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Product category: Software, off-line programming, CAM, for metal cutting machine tools
News Release from: Delcam | Subject: PowerMILL CAM software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 21 May 2003

5-axis program software cuts brake disc
lead times

Latest 5-axis machining programming software has reduced programming times by 40-50% and machining times by 30-35% for a disc brake manufacturer as well as considerably reducing lead times.

The addition of Delcam's PowerMILL CAM software has enabled Italian disc brake manufacturer Brembo to move from positional to continuous five-axis machining and so has lead to a huge reduction in lead times Silvio Sala, Processing Technologies Manager at the company, claimed that programming times had been reduced by between 40 and 50% and that machining times had been cut by 30 to 35%

For any Italian, talking about Brembo is like talking about the history of the disc brake.

Indeed, this fundamental component of the motor vehicle first reached Italy thanks to the company.

Although still based in Curno, near Milan, Brembo now employs about 2,000 people operating in Italy, Europe, Mexico, Japan and the United States.

Its turnover has grown to about 280 million dollars; it has four major foundries and a Research and Development Centre that keep expanding.

With more than 900 products, it counts most prestigious car and motorbike manufacturing companies amongst its customers.

Brembo has never been content just with supplying its customer with a quality product; the company's mission has been give the best service, always anticipating changing demands and proposing innovative ideas and solutions.

Every processing stage must meet the highest standards of efficiency and safety.

Automation was started many years ago and has attained a very high degree of sophistication.

Even machines featuring a high technological content have a short average life since upgrading is constant as technology progresses.

This commitment to productivity is linked to the constant enhancement of quality standards.

Both aims have been helped by the introduction of five-axis machining with PowerMILL in May 2002 following an extensive evaluation of alternative CAM systems.

"PowerMILL has enabled us to reduce programming times by about 40 to 50% compared to our previous CAM package," reported Sala.

"We have been able to adopt various continuous five-axis strategies that were previously unavailable and so generate programs capable of reducing our machining times by between 30 and 35%." "With our Delcam system, we have also considerably improved the quality of our tool paths," added Sala.

"Our machine tools work with smoother movements and with the best cutting conditions, which translates into a longer life for the cutters and the machine's mechanical parts.

Thanks to Delcam, we have managed to cut our maintenance costs and reduce down-time." "In addition, using PowerMILL has lead to a considerable enhancement to the mould finish and hence in the geometric accuracy and visual quality of the product," said Mr.Sala. Request a free brochure from Delcam ...

"The same improvements have also been seen in the quality of the prototypes that we machine from solid for our customers.".

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