EdgeCAM was found to be one of the only computer-aided manufacturing systems to easily program a wide range of different CNC machine tool controls, says RL Smith Precision Engineering.Because EdgeCAM was found to be one of the only computer-aided manufacturing systems to easily program a wide range of different CNC machine tool controls, precision subcontractor, RL Smith Precision Engineering has purchased the latest release of the Pathtrace software to program its turning, milling and wire edm operations. Also included in the package are Advanced surface machining and EdgeCAM Solid Machinist. Designed to meet the needs of production machine shops and mould and die makers EdgeCAM Version 5.50 will play a key role in the company's manufacture of high precision components for motor sport, aerospace and food packaging industries, as well as thermal forming tools and toolmaking for plastic injection moulding.
Employing 32 people, the Billingshurst, West Sussex company, has grown up with CNC and CADCAM since its incorporation in 1972.
Over the years the company has amassed a wide variety of machine tools including 10 Moore jig grinders, Charmilles and Agie EDM, Bostomatic and Huron CNC mills and CNC lathes, all sporting a wide variety of control systems.
Here, EdgeCAM's Code Wizard is able to provide post-processing of NC code to suit the different types and ages of CNC systems.
Technical Director Steve Smith says: 'We could have carried on as in the past with a mix and match of different systems.
But by standardising, our three technical operators will be able to work more effectively.
Prove out at the machine tool will be kept to a minimum, with faster program generation from the mainly electronic supplied component and tool designs which are being sent to us by our customers.' EdgeCAM 5.50 includes a host of new cycles and functionality aimed at production machine shops and toolmakers.
Building on the Secure Surface machining technology Cycles launched in the previous Version 5.0 of the software, EdgeCAM 5.50 includes Rest Roughing, Rest Finishing and an optional Finish Shallow for Z Level Finishing.