US show to see demos and presentations on CAM software featuring functionality that emphasises higher cutting speeds, longer tool life and suitability to increasingly complex geometry.
DP Technology is to feature its latest CAM software, Esprit 2006 and Esprit Mold, at Eastec 2006 in West Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, from 23rd to 25th May. The firm will be running demos and giving informative presentations on stand 5404. Featuring functionality that emphasises higher cutting speeds, longer tool life and suitability to increasingly complex geometry, Esprit 2006 is comprehensive in its ability to handle advanced machine tools and demanding machining applications.

Esprit Mold is the latest release within the Esprit CAM software family, and incorporates over 12 years of accumulated expertise and comprehensive technology within the areas of three-axis, five-axis and high-speed machining.

Using knowledge of in-process stock, remaining material and integrated simulation and verification, Esprit Mold delivers fast, safe and reliable programming for a wide variety of 3D machining applications.

With 20 milling strategies, it automatically manages the in-process stock model, allowing the user to combine milling strategies from 2.5 to five axes for optimised tool paths.

The 3+2 machining is optimised for improved surface finish using A and B axes to incline the cutting tools.

The use of shorter, more rigid cutting tools and direct machining of undercut areas is therefore possible.

With security, all rapid movements between machining zones, even with different index angles, are automatically generated collision free with respect to the in-process stock.

Developments within Esprit 2006 include grooving cycles added to support advances in cutting tool geometry and machine tool design, including machines capable of turning while using a B axis.

These grooving cycles offer the following functions: any-tool orientation using a B axis; pre-finish options; expanded finish pass control enhanced for NC compensation; optimised step-over calculations; additional roughing patterns; and support for casting stock.

Sescoi appoints its first reseller for Myworkplan in France and seeks distributors and resellers in international markets
Sescoi is pleased to announce the appointment of Sweetcom, their first reseller in the French market for MyWorkPLAN, the new job management solution for small to medium size custom manufacturers and engineering offices. Based near Tours in France, Sweetcom offers a range of innovative software and services to industry customers and was immediately impressed by the new job management solution, which is both easy to learn and quick to implement. Jean Martin, Sales and Marketing Director of Sweetcom, commented, 'At long last there's a well thought through software solution aimed at smaller companies'.

'Time/cost reduction and resource management are the main preoccupations of company managers and engineering offices working on a project basis'.

'MyWorkPLAN will enable SMBs to better manage these constant challenges without having to invest in a cumbersome computer solution'.

'MyWorkPLAN takes into account the existing set up within the company so it is immediately productive'.

'After just a few days training users can exploit the software to its full potential'.

'For these reasons Sweetcom is delighted to offer MyWorkPLAN to its customers.' Catherine Marko, Managing Director of Sescoi France, stated: 'We are delighted to be working with Sweetcom to bring MyWorkPLAN to market'.

'We anticipate strong demand as it was developed in direct collaboration with customers and fits their needs exactly'.

'Sescoi has identified the optimal approach to job management and built MyWorkPLAN around this' Sescoi is actively seeking distributors and resellers for MyWorkPLAN in all countries.

MyWorkPLAN offers a number of attractive benefits to distribution partners.

Extensive test marketing in France, Germany and the UK has already proven a strong demand from custom manufacturing SMBs for whom there are currently little or no job management systems which meet their very specific requirements on the market.

MyWorkPLAN is also affordably priced, with a range of flexible purchasing options, and provides a fast and obvious return on investment.

The solution has been designed to be easy to learn, use and implement and as such it represents a very low training overhead - one day is typically all that is required for experienced sales and support professionals to learn the product.

Jordi Ferrer, Sescoi International's business development manager, stated 'Sescoi has invested heavily in MyWorkPLAN product development, sales and technical support and this new solution represents an excellent long term business opportunity for distribution partners'

Renishaw is focusing on time and throughput issues at the Eastec show in West Springfield, USA, with products that will significantly reduce inspection times on CNC machine tools.
Renishaw is focusing on time and throughput issues at the Eastec show in West Springfield, USA, with products that will significantly reduce inspection times on CNC machine tools and allow them to run unmanned under full process control. Other breakthrough products at the show, which runs from 23rd to 25th May, include a new angle encoder and high accuracy linear encoder for precision position feedback, and new software for motion system analysis. The new TRS1 tool breakage detection system allows manufacturers to run machine tools unmanned, with complete confidence that cutting tools damaged during a machining cycle will be quickly detected, eliminating the risk of scrapped parts.

This innovative new unit projects a beam of laser light at a tool and monitors the scattered light that is reflected, to determine if the tool has been broken.

It uses tool recognition technology that distinguishes between the tool and coolant or swarf/metal chips, and is also fast and reliable under real machining conditions.

More reliable than conventional noncontact systems, visitors to Eastec will see that the TRS1 comprises a single unit containing the laser source and detection electronics, enabling it to be mounted outside of the working envelope, safe from collision and saving valuable space on the table.

At Eastec, Renishaw is also showing two new PC-based software products that offer significant time savings for users of machine tool probe systems.

Productivity+ Active Editor Pro is part of Renishaw's new generation of easy-to-use probing and process control software, which targets the entire spectrum of probe users.

The CAD front-end allows features to be identified with a single click, and the drag-and-drop interface uses the measured data to update machine parameters.

The result is a fully integrated metal cutting and probing program, which allows a machine tool to make intelligent decisions on the fly.

Renishaw OMV is a verification package that gives machine tool users powerful CMM-style 3D verification against a CAD model.

The software is targeted at manufacturers of complex and large parts, such as mould tools, and combines freeform and geometric features.

A straightforward point-and-click approach means that the user can see the inspection path as it is generated, and make changes if required.

In combination with Renishaw's nonlobing, high accuracy spindle touch probes, such as the MP700 and new OMP400 ultra-compact touch probe, Renishaw OMV provides unrivalled accuracy of part verification on machine tools.

Renishaw's new Signum family of rotary and linear position feedback encoders will also be shown at Eastec, both offering ruggedness and precision that deliver levels of performance previously possible only from fine-pitch systems too delicate for many industrial roles.

All encoders feature comprehensive Signum software that enables optimum setup and real-time system diagnostics via a PC's USB port The Signum RESM angular encoder is a one-piece stainless steel ring with 20 micron scale marked directly on the periphery.

It features the In-Trac optical reference mark, which repeats, regardless of direction, at operational speeds of over 4500rev/min (52mm diameter) and up to 85C.

The Signum RELM high accuracy linear encoder comprises the SR readhead, Si interface and 20um RELM scale, which is offered in defined lengths.

Initially available in Invar, which provides a low thermal expansion of 1.4um/m/C, the RELM scale is offered with a choice of In-Trac reference mark positions and dual optical limits.

Together with the robust, yet highly precise 20um spars, this enables the RELM to offer accuracy to +/-1um and resolution to 20nm, satisfying the most demanding precision motion requirements.

For visitors to Eastec looking at solutions to analyse precision motion systems, QuickView is a unique software package from Renishaw designed to make their ML10 laser an even more flexible and powerful analysis tool.

For years, electronic engineers have relied on oscilloscopes to study high-speed variations in voltage or current.

Now, QuickView software provides mechanical engineers with a similar capability, allowing them to study minute variations in linear or angular displacement, velocity or acceleration.

With a simple graphical interface QuickView allows very flexible operation, avoiding the need for predefined measurement targets and sequences - just point and measure, ideal for ad-hoc system investigations.

Using PowerShape, CopyCAD and PowerMill five-axis software, South India Surgical Company needs just two engineers to meet all its design and manufacturing requirements with ease.
Delcam software has been chosen by South India Surgical Company for reverse engineering and high-speed machining at its state-of-the art factory in Chennai, India. Popularly known as SISCO, the company has been a pioneer in India's surgical industry for the past six decades. It manufactures a wide range of surgical instruments in factories across the country, as well as in the main facility in Chennai.

Last year, SISCO needed to upgrade its factory to meet growing demand for its instruments, both in India and abroad.

The company added two high-speed, four-axis Chiron CNC machines to speed up the manufacture of its high-precision instruments.

It also decided to reverse engineer some of its specialty, hand-made instruments to produce CAD data for automated manufacture.

After a long exercise of evaluation, coupled with questioning of other local manufacturers, SISCO decided that Delcam was the only available source of software with local support for all its requirements in reverse engineering, complex 3D design and multi-axis machining.

Delcam India has a regional office in Chennai, which already was a leading supplier of CADCAM software to the local tool and die industry.

SISCO, along with Delcam staff from the Chennai office, implemented a high-speed manufacturing facility, which has been producing high-precision, high-quality surgical instruments for the last year.

With PowerShape, CopyCAD and PowerMill five-axis software, the company needs just two engineers to meet all its design and manufacturing requirements with ease.

One typical success story was the machining of a microvascular surgical component made of stainless steel.

Measuring less than 5mm in diameter and just 8mm in length, this complex component had to be mass-produced from forged rods at high speed.

Delcam met the challenge head on to bring success from design to manufacture in the shortest possible cycle time.

Mr Suresh, production engineer at SISCO, commented: 'Delcam is the easiest and the most reliable software that can address all the requirements of high-speed, multi-axis machining, and can maximum our productivity'.

SISCO will use its new facilities to continue expanding its product line and volume, and so meet the global demand for its surgical equipment.

Delcam will demonstrate the latest developments in its CADCAM systems for the design and manufacture of metal and composite aerospace components at the Airtec exhibition.
Delcam will demonstrate the latest developments in its CADCAM systems for the design and manufacture of metal and composite aerospace components at the Airtec exhibition to be held in Frankfurt from 17th to 22nd October 2006. Like all areas of manufacturing, aerospace companies and their subcontractors are under pressure to increase productivity, reduce costs, improve quality and shorten delivery times. At the exhibition, Delcam will show how its software can help meet these demands.

New developments on display for those involved with composites manufacture will include easy-to-use methods for the generation of 2D patterns for prepregs from 3D models of components, improved nesting to ensure the most economic use of materials cut from sheet, and an increased range of five-axis machining methods, both for the manufacture of patterns and tooling, and also for the trimming and drilling of composite parts.

The techniques for the generation of 2D patterns from 3D CAD models within Delcam's PowerShape CAD system are based on un-wrapping techniques first developed for the footwear industry to allow the cutting of leather shapes from shoe designs.

They provide quick and easy methods for the creation of the prepreg designs needed for the manufacture of complex, curved shapes.

The 2D patterns can then be arranged to give the most cost-effective use of material with new nesting functionality.

For both tooling manufacture and finish machining, the range of five-axis machining methods in Delcam's PowerMill CAM software gives the user better control over cutting conditions as well as helping to minimise excessive movement of the machine head that can reduce machining rates.

Five-axis drilling has also been improved to give faster drilling and more comprehensive hole recognition from a wider range of CAD systems.

The increased range of five-axis machining techniques will also benefit companies manufacturing complex metal components, including aerostructures, engine components, and blades and blisks.

These strategies allow complex shapes to be machined in fewer set-ups and so give greater machining productivity, as well as significantly reducing the time and cost of preparing fixtures.

Another important advantage of five-axis machining with Delcam's latest strategies is that they enable shorter cutting tools to be used.

As a result, higher cutting speeds can be achieved without putting excessive load on the cutter, so increasing tool life and reducing breakages.

The use of shorter cutters also reduces the vibration of the tool that can result when machining deep cores or cavities with three-axis machines.

This allows a higher quality surface finish to be obtained, so reducing, or even eliminating, the need for time-consuming hand finishing.

Five-axis machining can also be used to machine extremely complex parts from solid that would otherwise have to be cast.

For prototypes and very small runs, this approach is much quicker and cheaper.

It can give lead times of one or two weeks, instead of two months or more that would be needed for castings.

In the inspection area, Delcam will highlight new developments in its PowerInspect software that can speed and simplify quality control throughout the manufacturing process, both when inspecting with conventional inspection equipment and when undertaking on-machine verification.

PowerInspect has become established as the preferred inspection solution for both large and small companies within the aerospace industry because it offers considerable advantages over alternative programs.

First, it is completely hardware independent, allowing companies with a variety of inspection devices to use the same software on all their equipment.

This reduces training requirements and also makes it easier to establish and maintain standardised formats for all reports.

Secondly, it can meet all the different inspection needs, including checking of geometric features, sections and edges, as well as surfaces.

Thirdly, the software is extremely flexible.

Reports with pictorial, graphical and tabulated data can be produced to recognised international standards or in any customer-specified format.

This flexibility ensures that the resulting reports can be easily understood by everyone involved in collecting or analysing inspection data.

Welding power sources and wire feeders are developed for professional users working with general welding applications requiring welding currents of up to 300A and wire diameters up to 1.2mm.
ESAB has launched the Origo Mig C3000i integrated welding power source and wire feeder, the Origo Mig L3000i power source, and the Origo Feed L3004 wire feed unit for use in conjunction with the Origo Mig L3000i. These have all been developed specifically for professional users working with general welding applications requiring welding currents of up to 300A and wire diameters up to 1.2mm. The new machines are compact, easy to use, reliable and deliver outstanding welding performance.

Typical applications include automotive repair, light metal fabrication, transport, education, household goods and tack welding.

Both the Origo Mig C3000i and L3000i power sources are equipped with a user-friendly man-machine communication panel for setting the MIG welding parameters.

With the MA23A panel, the QSet facility automatically sets the correct welding parameters for the wire/gas combination in response to the wire feed speed set by the user.

Not only does this make the machines simple to use and quick to set up, but it also minimises weld spatter.

Inverter IBGT technology is used in the power sources to deliver a combination of outstanding welding characteristics and high reliability.

If the separate power source and wire feed are selected, connection cables up to 15m can be used to enable a large working radius to be utilised.

So as to guarantee the correct arc voltage is applied regardless of any voltage drop in the cables, ESAB's TrueArcVoltage system is incorporated for use with an ESAB PSF water-cooled gun.

Accessories available for the new machines include remote controls, wheel kits, trolleys, strain relief for the welding gun and connection cables, a feeder stand, spool cover, and adapters for larger wire spools or ESAB's Marathon Pac bulk wire containers.

Renishaw will introduce the Russian market to its latest productivity solutions for machine tools, when it attends the Metalloobrabotka exhibition, being held in Moscow from 23rd to 27th May 2006.
Formally known as the 9th International Exhibition of Equipment, Instruments and Tools for the Metalworking Industry, Metalloobrabotka 2006 aims to boost the development of the Russian market for metalworking tools and equipment, raise the competitive capacity of Russian-made goods, and encourage international investors to participate in machine-building technology projects. Renishaw's main focus at Metalloobrabotka will be new products for CNC machine tools, including OMP60, a compact touch probe for machining centres and mill-turn machines and the new TRS1 tool recognition system for high-speed tool breakage detection.

Other products to be shown include Renishaw's QC10 ballbar system for the fast analysis of machine tool performance, the ML10 laser interferometer measurement system for machine calibration, and a new angle encoder for precision position feedback on rotary axes.

The OMP60 touch probe is the first of a new generation of optical transmission products designed for compatibility with all current Renishaw optical receivers and next generation optical systems.

It brings the benefits of probing to a wide range of machine tools, offering users setup time reductions of up to 90%, reduced scrap, reduced fixture costs, and improved process control.

Also on show is a new system for tool breakage detection.

Renishaw's new TRS1 system projects a beam of laser light at a tool and monitors the scattered light that is reflected to determine if the tool has been broken.

This new tool recognition technology distinguishes between the tool and coolant or swarf, whilst it is also fast and reliable under real machining conditions.

More reliable than conventional noncontact systems, the TRS1 comprises a single unit containing the laser source and detection electronics, enabling it to be mounted outside of the working envelope, safe from collision and saving valuable space on the table.

Visitors to Metalloobrabotka can also see the Renishaw QC10 ballbar, which has established itself as an industry standard system for rapid machine tool performance analysis and diagnosis, in a test that typically takes 15 minutes.

The ballbar attaches magnetically between the machining centre's spindle and table, and tracks machine movement to +/-0.5um.

A simple CNC circular program is run which allows the ballbar software to calculate machine circularity error, servo gain mismatch, vibration, stick-slip errors, backlash, repeatability and scale mismatch, as well as machine geometry.

Renishaw's ML10 laser interferometer measurement system is used by some of the largest OEMs and end users in industries such as metal cutting, semiconductor processing, flat panel display production and biotechnology.

The ML10's unique properties ensure that the system provides a linear position reading resolution of just 1.24nm, a range of up to 40m and accuracy better than 1ppm.

This combination of resolution, accuracy and range makes the laser interferometer an ideal tool for characterising the performance of motion systems, both large and small.

For visitors to Metalloobrabotka requiring precision motion system analysis, QuickView is a new software package from Renishaw designed to make the ML10 laser an even more flexible and powerful analysis tool.

For years, electronic engineers have relied on oscilloscopes to study high-speed variations in voltage or current.

Now, QuickView software provides mechanical engineers with a similar capability, allowing them to study minute variations in linear or angular displacement, velocity or acceleration.

With a simple graphical interface QuickView allows very flexible operation, avoiding the need for predefined measurement targets and sequences - just point and measure, ideal for ad-hoc system investigations.

Offering high speed, noncontact performance, combined with advanced features including the In-Trac auto-phase optical reference mark, Renishaw's new Signum range of encoders, includes the high accuracy RESM optical angle encoder.

The RESM is a one-piece stainless steel ring with 20um graduations marked axially on the periphery, offering accuracy to +/-0.5arc-sec and resolution and repeatability to 0.02arc-sec.

It is highly suitable for visitors to Metalloobrabotka involved with precision applications, including machine tool rotary axes.

The In-Trac reference mark is repeatable in both directions at speeds over 3600rev/min (52mm diameter) and up to 85C.

Held with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Energy of the Russian Federation, Metalloobrabotka 2006 includes a wide range of exhibits categories, including metalworking and metalcutting equipment, laser equipment, foundry equipment, thermal treatment and coatings, control and measuring machinery, welding equipment, tooling, CAD/CAM software, and metalforming equipment.

Anderson Packaging uses FeatureCAM for tooling design and manufacture.
Anderson Packaging's reputation as a premier provider of packaging solutions for major pharmaceutical companies around the globe has made it one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical contract packagers in the USA. The company, which is based in Rockford, Illinois, uses Delcam's FeatureCAM software to offer full-service outsourcing that ranges from new product launches to ongoing full-scale production including validation, processing and tooling. Anderson Packaging credits its commitment to customer responsiveness as the key factor in its success.

With full in-house design and sample creation capabilities, the company speeds the packaging development process to bring customer products to market in the shortest amount of time possible.

Using a total project management approach, it provides responsive and progressively superior packaging solutions for its customers.

To expedite the process of package development for its customers, Anderson uses FeatureCAM for tooling design and manufacture.

Customers can work directly with engineers to easily apply modifications during the initial phase of development.

Approved designs then move quickly to prototyping for hands-on evaluation of samples with full graphics layout.

Once the packaging design is approved, a complete set of tooling is built specifically for that customer with FeatureCAM.

This includes moulds, dies and tooling for automated production.

Anderson applies the software across its product range, including blister packs, pouches, bottles and blister cards.

With on-site tooling fabrication facilities, customers are offered the advantage of faster response times, while keeping costs at a minimum.

By integrating its engineering and tooling fabrication capabilities and bringing the work in-house, Anderson Packaging can offer exceptionally innovative solutions for its customers as well as faster product launches and consistent production performance.

A new technology from ESAB is revolutionising the way welding parameters are optimised for short-arc welding.
QSet, which is believed to be unique, offers the potential for significant setup time savings, as no trial-and-error set-up procedures are required, plus it can offer improved weld quality, reduce the need for post-weld cleaning and enable operators to produce high-quality joints with minimal set-up time and maximum productivity. All the operator has to do is select the wire feed speed and QSet automatically sets the correct welding parameters for the given wire/gas combination.

All valid wire/gas combinations can be used.

There are no synergic lines, just a single knob to set the wire feed speed and obtain the optimum welding parameters.

Nevertheless, the operator can still elect to modify arc length by means of a voltage trim control.

A further benefit of QSet is that the control algorithms maintain a constant power in the arc and depth of penetration, even if the contact tip distance changes.

Because the arc stability is closely controlled, there is also less weld spatter and, therefore, less post-weld cleaning.

Initially QSet is being incorporated within the MA23A control panel that is fitted to the Origo Mig C3000i power source and the Origo Mig 3000i power source used in conjunction with the Origo Feed L3004 A wide variety of users will benefit from QSet.

For example, it is ideal for MIG brazing, which is now employed extensively in the automotive repair sector for repairing galvanised steel body panels due to the reduced heat input distortion and burn-off of the zinc galvanising.

QSet also offers better characteristics for welding with CO2 were the stable short arc reduces spatter and consequently minimises the amount of after treatment work required.