Delcam’s Mexican Sales Partner TCM will demonstrate the latest techniques for five-axis machining and high-speed machining on booth 717 at the TECMA exhibition to be held in Mexico City from 8th to 11th March. These techniques are currently moving from their current specialist applications into more general use in all areas of manufacturing industry.

While larger companies have used five-axis and high-speed machining for many years, until recently smaller subcontractors and toolmakers have been reluctant to invest in the newer methods. They have been discouraged both by the cost of the higher specification machine tools and by the increased complexity of the CAM programming techniques that must be used. The time has now come, however, when even smaller companies cannot afford to ignore the opportunities that these new technologies offer to shorten delivery times, boost productivity and increase profitability.

The price of both high-speed and five-axis machines has been falling steadily and this trend is forecast to continue. In addition, capabilities that were once only available on larger machines are now provided on the smaller ranges of equipment. At the same time, programming systems for these more sophisticated machining options are now far easier to use. The time taken to learn software like Delcam’s PowerMILL CAM system has been reduced significantly, meaning that new staff can become effective users much more quickly and with much lower training costs.

New high-speed machining strategies in PowerMILL, like Delcam’s patented Race Line Machining, offer increased machining efficiency through higher material removal rates and shorter toolpaths, while also reducing costs by protecting cutting tools and machine tools from wear and breakages. Further savings can be made by applying another PowerMILL strategy, trochoidal machining, whenever the tool meets a high engagement. Using a trochoidal shaving action to remove material in these areas further contributes to a lower, more consistent level of load on the tool.

PowerMILL also includes many safety features to ensure that five-axis machining can be programmed easily and efficiently. For example, secondary axis limiting ensures that the program generated will not attempt to move outside any limits in the machine tool’s range of movement, while contact point analysis allows the user to ensure that only the cutting surface touches the component and that rubbing with the shank is avoided. In addition, the initial machine simulation option for PowerMILL has recently been enhanced to include collision checking between the various parts of the machine tool and the model.

For further information on Delcam’s PowerMILL CAM software, please contact: -
Juan Gonzalez Luna,
Managing Director
Phone: 52 33 3627 3297/8/9
e-mail: marketing@tcm.com.mx

T.C.M.
Circunvalacion Poniente 285C
Cuidad Granja, Zapopan,
Jalisco, C.P. 45010, Mexico
www.tcm.com.mx

Peter Dickin, Public Relations Manager
Direct phone: 44 (0)121 683 1081 e-mail: marketing@delcam.com
Delcam plc
Small Heath Business Park,
Birmingham, B10 0HJ, UK
www.delcam.co.uk

Delcam Inc.
3270 Electricity Drive
Windsor, Ont. N8W 5J1 Canada
www.delcam.com