As the manufacture of carbon brake disks for aircraft requires specific skills, each of the 200-plus employees at Safran Landing Systems in Villeurbanne, France, play one of three complementary roles. Some weave carbon fibres, while others perform the heat treatment necessary for the conglomeration of the fibres into strong, compact stock with final forms that will be machined by the company’s third group of employees.

Increasing orders in the global aerospace industry motivated Safran to consider ways to become more efficient and responsive, with emphasis on the need for the company to improve its manufacturing methods to make a more reliable product.
MHAC Technologies, Safran’s partner in machine programming and a local distributor of Esprit CAM software, suggested the company implement Esprit, a full-spectrum CAM system for CNC programming, optimisation and simulation. With MHAC’s help, Safran installed Esprit’s SolidMillTurn Production Plus software, which can handle C-axis index and rotary milling, Y-axis index milling, B-axis index milling and 3rd rotary axis index milling. The system includes SolidMillTurn Traditional and Advanced, and SolidTturn Multispindle, a two-axis turning add-on to support multiple spindles.
When programming Safran’s CNC lathes and three- to five-axis milling centres, Esprit software enables a quick set up due to automatic macros that define the machining origins, offsets and machining assemblies. Patrick Gaydoux, an experienced programming technician at Safran, praises “the cloud-enabled KnowledgeBase integrated in Esprit, which automates and optimises the choice of optimal machining strategies based on a company’s accumulated best machining practices”.
Macros developed by the machine manufacturer and managed by Esprit software can automate and optimise operations according to the type of machining to be done and the stock measured directly on the machine. MHAC Technologies develops made-to-measure post processors for the specific machines in Safran’s workshop.
For further information www.espritcam.com

The launch of Vericut 9.0 has brought with it several enhancements designed to increase power and improve efficiency. These new features and benefits will be showcased at the Southern Manufacturing exhibition on 11-13 February, where CGTech will be presenting from stand C215.

Gavin Powell, CGTech technical director, says: “Vericut 9.0 is smarter than previous versions, offering more robust connections to tooling databases and the latest CAM systems. Most users will experience gains in performance, as well as sharper, clearer and more realistic views of machines and the machining process. Enhancements to Vericut’s free Reviewer app also lets programmers share with others [like machinists or quality assurance personnel] how parts are manufactured.”
The new features include an enhanced graphics display. Vericut 9.0’s greatly enhanced image quality makes it easier to spot problems and imperfections in machined parts. Users can switch seamlessly between workpiece, machine or profile views, or combine them in a variety of view layouts.
Another added feature is streamlined verification. Any of Vericut’s major functions, such as auto-diff, section, and x-caliper, can be used in any view, which streamlines the verification effort and increases productivity.
In terms of ‘Force’ optimisation, Force Analyse can now be used without any prior configuration, to spot potentially dangerous machining conditions or identify under-utilised tools. Force charts has a new fill comparison option to help visualise the changes made by Force optimisation to feed rates and chip loads.
Further additions and enhancements include those involving appearance settings, x-caliper, set-up plan, multi-tool station, tool change list panel and section window.
For further information www.cgtech.com

Tebis Version 4.0 has been introduced. The latest release offers many newly developed and enhanced functions, including indexed collision avoidance, an extended aggregate library, a simplified feature scanner, advanced five-axis simultaneous milling, more convenient machine simulation and more.

With regard to CAM automation, a better overview and clear operating structures are evident in the revised feature scanner. Features that are already connected to the component that were imported via data interfaces, or from part scanning at an earlier time – are now accounted for during scanning and do not have to be inserted again.
Tebis’ new ‘Auto’ function is also convenient: the component is completely scanned with no interruptions, and clearly evident features are automatically inserted. If several different features are required as part of a machining operation, users can jump to the appropriate areas after scanning and select the desired feature.
Concerning data processing, profile contours for turning can now be derived with absolute precision from the 3D component contour using the revised ‘Profile’ function. Circles are also mapped one-to-one. The subsequent blanks are more precise with no need for any design preparation of the profile contour.
Of particular note, machining time is said to be significantly reduced in the CAM suite’s milling function. Machine spindles are subject to lower loads due to machining in the axial direction, while side milling and downward machining can be easily combined, so users can fully benefit from the advantages of both strategies.
For further information www.tebis.com