Product category:
CAM, CNC and production management software
News Release from: Pathtrace Engineering Systems | Subject: EdgeCAM
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 02 May 2003
CADCAM links make light work for
programmers
The selection of EdgeCAM offline programming software has paid major dividends for Rolls-Royce Marines Michell Bearings business unit by virtually eliminating geometry creation by its programmers.
The selection by Rolls-Royce Marines Michell Bearings business unit of EdgeCAM offline programming software, from Pathtrace of Reading, has paid major dividends by virtually eliminating geometry creation by its programmers, improving both accuracy and quality levels and making the process of programming its CNC lathes, turning centres and machining centres less specialised EdgeCAM has been directly integrated with the company's Pro/Engineer 3D CAD system
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 3 May 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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Michell Bearings is a world-leader in the design and manufacture of self-contained white metal bearings and PTFE faced hydrodynamic bearings used in marine and industrial applications and exports 80% of its production.
The company employs 200 people and produces main propulsion thrust blocks, propeller shaft bearings, bearings for electric propulsion motors, diesel generators and alternators and gearbox bearings for marine applications.
It also produces industrial bearings for horizontal and vertical shaft electric machines, hydrogenerators, water turbines, pumps, industrial gearboxes, fans, gas and steam turbines and turbocompressors.
Specialising in shaft sizes between 50 and 1000mm diameter, its main production centres around the precision machining of quite large, up to 1400mm high by 1400mm wide by 1000mm long cast bearing housings in small batch sizes that range between one and eight parts.
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Stored tooling data improves CAM efficiency
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Michell also manufactures key internal elements such as thrust pads, spherical bushes and journal pads and is actively engaged in bearing refurbishment.
Prior to the installation of EdgeCAM last year, the Scotswood factory had a mix of programming software which project engineer Paul Bruce described as old proprietary CAM and was no longer supported by the supplier.
"We were also using a number of in-house developed programming systems for certain CNC machine tools.
However, while our own systems worked well enough, they were dedicated to specific types of machine which was restrictive and, to make matters worse, the engineers who had developed the software had left the company".
Michell Bearings decided it needed a modern, easy to use, solids-based programming system which could handle all 2 and 2.5D milling and two and three-axis turning demands.
When making the purchase it stipulated that the new system should integrate with its existing Pro/Engineer 3D CAD system.
Not only would this simplify working procedures but it would also mean any data on bearing design could be directly imported to programming stations without translation.
The company also demanded of its supplier that whichever system was considered it must promote multiskilling among its programmers and thus remove any divide between the different production processes and specific machine tools.
In addition it was expected to minimise the chance of programming errors as the part geometry was already defined and generally improve programming efficiency, therefore saving time with guaranteed technical support for the future.
Armed with a basic specification, Michell Bearings investigated a number of different offline programming systems.
Following detailed studies of several software packages, it was eventually decided that the Pathtrace system best met its all-round requirements largely due to the power of EdgeCAM and its simple functions to handle all turning and milling in a single environment.
It was a major bonus that EdgeCAM could read Pro/Engineer solid model files directly through its newly launched platform of EdgeCAM Solid Machinist for Pro/Engineer and enable automatic feature recognition, simplify data input and extraction and thus optimise programming efficiency.
According to Paul Bruce, the company was very impressed by Pathtrace's all-round approach to the initial enquiry, answering all the questions concerning programming, system integration, technical support and future enhancements.
"Pathtrace worked with us on trial tests over a couple of months so that we could familiarise ourselves with EdgeCAM's capability, which resulted in the order for four seats of the software.
Subsequently, Pathtrace has written special software routines which accommodate macros within the machine control systems", he said.
New part programs for the majority of its 19 CNC machines are now generated on EdgeCAM with design data directly imported from Pro/Engineer.
Machining operations on the cast bearing housings centre on profiling, facing, pocketing, boring and drilling with the processes being carried out on various CNC machines, including a large Ecocut borer.
Turning operations involve basic ID and OD machining of steel guides, pins and spherical bushes for various bearings as well as y-axis off-centre drilling and slot-type work which is required on certain rings and bushes.
Each CNC machine has a defined post-processor and tool database including speeds and feeds which has been built up from historical production data.
Part programs are downloaded from any of the four EdgeCAM seats.
While actual programming time benefits have not been measured, from Michell Bearings experience EdgeCAM is easily faster than its previous systems, but more importantly, the quality and accuracy of the programs is far higher and programming has become a much simpler and less specialised operation for certain machines.
In addition, the company has also benefited from the powerful visualisation and simulation capability of EdgeCAM and in particular, significant improvements in production and communication of programming set up details for the operators on the shop floor.
As Paul Bruce looks to the future, he outlines how Pathtrace is currently working on the development of automatic feature finding routines which can be applied to Michell Bearings' special radius-type work.
This will help in the production of some of the company's spherical bushes and cylindrical components which have certain features positioned on the curved surfaces.
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