CAD/CAM Products Speed CNC Programming
Delcam’s CAD/CAM products feature a range of enhancements designed to speed and ease programming for CNC machines

Program Wire EDM with Delcam for SolidWorks
The 2012 version of Delcam for SolidWorks includes wire EDM programming and more.

Delcam Forum Reaches New Milestone
Software developer Delcam (Windsor, Ontario) has announced that its online forum now has more than 5,000 members.

Delcam Offers Free Software Seminars
Delcam (Windsor, Ontario) will offer a series of free technical seminars that will summarize the latest developments in its PowerShape, PowerMill and FeatureCAM software.   Presented by senior application engineers, the full-day sessions will help existing customers get the most out of their software.

CAM System Proves Integral to Prototype Prove-out
Delcam for SolidWorks CAM software helped this engineering firm relied on to generate the complex tool paths for a prototype job that many machine shops dismissed as too difficult.

CAM System Adds Flowline Machining Option
The 2012 version of the PowerMill CAM system for high-speed and five-axis machining features a flowline machining option that divides the tool path between a pair of drive curves in a constant number of passes rather than having a varying number of passes with a constant stepover.

Delcam Software Supplied with Portable CMM
Metrology system supplier Aicon 3D Systems GmbH has agreed to supply PowerInspect software from CAD/CAM developer Delcam with its MoveInspect HR optical measuring system.   MoveInspect HR is a portable CMM consisting of high-resolution digital cameras and the developer’s hand-operated MI.Probe.

Delcam Upgrades Windsor Facility
Delcam’s North American subsidiary in Windsor, Ontario has renovated its facility to include a new training are and demo center.

Upcoming Webinar Explores CAD, CAM Integration
An upcoming Webinar will explore the close integration of Delcam’s CAM software with SolidWorks design software.

Integrated CAM System for a Range of Applications
The newest addition to the company’s range of CAM solutions is Delcam for SolidWorks, which is said to extend the company’s ability to offer a CAM system to machine a range of materials and components on equipment such as simple lathes and mills to complex five-axis and turn-mill machines.

New Delcam Subsidiary Supports Dreamliner Project
Delcam (Birmingham, UK) has converted its Professional Services Group into an independent subsidiary, Delcam Professional Services Ltd. (DPS). The company says the move is the first stage in a significant expansion of its process development activities.

CAM System Programs Safe Toolpaths
Delcam’s PowerMILL 2011 CAM system for five-axis and high-speed machining is said to ease the programming safe tool paths with stock-model-engagement options that protect both the cutting tool and the machine from excessive loading.

CAD Partner for PartMaker CAM
Delcam offers a modeling partner product for its PartMaker CAM system for turn-mill equipment and Swiss-type lathes.

Delcam to Partner With Additive Manufacturing Co.
CAM software developer Delcam has signed a non-legally binding memorandum of understanding to purchase a minority holding in German additive manufacturing software developer Marcam Engineering GmbH.   Marcam’s AutoFab and VisCAM software is used to prepare CAD/CAM data for additive manufacturing.

Inspection Software Features Quick Report Option
Delcam’s PowerInspect 2011 features a Quick Report option designed to ease result analysis and reuse of measured data for additional feature inspection.

Consortium Aims to Overcome Robot Limitations
CAD/CAM developer Delcam recently hosted the inaugural meeting of the 8-million-euro COMET project in Alicante, Spain.

Delcam Reaches 10,000 Customers in North America
Delcam (Windsor, Ontario) has added its 10,000th North American customer: dental milling service provider Core 3D Centers.

Program Safe Tool Paths
The 2011 version of Delcam’s PowerMill CAM system for five-axis and high-speed machining is said to ease programming of safe tool paths with new stock-model engagement options that protect both the cutting tool and the machine from excessive loading.

CAD/CAM Systems Drive Efficient Porting Routines
Delcam’s PowerShape design software and PowerMill machining software help this performance racing component manufacturer meet targets for accuracy and efficiency during engine porting operations.

CAM Software for 64-Bit Processing
The 2010 release of PowerMill CAM software is designed to extend the application of the latest background-processing and multi-threading technologies available in recent computer hardware advances.

Delcam Adds 1,500th Chinese Customer
CAD/CAM developer Delcam (Windsor, Ontario) recently added its 1,500th customer in China: Zhejiang Jianli Mould Co., Ltd.

Hardware-Independent Inspection Software
The 2010 R2 version of Delcam’s PowerInspect software incorporates automatic surface inspection and the ability to use GD&T data from CATIA models.

CAD/CAM Range for Footwear
Delcam Crispin’s design and manufacturing software for the footwear industry features updates to the 2010 LastMaker and ShoeDesign programs, plus general speed and ease-of-use improvements across the full software range.  

Finished Molds Overnight
In the highly competitive athletic footwear market, moving from concept to design to production at breathtaking speed is imperative. Fast and efficient five-axis machining is a key accelerator in this process.

Delcam for SolidWorks
The company offers its full range of CAM software, including Delcam for SolidWorks as well as the 2010 releases of PowerMill for high-speed and five-axis machining; FeatureCAM for feature-based programming; PartMaker for Swiss-type lathes and turn-mill equipment; and ArtCAM for engraving and routing.    Delcam for SolidWorks marks a new direction for Delcam, the company says.

Another Angle On HSM
The savings in setup time were welcome enough, but this mold maker found that a 3+2 machining center also accelerated its use of high speed machining.

CAD/CAM Speeds Mold Design, Machine Tool Programming
Two features incorporated in CAD and CAM software packages from Delcam help users save time during design and machine tool programming.

Triple Software Launch
 Three new CAM software releases, PowerMill 10.0, FeatureCAM 2010 and PartMaker 2010, reduce calculation times and increase output with both parallel processing and multi-threading.

CAD-Based Inspection Software
Delcam says the 2010 version of its PowerInspect inspection software offers easy inspection of parts, tooling and prototypes against CAD data.

Five-Axis Dental Machining
Version 5 of Delcam’s DentMill includes an expanded range of five-axis machining options, including easier programming for manufacturing dental bars, implant bridges and customized abutments. Another enhancement, multithreading technology, is said to reduce calculation times for users with multi-processor computers.

More Than 1,000 Attend Delcam’s 20th User Group Meeting
Hankook Delcam, Delcam’s South Korean joint venture, recently held its Asian Technical Summit in Gyeongju, Korea, in conjunction with the 20th User Group Meeting. The User Group meeting was attended by more than 1,000 and is said to be the world’s largest CAM user meeting.

NC-Checker For Machine Tool Verification
Using standard probing equipment, Delcam’s NC-Checker program verifies the in-process performance of a range of commonly-used machine tools. The program can be used before machining to confirm that the equipment has been set up correctly, and it also can be applied during the production run to detect any out-of-tolerance movements.

Parallel Processing Speeds Toolpath Calculations
Parallel computing refers to the division of programming tasks among multiple processors, or cores. Delcam says leveraging this technology has significantly reduced toolpath calculation times in the most recent version of its PowerMill CAM software.

Inspection Software Features New Interface
Delcam’s updated PowerInspect software is suited for checking the dimensions of parts, prototypes and tooling against CAD data. The hardware-independent software features a new interface for undertaking “simple” measurements such as determining the distance between two points, planes or the centers of two circles.

CAD/CAM Company Launches Online TV Channel
Software developer Delcam has launched its own online TV channel, Delcam TV. Available at

CAM System Offers Faster Toolpath Generation
Version 10 of the PowerMill CAM system from Delcam incorporates background-processing and multi-threading technologies that are designed to reduce calculation times and increase output. Reduced memory usage enhances programming large and complex parts, and ordering is improved to enable faster cycle times on the machine tool.

CAM Suite Promotes Die Throughput
This automotive tool and die manufacturer had determined that remaining competitive would require reducing machining times. However, the impediment to throughput lay not in the machining end of the operation, but rather in the time spent programming complex tool paths. With fast calculation capability and a variety of strategies for five-axis roughing and finishing operations, Delcam’s PowerMill CAM package reduced programming times and enabled faster, more efficient machining.

Fast Mold Design, Machining
 Delcam’s PowerShape CAD software and the PowerMill CAM system are said to offer fast mold design and fast machine tool programming, respectively. The fast mold design has been made possible by incorporating the Parasolid kernel for solid modeling alongside the company’s own surface modeling system.

Software For High-Speed Machining
 PowerMILL CAM software is designed for high-speed and two- to five-axis machining, The latest enhancements include improvements to two-axis machining and three- to five-axis surface finishing options. Other improvements include tool database improvements, the ability to transform multiple tool paths using groups and integral machine simulation for optimal toolpath verification. The company’s FeatureCAM 2009 package incorporates increased options for more complex machines, such as multi-tasking and multi-axis machines.

Delcam Focuses On Growing Markets
CAD/CAM developer Delcam has made a strategic decision to become more active in the dental, orthotic and inspection markets with new product developments and sales managers responsible for business development in North America. Noting that dental is one of the fastest-growing aspects of its business, the company says these non-traditional markets have big commercial potential and require both customized solutions and dedicated commercial resources. .

Software Supports Five-Axis Inspection
Version 5 of Delcam’s PowerInspect software supports five-axis scanning with Renishaw’s Revo probe. This hardware-independent inspection software can use multiple alignments within parts or assemblies. Other upgrades include additional geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) features; more flexible, best-fit algorithms; improved CMM connectivity; and more versatile report generation.

Quality Control With On-Machine Verification
Delcam offers a free guide to on-machine verification (OMV) for controlling the quality of machined parts and tooling. According to the company, OMV allows the initial checking of machined parts to be carried out on virtually any CNC machine tool rather than having to transfer them to CMMs for inspection. The guide, which is available in DVD format, covers the benefits of using OMV and the types of applications for which it is suited.

Getting New Business with Big Machines
These shops saved themselves from dependence on the declining automotive sector thanks in part to their commitment to large-scale machining capacity.

CAM Software Helps Reduce Machining Time By 80 Percent
This company upgraded its CNC milling capability and CAM software to make use of solid models and get its components produced more quickly.

Mold Maker Cuts Delivery Times With CAD/CAM
Staying competitive in the automotive industry requires quick turnaround, a fact not lost on this manufacturer of foundry tooling. Upgrading to a CAD/CAM system from Delcam helped the shop significantly increase machining efficiency and reduce delivery times.

Composites Keep A Big Machine Busy
On-machine inspection is part of the way this shop machines large composite structures efficiently.

Achieving Metal-Like Tolerances In Composite Parts
On-machining probing compensates for uncertainty in machining operations in composites

CAM Software Designed For Complex Machining Work

Latest Delcam Customer Represents New Milestone
 Delcam added its 25,000th customer when special machine developer JR Automation technologies purchased six seats of the developer's FeatureCAM feature-based machining software. Founded in 1980, JR designs and build lean manufacturing systems for metal welding, assembly, testing, fabric wrapping and material handli

CAM Program Features New Machining Strategies

Multi-Axis, On-Machine Verification Capability

Follow Your Blisk
Here are some considerations for successful blisk machining.

Where New Machines And Methods Overshadow The Old
Eclipse Mold makes a good case for high-end machining centers as the basis for effectively machining to zero.

CAM Software For Roughing And Finishing Applications

CAD Viewer Enhances Supply Chain Communication

The Mold Consultant
This mold maker saves customers time and money by getting involved early in the design of molded parts.

Reasons To Use 5-Axis Machining
The major benefit of five-axis machining is the ability to machine complex shapes in a single set-up.

CAM Software For Probing
Software for creating probing routines off-line promises to make machine tool probing easier to use. As a few examples show, different software providers look at this off-line programming in different ways.

Machining Center Trends Have Implications For CAM
 At a recent presentation where he described some developments in his company's CAM software, Delcam product manager Mark Forth spoke of two clear trends in the way machining centers are being used today. For one, high technology is moving into a broader range of applications.

Tools For Profile And 3D Milling
Different tool shapes have different applications. Here is a look at form and function.

CAD/CAM Software Helps Mold Maker Survive And Thrive
Mold making has always been a tough, competitive business.

Getting To Know Knowledge-Based Machining
The term refers to different levels of automation that CAM software developers are building into their NC programming software.

Moving Toward Complete, Automated CAD/CAM Solutions
Best known for its machining software, UK-based Delcam is adding more software products for design and engineering. The company's explicit goal is to be 'a provider of complete, automated CAD/CAM solutions, taking complex shapes from concept to reality.

Software And Five-Axis Machining Center Provide Speed And Efficiency
Mold maker A.F. Gaskin (Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom) has customers who operate in fiercely competitive international markets, including Formula 1, and measure performance on the ability to deliver quality products in the shortest possible time.

The Right Start For A Fine Finish
Developers of CAM software have introduced many programming features for the initial removal of excess stock prior to finishing operations. By preparing the workpiece surface for more effective finishing, these roughing routines often determine how efficiently a CNC machining center can perform.

Pushbutton Die Making
High speed milling let this automotive forging company reverse a decades-old practice and bring die making back in house.

Software Speeds Up Automotive Part Inspection
Lotus Cars is known worldwide for creating award-winning sports cars at the forefront of vehicle design technology. The company has also developed a reputation for exceptional quality.

For World's Biggest Statue, CAD/CAM Plays A Crucial Role
The line of CAD/CAM products offered by Delcam (Windsor, Ontario) will play a crucial role in the production of a 500-foot statue of religious figure Maitreya in Bodh Gaya, India. The ambitious, international-scale undertaking is called the Maitreya Project. The hope and goal of this project is for the completed statue to serve as a destination for pilgrims and tourists from around the world.

Making Sense Of Model Data
Designs often arrive incomplete downstream. There may be no changing that. But these tools can reduce the amount of time spent on reworking customer models.

Delcam's Transition Reflects Trends in Tool Making
Mold and die makers familiar with Delcam, the UK-based software company probably associate that company with Duct, the CAD/CAM system for complex 3D forms. Users of Duct form an elite but loyal group. The system is difficult to master, but most who have mastered it consider it a powerful tool for die and mold production.

In Capable Hands
Putting NC programming and faster machine tools in the hands of machinists has helped this leading mold shop cut weeks out of the tool building cycle.

Machining From STL Files
If you think the STL file format is just a convenient means for programming rapid prototyping machines, think again. Here's how STL can work for machinists too.

STL Format Files Work For Machining Tool
Clinkenbeard & Associates, Rockford, Illinois is a pattern shop making the leap into the digital age. Its craftsmen still build meticulously detailed foundry patterns and core boxes and these tools are among the last vestiges of industrial artistry.

• Video: 3+2 Mold Machining at Eifel

  A maker of injection molds for high-appearance-quality parts describes the machine tool, software and strategy this shop uses to apply 3+2 machining.

• Video: Micromilling With a Long Tool

  This video clip illustrates micromilling at a high tool L:D ratio.