FEATURE ON CNC & CAM

Facilitatingseamless digital manufacturing workflow

ModuleWorks, a provider of software components and solutions for CADCAM systems and CNC machining, has introduced the Manufacturing Data Exchange Specification (MDES). The new specification aims to enhance the efficiency of manufacturing workflows by enabling seamless data exchange across different platforms and processes.

MDES is a new, open data exchange specification for the manufacturing industry. It increases the interoperability of different hardware and software systems across all stages of the product lifecycle, from design and planning to production and quality control. The free-to-use specification enables any company to adopt MDES as a universal language for the digital representation of machining assets such as tool components, assemblies, fixtures, stocks and set-ups, as well as their mounting in machine tools.

Unifying the digital representation of machining assets in an open specification has the potential to simplify and accelerate data exchange by minimising the need for data bridges between different proprietary systems. This would also reduce software development costs and dismantle adoption barriers for new equipment, encouraging manufacturers to leverage the benefits of the latest technology on the market.

Yavuz Murtezaoglu, founder and CEO of ModuleWorks, says: “Over the past 20 years, ModuleWorks has been developing digital manufacturing software in partnership with CAM system developers, machine tool builders and CNC control manufacturers. This puts us in a unique position to understand the importance of a common data exchange specification for the industry, and to develop a specification that meets the needs of different stakeholders.”

The new specification is compatible with the existing industry standards ISO13399 (Cutting tool data representation and exchange) and DIN4000-190 / DIN4003-190 (Tabular layouts and 3D description of fixture devices).
For further information www.mdes.info

CAM for laser machines reduces machining times

GF Machining Solutions has released version 1.12.5 of its CAM software for laser texturing, engraving and micro-machining. This latest release includes two new major features: 3DCurves and FlexiBlast, incorporated within LaserDesign technology.

3DCurves allows users to increase their design capabilities while eliminating potential undesirable optical effects on laser engraved parts. It provides an innovative approach when creating fine line patterns and textures. Users no longer need to go through the traditional hatching process based on a grayscale bitmap and, thanks to 3Dcurves, can now engrave directly with a single continuous laser path following each individual polyline.

This new technology allows customers to create unprecedented designs applied in 2D with GF Machining Solutions’ Laser P range of machines. It also offers the possibility to create curves virtually on complex 3D parts and mould tools and inserts with the Laser S range. The technology uses polylines as opposed to images, which suffer limitations due to their bitmap resolution, to orientate the laser vectors in the local co-ordinate system.

FlexiBlast builds on GF Machining Solutions’ signature blasting capabilities by combining them with a grayscale image, controlling its intensity. For each individual pixel, it is possible to apply 216 shades of grey, each corresponding to a specific blasting intensity. This feature offers the potential to render high-definition photo-realistic images on any material. Moreover, it gives users the ability to increase the depth perception with very shallow textures, which reduces production time without any hardware modification. Fading textures and morphing are possible without altering surface geometry.

The technology provides advantages such as high definition with photo-realistic rendering, the creation of very fine textures with a significant rendering of depth and shallower textures for easier plastic de-moulding and faster machining times.
For further information www.gfms.com

Manufacturing analytics software supports 30% growth

A precision machining company has achieved 30% growth in turnover following the installation of a manufacturing analytics platform. Chesterfield-based Sterling Machining installed FourJaw’s manufacturing analytics platform on 14 of its CNC machines to support and inform its continuous improvement strategy.

Co-owner and production manager Andy White says: “We had an ERP in place but no way of accurately measuring jobs and their profitability until they were finished. If a job took longer than expected, we couldn’t see why. FourJaw’s machine monitoring system has given us valuable data that we use to understand machine utilisation, operational efficiency and profitability. In the past 12 months our business has grown from £3.8m to £5m turnover.”

FourJaw’s MachineLink IIoT device is suitable for easy and quick self-installation on any manufacturing machine, regardless of brand, type or age, which makes it suitable for small and medium-sized businesses that prefer a low-cost, no-fuss ‘plug-and-play’ solution. By monitoring and analysing machine data, FourJaw enables manufacturers to make machines run productively and profitably.

“Initially, the guys on the shop floor were a little reluctant but soon became interested to see how it worked,” says White. “It didn’t take long for them to become competitive, wanting to get the best machine efficiency scores, resulting in utilisation going from 75% to 100%. This means that we’re making more products with the same resources, lowering the cost of manufacturing and therefore improving profitability.”

Since installing FourJaw on its machines, the team at Sterling Machining has improved many processes, informed by the platform’s accurate real-time data. For example, the team uses historic data to see how long similar jobs have taken and uses this information to quote more confidently for future work.
For further information www.fourjaw.com

Acquisition leads to record year for Mestec

A UK provider of cloud-based manufacturing execution systems (MES) has posted a record year just 12 months after its acquisition by Eyelit Inc. Bracknell-based Mestec has seen sales grow by over 40% this year, as more manufacturing companies use its solutions to create smarter factories that improve productivity, OEE, quality and compliance.

The business has created more than 15 new jobs because of its growth, with the workforce now totalling 26. Plans are currently in place to grow this figure again over the next 12 months. One of the key drivers for future expansion will come through the footprint of its US-parent and ability to deliver new opportunities in North America.

“We’ve already won our first three pieces of business in that part of the world since the acquisition, which is definitely something we want to build on,” explains general manager Mark Carleton. “Our SaaS-based solution is configured for each client and works best where there is a level of production complexity and compliance required. This has seen us build up strong client bases within the aerospace and defence, automotive, electronics, food and beverage, and medical sectors, delivering operational performance benefits to the likes of Sheffield Forgemasters, Siemens and Thales.”

He continues: “What makes us different is the time we take on the shop floor to understand all the different processes and labour issues, generating a clear picture of where our technology can make a real difference. It allows us to deliver the fastest deployment times in our industry, meaning customers can be enjoying cost and time savings within a matter of weeks/months.”
For further information www.mestec.net

ModuleWorks 2023.04 offers new control options

The 2023.04 release of ModuleWorks’ digital manufacturing software components is now available. This first major ModuleWorks release of 2023 offers several new options for controlling the machining parameters across different subtractive and additive processes.

For instance, a range of new options for the deburring, roughing and finishing cycles offer flexibility and control for five-axis and rotary machining. Users can choose between the new climb and conventional cutting methods, and define the contact point between the tool and the workpiece. This is relevant for non-ball cutters like chamfer mills where careful control over the cutting conditions creates chamfered edges with a high-quality finish.

In addition, the new horizontal step-overs for rotary wall finishing make it possible to add cuts in shallow, cylindrical areas for a homogeneous finish across the workpiece, eliminating the need for consecutive finishing tool paths.

To speed up the programing of roughing and finishing cycles, 3D containments are now generated automatically from the selected floor surface. As a further point of note, applying tilting during the lead-in ramps and defining the start points and tool engagement offers enhanced control over the roughing and finishing process.

ModuleWorks also provides a new unified solution for three-axis machining, delivering improved performance and reliability with consistent features available across all cycles. It also offers a simple bridge to 3+2 axis and five-axis machining, and enables ModuleWorks to develop and deploy new three-axis features quickly.

Among further additions is a new two-axis contouring cycle that takes a simplified and generic 2D polyline as input. From here, the cycle generates a tool path suitable for plasma and laser cutting processes with specific lead-in and lead-out motions and parameters to control the feed rate, plasma flow rate and pierce-point behaviour.
For further information www.moduleworks.com