Manufacturing & design technology

Vertical machining center technonology

ProtoTRAK PMX CNC technology, standard on LPM vertical machining centers (VMCs), simplifyies programming so lower skill-level personnel can program and edit most part programs, freeing up higher skill-level personnel to perform complex work. The PMX technology user interface consists of prompts and 2D/3D part program renderings. The programmer does not have to know G-code or CAM to generate and edit programs.

The PMX control simplifies and expedites programming and is capable of running CAM programs (G-code) for highly complex parts for which conversational language programming is impractical. G-code programs can be generated and edited at the machine, and CAM programs can be directly converted to conversational language programs for added flexibility.

Southwestern Industries Inc.

www.southwesternindustries.com

CAM feature enhancements

Universal kinematic machine (UKM) supports advanced machines, while retaining intuitive simplicity in handling setup and operations on ordinary 2- and 3-axis machines.

For Swiss-style lathes, axis synchronization, double drilling, and simulation are supported. Interop motion (motion between operations) can be better tailored, and accurate kinematic error-checking is provided. Interop syncs (sync away from the part); sync dragging; nested syncs, such as user sync to an op that is already system-synced; and Sync Checker will flag motion that exceeds limits set on linear axes.

The machine manager editing function adds CNC machine modeling capability by centralizing modeling information in one place to be accessed by ops, toolpath, rendering, simulation, and posts. Simulation and posting are now tied together.

Multiple bodies can be attached to a kinematic node, axis nodes do not need to be associated with bodies; extended drill cycles and clearance behaviors can be specified at the machine level; axes that are or are not involved in machine-to-machine flows can be specified in complete detail; and interop events can be selected and ordered at the machine level. A contour trace allows users to create a machinable contour (an unbroken chain of piecewise-connected geometry) by selecting intersecting lines and circles in a sequence.

3D Systems, GibbsCAM

www.gibbscam.com

Carbide bur for cast iron

The Cast Cut high-performance carbide bur can increase metal removal rates by as much as 100%, due to its tooth geometry. Cast Cut also boasts good chip removal, reduced vibration, and lower noise.

Cast Cut is optimized for coarse stock removal on all types of black, grey, and white cast iron. With a cutting speed in the 1,500sfpm to 2,500sfpm range (rotational speed of 12,000rpm to 20,000rpm), it has an aggressive cutting action that results in large chips and good chip removal.

The bur is energy-efficient and reduces waste. It is available in five standard SCTI shapes with a shank diameter of 0.25".

Pferd Inc.

www.pferdusa.com