Intelligent CNC machining automation re-uses logic

Intelligent CNC machining automation software helps eliminate machine shop bottlenecks by speeding up machine tool programming productivity.

VX Corporation's Intelligent Machining Automation software captures and re-uses CNC programming logic.

The task of machining a block of steel into a highly finished part, whether it's a mold core/cavity, electrode or discrete part, is a multi-faceted undertaking involving many different tool paths.

Collectively, these tool paths define a comprehensive approach from the initial roughing phase to the final finishing phase.

Some of the decisions that go into the overall approach include the following.

* Tool paths to use for different areas.

* Types of tool paths for roughing and finishing operations.

* Cutters used for each tool path.

* Feed rates, step-over widths, depth of cuts and much more.

While many of these decisions can be automated, each machine shop has its own unique approach and rules for machining, said VX Corp.

They are based on their operational strategies, age and condition of equipment, experiences and preferences of their machinists and a host of other factors.

* Core/cavity machining with Intelligent Machining Automation - defining the machining for a part tailored to a machine shop's specific needs can span multiple days causing bottlenecks and restricting the number of new jobs a shop can accept.

One of the main obstacles, said VX Corp to manufacturingtalk, is that often there are only a few machinists who have the knowledge and experience to properly set up the machining for any particular shop.

Solving this problem is where the value of VX's Intelligent Machining Automation comes into effect.

Intelligent Machining Automation is made possible by the way VX takes a novel whole part approach to machining.

With VX, users establish their own rules for machining a part.

Once the tool paths are developed and saved for a part, VX can use these tool paths and rules as a knowledge base for intelligently automating development of machining for a large number of other parts.

This greatly reduces the time required for programming new parts from a matter of days to a matter of minutes, said VX.

In essence, VX captures and uses the knowledge and logic of an experienced machinist for automatically generating machining.

In addition to reducing bottlenecks, this helps manufacturers cope with difficulties in recruiting and retaining skilled machinists.

Vice president for sales and marketing at VX, Bob Fischer, said: "The value of VX's Intelligent Machining Automation is that it can automate much of a shop's programming so that it's tailored to the shop's specific needs and unique situation.

This is a much better approach than that employed by many other CAM products that rely solely on pre-programmed rules and feeds and speeds for developing tool paths".

* About VX Corporation - VX Corporation is a pioneering developer of CAD/CAM solutions for industrial designers, engineers and CNC programmers.

VX enables speedy design with fully integrated, accurate manufacturing.

Using a blazing fast hybrid modeling engine, engineers can take advantage of the speed of solids with the flexibility of Class A surfaces.

Designers can create, modify, visualize, document and machine a vast array of parts and assemblies.

From the entry-level Modeler, to the complete End-to-End, VX delivers power, performance and productivity.

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