CAM Software suits turn-mill centers and Swiss-type lathes.
December 19, 2011 -
Equipped with 3D surfacing strategy, PartMaker 2012 lets users perform 3D surface machining using cylindrical interpolation. Program supports simulation of Swiss-type lathes equipped with programmable B-axis on gang slide. As part of Kinematic Milling Simulation module, software extends Full Machine Simulation technology to vertical and horizontal machining centers. Visualization functions enable software to display 3D model of stock being machined at any time without importing solid model.
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Original Press release
Delcam Plc
Small Heath Business Park
Birmingham Hampshir, , B10 0HJ
United Kingdom
Delcam Releases PartMaker 2012 for Turn-Mill Centres and Swiss-Type Lathes
Delcam's PartMaker division has released PartMaker 2012, the latest version of its CAM system for turn-mill centres, bar-fed mills and Swiss-type lathes. Major highlights of the release include improved visualisation, more powerful simulation of vertical and horizontal machining centres, support for the latest breed of multi-axis bar-fed mills, turn-mill centres and Swiss-type lathes, greater flexibility and control in process development and much, much more.
"PartMaker Version 2012 will help our customers continue to 'raise their game' to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive manufacturing landscape," says PartMaker division President, Hanan Fishman. "It includes an array of new features and functionality that will benefit every user. There's just so much for PartMaker users to be excited about."
Variable-depth cylindrical milling
PartMaker 2012 includes a new, powerful 3D surfacing strategy as an enhancement to the Surface Machining Wizard module. This new strategy allows the user to perform 3D surface machining using cylindrical interpolation. This powerful, new rotary machining functionality allows for creation of more complicated features for complex parts being made on four-axis mills, turn-mill centres and Swiss-type lathes.
Simulation of B-axis gang-style Swiss-type lathes
PartMaker 2012 supports the simulation of the latest generation of Swiss-type lathes, those equipped with a programmable "B-axis" on a gang slide, giving the ability to add more live tooling in a single set-up. The software can simulate and collision check complex simultaneous five-axis tool paths, allowing users to better understand the benefits of using B-axis gangs. This improved simulation supports models from the leading Swiss-lathe builders offering machines with this novel architecture.
Full-machine simulation for milling
PartMaker 2012 extends the software's powerful Full Machine Simulation technology to vertical and horizontal machining centres as part of the new Kinematic Milling Simulation module. This new functionality simulates the kinematic motion of a CNC milling machine's programmable axes. It supports three-, four- and five-axis vertical mills, as well horizontal and vertical tombstone set-ups, and provides more realistic simulation and more comprehensive collision detection.
Set-up assemblies for milling
PartMaker 2012 features the ability to import fixture models into the PartMaker programming environment to simulate toolpaths for vertical and horizontal milling machines in a more realistic manner and avoid collisions between tools and work holding. The new Set-Up Assembly Feature, part of the new Kinematic Milling Simulation module, allows the user to quickly designate the various components within the Set-Up Assembly as a stock, fixture or machining table in a visual and intuitive manner. Fixture models can be imported from virtually any 3D CAD system or directly cut and paste from Delcam's PowerSHAPE software.
Multiple-process drag and drop selection
PartMaker 2012 allows the user to optimise and rearrange machining processes faster and easier than ever before. The new version allows processes to be simply dragged and dropped into place on PartMaker's Process Table. It also lets multiple processes be selected and moved at the same time, rather than having to move processes individually, as was the case before.
Support for new bar-fed mill and multi-axis lathe architectures
PartMaker 2012 supports a number of new, cutting-edge architectures found on today's latest bar-fed mills and turn-mill centres. This new technology has been developed in cooperation with a number of the industry's leading machine-tool builders. It includes support for such novel machine tool architectures as the Star SF and Mori-Seiki NTX, where the sub-spindle can work at articulated positions in addition to the articulation of these machines' tool head in the B-axis plane.
Enhanced toolpath visualisation and control
PartMaker 2012 provides much improved visualisation across the entire application. This includes the ability to display a 3D model of the stock being machined at any time without having to import a solid model, as well as the ability to see toolpaths and toolpath verification on a 3D stock model, even when no 3D model is available. This allows the user to see the part in 3D before going to machining simulation, speeding up programming and reducing the chance of error.
Additionally, the visualisation and creation of toolpath Approach and Escape points have been improved by allowing these points to be quickly defined with convenient snap modes. Approach and Escape points can also be much more clearly visualised after creation.
Additional productivity enhancements
In addition to the improvements mentioned above, PartMaker 2012 includes a host of other productivity enhancements, including the ability to directly output PartMaker's graphical set-up sheets to Microsoft Excel, a direct Copy/Paste functionality from PowerSHAPE, 64-bit version availability, support for tapered thread milling, more robust network licensing, more flexible sub-spindle control for twin spindle machines, improved CAD data translation, crisper rendering of imported solid models, and improved four- and five-axis milling table definition.
For further information on Delcam's PartMaker CAM software, please contact: -
Peter Dickin, Marketing Manager
Direct phone: 44 (0)121 683 1081
e-mail: marketing@delcam.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
