CAM software enhances productivity and efficiency

Paul Boughton
Planit's latest release of Edgecam, the company's CAM software for the production engineering industry, is claimed to deliver significant productivity and efficiency gains. Edgecam is said to offer class-leading Automatic Feature Recognition that enables efficient toolpath generation from imported models; the latest release extends this powerful functionality with the ability to recognise an increased number of features, including any area that has multiple open sides. Full properties of the features - including depth, radius/chamfer and minimum/maximum XY radius - enables users to select appropriate tooling and cycle parameters with ease.
 
Known as Edgecam 2010 R1, the latest version provides increased efficiency through enhancements to its comprehensive machining cycles. Improved stock awareness of machining cycles removes the need to set boundaries manually; this enhancement not only increases the efficiency of generating a toolpath, but also increases the efficiency of the toolpath itself.
 
Utilising Edgecam's proven helical technology, a number of customer-driven enhancements have been delivered to Edgecam's powerful Thread Milling Cycle. One such enhancement includes cutter radius compensation that enables users to align the tool selected offline with the tool to be used on the shop floor - for example, users can make adjustments in the CAM environment to allow for tool wear so as to improve precision.
 
Finish Turning Cycles have also seen development. Recognising stock material enables users to develop tool paths more efficiently.
 
A new 'peck across' option has been added to the Rough Grooving Cycle. The new feature is designed to improve material removal rate and prolong tool life, ultimately helping to reduce on-going manufacturing costs.
 
A new graphical interface for all turning operations ensures the significant technical enhancements are intuitive and easy to use.
 
Edgecam's Strategy Manager Module enables users to create toolpaths with maximised efficiency utilising their own manufacturing best practise. In 2010 R1 tool selection has been enhanced within the Strategy Manager, thereby increasing the speed with which users can generate the relevant toolpaths.
 
The latest version of Edgecam's Part Modeller also provides users with significant functionality enhancements. Delivering cost effective and powerful 3D modelling capabilities, Part Modeller enables users to create or modify 3D models with ease. Detail View provides a scaled-up balloon view of a model, giving users the ability to examine any part of a model and highlight specific details that will be key in the manufacturing or assembly process.
 
A new 'feature annotation' function expands the Part Modeller's comprehensive design capabilities, enabling users to extract design data such as tolerances and apply them automatically to the drawing with ease.
 
Edgecam 2010 R1 supports Microsoft Windows 7. The package also delivers a new Code Wizard for the Siemens 840D Shopmill, a CNC system enjoying increasing global popularity.
 
For more information, visit www.planit.com

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