Archive for the ‘Computer Aided Manufacturing’ Category

JETCAM International s.a.r.l. today announced the forthcoming availability of the latest version V16 of its Expert CADCAM and nesting software for all CNC punching and profiling machines.

January 28, 2008 — The latest version V16, under the slogan of ‘Twice the power of V8’, includes a raft of new features aimed at providing enhanced functionality for interactive tasked and further automation for users looking for semi or completely unmanned solutions. JETCAM will also be increasing the number of end user releases in 2008, ensuring that customers can immediately take advantage of each new feature as soon as it is available.

JETCAM Expert V16’s sequencing routines have been optimised to further improve the cutting path which can considerably reduce the overall cutting time of complex nests. A new reporting engine has also been included to provide comprehensive and customisable reports. A report designer is included, where users can simply drag and drop the required fields or tables of information onto the page. Single component or complete nest images can also be added. Reports of any size or format can be generated, including labels for single label printers.

Further development specific to punching machines has also been announced. Automatic tooling placement logic has been further optimised, providing users of punching machines with the same level of automation as profiling machines. Tools are automatically placed on the component based on highly configurable parameters. This information is then carried through to all related nests – if the component is updated then this is automatically reflected on the nest. ‘Tool teach mode’ further enhances the automatic tooling facilities by allowing JETCAM to ‘learn’ a user’s preferred method of tooling a particular contour.

JETCAM’s free form high performance nesting module (FFHPN) for V16 has also undergone further development, with the latest release offering even greater efficiencies. With metal prices increasing even a 1% material saving can quickly mount up to a considerable amount. JETCAM is also offering prospective customers a free ‘nesting benchmark comparison’ whereby they will compare a user’s existing nests with one created through FFHPN.

Commented Mike Weber, Managing Director JETCAM International s.a.r.l.; “These features in Release V16, when combined allow a JETCAM Expert system to rapidly become self-sufficient. It intelligently and accurately applies logic so that the whole CAM process can become truly hands-off, especially when JETCAM’s Remote Control Processing (RCP) system is employed. With our knowledge of the complexities of today’s powerful CNC machines this frees the operator for other tasks, maximises machine runtime and reduces material waste. For any size of organisation this level of automation has to be their goal to remain competitive in today’s climate of cost reductions. Companies employing manufacturing efficiency methodologies such as ‘Six Sigma’ will benefit from a system that provides a data-driven approaches to problem solving with a focus on customer impact. Any business purchase has to be justified by return on investment, and JETCAM continues to deliver this in three key areas: material utilisation, machine cycle time and programming time.”

V16 will be available for download from the JETCAM.com web site in February 2008. Existing customers under maintenance will be able to download the software immediately at no cost. Customers out of maintenance need only to purchase a maintenance contract to gain access to the latest features – there is no additional upgrade price to pay.

For more information please contact Martin Bailey at Email Contact. Product box shots and company logos are available for immediate download from www.jetcam.com/logos.htm.

Contact information:

JETCAM International
Terrasses du Port
2 Avenue des Ligures
MC98000
Monaco

Tel : +44 870 760 6469

Web: www.jetcam.com

E-mail: Email Contact

A company, which has taken over the UK agency for the Japanese Nisshinbo CNC punching machines, press brakes and shears, recommends Radan’s CAD/CAM systems for their programming

Machine tool trading company RPA has been involved in the sheet metalworking market for some 17 years, specialising in the supply of CNC punch presses. The company recommends Radan’s powerful sheet metal CAD/CAM software. RPA’s chief engineer. John Nobles, said: ‘Well established worldwide, Radan’s success lies in its wealth of industry experience.

It was established when NC machines had computers the size of an office and only 52k of memory.

Yet the company is so on top of today’s ‘game’ that, in the heart of China, it was already proven on Yawei machines months before Nisshinbo-Japan had given the punch presses its seal of approval for export to Europe and the US’.

RPA’s team of machine tool engineers supports the whole range of CNC sheet metalworking machines, as follows.

* press brakes (brake presses).

* Guillotines.

* Laser cutting and profiling systems.

* De-coilers.

* Plasma-arc cutting machines.

* punching machines and CNC turret punch presses.

RPA’s main business activity revolves around a continuous machine rebuild programme buying used machines, subjecting them to a full ‘blueprint’ refurbishment and then recommissioning them as warranted rebuilds.

Six years ago Nisshinbo withdrew from the European machine tool market and appointed RPA as its sole agent for punching machines, press brakes and shears for the UK, Ireland and the Middle East.

This involves holding all of the machine records and an extensive stock of consigned spares.

Meanwhile, Nisshinbo set up an engineering base within Yawei Machine Tools of China to oversee the redesign and manufacture of a new range of punching machines.

RPA’s general sales manager, Sonny Brown, said: ‘We were also appointed as Yawei-Nisshinbo agent for the UK, providing sales and support and continuing to recommend Radan to all of our customers.

The re-introduction of the Nisshinbo machines to the UK market has resulted in the two companies working much closer together’.

RPA’s initial launch of Nisshinbo equipment will concentrate on the HPI and HPH range of punching machines.

This CNC hydraulic 300kN (30 tonf) punching machine design has an all bridge-framed structure and has axis ranges of 1250 x 1250mm to 1500 x 2500mm.

Competitively priced, they carry even higher specifications than the earlier Nisshinbos, said RPA.

The design includes the following features.

* Powered clamps and tool hoists.

* Brush tables.

* Lowered die mounts for easy changing.

* Multiplicity of auto-index stations.

* Twin-track turret layouts.

‘The machine rebuild programme continues, but we have found it necessary to introduce material handling as an option,’ said Nobles.

‘Our customers are now able to purchase affordable used machines with all the facilities offered with new equipment and the ability to work ‘lights out”.

Nobles added: ‘This has involved more extensive use of Radan software, as the customer requires a more holistic approach to the introduction of part programming onto the shop floor’.

* About RPA – since 1990 Berkshire-based machine tool trading company RPA Limited has specialised in the supply and support of both new and warranted rebuild CNC punch presses.

Please visit .

* About Radan – Radan is the most powerful sheet metal CAD/CAM software in the world, helping customers increase their material utilisation and reduce inventory and offers a significant return on investment.

Radan is a principal brand of the Planit Group recently ranked by CIMdata as the worl’’s fastest growing CAM vendor, with most industrial users.

* About Planit – Planit is a global supplier of design and manufacturing software for the engineering, woodworking and stone industries.

The company provides its customers with products and services that enable them to improve the productivity of their machine tools, shorten design and manufacturing time, optimise material usage and deliver high quality goods and services to their customers.

Planit’s solutions are best-in-class within their respective markets and are integral to the success of thousands of companies of every size around the globe. Request a free brochure from Radan Computational….

With Manual Guide i, the current Fanuc GE CNC controllers can be directly programmed onsite in a simple manner – regardless of whether turning, milling or combining machining processes

Manual Guide i, a user-friendly workshop programming from Fanuc GE, is constantly being developed. In addition to the improvement of diverse machining and milling cycles, it has new functions for multi-channel turning as well as programming in the tilted working plane. With Manual Guide i, the current Fanuc GE CNC controllers can be directly programmed onsite in a simple manner – regardless of whether turning, milling or combined machining processes will be carried out.

Thanks to the basic module and the modules for turning and milling, a user can limit himself to the essentials.

Each module initialises all cycles, leaving the user to easily and quickly program the respective machining process.

* All machining functions on one screen – the ‘all-in-one-screen-design’ provides the user with an overview of all machine functions on one screen.

On this an operator can read all axis positions and rotating speeds, detect where the machine currently is in the program, and display the tool paths or the workpiece in 3D in the simulation window.

To constantly maintain an overview, a bar with soft-keys facilitates intuitive menu selection. This also applies for multichannel turning operations.

* Intelligent functions – for the Series 0i-TTC CNC controller, Manual Guide i makes intelligent functions available, which simplify two-channel turning.

A process table, for example, displays the relation between the spindle and the turret via a timeline.

Standby times and travel paths can also be included.

An additional screen mask serves for simulation: both tool paths can be simultaneously displayed in the 3D model, which primarily serves for NC program control.

Lastly, the all-in-one-screen-design provides an overview on co-ordinates, machine status and the executed programs for both channels.

Even for three-channel turning, which is possible with the Series 30i CNC controller, Manual Guide i makes the corresponding functions available.

* Tilted work plane – there are new functions for tilted working plane (TWP).

With Manual Guide i, the TWP can not only be determined via Eulerian angles but also via the roll, pitch and yaw command (RPY), three points in the space, two vectors, angle projection or the tool axis direction.

In order to be able to easily utilise these options, Fanuc GE has developed a guidance screen which graphically supports the operator while requesting the required data from him in a dialogue.

Also new is the realistic simulation of the generated NC program for the tilted working plane.

It can either be shown as tool paths or as a shaded display.

* About Fanuc GE CNC: – Fanuc GE CNC is a leading global supplier in factory automation.

These include products and solutions for the machine tool market based on a wide range of CNCs, motion control products, monitoring and control software products, CO2 lasers and services.

Fanuc GE CNC is a joint venture between GE and FANUC and the company’s European headquarters are at Fanuc GE CNC Europe in Luxembourg.

Southfield, MICHIGAN, February 6, 2008: Planit announced today that it will demonstrate the latest releases of Edgecam and Radan in booth 3076 at the WESTEC Advanced Productivity Exposition, taking place on March 31 – April 3, 2008, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California. This premier event presents manufacturing & metalworking technologies used in the production of world-class products. WESTEC is expected to attract manufacturing professionals ranging from company executives to production engineers.

Edgecam will demonstrate Version 12 of its market-leading CAM system for solids based manufacturing, which expands on its 5-axis machining capabilities and delivers improved CAD data management, faster toolpath generation and new options for hole cycle optimization. Edgecam Version 12 extends the range of 5-axis machine tool support to include head/table configurations for both simultaneous and positional work. This is supported by full machine simulation to aid visualization of the machining process and verify work setup. The complete machine can be displayed, including all table/head and tool movements, helping to ensure safe operation and process optimization.

Radan will demonstrate the newly released version of its industry leading CAD/CAM software for sheet metal applications. Radan 08 delivers improved processing times, enhanced 3D import capabilities and significant nesting improvements. Radan will also demonstrate advancements to RadbendCNC, its off-line press brake programming package.

Education and training are critical to production and cost efficiency. The WESTEC conference includes SME-sponsored technical programming addressing advanced manufacturing technologies and processes. WESTEC is co-sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA).

# # #

About Planit
Planit is the world’s largest supplier of design and manufacturing software for the engineering, woodworking and stone-cutting industries, with more than 85,000 industrial seats installed at thousands of customer sites around the globe. The company’s Alphacam, Cabinet Vision, Cabnetware, Edgecam, Jobshop and Radan solutions are best-in-class within their respective markets, providing customers with products and services to improve the productivity of their machine tools, shorten design and manufacturing time, optimize material usage, and deliver high quality goods and services to their customers. For additional information, visit www.planit.com.

About SME:
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers is the world’s leading professional society supporting manufacturing education. Through its member programs, publications, expositions and professional development resources, SME promotes an increased awareness of manufacturing engineering and helps keep manufacturing professionals up to date on leading trends and technologies. Headquartered in Michigan, SME influences more than half a million manufacturing practitioners and executives annually. The Society has members in more than 70 countries and is supported by a network of hundreds of technical communities and chapters worldwide.

Contact: Jane Briscoe
Telephone: 651-982-0100 ext. 5515
Emai: Email Contact        

Planit Solutions Inc.
25 North Lake Street
Forest Lake, MN 55025