Zone: CAD, CAM and Related Software

Machining For Air

Programmer Eric Reitan This shop makes the oral devices that helped the shop owner and members of his family. Unattended machining is the key to making this therapy more accessible.

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Software Separates Shop From Competition
11/14/2008 Modern Machine Shop: FeatureCAM’s feature-based programming capability and five-axis machining strategies help this shop set itself apart from the competition. In fact, the shop has increased gross sales by more than 30 percent in a few months after integrating FeatureCAM’s five-axis machining package.
CAM And Turn/Mill: Making More With Less
11/7/2008 Production Machining: A shift in thinking has led to an overhaul of this company’s machine tools and production processes. The result has been a significant improvement in capacity that has allowed more parts to be brought in-house and more profits at the end of the day.
CAM System Eliminates Operations on Big Parts
10/14/2008 Modern Machine Shop: Extremely large workpieces often cause set-up issues because they can be difficult to move and position without a significant commitment of both time and manpower. Thanks to GibbsCAM software, mining equipment manufacturer Bucyrus International can use right-angle heads to cut down on the number of operations required to machine parts. In addition to helping the shop cut back on time-consuming setups, the software provides valuable estimation and toolpath verification features.
CAM Software Helps Reduce Machining Time By 80 Percent
10/1/2008 Modern Machine Shop: This company upgraded its CNC milling capability and CAM software to make use of solid models and get its components produced more quickly.
Programming Lathes: Eliminate Cutting Air On The Second Pass
9/23/2008 Production Machining: Cutting air benefits no one. Eliminate it in the programming department.

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Overview Of:
CAD, CAM and Related Software

CAM Software is used to generate machining programs corresponding to part designs. Short for “computer-aided manufacturing,” CAM creates these programs for CNC machine tools including machining centers, lathes and EDM machines. Sometimes, machining programs can be written and input manually, right at the machine’s control. However, if the workpiece geometry is at all complex, or if the machined features are numerous, then generally CAM software is essential for generating the program both accurately and quickly.

In general, CAM development has proceeded along two different tracks. Geometry-based CAM systems used in die/mold machining and other applications focus on complex milled geometries. Algorithms provide specific and efficient ways for machining complex geometries with both high precision and long tool life. By contrast, feature-based CAM systems are generally used in the production machining of geometrically simpler components. These latter CAM systems are often engineered to automate otherwise repetitive programming tasks such as assigning similar tools to similar features.