaker can be found at the PartMaker Version 2016 learning zone at www.delcam.tv/pmk2016/lz/

"PartMaker 2016 is a truly ground-breaking piece of technology,” said PartMaker Inc. President, Hanan Fishman. "It blends machining power and ease of use in a way the market for production oriented CAM software hasn’t seen before. PartMaker 2016 will help both current and prospective PartMaker users program faster and achieve significant productivity gains including marked reductions in machining time for the parts they program.”

Headlining PartMaker 2016 is a completely revamped approach to 2½ axis milling operations across the entire product range including PartMaker Mill, Turn-Mill and SwissCAM. PartMaker 2016 offers a host of new 2½ axis milling options based on parent company Delcam’s proprietary milling technology, technology developed and supported by the industry’s largest CAM-focused development team. This new milling functionality is specifically targeted at the needs of production machining applications, allowing users not only to program faster but also machine parts faster than ever before.

The new milling toolpath technology included in PartMaker 2016 offers an unprecedented combination of power and ease of use. It allows users to create highly efficient and sophisticated toolpath strategies without even requiring a solid model.

PartMaker 2016 also offers users the ability to import multiple solid models into a single PartMaker CAM project file (*.JOB file). Additionally, this new functionality lets users quickly extract multiple parts from an imported solid assembly and so allows more flexible programming of complex parts as well as improved ability to manipulate milling workholding in PartMaker’s CAM environment.

PartMaker 2016 also includes the CAM software industry’s first, dedicated functionality for broaching. Broaching is a deformative manufacturing technique for creating features with sharp corners. While broaching has its roots in old world screw machine technology, it has become a popular machining technique today, particularly in the medical device field in bone screw applications with hex shapes, Torx or Hex lobular and square and spline drives. 

PartMaker 2016 automates the programming of both index and rotary (also known as wobble) broaching operations in an intuitive and visual manner. The software allows broaching operations to be simulated using powerful, 3D simulation. For more information, visit www.delcam.com.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Delcam Releases FeatureCAM 2016

http://www.delcam.com
BIRMINGHAM, UK, Sep 15, 2015 - Delcam has launched the 2016 release of its FeatureCAM feature-based CAM software. This includes a range of enhancements, in particular more options for the Vortex high-efficiency area-clearance strategy, support for bar-fed mills, more efficient turning and user-interface improvements to make programming even easier and faster.


FeatureCAM was the world’s first feature-based programming software when it was launched in 1995. Constant development since then has ensured that the system has retained its leadership in programming speed and ease of use, while an increased range of strategies has been added to provide more efficient toolpaths that give greater productivity on a wider range of machinery, including mill-turn machines, five-axis mills and wire EDM equipment.

The 2016 release includes a number of enhancements to the Vortex area-clearance strategy. Vortex gives the fastest safe metal removal from solid carbide tooling, in particular designs that give deeper cuts by using the full flute length as the cutting surface. It produces toolpaths with a controlled engagement angle and so maintains the optimum cutting conditions for the complete roughing cycle, giving faster machining and longer tool life.

The ability has now been added to adjust and fine tune the non-cutting moves of 2.5D and 3D Vortex toolpaths, with options to retract the tool and/or to increase the feedrate. These options can be set individually, or can be combined to achieve an optimum toolpath, with a reduced cycle time.

Other roughing improvements include the ability to take into account any remaining stock on the model during holder collision checking, ensuring that Z-level roughing toolpaths are completely free of tool-holder collisions.

Milling of inside or outside groove features has been upgraded with a number of improvements. These include support for different types of roughing links, wind-fan approach and retract moves for finishing, better gouge checking for plunges and retracts, and tool radius and partline cutter compensation support.

Support has been added to FeatureCAM for multi-tasking bar-fed milling machines, such as the Mazak Integrex I150, and the Willemen-Macodel 408T and 508T. Access to the back of the component is possible with an option to set the swivel angle of the machine, with additional cut-off operations now available that use milling tools.

Five-axis swarf machining has been made more flexible with a new option to control the upper and lower Z limits of a simultaneous five-axis swarf toolpath. This is useful if there are limitations on the tool length that can be used or if the stepdown needs to be varied for different segments of the toolpath.

For users of FeatureTURN, the selection of turning tools has been simplified with the ability to use a single tool in multiple orientations. This new automatic tool orientation categorizes tooling into either outside-diameter or inside-diameter turning tools, so shortening the time taken to program parts and reducing the number of different tools required in the tool crib.

In addition, the engage angle can now be set for the lead-in approach move. By controlling the approach move in this way, smoother chip formation and lower cutting forces can be achieved.

FeatureCAM now allows the quick import and alignment of a variety of pre-defined vices and chucks into a machining project. The result is increased productivity, not only due to the speed of programming but also because collision checking is provided automatically during simulation.

Used in combination with PowerSHAPE, FeatureCAM now allows machining files to be selected and nested automatically in a single block to optimize stock material usage.

Interface improvements include the ability to create additional setups quickly during FeatureRECOGNITION, via a new button in the Feature Wizard. This reduces the overall programming time significantly.

In addition, items within the part view are now highlighted when the cursor hovers over them. At the same time, the items are also highlighted in the graphics screen, making it easier to find and select the desired items quickly.

Finally, Autodesk RealDWG has now been integrated into FeatureCAM, bringing with it increases in the speed of import of DWG files and support for DWG solid model import.

Full details on the new release, including video demonstrations of the main enhancements, visit FeatureCAM Learning Zone, www.delcam.tv/fc2016/lz.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

3D Systems Ships GibbsCAM 2015 for Production Machining

www.3dsystems.com
ROCK HILL, SC, USA, Aug 29,  2015 - 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced that it has begun shipping the latest version of GibbsCAM, its software for production machining. This comprehensive update to 3DS’ industry-leading software incorporates an all-new Universal Kinematic Machine (UKM) engine that further simplifies CNC programming. The release also includes multiple enhancements that extend capabilities and accommodate new machines of all configurations. For video overviews of GibbsCAM 2015,  click here.


As an integral component of 3DS’ design-to-manufacturing digital thread, facilitating cross-technology manufacturing between additive and subtractive methods, GibbsCAM enables improved production efficiency and greater profitability. Developed for ease-of-use, GibbsCAM empowers numerical control programmers and machinists with solid modeling, 2- through 5-axis milling, high speed machining, mill/turn, Swiss, multi-task machining and wire-EDM capabilities.

“We are committed to providing 3D digital design and fabrication solutions that enable our customers to be more productive and competitive,” said Ilan Erez, Vice President, co-Chief Operating Officer and CFO, Software Products, 3DS. “With the recent addition of GibbsCAM to the 3DS digital manufacturing thread portfolio, our customers can now enjoy the ability to use both subtractive and additive manufacturing to achieve the highest productivity possible. Manufacturers can use the two technologies in tandem, printing a metal part and then using a milling machine to achieve the required surface finish, for example. It’s a perfect fit.

“With the new release of GibbsCAM 2015 we enable our customers to program any machine with a single program and a single interface,” continued Erez. “The new features and enhancements in GibbsCAM 2015 are designed to save time in programming, provide more flexibility in selecting and using tools, and make toolpath verification and machine simulation more accurate and efficient.”

Some of the new features in GibbsCAM 2015 include:
  • New Tooling Functions and Capabilities that extend the ability to define, use and simulate tools, with new icons and dynamic 3D viewing of tools and tool holders. Support for straight, tapered and stepped shanks was extended to all mill tools, while new mill and lathe tool types are also introduced, including 3D form tools and 75° Diamond (ISO E-style) lathe tools.
  • Numerous Enhancements for Hole-making that include additional support for hole features from CAD systems and full associativity for hole features from Autodesk Inventor, CATIA v5, Solid Edge and SolidWorks. New is the Hole Editor for editing hole features, including compound holes, which are supported with multiple straight, tapered and threaded segments. In addition, feature recognition has been enhanced, and the 5-axis drilling interface has been streamlined. These features simplify hole-making operations and make the programming process faster.
  • Intermediate Tooling Support for Multi-task Machining (MTM), which makes tooling more manageable, simulation more accurate, and programming easier, with more accurate placement and orientation of tools. Additions include a tool block library and support for tool blocks, such as adapter blocks, holders for tool holders, right-angle and adjustable heads, and flash tooling. A fixture library and support for fixtures (chucks, tailstocks, steady rests and other work holding devices) are included.
  • Machine Simulation which is greatly improved as a result of UKM, intermediate tooling support, and an improved rendering palette. Rendering is more accurate and efficient, displaying intermediate tooling for a more complete simulation of all moving components. Customized monitoring of key conditions is enabled with a new Stops and Watches feature. Combined, these additions make the programming-through-simulation process faster and more accurate.
  • Integration with Sandvik Coromant’s Adveon Tool Library, which enables importing tools from Sandvik and ISO 13399 compliant systems to make a standard library available at any time, simplifying tool definition and tooling-data management. This also allows a shop to build, save and reuse a library, and link tools and tool assemblies to parts and processes, enabling faster reuse of a program for a subsequent part run, and faster updating when parts change.
Learn more about 3DS’ commitment to manufacturing the future today at www.3dsystems.com, and the new GibbsCAM 2015 software here.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides the most advanced and comprehensive 3D digital design and fabrication solutions available today, including 3D printers, print materials and cloud-sourced custom parts. Its powerful ecosystem transforms entire industries by empowering professionals and consumers everywhere to bring their ideas to life using its vast material selection, including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. 3DS’ leading personalized medicine capabilities save lives and include end-to-end simulation, training and planning, and printing of surgical instruments and devices for personalized surgery and patient specific medical and dental devices. Its democratized 3D digital design, fabrication and inspection products provide seamless interoperability and incorporate the latest immersive computing technologies. 3DS’ products and services disrupt traditional methods, deliver improved results and empower its customers to manufacture the future now. For  more information, visit www.3dsystems.com.

Friday, April 3, 2015

Delcam Electrode Supports Multi-Part, Family Electrodes

http://www.delcam.com
BIRMINGHAM, UK, Apr 3, 2015 - Delcam has increased the capabilities of its Delcam Electrode integrated solution for the design, machining and inspection of electrodes so that the system can now produce multi-part electrodes or family electrodes. In addition, electrodes can now be displayed in the history tree of the tool on which they will be used, so simplifying the management of projects. Also, all electrode drawings will update automatically if the design is changed.

 

Multi-part electrodes can reduce the time needed for both machining and EDM compared to using several individual electrodes. In addition, machining multiple electrodes from a single blank can save materials and single holder can be used for the combined electrode.
The design of multi-part electrodes uses the same wizard-based process as is used for conventional electrodes. The wizard helps users to define the region where the electrode will be used quickly and easily, extract the shape needed to produce the required feature in the part, and then edit the design to provide clearance from the main surface of the tool and to blend it into the blank size needed to fix the electrode into its holder. Once the electrode for the first area has been defined, the user then re-runs the wizard for other burn areas to be included in the multi-part electrode.

The same process can be used if particularly hard materials are to be burnt or if the same electrode design is required in several areas of the tool. In these cases, a single electrode might not be sufficient. A second electrode can be created within the blank, again by re-running the wizard, so that, once the first electrode has worn out, the electrode assembly can be rotated to use the second one.

In family electrodes, the roughing and finishing electrodes for a single area are combined in the assembly. Once again, the second part of the assembly is created by re-running the wizard. However, in these cases, the different machining offsets required for the rougher and finisher are applied when creating the various parts of the assembly.

All of these compound electrodes require more complex movement around the tool as they are used in comparison to standard electrodes. To ensure that collisions don’t occur, collision prevention technology from the PowerMILL CAM system has been added into the simulation algorithms used by Delcam Electrode.

Delcam Electrode combines the PowerSHAPE CAD software, the PowerMILL CAM system and the PowerINSPECT inspection software to give a completely integrated solution for the design, machining and inspection of electrodes. At the heart of the Delcam solution is a novel file format – the .Trode file. This contains all the information for each electrode project, including not only the electrode design but also the machining and inspection information, plus the set-up sheets for its manufacture and use. Having all the required information in a single file simplifies data management as well as increasing overall efficiency.

Delcam Electrode can provide scripts for equipment from AgieCharmilles (Agievision and CT Millennium controls), Exeron, JDMA EPX, Makino EDM, Mitsubishi Electric, ONA EDM, OPS-Ingersoll, Sodick and Zimmer & Kreim. Scripts are the EDM equivalent of CAM programs for machine tools. They provide an automated process for the programming of the machine, instead of users having to program manually from a set-up sheet. The automated process is much easier and quicker, especially when a large number of electrodes are being used on the same component. Furthermore, the direct link removes the human error that could always be possible with manual programming. For more information, visit www.delcam-electrode.com.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Vero to Launch WorkNC v24 at Industrie 2015 in Lyon, France

http://www.verosoftware.com
GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UK, Mar 12, 2015 - Vero Software is launching the latest release of WorkNC at the Industrie trade fair in Lyon. With a wide range of new and enhanced functionality, Product Manager Miguel Johan says visitors will be astounded at the extent WorkNC Version 24 improves CAM operator productivity and machining quality even further.


“The new Rest Material Display has been enhanced, transforming it into a genuine analysis tool to aid CAM programmers in their perpetual quest to reduce machining preparation times.” It allows for the different amounts of rest material left on the model, to be rapidly evaluated according to user defined color ranges. On large models and even on extremely complex components it is easy for users to determine the small zones or pockets that still need to be machined.

Other innovative features include symmetry functions, importing 2D features directly from native NX files, quicker collision calculations, and new functions for working on STL models.


“Industrie is the most important trade fair in France, expected to attract over 20,000 visitors, a quarter being engineers, 21 per cent corporate managers and 17 per cent departmental managers. In other words, decision makers and prime contractors, for whom WorkNC and the other Vero CAD/CAM software on show, can provide the optimum solution for their requirements.”

Visitors to booth Y 87 in Hall 6 at the Eurexpo Lyon Exhibition Center from April 7 - 10 will see that WorkNC Version 24 features a set of standard collision detection functions covering the machining environment, tool holder, stock and machining center. “For 3-axis and 3+2 axis the WorkNC collision detection module indicates the shortest possible cutter than can be used. For 5-axis the Auto5 module determines the best possible conditions for a user-defined cutting tool. Special attention’s been given to optimize cutting conditions for features such as rubs and narrow slots.”

Re-machining strategies have been completely revamped, giving greater precision in detecting the areas to be re-machined, smoother trajectories, and improved surface finish quality.

A number of of components and products programmed with WorkNC will feature on the booth, including an engine block and a motorsport prototype wheel carrier, and a pilot’s helmet, along with the chassis of a Tech 3 competition motorbike competing in the Moto2 World Championships machined on a 5-axis DMG Mori Seiki milling center by Aravis Precision.

The exhibition also sees the French launch of Edgecam 2015 R1, which includes a brand new Waveform roughing cycle for turning. Based on the successful milling waveform technology, the toolpath maintains a constant cutting load. The release introduces further Workflow enhancements by supporting multiple setups for both milling and turning, meaning the component, stock and fixtures, can be passed to new machining sequences. It promotes the use of a single CAM file to house multiple machining setups, ensuring the stock remains associative between setups.

The Wire EDM product is now available in Workflow, and Edgecam 2015 R1 offers full machine simulation, including stock and cross-section display.

WorkPLAN 2015 R2 will also be on display - showing project management processes, 3D integration, and CAD data integration from quotation to shop floor - as will VISI 21, one of the world's leading PC-based CAD CAM software solutions for mold and tooling design and production.

And WorkXplore 3D 2015 is a major new release of the software which contains many features usually only found in CAD systems, enabling the user to perform diagnostics, create assembly instructions and prepare the production of 3D models. Technical Manager Philippe Deletang says it focuses on new functions and improvements, providing solutions for mobility, realistic animations, and processing large files.

“Thanks to the new Xplore Mobile application, geometric items - models 3D models, and ancillary data such as annotations, measurements and wire-frames - can now be exported to Android and IOS mobile platforms, providing WorkXplore 3D data to be accessed on the move.”

The animation engine has been completely reviewed to make animation sequences more realistic, while simpler to create.

A new batch conversion process switches large native standard CAD files, or a large number of files, to WorkXplore 3D format. In previous versions of the software the application could not be used during the conversion process, but the new tool means the file is converted in the background, while the user continues to work as normal.

WorkNC Version 24, WorkXplore 3D 2015, WorkPLAN 2015 R2, VISI V21, Edgecam 2015 R1, all on display on booth Y 87 in Hall 6. For more information, visit http://www.verosoftware.com.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Delcam Releases FeatureCAM 2015 R2

http://www.delcam.com
BIRMINGHAM, UK, Jan 22, 2015 - The 2015 R2 release of Delcam’s FeatureCAM feature-based CAM software incorporates a milling calculator to help users obtain the maximum benefit from the Vortex high-efficiency area-clearance strategy. Other enhancements, among the 280 customer-requested improvements since the initial 2015 release last September, include the ability to create multi-tool blocks within machine designs, better control over toolpath output and more efficient automatic selection of tools.


FeatureCAM was the world’s first feature-based programming software when it was launched in 1995. Constant development since then has ensured that the system has retained its leadership in programming speed and ease of use, while an increased range of strategies has been added to provide more efficient toolpaths that give greater productivity on a wider range of machinery, including mill-turn machines, five-axis mills and wire EDM equipment.

The Vortex area-clearance strategy in FeatureCAM produces safe toolpaths with a much deeper cut by using a controlled engagement angle that maintains the optimum cutting conditions for the whole toolpath. As a result, higher feed rates and material-removal rates are possible, making the cutting time shorter by as much as 70%. In addition, cutting is undertaken at a more consistent volume-removal rate and at a near constant feed rate, so extending tool life and protecting the machine.

The radical nature of Vortex can make it difficult for users to set the optimum parameters when they first apply the strategy. To overcome this problem, Delcam has added a calculator that provides an easy way to maximize productivity and efficiency with Vortex. The calculator uses control of the maximum chip thickness to calculate the appropriate feeds and speeds that will minimize the cutting time while maintaining a consistent load on the cutter.

A new development in the Vortex strategy itself will make it more efficient when machining flat areas or open pockets. In both cases, Vortex now allows the cutter to approach from outside the stock rather than having to make a helical entry move into the stock.

Both Vortex and other two-axis toolpaths have new output options. These give control over point filtering and arc fitting, both of which can contribute to smother machine motion and, therefore, to better surface finish.

In a related development, toolpath points can now be displayed by using the dialog for output options. This allows the user to view the toolpath points and check that their distribution is compatible with the machine-tool controller.

As machines have become more sophisticated, accurate simulation has become increasingly important before toolpaths are passed to the machine. In FeatureCAM 2015 R2, multi-tool blocks can be created within machine-design files. Tool blocks can be developed with a list of tool locations and then the attributes can be specified describing the type of tool to be held in each location. The blocks can then be used in the simulation of the movement of the part being machined towards the various tools.

The programming time for drilling has been reduced significantly in the new release. Specific pecking depths can now be allocated to drills on a tool by tool basis. This change means that there is no longer any need to update the global pecking defaults after the creation of features needing to be drilled.

In addition, the exposed length of all tools is now checked as part of automatic tool selection. The check allows tools to be verified against the depth of the feature or the set-up depth so that potential collisions can be avoided. Full details on the new release, including video demonstrations of the main enhancements, are on the FeatureCAM Learning Zone – www.delcam.tv/fc2015. For more information about Delcam and its products, visit http://www.delcam.com.