CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
26 May 2009
Product News
Delcam Expands Five-Axis Machining Capabilities
Delcam has increased the range of five-axis machining equipment in its Tooling Services Division with the addition of a DMG DMU 160P duoBLOCK milling machine, with a Siemens 840d powerline control.
This is the latest expansion of the Delcam’s in-house machining facility – no other global CADCAM company operates an equivalent manufacturing operation to prove out its new programs on real jobs with real deadlines. As well as allowing thorough validation of all software before its release, this facility provides an ideal opportunity for companies to test new processes or to produce short runs of prototype parts without any disruption to their day-to-day operations.
The new machine will further extend the range of projects that can be undertaken on the Birmingham site. It will complement the existing equipment which includes five-axis and high-speed machine tools up to 12 metres in length from Mazak, Huron, Hardinge and Mecof, plus a three-metre WFL mill-turn machine. All of the equipment is fitted with Renishaw probing systems to ensure accurate set-up and to allow on-machine verification of the components being produced.
The purchase of the extra machine has been prompted by the increasing success of Delcam’s Professional Services Group in winning process development work, in particular for the aerospace industry. The Group works closely with its clients to enhance their existing design and manufacturing processes, usually by using a combination of Delcam’s software to increase efficiency, improve quality and reduce delivery times.
Many of the companies using the Group’s services find that their engineering resources are fully committed to maintaining their existing operations so they have little capacity to test the new processes being developed. These companies prefer to undertake process evaluation and prototype manufacture on the equipment at Delcam rather than interrupting their day-to-day production.
“The Tooling Services Division has also duplicated the diversification into other industries that has been seen in Delcam’s software business in recent years,” commented Delcam UK General Manager Steve Creron. “The aerospace sector now provides the biggest source of work, rather than the toolmaking industry. The new DMG machine will offer us even more aerospace opportunities.”
“The manufacturing expertise gained within the Division forms an important part of the comprehensive support given by Delcam to all its customers,” added Mr. Creron. “As well as helping our development teams, the experience we gain is passed on to our support staff. They can use this knowledge to give our software users advice on all areas of their work, including aspects like the best choice of machining strategy and cutter selection, as well as the operation of the software.”
Being able to test such developments on-site obviously gives Delcam a major advantage in proving out its software. “Many CAM programs generate data that is mathematically correct but that is often impossible to machine in practice,” explained Mr. Creron. “With the facilities in the Tooling Services Division, we can confirm that the results from our CAM systems work as well on the shop floor as they do on the computer.”
“When potential software customers first hear about Delcam, they often ask why we operate the toolroom,” concluded Mr. Creron. “Once they have seen our facilities and we have explained the benefits, both in the reliability of the software and in the quality of our support, they find it difficult to understand how other CAM developers expect to develop and sell software without a similar resource.”
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