Product category:
CAM and software for sheetmetal, punching, profiling, EDM, etc
News Release from: Jetcam International | Subject: JETCAM Expert 1 CAD and CAM
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 September 2007
CAD/CAM choice offered local language
support
Dutch sheet metal working subcontractor used an extensive selection process to choose a CAD/CAM system that was more efficient, easy to use and offered local language support.
A sheet metal subcontractor based in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, WLB Metaal, had no form of automatic nesting, nor had there been any software updates for some time, to drive its Muratec Wiedemann Vectrum 3000a CNC turret punch press As business increased a number of problems became significant, said the company in a report to Manufacturingtalk
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 26 Dec 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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In 2007 WLB decided to replace its CAD and CAM systems.
After researching the marketplace it narrowed its selection to two systems, one of which was JETCAM.
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In a report sent to manufacturingtalk, CNC Programmer at WLB, Mark Meuwissen, said: "During the comparison process it was clear that JETCAM was more efficient.
It was also easy to use.
The fact that it was in Dutch language with local language support was also important to us." Local Dutch JETCAM reseller Widenhorn Industriele Automatisering, supplied a license of JETCAM Expert 1 and installed it in April 2007.
Widenhorn also supplied a license of Autopol 3D CAD software to work with JETCAM.
Meuwissen was provided with one and a half day's training, and commented: "I was able to understand how to work with JETCAM straight away.
As I already know AutoCAD many of the icons are similar, so it was very easy.
Before the trainer left I could design a part, nest it and generate NC code".
WLB said that was immediately noticeable after installation was the speed at which new parts could be created and existing parts could be amended.
Previously, if a part needed to be modified, the tools required to make that part had to be specified before the part was designed.
Now, Meuwissen designs or imports the part and then applies tooling information, selecting only the tools required from his entire library.
This has reduced reprogramming of parts or the design of new parts by 50%.
Enhancements elsewhere have reduced overall programming by 50%.
Single Component Automatic Processing (SCAP) massively reduces the time from DXF to nest, with Meuwissen able to import, tool and nest a single component within seconds.
A further benefit has been the machine runtime, which has seen an average improvement of 10-20% due to a much more optimised cutting path.
WLB also has a Bystronic CNC laser cutting and profiling system.
It is currently driven by the manufacturer's own software, but the company is thinking of consolidating their CAM by purchasing another postprocessor to drive it.
The system will then allow it to immediately apply profiling information to their entire existing database of components, making them instantly available to run on either machine as required.
Director at WLB, Rene Smits, concluded: "What I can see from a management view is that JETCAM has delivered a 95% improvement.
The remaining 5% is down to us to change our habits to take full advantage of it.
I believe that JETCAM has been a good solution for us".
Benefits achieved are summarised as follows.
* In benchmark comparison JETCAM was more efficient.
* Operator trained and cutting metal in a day and a half.
* 50% faster to produce new parts or amend existing parts.
* Modifications to parts immediately update all relevant nests.
* Using SCAP to automate the importing of DXF and creation of nests.
* Overall programming time reduced by 30%.
* Machine cycle time improved on average by 10-20%.
* System available in Dutch language, with local language support.
* Working in conjunction with AutoPol 3D CAD.
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