Chinese PowerMILL 2012
to Debut at Shenzhen Machinery Expo
 BIRMINGHAM,
UK, Feb 1, 2012 - Delcam will
launch the Chinese language
version of its PowerMILL 2012
CAM system for high speed and
five-axis machining at the
Shenzhen Machinery Expo to be
held in Shenzhen from 28th to
31st March. The new release
includes a number of new
strategies, together with more
general enhancements to make
programming faster and machining
more efficient with the best
possible surface finish. For
full details, including videos
demonstrating the new
functionality,
click here.
The most important new option is flowline
machining. With flowline machining, the toolpath
is divided between a pair of drive curves in a
constant number of passes, rather than having a
varying number of passes with a constant
stepover. The toolpath will have its start and
end passes on the drive curves, with the
intermediate passes blending between them.
This approach gives smoother results since it
ensures that each pass travels over the full
length of the area, rather than leaving the part
or making major changes in direction during the
pass. It produces a better surface finish on the
part and minimizes wear on the cutter and the
machine tool.
In PowerMILL 2012, flowline machining can be
applied across part of a surface, across a
complete single surface or across multiple
surfaces. In addition, intermediate curves can
be added between the boundaries of the area to
give even greater control over the toolpaths.
These might be needed for particularly complex
fillets or when machining gently curved surfaces
to a smooth finish.
Another important new option in PowerMILL
2012 is the ability to control the angular point
distribution during five-axis machining. This
option can be used to keep the machine tool
moving smoothly when there is rapid angular
change in one of the rotary axes of the machine
tool. The problem occurs mainly when moving
around sharp corners but is also important when
the machine is operating near a vertical tool
axis. If the machine tool is near the gimbal
lock position, small movements in the tool-axis
vector can result in large movements in one of
the axes.
In both examples, smoother tool-axis changes
can be achieved by increasing the density of the
points in these areas. The user can specify the
maximum angle that the tool axis can move
between points. Extra points are inserted
automatically to ensure the specified maximum
angle is not exceeded. This gives a more
even movement of the machine and so gives a
better surface finish, with no risk of dwell
marks. The smoother motion also reduces wear on
the machine.
PowerMILL has offered an optional module for
automated machining of blades, blisks and
impellors for some time. This module has now
been enhanced with the addition of a spiral
machining strategy. This keeps the cutter on the
surface of the part for the complete operation
and so gives more even tool loading and a better
surface finish.
A more general enhancement is the ability to
use Bezier curves rather than polylines when
sketching geometry in PowerMILL. Bezier curves
give smoother boundaries, patterns and drive
curves, and so enable better quality toolpaths
to be produced.
Other enhancements in PowerMILL 2012 include
more control over the clearance distances
applied to the cutter and its holder. This is
especially desirable when machining near
vertical faces, as a smaller clearance can be
set for the shank, while still allowing a larger
clearance for the holder. It allows the shortest
safe cutter to be chosen, with no risk of
collisions. Using shorter cutters will usually
allow faster machining and minimize chatter so
giving a better surface finish.
In addition, thread milling options have been
added, and workplane editing, and Z height
selection and limiting, have been made easier.
It has also been made easier to obtain
measurements, including distances, angles and
directions, from the part model and enter these
values into forms automatically. Finally, the
use of the PowerMILL macro language to program
repeat operations has been extended to give
users more options to customize the system for
their particular needs.
For further information, visit
www.delcam.com.
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