Product category:
Woodworking CAD/CAM, CNC systems and software
News Release from: Alphacam | Subject: AlphaCAM off-line programming software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 March 2001
Sunseeker powers up production with
AlphaCAM
Installing Licom AlphaCAM to link its CAD with a CNC wood panel routing and profiling system has resulted in massive factory lead time savings on yacht panel work for Sunseeker International.
To keep a firm hold on its leading position in the world-wide luxury power boat market, Sunseeker International has consistently invested in modern production methods Installing Licom AlphaCAM to link its CAD activities with a modern CNC wood panel routing and profiling system has resulted in massive factory lead time savings on panel work, as CAD/CAM Manager, Lee Regan explained
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 3 Apr 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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'The AlphaCAM and CNC panel profiler have provided us with a big improvement in competitiveness.
The system has saved a lot of re-work and so has speeded up fitting-out and assembly.
It used to take a team of skilled craftsmen at least one week to mark out, cut and rebate a set of profiled panels and bulkheads for one boat.
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One machine operator now produces a set of panels well within one shift's working.' Operations require the operator to call up programs, load standard panel sizes and unload the cut and rebated panels and off-cuts.
The craftsmen released from the often fatiguing and repetitive routine of reproducing existing templates have now been transferred to other areas of production to cope with increased factory output.
Sunseeker builds luxury motoryachts from 10m to 32m long.
Three of its seven shipyards are located on the Quayside in Poole, which build the 22m 'Predator', 26m and 32m 'Manhattan' series and the soon to be launched 21m 'Predator'.
A third factory and the company's world headquarters are located on West Quay Road along with three other shipyards in and around the Poole area.
The boats have moulded reinforced fibreglass hulls, which have composite wooden and GRP girders and engine beds.
The bulkheads and panelwork are plywood structures with GRP mouldings.
Final fitting-out includes decorative finishes, lacquers, facias and trim.
At any one time, numerous boats are in production.
The 10m boats are on a one week turn-around, 6 weeks for the 26m 'Manhattan' and about six months to complete a 32m yacht.
CAD/CAM and CNC machining is now applied as widely as possible to all areas of build including the fundamental elements like engine beds, girders and bulkheads.
Before, all fundamental elements and panelling had to be manually scribed out onto standard panels with the aid of patterns and templates.
Production of the templates and patterns was an industry in itself.
Profiling and rebating was performed with manually operated power jigsaws and radial arm routers.
Today, all design work is performed in AutoCAD work stations.
These interface through Licom's AlphaCAM software to a Bulleri CNC driller/router.
AlphaCAM produces the NC code via a post processor from CAD data and is linked through a local Ethernet to the Bulleri's Osai CNC controller.
'We now have on file hundreds of NC programs,' said Lee Regan.
The company is well ahead in digitising existing patterns and templates.
The digitiser produces DXF files, with specified X-Y axes recognisable by AlphaCAM, which are imported into AutoCAD.
At a CAD workstation, the designer details individual CAD drawings.
Using AlphaCAM, the individual components are nested onto standard size sheets of plywood, MDF or whatever materials are to be used.
AlphaCAM assigns toolpaths, tool lists and tool sequences.
The Bulleri machine has a tool magazine and automatic tool changer, so can perform a variety of drilling, rebating, routing, profiling and slotting work.
The machine has two 1.5m x 1.5m tables and accepts 3m x 1.5m or 2.5m x 1.2m sheets.
Materials are generally plywoods, or MDF fibreboard with walnut veneers.
Routing speeds are up to 20m/min in material thicknesses of 4 - 25mm.
The profiled panels have to be accurate to within 1mm.
The bulkheads are bonded into position in the fibreglass hulls.
The rebating has to be accurate to splice panels cleanly together.
Sunseeker International is intending to add a second Bulleri machine with two 3m x 1.5m tables.
It will be linked up with the existing AlphaCAM installation and housed at the new Poole Quay shipyard.
The intention is to reprocess all programs for both machines to achieve maximum flexibility.
'The AlphaCAM + Bulleri package has worked very well for us,' said Lee Regan.
'It is an easy and straightforward software package to use. Request a free brochure from Alphacam ...
We are now considering upgrading to an advanced package.'.
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