MoldMaking Technology

JAN 2018

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moldmakingtechnology.com 23 Image courtesy of Autodesk Inc. Perry adds that, increasingly, manufacturers are using the cloud to improve levels of collaboration within their orga- nizations. The ability to share interactive, 3D representa- tions of designs and manufacturing processes enables these teams to interact with key stakeholders (including the end customers). Shawn Schwartz, sales and services director-Americas for WorkNC by Vero Software (Southfield, Michigan), agrees that automation is a key trend in moldmaking. "Programmers are utilizing software to make those toolpaths that do not have to be manually edited or tweaked. Machinists are using workholding and fix- turing tools to reduce setup times and make the transi- tions between machines easier, and they are using palletization so that pickup and repositioning is elimi- nated," he says. As for advancements, Alan Levine of Open Mind Technologies USA says that CAM software provides a platform for change and that suppliers continually provide updates, including the latest capabilities in graphics, toolpaths, prob- ing and simulation. "In the toolpath area, for example, the application of conical barrel cutters to planar, ruled and shaped surfaces provides huge benefits for reducing cycle times by as much as 90 percent or more and enhancing cutter life. This offers advanced blending techniques to help meet critical mold-surface finish requirements while avoiding undercuts or cusps at the blending of different cut regions," he says. Ryan Weekes of CGS North America also calls out CAM companies' adaptation of circle-segmented tools or barrel cutters, which are specifically designed for five-axis machining. "These tools have a large radius on a small tool, the purpose of which is to enable much larger step-downs to produce a smaller cusp while not driving up the cost of the tool with a large amount of carbide," he says. "In the right application, these tools will increase efficiency and surface finish. For moldmakers to use these tools effec- tively, the CAM software must drive the toolpath in a very specific motion to utilize the largest part of the radius." Vero Software's Shawn Schwartz says that WorkNC recently introduced a new version of a planar roughing tool and improved it to require fewer cutters so that finishing times are much faster. "It also is able to do that in the Z-level fin- ishing, which is critical for mold and die," he says. Clinton Perry of Autodesk Inc. says that using new tech- nologies like machine learning to review an application and match it against the right manufacturing process, and combining it with cloud computing for on-demand com- puter hardware, enables moldmakers to quickly evaluate all possible design and manufacturing options. As a result, the moldmaker not only makes a part, but engineers the right part in the shortest amount of time while using the proper material and the processes that the application requires. Making Simulation Software More Adaptable Though simulation software has been around since the late 1970s, its breadth of use in moldmaking continues to grow as new mold building technologies take hold within the As mold designs become more complex, software must be easier to use and offer a wider range of applications, including the ability to automate processes by creating high quality, predictable CNC machining code with minimal human input and risk of human error. Here, software performs colli- sion checks on NC code. [Moldmakers] have used their current software for so long that they are unwilling to change systems, even though they understand that it would significantly increase productivity once they have made the switch.

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