Posted to News on 19th Jul 2008, 15:50
Delcam launches PartMaker Version 8.6
Delcam is launching the version 8.6 of its PartMaker family of software. The PartMaker range includes systems for programming turn-mill equipment and Swiss-type lathes, plus supporting software for milling, turning and wire EDM. PartMaker Version 8.6 features a number of productivity-enhancing improvements, including improved solids-based programming, tool selection, surface machining and simulation. All these enhancements are designed to make PartMaker users more productive across the full range of applications.
Hanan Fishman, President of Delcam's PartMaker Division, comments: "PartMaker Version 8.6 represents another value-added release for PartMaker users across all of our applications modules. The enhancements will make the programming of parts requiring multi-axis machining techniques more productive than ever before."
PartMaker Version 8.6 sees the introduction of the concept of 'Face Planes.' When programming a part from an imported solid model, a Face Plane indicates very clearly the plane in which machining is occurring. Face Planes simplify the programming of parts with multiple faces from solid models and improve visualistion of the areas that need to be machined on a model. They also simplify the definition of multiple co-ordinate systems, which allows users to perform surface machining more easily across multiple parts or on multiple sides of the same part. Face Planes also give the ability to set a view normal to any surface more quickly. For Cylindrical Surfaces, a Face Plane can be displayed 'wrapped' or 'unwrapped.' Users can then specify the transfer of just slots and holes for indexing, or unwrapped geometry for cylindrical milling.
Improvements to surface machining
The Surface Machining Wizard offers improved machining strategies by adding axial step options to finishing and projection strategies, giving effectively nine more roughing strategies and more control in finishing operations. The ability to follow stock shape when needed has also been added. Additionally, 3D milling can now be performed in multiple co-ordinate systems on mills, which is useful for 3D milling applications on horizontal machining centres.
Version 8.6 also supports the simulation of inclined turning tools used on lathes equipped with B-axis heads. It also supports the simulation of mini-turrets, which must be tipped on an angle. This release also has a number of enhancements to grooving, including the ability to support inclined grooving. Better control of tool retraction is possible by indicating the retract distance for a peck-grooving operation.
In Version 8.6, users can automatically select a turning, grooving or threading tool in any turning profile machining strategy, ie turning, contouring, grooving, threading or cut-off. This makes programming faster and easier, for example when performing turning with a grooving tool.
The Full Machine Simulation Module (FMS) in Version 8.6 has a number of improvements; in particular, the ability to support even more complicated machine architectures. The visualisations have been made more realistic and the library of machine models has been greatly expanded.
For more information, go to www.partmaker.co.uk.
