Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is a crucial part of any design and manufacturing process. The number of things you have to check off on your list before you begin transforming your digital geometry into its physical twin is extensive.
ModuleWorks software components are integrated with many popular CAD/CAM software and have many different applications, including port machining, turbine blades, cutting tools and the trimming of plastic components, among many others.
Different companies and organizations in the global CAD/CAM industry have been using ModuleWorks 5-Axis and Simulation software to manufacture complex parts for more than 10 years, and the new ModuleWorks 2017.4 has some interesting new features for TurnMill, turning, simulation, and 3-axis and 5-axis machining.
Combining Turning and Milling into One Process
TurnMill is pretty striking right off the bat because it is a new, nearly completely automated cutting process that is a combination of turning and milling. These two processes are conventionally siloed, but it’s easy to understand how a combination would help boost productivity in the machining shop or manufacturing facility where you work.
New Tilt Angle Control Relative to a Fixed Rotation Axis
For you 5-axis machinists, there is a feature that allows you to define start and end angles, and your tool will incrementally alter the tilt angle, which will secure your confidence that the tool will stay away from your blade root.
New Linking Features
You can now use a new blend spline to link two contours, and if a collision registers, the blend spline extends, securing the main shape and ensuring a problem-free transition. Spline dimensions are now limited to the part’s extended boundary, and the air-move safety distance is never violated.
Another new feature is 2-axis chamfering that allows users to process sharp edges and deburring operations by generating deburring and chamfer toolpaths.
For turning processes, a new feature for processing inner surfaces allows you to employ existing roughing and finishing strategies.
Offset Roughing with Default Lead-Outs for 3-Axis Machining
By creating lead-out segments, you will be able to prevent too much grinding between a part and a tool during retraction. This new feature also helps you reduce the probability of making shatter marks while machining.
New Simulation Features: Move List and Material Analysis
Included among the improvements made to the Move List in the Machine Simulator are the abilities to add comments, see axis values in columns divided by comments, hide or show comments and move values around. Users can now resize columns and reset to default automatically.
Analysis will now show you your remaining material in two different colors, one designated for climb and another for your conventional cutting direction, which allows you to make an easy visual assessment during simulation operations.
For more in-depth information on these new features of ModuleWorks 2017.4, check out these YouTube videos posted by the company.