FIVE-AXIS MACHINING SUPPLEMENT
CAM & NC PROGRAMMING
workholding. This model generates an
accurate simulation that works within the
machine’s axis travels and avoids
collisions. As the simulated part takes
shape, ‘Stock Automation’ accounts for
the new space and adjusts the toolpath to
suit. The result – a complete and accurate
picture of the entire cycle, letting users
prove out and optimise programs before a
single chip is produced.
Full tool orientation strategies result in
ef cient, adapted toolpaths that maximise
cutting engagement and feed rate while
preserving tool life. As operations are
added, Esprit automatically calculates
links between them to save time and
motion. The order of operations can be
altered at will, with Esprit automatically
adjusting such links. And NC programs for
every machine in a machine shop can be
created, simply by changing the machine
de nition, with Esprit automatically
adjusting to the new machine’s
capabilities.
Free-form features are easy to create
and machine. Simply de ne the part areas
to machine and the part areas to avoid,
and smart selection, snap and
propagation tools in Esprit further simplify
this process. From there, users can
choose from several 5-axis Free-form
machining strategies. A few examples are:
Composite Milling lets users separately
de ne the operation’s toolpath pattern
and tool orientation strategy to create
complex toolpaths with few limitations;
Swarf Milling synchronises tool orientation
with the toolpath using de ned pro les,
with cutting with the ank of the tool
minimising the number of passes;
Impeller Milling simpli es programming
these complex parts – de ne blade
shapes with ruled features and rough, rerough
and nish the impeller with minimal
steps; Port Milling lets users rough out
and nish simple or complex port shapes
using a spline curve to guide the toolpath
and the tool orientation.
Alphacam 5-axis functionality
gets an update
The latest version of Alphacam from
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence’s
Production Software business (https://
is.gd/uciway) boasts updated advanced
5-axis functionality taking in numerous
improvements.
Two new key features include the
ability to integrate the Toolpath Optimiser
Alphacam’s Advanced 5-axis strategy is one of the latest version’s highlights
into a core cycle that can then be stored
in a machining style and deployed with
Automation; and Advanced 5-axis
functionality has been updated to include
barrel mill and double pro le tools.
Improvements in Swarf Machining, multiaxis
roughing and toolpath smoothing are
also included in Alphacam 2020.0.
The geometry offset command is now
intelligent and dynamic, making all
operations more productive, whether
users want to simply retain attributes and
information on the geometry, or to
completely re-assign machining cycle
parameters to a newly created offset.
“This new feature delivers an intuitive and
simple way of changing toolpaths for
everything from simple tasks, such as
passing associative/dynamic pro le
machining data, to complex ones,
including re-assigning a boundary to a 3D
surfacing method,” says the software’s
brand manager, Hector Henry.
Demonstration of 5-axis ef ciency from
Tebis at Seco Tools’ event
CADCAM specialist Tebis (https://is.gd/
iyutus) will be demonstrating its
capabilities at Seco Tool’s Inspiration
Through Innovation event, to be held at
Seco Tools’ UK headquarters in Alcester
on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10
October.
Tebis’ demonstrations will
involve the machining of real
components, with the focus
on aerospace component
manufacturing. A live
machining demonstration
involving an Airbus A350 steel
fuel connector machined on a
Hermle C32 U 5-axis machine employing
full 5-axis simultaneous milling will be part
of its activity.
This will employ 5-axis simultaneous
milling to deliver a simple and fast
roughing operation that removes the
maximum amount of material in a single
operation.
Andrew Walters, application engineer
from Tebis UK, comments: “Traditionally,
roughing would employ small step-downs
with a larger width of cut calculated in a
water-line fashion method. With Tebis, we
will use a 5-axis simultaneous motion to
allow us to get down into complex forms.
In addition to the traditional water-line
method, Tebis can use adaptive roughing.”
As well as an increase in tool life and
accuracy achieved through cutting a more
consistent volume of roughed material,
the nishing tools have less work to do.
An additional bene t of this process is a
more consistent volume of roughed
material on a part.
You can register for the event at:
https://is.gd/elowag.
A Tebis-produced NC program will be
employed to cut this part at Seco Tools’
Inspiration Through Innovation Event
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