Software provides more robust automation

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 8, 2005

When LH Corporation expanded its machine base it looked for CAM software that covered all of its technologies, while providing a more robust, automated solution.

LH Corporation, based in Dublin, Virginia, USA, has a wide range of CNC lathes and mills.

The company's existing CAM system provided limited functionality and produced NC code that still required substantial editing before being run on the machine.

The purchase of a new Agie Wire EDM machine made LH question whether it should look for a product that covered all of its technologies, while providing a more robust, automated solution.

Agie recommended PEPS SolidCut Wire to drive the Classic 2S, and Camtek confirmed that postprocessors were available to drive the other machines.

Clemens von Claparede, President, commented: "As PEPS was recommended for the Agie, and because of its 3D capabilities, we decided to investigate its suitability for our other machines".

"I did not want to throw good money after bad to upgrade the previous system as we were more or less hand coding due to the poor postprocessed code".

PEPS was installed at the same time as the Agie in the summer of 2004, and information on the existing machines was provided so that postprocessors for the other machines could be written.

Said Clemens; "Given the problems I'd had with our previous system I was pleased with the turnaround to get PEPS running all the machines".

"Within three months we had all systems being driven by PEPS and both programmers fully trained and competent".

"The people who wrote the postprocessors were excellent - they really understood the difficulties generally faced by a programmer".

"The support team were easy to work with and always available".

After the system had been running for a few months LH Corp started to notice a change in the overall programming process.

Clemens added: "Once we had familiarised ourselves with the system, all of a sudden it was apparent that it performed functions in a much more sophisticated way".

"Firstly, we no longer needed to manually reprogram jobs on the machine as PEPS was producing accurate code for all technologies".

"This, along with other aspects of the software reduced setup time at the machine by as much as 15%".

"Programming time in general was cut by a quarter due to the automation PEPS provided, which in turn also delivered a drop in overall errors".

"We no longer even allow manual programming because of the accuracy of PEPS".

Programmer Allen Gusler added: "Machine operators can understand the NC code better as it is written in a much clearer way, plus they can see an on-screen simulation before the job is run".

"Machine runtime was also reduced because there is less 'cutting of air' - PEPS can program the job to cut the most time-efficient path".

Customers work with a wide range of CAD systems, and previously LH Corp would have to redraw most components from scratch as it often could not read customer files.

"As PEPS was supplied with many standard translators we have been able to read most customer files, but where we've received CAD files in other formats we simply purchased the required filter and received it by e-mail", added Clemens.

"The functionality that PEPS has provided has allowed me to 'open my mouth wider' when talking to prospective clients".

"I can accept virtually any file formats, and those I don't have I can normally get translators for quickly".

"We can now also program 3D work, which was impossible in the past".

"In fact, we are still finding new benefits and new ways of working with the software", Clemens concluded.