Gibbs and Associates today announced that it will demonstrate how GibbsCAM software is optimized for machining parts designed in SOLIDWORKS® at the Dassault Systèmes’ SOLIDWORKS World 2014 Conference. Gibbs was also selected to give a presentation called “Productivity and Efficiency in Machining SOLIDWORKS Features,” using GibbsCAM, a SOLIDWORKS Certified CAM Product that provides seamless integration with SOLIDWORKS. The brief presentation will be delivered by Steve Aughinbaugh, GibbsCAM applications engineer, from 6:30PM-6:45PM, Monday, January 27, 2014. Mr. Aughinbaugh will highlight GibbsCAM’s optimal integration between SOLIDWORKS and GibbsCAM, focusing on the greatest simplification of 3D solids machining available for SOLIDWORKS. He will demonstrate how GibbsCAM uses Knowledge Based Machining to automatically read SOLIDWORKS part features and machine them with a single mouse click. In addition to the presentation, GibbsCAM demonstrations will be available in Booth 629 of the Partner Pavilion. The conference is being held from January 26-29, 2014, at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, California.
Mr. Aughinbaugh’s presentation will be centered on GibbsCAM’s Feature Manager, which reads and preserves features from SOLIDWORKS files, and enables the NC programmer to read features from the SOLIDWORKS Feature Tree, such as extrusions, patterns, and revolved features, then easily identify and select areas for machining and apply machining processes required to make the part. Perhaps of greatest benefit to users is GibbsCAM’s unique ability to handle the inevitable engineering change order that requires modifying a part. When an updated part file is transferred into GibbsCAM, it automatically identifies changed features and updates all machining processes with one or two clicks of the mouse. The result is faster programming and more accurate parts produced more quickly. GibbsCAM’s unique user interface, which is easy to learn, provides SOLIDWORKS users additional productivity with the speed its ease of use enables for every job.
For the demonstration, Mr. Aughinbaugh will open a SOLIDWORKS part with pockets and other features, load the part into GibbsCAM and machine it, demonstrating the ease, speed and efficiency of reading and programming features from the Feature Tree. To demonstrate how GibbsCAM saves valuable time with an updated part, he will show how GibbsCAM reads the revised part, automatically recognizes changes, updates the machining processes and generates a new NC program. Attendees will immediately recognize the value of this dynamic integration between SOLIDWORKS and GibbsCAM in family-of-parts programming and in providing quick response to engineering change orders.
Other great time savers for SOLIDWORKS users are GibbsCAM’s Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR) and its Hole Manager, which integrates with the SOLIDWORKS Hole Wizard to automatically read, recognize, and machine holes. Hole Manager reads all attributes applied to holes created by the SOLIDWORKS Hole Wizard, and automatically generates tool lists and processes right down to the finished operations. GibbsCAM also preserves colors applied to SOLIDWORKS models. Since colors applied in the design process often convey information about manufacturing processes, preserving these colors improves communication between design and manufacturing, reducing errors and speeding up programming time. In combination with Feature Manager’s reading of solid features from the Feature Tree, GibbsCAM AFR and Hole Manager greatly simplify solids machining and provide huge time savings for the SOLIDWORKS user.
The combination of GibbsCAM 2014 and SOLIDWORKS 2014 provides a complete CAD/CAM solution for most manufacturing environments. Whether parts have simple geometry needing only 2.5-axis milling or 2-axis turning, or complex geometry requiring use of 5-axis machining, MTM or Swiss-style turning centers, the SOLIDWORKS-GibbsCAM combination accommodates and optimizes the machining process. GibbsCAM verifies the toolpaths with gouge detection and interference checking, then dynamically and visually simulates them on virtual machine tools, and accurately post-processes them to generate optimal NC programs. GibbsCAM features help users eliminate scrap, reduce cycle times, and maximize efficiency, safety and profits.
