CAM Does More in 2017
The latest advances in computer-aided manufacturing software
do more of the job of programming toolpaths while making such
work simpler for the machinist.
More? Machinists want more? When it comes to comput-
er-aided manufacturing (CAM) software, machinists want
more in terms of automatic toolpath generation and more
control over those toolpaths. They want more choices in
automated machining strategies, and accurate simulations of
those strategies to verify their choices. They want enhance-
ments to existing features, and context help and dialog boxes
to help them with those features.
The CAM software released for 2017 delivers on those goals.
Here are some highlights from three software packages.
BY LAWRENCE S. GOULD / Contributing Editor
EXTENDING THE EDGE
With Edgecam 2017 R1 from Vero Software ( edgecam.com ),
machinists no longer have to manually carry out the load,
insert, merge and rationalize commands when assembling
pre-existing parts. Instead, they can add pre-machined part
files and specify where to mount those parts on a multi-com-
ponent work-holding device (such as a dowel plate). Edgecam
will then merge and order all machining sequences by tool
or index position, and optimize the numerical control (NC)
output into subroutines.
In Edgecam 2017 R1, a
dialog box lets users add
pre-machined part files
and specify where those
parts are to be mounted
on a multi-component
work-holding device.
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