Delcam to Preview PowerMILL 2016 at Mazak

delcamlogoBIRMINGHAM, UK, June 8, 2015 – Delcam will preview the 2016 version of its PowerMILL programming software for five-axis and high-speed machining at two free workshops on the Future of Machining to be held at Mazak’s European Technology Center in Worcester on June 24 and 25. The workshops will also cover the latest developments in modeling for manufacture with Delcam’s PowerSHAPE CAD software, the FeatureCAM feature-based programming system and the PowerINSPECT inspection software.

In addition, Mazak will describe its new SMOOTH TECHNOLOGY that is set to deliver an Mazak PowerMILL modelimproved operator experience and faster machining times. Each day will also include live machining demonstrations on Mazak machines incorporating SMOOTH TECHNOLOGY, plus a factory tour.

For further details on the Future of Machining workshops and to register, please go to www.delcam..co.uk/future.

The main enhancement in PowerMILL 2016 will be the ability to mirror complete machining projects in one operation and to maintain automatically the machining characteristics, for example to choose automatically whether climb or conventional milling should be used. Previously, only individual toolpaths could be mirrored.

Automatic mirroring will save considerable time whenever right- and left-hand versions are needed of a part or tool. It will also be faster to program the machining of symmetrical objects since it will be possible to program one half and then mirror the toolpaths to complete the program.

To ensure that the mirroring has performed as expected, the new option will be able to be used with the ability, introduced in PowerMILL 2015 R2, to undertake complete verification of a project for machine-tool issues such as collisions. Comprehensive verification can be performed, including ensuring that the machine tool is capable of running the mirrored toolpaths, as well as checking for both machine-tool collisions and tooling collisions.

PowerMILL 2015 R2 also saw the introduction of the ability to simulate machine-tool movements as tool changes are executed. The capability has been enhanced in the 2016 release by allowing more complex tool changes to be simulated, in particular those involving a carousel mechanism.

Other improvements to simulation in PowerMILL 2016 include a new form to print out the position of the cutting-tool tip during simulation, an auto-translucency option that will allow viewing of the table attach point at all times and the ability to draw translucently the safe areas for rapid moves.

Development work has continued on the optional modules for PowerMILL as well as to the main program. In particular, a new, more efficient strategy to machine single blades has been developed for the Blades, Blisks & Impellors module, and a constant-Z machining option has been added to the module for programming the machining of ribs into tooling.

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, jewelry 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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *