CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

13 February 2007

Product News

Sescoi Expands Availability of Formtec's NCspeed

Sescoi has been a NCspeed partner in the German, Japanese and UK markets for several years. Sescoi are now pleased to announce that NCspeed is also available from Sescoi France.

NCspeed, developed by German company Formtec, is fully integrated into Sescoi's WorkNC Automatic CAM/CAD system to further optimize the NC code generated by WorkNC, thereby producing reductions in cycle times of up to 20%.

NCspeed works directly on the postprocessed NC data for 3 and 5-axis toolpaths and is launched from inside WorkNC. The software uses volumetric simulation to calculate the amount of material being cut at any instant. It can then use this information to constantly adjust the feedrate to speed up cutting where tool load is light, and slow it down for heavy cutting conditions.

Using NCspeed to optimise the machining process is particularly valuable when small diameter tools are being used, eliminating the danger of tool breakage. Similarly, the software produces significant advantages when long thin cutters are employed, by minimising tool load and hence cutter deflection, and also by reducing chatter in situations where excessive vibration is most likely to occur. Even in free cutting material these advantages can generate worthwhile savings in machining time and in the cost of cutters through extended tool life. Furthermore, utilising optimum cutting conditions across the job will have a positive impact on surface quality and accuracy.

NCspeed's optimisation routines will check for, and remove, feedrate movements if the cutter is out of the material, and also optimise rapid movements to reduce the overall length of the toolpath while at the same time checking for collisions.

Catherine Marko, Director of Sescoi France, commented, "Incorporating NCspeed into WorkNC provides another weapon in the engineer's armory for minimising cycle times, increasing quality and cutting tooling costs."

Dr Joachim Friedhoff, General Manager of Formtec added "Utilizing feedrate adaptation techniques offered by NCspeed helps the die and mold making industry to reduce the manufacturing costs and makes a contribution to the competitiveness of this industrial sector.

Become a member of the CIMdata PLM Community to receive your daily PLM news and much more.

Tell us what you think of the CIMdata Newsletter. Send your feedback.

CIMdata is committed to your privacy. Your personal information will never be sold or shared outside of CIMdata without your express permission.

Subscribe