BIRMINGHAM, UK, Jan 16, 2015 – Delcam has released the 2015 R2 version of its PowerMILL programming software for five-axis and high-speed machining. The new release includes improvements in toolpath simulation and verification, area clearance and drilling, plus more options for customization by users.
For further details on PowerMILL 2015 R2, including video demonstrations of the new functionality, please go to www.delcam.tv/pm2015/lz.
In the 2015 R2 release, complete verification can be undertaken of a project for machine-tool issues such as collisions, rather than having to undertake verification of each individual toolpath in turn.
Comprehensive verification is performed, including ensuring that the machine tool is capable of running the proposed strategy, as well as checking for both machine-tool collisions and tooling collisions. A detailed list is generated of any problems found so that these can be fixed on a case-by-case basis.
In related improvement, automatic collision checking of area-clearance toolpaths now takes into account any remaining stock on a model, both when checking the cutter and the tool-holder. In addition, all tool-holder collision checking for area clearance takes place during toolpath calculation, allowing the user to ensure that these toolpaths can be completely free of tool-holder collisions.
Simulation has also been improved with the addition of the ability to simulate machine-tool movements as tool changes are executed. Again, a list of any problems found is produced so they can be corrected.
Two enhancements have been made to the drilling options in PowerMILL. Firstly, drilling calculations can now reference a stock model instead of the block, with toolpaths created from the point when the tool touches the stock. This reduces the time spent air cutting. Secondly, drills larger that the milling tool can be used when using drilling to create an entry point for area clearance. Alternatively, a larger entry hole can be created by helical ramping of the tool.
The options for user customization have been increased steadily over the last few releases of PowerMILL. These now include the ability to create keyboard shortcuts for menu items, toolbar items, custom commands or macros, allowing frequently-used commands to be accessed more quickly. Another new option allows expression fields to be added to custom toolbars.
About Delcam
Delcam is one of the world’s leading suppliers of CAM software and associated services, and also supplies systems for product design, tooling design, reverse engineering and inspection. The company has grown steadily since being founded formally in 1977, after initial development work at Cambridge University led by the late Donald Welbourn. It is now among the largest developers of product design and manufacturing software in the UK, with subsidiaries in America, Europe and Asia. Over 330 people are employed at Delcam’s Birmingham headquarters, with almost 400 staff working in the company’s overseas subsidiaries and around 200 more in its international joint ventures.
Delcam’s software and services help manufacturing companies to increase productivity, improve quality and reduce lead times. The company’s software is used in over 90 countries by more than 45,000 organizations. These customers range from multi-national corporations to independent designers, toolmakers and sub-contractors, and come from a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, electrical appliances, footwear, healthcare, motor sport, packaging, toys, sports equipment, jewellery and signmaking. On February 6, 2014, Delcam was acquired by Autodesk and now operates as a wholly-owned, independently-operated subsidiary.
For further information, please visit www.delcam.com.