Product category:
CAM, CNC and production management software
News Release from: Delcam
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 21 December 2005
Delcam set for machining demo in
Singapore
Delcam to demonstrate five-axis machining and adaptive machining on the Society of British Aerospace Companies' stand at the Aerospace Asia exhibition in Singapore from 21st to 26th February.
Delcam will demonstrate five-axis machining and adaptive machining on the Society of British Aerospace Companies' stand at the Aerospace Asia exhibition in Singapore from 21st to 26th February The techniques are based on Delcam's Powermill CAM system and Powerinspect hardware-independent inspection software
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 6 Mar 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
CAM software upgrades three- and five-axis work
The latest version of the PowerMill CAM system incorporates new and improved functionality for roughing and finishing with both three-axis and five-axis machines.
CAM system set for major upgrade
Delcam will launch a new version of its PowerMill CAM system at the EMO exhibition to be held in Hanover from 14th to 21st September.
The recent release of Powermill 6 provides strategies for positional and continuous five-axis machining of aerospace components.
The range includes: machining through a point or to a point, or to or from a line or curve; programming using a reference surface; swarf machining; and five-axis trimming, pocketing and drilling.
Applications include the manufacture of complex blades, blisks and aerostructures, finish machining of engine ports and pumps, and trimming and drilling of composite components.
Further reading
Software offers multiple modelling techniques
Having all the different modelling techniques in a single package reduces the need to transfer data between multiple programs and so streamlines the whole product development process
CAD software receives press design update
Delcam Toolmaker CAD software's deep-draw press tool design updates shorten design time by providing dedicated functionality for many of the tasks involved in preparing the tooling.
Recent additions include the ability to program swarf machining with tapered tools.
These tool are useful when machining undercut areas as they avoid the need to use a long, thin tool for finishing that would otherwise be needed.
They allow more material to be removed than a tipped cutter, with less risk of rubbing on adjacent surfaces.
For all its five-axis machining options, Powermill incorporates automatic adjustment of tilt angles for both lead and lean; lead is measured in the cutting direction, lean at right angles to the cutting direction.
Control of lead angle gives better cutting conditions, while the lean angle can be used to avoid collisions.
It also includes safety features to ensure that five-axis machining can be programmed without risk of gouging.
The machine simulation option includes collision checking between the various parts of the machine tool and the model, as well as ensuring that the machine does not attempt to move outside its operating limits.
The software works with the full range of cutting tools, including end mills, tapered tools and ball-nose and off-centre, tipped-radius cutters.
Adaptive machining allows the production and repair of complex components by using in-process measurement.
The most common applications are those where the exact position of the workpiece on the machine tool bed is unknown.
Adaptive machining can also be applied when the exact starting shape is unknown following near net shape manufacturing processes, such as casting and forging, or imprecise repair techniques, such as welding.
The main requirement here is to allow an even distribution of material to be removed around the stock to avoid over-machining in some areas and under-machining in others.
Benefits include the ability to give a smooth transition between machined and un-machined areas, a reduction in air cutting and improved control over the feed rate as the cutter enters and leaves the material.
The morphing functionality in Delcam's Powershape hybrid modeller can be used to bring the CAD model into line with the actual geometry.
Toolpaths can be generated with Powermill for the areas to be machined. Request free introductory details about products from Delcam ...
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