TOLLAND, CT, Jan 27, 2017 – From accepting and programming any CAD file to Dynamic roughing and precision finishing, Mastercam 2017 Lathe gives you a variety of techniques to turn all of your parts exactly as you need them. Mastercam 2017 Lathe features a new chip break option, TNRC control, stock model enhancements, and so much more.

Align Solid Body

The align solid body function simplifies the process of aligning solid models for turning. You can define the center of the rotation for the part and select the appropriate geometry. Mastercam will then rotate to an isometric view where you can use the dynamic gnomon to adjust the origin.

Chip Break

A new option and dialog box has been added to the lathe rough and lathe contour rough toolpaths to establish when chip breaks occur. This is valuable when working with stringy materials such as aluminum or plastic, and allows you to set length and time conditions, retract, and dwell options.

TNRC Control for B-axis Turning Operations

The tool angle dialog box contains new options which were previously only available for mill-turn operations. These options tell Mastercam which quadrant you used to touch off your tool. If you are creating a toolpath and the tool’s control point is not where you want it, you can use these options to swap it.

Also available in the Mastercam 2017 Lathe is:

• Simplified process for selecting the tool plane, origin, and display mode in the Lathe operations.
• The new axis combination / spindle origin dialog box filters available tool planes, displaying only those planes with the correct orientation for the selected axis combination.
• Lathe stock model operations now allow you to manipulate the Lathe stock boundary using mill operations.

Tell us more about CNC Software Inc., and its widely accepted products like Mastercam.

CNC Software, Inc. is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art software tools for CAD/CAM manufacturing markets. The main goal is to provide superior software products based on users’ needs to solve simple to complex design and machining problems along with exceptional service and support to customers.

Founded in 1983, CNC Software is one of the oldest companies in the PC-based CAD/CAM industry. It is one of the first companies to introduce CAD/CAM software designed for both the machinist and the engineer, providing a practical solution to both markets. With Mastercam, the engineer could construct his or her own parts quickly and easily as well as machine them, for an affordable price.

CNC Software, Inc. corporate headquarters and training facility is located in Tolland, Connecticut – USA.

As an industry leader for over 30 years, CNC Software has provided CAD/CAM solutions to over 250,000 installations worldwide in the mold making, automotive, aerospace, and consumer industries.

Mastercam offers solutions for designers and NC programmers in a spectrum of industries, including milling, turning, wire EDM, router programming, plasma cutting, lasers, and 3D design and drafting. CNC Software’s customers range from one-person job shops to Fortune 100 manufacturers. The same software that is utilized by corporations such as Boeing, IBM, and Sikorsky is still affordable enough for the small job shops. To ensure a new generation of trained metal and woodworking personnel, Mastercam is available to educational institutions at affordable pricing.

CNC Software, Inc., is committed to delivering tools that support the higher productivity and greater precision demanded by today’s, and tomorrow’s, manufacturing.

CNC Software, Inc has recently announced Mastercam India Pvt Ltd, how do you plan to tap the growing Indian market?

Micro, Small and Medium Industries are the backbone of the Indian manufacturing industry. In the past 20 years, I have worked closely with both – the larger organisations as well as the small and medium supply chain, specifically in the areas of Allied Design, Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing, Inspection and Manufacturing Automation – across diverse industry domains. Every organisation requires hand holding at one point or the other when a technology application is required; more so when it comes to complex and multi axis metal cutting. Therefore, this calls for thoroughbred application software, advanced metal cutting and measuring strategies as well as a team that knows the nitty-gritties of manufacturing.

The recently announced Mastercam India is comprised of a highly experienced, well-established team of professionals from sales, marketing, technical, and channel expertise gained in the Indian CAM market over many years. I am certain that this combination will help us address the “pain-areas” of manufacturing by providing practical and reliable solutions, rather than box products.

Please tell us more about its recently launched product Mastercam 2017…

Mastercam 2017 brings a new suite of programming tools focused on delivering speed, automation, and efficiency to our customers. The new version includes Dynamic Motion improvements, Multiaxis and Mill-Turn enhancements, and many Design and system features to make using the software, and machining easier.

Mastercam 2017 features a new ribbon interface, similar to the Microsoft Office products. The new interface capitalizes on user experience with other software, and uses that familiarity to make it easier to find the functions one needs to complete tasks. The ribbon tabs group similar functions and display them in order from simple to more complex. Each tab relates to a type of activity, from creating wireframe geometry to generating toolpaths. Editing functions are on the same tab as creation functions, so all the tools are available at a click of the mouse button.

Micro lifts in the Dynamic Mill toolpath now use a line-of-sight approach to move the tool where it needs to go through unobstructed areas.

As a result –

• Reposition moves during micro lifting are more efficient, less complex, and travel a shorter distance
• Toolpath creates less motion, which creates smaller NC file sizes
• Improves the cycle times at the machine

The Maximum Stock Engagement option for 3D HST Finishing toolpaths allows to select a previously made stock model and set the maximum depth so that this can limit how deeply the cutter engages uncut material. This is particularly useful when semi-finishing a part.

It is now possible to display a tool assembly in the graphics window and make edits to it. This allows to see what the tool assembly will look like against the part that is being machined.

Mill-Turn now supports multi-station tool locators for turrets, as well as half index positions. Tool locator positions are set in the turret setup. Information for index positions, mounting locations, and several other options, including half index locations can now be entered.

What are the latest improvements in the CAM industry? Please take us through the current technology trends in the industry?

On the CAM front, there is always a demand to finish the toolpath computations at faster times, while maintaining or increasing reliability. Since machine tool, CNC controls and cutting tool technologies are evolving at a rapid rate, CAM software are also required to be abreast with these developments. Demands on post processors for complex machine kinematics continue to challenge the depths of this technology.

In order to machine components efficiently, sophisticated set of rules that take into consideration a broad data set are required. In order to create the most efficient cutting motion possible, special toolpaths such as Mastercam’s Dynamic Motion Toolpaths calculate more than just the areas where metal will be removed; they also take into account the changing condition of the material throughout various stages of machining. Such toolpath has enough intelligence to look ahead, see what’s coming and modify feeds, speeds, stepovers and cutting motions based on ever-changing material conditions. Significant benefits include radically shorter cycle times, less wear and breakage of tools, and less wear on machines.

By dramatically reducing stepovers and air cutting, Dynamic Motion toolpaths can reduce cycle times by 25% to 75%. Dynamic Motion toolpaths ensure that the tool spends most of its time cutting at full-depth with far fewer stepdowns resulting in more parts cut in less time. These toolpath strategies uses the full flute length so users will get even wear and heat distribution resulting in fewer tool changes and less grinding that slows you down and costs money. Dynamic Motion produces consistent chip load, reducing vibration and extending the life of your machines. The looping motion eliminates abrupt directional changes, keeping your machine more accurate with less maintenance.

Roughing hard materials can also pose a challenge but Dynamic Motion toolpaths make it easier by ensuring even heat and load distribution throughout the cut. This even distribution prevents material surface hardening and reduces the risks of tool breakage, giving more consistent, predictable results.

What makes Mastercam unique, given the fact that there are many CAM solution providers globally?

There is no doubt that the product speaks volumes for itself as far as technical capability is concerned, and Mastercam has validated this time and again, for the past 21 years, by being the World’s most widely used CAM software. This is a testimony of the faith put into the software by customers around the world.

Having said that, the CAM market is highly segmented and has many local as well as Global players. What makes any CAM solution provider unique – whether it is us or any of our competitors is to –

• Listen to the customer voice
• Embrace newer technology while maintaining quality and reliability
• Provide solutions that will help customers win
• Be ready for tomorrow’s possibilities, yet flexible for today’s needs
• But most importantly, be there for the customer when they need you the most

We are indeed fortunate at Mastercam to have a team that truly believes in the above mentioned ideals and ensure that these are put into practice and not left to words alone.

What would be the market size of CAM solutions in India and at what per cent is it growing?

In my opinion the market size of CAM solutions is growing at about close to 12% YoY.

What are the key growth drivers in India?

Stable demand in the Automotive markets, growth in the medical devices market and the promise of an Aerospace manufacturing expertise in the region continues to spur new investments in machine tools, and robots, amongst other capital equipment in manufacturing. These are key to increase the overall contribution of manufacturing in our GDP. The most awaited rollout of GST this year also has many manufacturing companies poised to expand and diversify.

Overall the sheer expectation of a booming economy in itself is a great growth driver. We remain optimistic about the market and our commitment to a manufacturing economy.

The much awaited exhibition IMTEX is around the corner. How do you plan to leverage on the event? What are the products you are going to showcase during IMTEX?

IMTEX is a great platform to meet people and understand the pulse of our business. As always, we look forward to this event to join hands with our industry partners and provide information to our prospective customers on their purchase decisions. We also use this platform to demonstrate the capability of our software – live at our booths, as well as on machine at some of our machine tool partners’ booths. We are also promoting our “Dynamic Motion” toolpath by branding at strategic locations at the event.

We will be demonstrating our latest version of Lathe, Mill, Wire and Robotic machining at our booth. We are CAM people. That’s what we do. That’s all we do.

CGTech will be showcasing the latest version of VERICUT software on stand C30 at the 2015 Manufacturing and Engineering North East Show (MENE) on July 8th-9th, 2015, at the Metro Arena, Newcastle.

VERICUT CNC machine simulation, verification and optimisation software eliminates the process of manually proving-out NC programs.  It detects collisions and near-misses between all machine tool components such as axis slides, heads, turrets, rotary tables, spindles, tool changers, fixtures, workpieces, cutting tools, and other user-defined objects. Machine movements can even be simulated while stepping or playing backwards in VERlCUT‘s Review Mode.

With VERICUT Reviewer, shop floor personnel, suppliers, customers, and other production engineers can view animations of the CNC machining process. It is a stand-alone viewer that does not use a license that can play forward and backward while removing and replacing material. The Reviewer files can also be played on an iPad.

VERICUT simulates all types of CNC machining, including Multi Axis Milling, Drilling and trimming of composite parts, water jet cutting, robotic and mill/turn Centres.  It runs standalone, but can also be integrated with leading CAD/CAM systems including Dassault Systemes CATIA, Siemens PLM NX, Delcam PowerMill, VERO EdgeCam and Open Mind HyperMill. A common feature of all recent releases of the software has been the focus on full integration with the CAD/CAM and machine tool industry. As a result VERICUT is now at the heart of the CNC manufacturing process.

SPRING Technologies, developer of software solutions that enable manufacturers to optimize their CNC machines, is exhibiting in booth 5859 at EASTEC from May 12 – 14, 2015. SPRING’s exhibit will highlight the latest features, benefits, and applications of company’s flagship simulation software, NCSIMUL Machine and NCSIMUL Player 9.2. Specifically, with the growing adoption of remote and mobile software accessibility, SPRING will demonstrate its recently introduced mobile system called WYSIWYC® (What You See Is What You Cut).

NCSIMUL Player 9.2 will be embedded on a fully rugged, mobile Panasonic Toughpad IP65 and shown how it is connected to machine tool controllers such as Fanuc CNCs. With this capability, shop floor operators and managers are able to interact remotely – in 3D and in real time using intuitive touch controls – with one or several CNC machines and their machining processes, as they execute the CNC program on the machine. 3D animations of CNC machining processes, as well as related work instruction sheets are directly accessible from the mobile application.

REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY OPERATORS INTERACT WITH CNC MACHINES

“What WYSIWYC means to manufacturers is that we at SPRING Technologies are changing the way operators interact with CNC machines and rethinking the way procedures are accomplished on the shop floor,” explains Philippe Solignac, Corporate Marketing Director for SPRING Technologies. “We’re offering a unique user experience, which is very attractive to Generations Y and Z, with true shop floor-dedicated mobility with the ultra-rugged Toughpad tablet PC. It’s fun, it uses touch technology, and everything is digitized, including worksheets. It’s also a very effective methodology for conducting training modules without an additional large investment.”

According to Mr. Solignac, customers are achieving at least 25% higher productivity using the combined three technologies comprising WYSIWYC. He credits that because so much information about the program and process is immediately available that there are fewer errors, better decision making, smoother changeover between shifts, and easier multi-machine supervision.

CNC Software announces the release of Mastercam X8. Mastercam X8 brings a new suite of programming tools focused on delivering speed, automation, and efficiency for all machining jobs. Mastercam X8 introduces new Solids features, UI improvements, Usability/Workflow improvements, and so much more.

Dynamic Motion Technology
Mastercam’s Dynamic Motion technology is a new and exciting approach to creating toolpaths. Dynamic Motion follows a proprietary and sophisticated set of rules that take into consideration a broad data set. To create the most efficient cutting motion possible, Dynamic toolpaths calculate not only the area where metal will be removed; they also take into account the changing condition of the material throughout various stages of machining.

Solids Improvements
The Solids interface and workflow has been completely redone for Mastercam X8 and makes constructing and editing solids easier and more intuitive than it’s ever been. Every existing Solids function has been updated to reflect this new workflow. Along with the new interface, there are new features such as Live Preview, Hands-on Drag Controls, and Direct Editing has been improved to make the process of model preparation easier.

Usability & Workflow
Mastercam X8 delivers improved usability and the ability to customize the way you work. Panels can now be automatically hidden, docked to either side of the window, or undocked and placed outside of Mastercam. The graphics display has been upgraded to provide cleaner aesthetics, and clearer, more responsive selection while delivering a much improved overall look and feel. In addition, new icons provide a consistent color palette that is modern, clean, and colorblind friendly.

More powerful tools in Mastercam X8 include:

• 2D High Speed Toolpaths have been greatly improved.
• Mill-Turn includes the ability to define and select reference positions for the approach and retract moves in operations.
• Multiaxis Roughing is a new strategy which allows for the easy creation of multiaxis pocketing toolpaths to rough out pockets based on a floor or ceiling shape.
• Lathe toolpaths can now be included in stock model operations, which can be used for subsequent milling operations.
• The new Contour Roughing toolpath is designed to take passes parallel to chained geometry.