Zone: CAM for Production Machining

Programming From Memory

Stored machining process being accessed Go beyond crib books. Using a CAM-based knowledge library does more than just speed programming—it can also make machining more consistent throughout the shop.

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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 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 A Robot The Way You Program A CNC Machine Tool
9/17/2008 Modern Machine Shop: Programming a robot with the same CAM software used for a multi-axis machine tool makes it unnecessary to “teach” the robot by jogging it manually from point to point and recording these point-to-point moves as the robot’s motion commands. Robotmaster is a software package that provides this CAD/CAM-based, off-line programming for robots. It runs fully integrated inside Mastercam CAM software for CNC machine tools.
Achieving Metal-Like Tolerances In Composite Parts
8/5/2008 Modern Machine Shop: On-machining probing compensates for uncertainty in machining operations in composites
Shop Races Ahead Using CAM Software
6/19/2008 Production Machining: In 1998, race car driver Robby Gordon wanted to make his own racing components, so with partners Larry Novak and Larry Kaford, he opened SR Machining in Anaheim, California. CNC Programmer Warren Myers arrived the first day, an hour before the shop’s first machine, a two-axis lathe. Because race car parts were insufficient to keep the lathe running at full capacity, the shop split its time evenly between racing components and parts for customers.

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Overview Of:
CAM for Production

CAM software for production is focused on programming machining centers, lathes and turn/mill machines to execute a variety of typically simple machining operations in the most efficient sequence possible. Milling, pocketing, slotting, drilling and OD and ID turning are all examples of operations that might apply to the machining cycle for a particular production part.

CAM software for production also often features tools for software automation, or knowledge-based machining. Many of the decisions necessary to machine a production part are repetitive, involving assigning particular tools and parameters for particular varieties of drilled holes or milled features. CAM software with some knowledge-based functionality can allow the programmer to input his “knowledge” about tool, process and parameter preferences for certain fundamental types of machined features, so that the software can recognize those features in the future and program them automatically, saving the programmer time.