EdgeCAM at Autosport Engineering

EdgeCAM puts manufacturers in pole position

Pathtrace will be demonstrating its EdgeCAM offline CNC programming software at the Autosport Engineering show held at the NEC in January 2006.

EdgeCAM is used extensively by companies supplying the Autosport industry where fast turnaround of manufactured parts is essential. EdgeCAM helps streamline the manufacturing process with continual improvements to features and functionality designed to reduce programming time and improve production efficiency.

Machine simulation
EdgeCAM Simulator now offers full machine simulation. For lathe programming fully detailed tools, turrets and other devices such as tailstocks and steadies can be displayed with full movement through the machining session, helping to avoid expensive collisions, optimise the cutting process and reduce cycle time.

All aspects of the machine tool are defined with easy-to-use graphical tools and can be configured for any machine type including mill/turn lathes and 5-axis milling machines.

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Image shows Mori Seiki NT MillTurn machine

Machine simulation is one of the most important preconditions for ensuring safe operations when performing 5-axis machining, helping to visualise the machine tool movement when making rotary movement. This is of critical importance as, in many cases, a small change in tool orientation can result in a large rotary movement.

5-axis machining
Also at the show, Pathtrace will be previewing EdgeCAM’s new multi-axis machining functionality. A comprehensive range of simultaneous 4 and 5-axis strategies meets the production machining requirements of industries such as aerospace. 5-axis strategies include swarf cutting for machining variable taper walls and sophisticated multi-surface finishing, while 4-axis simultaneous machining targets complex rotary applications such as camshafts and blades. All new machining strategies will be available for both mill and B-axis mill/turn machine configurations and fully support solid and surface geometry.

Both new capabilities build on recent EdgeCAM releases and thus rely on proven technology. EdgeCAM is a complete solution for milling, turning, mill/turn, advanced solids and freeform machining and solid modelling.