Product category:
CAM and software for sheetmetal, punching, profiling, EDM, etc
News Release from: Jetcam International | Subject: CNC punch presses
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 July 2007
One CAM programs a variety of CNC punch
presses
Running a variety of CNC punch presses, a punch/laser press and adding on a new machine has not posed any problems or interruptions using just one CAM system.
Wilhelm Bott produces factory and service car racking systems and has used CNC punch presses since the mid 1990's Based in Gaildorf, near Stuttgart, Germany, Bott claims to have the most modern production lines in Europe
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 11 Sep 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
CAM change speeds punch press programming
German general sheet metal subcontractor replaced a Unix-based CAM system to program CNC punch presses was complicated and expensive and programming is now easier and faster.
CAM covers all CNC punch and laser functions
As well as using a CAM system's flexibility and total support for all its CNC punch presses and laser profilers more advanced functions, a sheet metal fabricator can do changes to finished nests.
It operates a Trumpf 6000L CNC punch/laser combination (2002) and a 5000R CNC punch press (2006).
Bott's material handling system links with both machines.
Franz Maltan, Bott's production manager, said: "We had a situation in the 1990s where we had two CAM systems driving several different machines.
Further reading
CNC punching CAM stores tooling geometry
For CNC punching, heet metal working subcontractor has standardised on one CAM system that stores tooling data on geometry, not the nest, so changes are reflected across all nests instantly.
CADCAM sheetmetal software has laser improvements
Latest version of sheet metal fabrication CADCAM software includes substantial improvements for laser users, such as skeletal destruction, heat avoidance and common-line cutting.
Flexible CAM add-on reduced part programming time
Limited by the scope of existing CAM functionality in a CNC punch press controller, a stair components maker searched around for a more flexible CAM, which reduced part programming time.
When we found out that development on one system had stopped for some time, in 2002 we decided to standardise on the other, which was JETCAM." After ordering a new Trumpf CNC punch press in 2006 and a SheetMaster sheet metal handling system for the 6000L, Bott decided to streamline its production processes.
For the two SheetMasters a materials handling system was introduced based on a 50m Stopa stock system.
Trumpf's TrumaGrip removes scrap skeletons from both machines.
The scrap skeletons are then reduced by the Scrap Shear system.
A 'stand-alone' Finn-Power CNC punch press processes smaller, urgent jobs.
* Programming system - "When looking for programming solutions we looked at alternative products but we found nothing that was even near to the user-friendliness of JETCAM.
At the beginning of the evaluation process we had concerns that the software would not be able to drive all of the advanced features of the Trumpf machines, but JETCAM has always generated 100% reliable code." It was after Bott had purchased the Trumpf 5000R CNC punch press that the company realised that they had over 20,000 parts to run on it.
All cutting technologies were stored on a single geometry file within JETCAM so all parts could be automatically retooled within seconds for the 5000R.
In many cases jobs that were nested for the previous punching machines or for 'punch-only' jobs programmed for the combination punch/laser press were immediately available for reuse without renesting.
Revision control in the software ensured that changes on components were automatically applied to all relevant nests for all machines.
Bott had a further requirement that information of components unloaded by the SheetMasters had to be passed to Bott's bending centre.
JETCAM's postprocessed NC code was modified to provide part positions.
The data was passed from the punch press or laser to the stock management system, which in turn instructed the bending cell of the parts location.
Programmer Eduard Reisenbuechler added: "Over the years we have programmed our machine tools very successfully with JETCAM, but the control of the new machines' functions along with regular update of software has been a huge step forward for us.
Full training and modifications to the new post processors to match our requirements were made in only two days.
Since that day our entire facility has run with zero interruptions".
Reisenbuechler concluded: "With updates that we have seen under maintenance to both the core software and the postprocessors, the control of many feature has been enhanced.
Additional functions such as SheetMaster and Grip work very well and are easy to adopt and apply to existing nests.
We have an extended number of options for programming the unloading chutes.
With special tools such as wheels, multitool and multishear we only have to enter the relevant parameters once - the rest is done by the software.
Where we were aiming to achieve complex levels of automation and needed assistance blechwelt were able to connect to us remotely, and we were always able to solve it together." Benefits of the JETCAM system have been summarised as follows.
* Running all functions of the new Trumpf CNC punch press and existing punch and punch/laser presses, as well as the existing Finn-Power CNC punch press.
* 100% accurate NC code output, which was customised to allow complete flexible manufacturing system integration.
* 20,000+ parts were immediately available on new CNC punch press due to tooling being stored in geometry file.
* Revision control providing traceability of component versions within nests, which are automatically updated.
* Only two days required for training and customisation.
* Maintenance delivering continual software benefits.
* Excellent local dealer support.
Sheet metal working production system operated now includes as follows.
* JETCAM Expert Premium with auto-nesting interface and Rectangular Automatic nesting module.
* Trumpf Trumatic 6000L CNC punch/laser press with SheetMaster handling system.
* Trumpf Trumatic 5000R CNC punch press with SheetMaster.
* Finn-Power F5-25FBV CNC punch press.
* About JETCAM International - JETCAM International has been developing and distributing its JETCAM Expert range of CADCAM software since 1986.
In use in over 70 countries worldwide, JETCAM Expert software supports virtually every CNC punching, laser, plasma-arc, routing, waterjet and flatbed cutting machine available today, allowing users to program any combination of CNC machines with a single CAM system.
• Jetcam International: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
