CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

10 June 2009

Events News

Delcam to Show Faster Machining at FIP, Lyon

Delcam will demonstrate the latest version of its PowerMILL CAM system at the FIP exhibition for the plastics, rubber and composites industries to be held in Lyon from 16th to 19th June. The new release of the software offers Delcam’s fastest-ever programming through a combination of background-processing and multi-threading technologies.

The new faster programming will make the Delcam software popular with toolmakers that are looking to increase productivity and reduce lead times.

The new version of PowerMILL is the first release to take advantage of the availability of multi-core, multi-processor machines at more affordable prices. This equipment gives even faster processing times for the software, which is already acknowledged to offer some of the quickest calculation times in the industry.

The improvements will be most noticeable for companies machining very detailed cores and cavities, and those manufacturing larger tools. Tests at Delcam indicate that a dual core computer will perform raster machining calculations in around 55% of the time taken by a single core machine, while a quad core machine will complete the calculation in around 35% of the time.

Perhaps even more important is that using PowerMILL on a multi-core computer will remove the waiting time for the user. With a conventional computer, the operator must wait for one calculation to be completed before they can move on to the next operation. A series of operations can be compiled, for example for overnight calculations, but this is little help if the job is especially urgent.

With a multi-processor computer, the user can set the parameters for a second calculation on the part while the first calculation is still running. The two calculations can even be on different areas of the component, for example, when applying different strategies to machine the spilt surfaces from those being used for the main core or cavity. The computer will then automatically start the next operation in the sequence as soon as each calculation is completed. Any unfinished calculations at the end of the user’s shift will be completed after he has left work.

Other enhancements in the new release to further increase productivity include reduced memory usage when programming the largest and most complex parts, and improved ordering to give faster cycle times on the machine tool.

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