Latest PartMaker version featuring a range of new and enhanced capability is now available to end users
Figure 1: PartMaker Version 2012 has now been released. This new version features a host new functionality including improved support for B-Axis Swiss lathes like the one shown above from Tsugami
December 9, 2011 -Fort Washington, PA – PartMaker Inc., a division of Delcam Plc, has released PartMaker Version 2012, the latest version of PartMaker Software for programming CNC Mills, Lathes, WireEDM, Turn-Mill Centers and Swiss-type Major highlights of PartMaker Version 2012 includes a host new functionality across the entire suite of PartMaker applications including improved visualization, more powerful simulation of vertical and horizontal machining centers, support for the latest breed of multi-axis Bar-Fed Mills, Turn-Mill Centers and Swiss-type lathes, greater flexibility and control in process development and much, much more.
“PartMaker Version 2012 will help our customers continue to ‘raise their game’ to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive manufacturing landscape,” says Delcam’s PartMaker Inc. division President Hanan Fishman. “PartMaker Version 2012 includes an array of new features and functionality that will benefit every PartMaker user. There’s just so much for PartMaker users to be excited about with PartMaker Version 2012.”
Variable Depth Cylindrical Milling
PartMaker Version 2012 includes a new, powerful 3D surfacing strategy as an enhancement to the Surface Machining Wizard (SMW) module. This new strategy allows the user to perform 3D surface machining using cylindrical interpolation. This powerful, new rotary machining functionality allows for creation of more complicated part features for complex parts being made on 4-axis Mills, Turn-Mill Centers and Swiss-type lathes.
Simulation of B-Axis Gang Style Swiss-Type Lathes
PartMaker Version 2012 supports the simulation of the latest generation of Swiss-type lathes, those equipped with a programmable “B-Axis” on a gang slide. PartMaker Version 2012 will allow you to take advantage of the newest breed of B-axis enabled gang-style Swiss lathes, better understand the benefits of using B-axis gangs for their ability to add more live tooling in a single set-up and simulate and collision check complex 5-axis simultaneous tool paths. This improved simulation supports models from the leading Swiss-lathe builders offering machines with this unique architecture.
Full Machine Simulation for Milling
PartMaker Version 2012 extends the software’s powerful Full Machine Simulation technology to vertical and horizontal machining centers as part of the new Kinematic Milling Simulation (KMS) module. This new functionality in PartMaker Mill simulates the kinematic motion of a CNC Milling machine’s programmable axes. It supports 3, 4 and 5-axis vertical mills as well horizontal and vertical tombstone set-ups and provides more realistic simulation and more comprehensive collision detection.
Set-Up Assemblies for Milling
PartMaker Version 2012 features the ability to import fixture models into the PartMaker programming environment to simulate tool paths for vertical and horizontal milling machines in a more realistic manner and avoid collisions between tools and work holding. The new Set-Up Assembly Feature, part of the new Kinematic Milling Simulation (KMS) module, allows the user to quickly designate the various components Set-Up Assembly as a stock, fixture or machining table in a visual and intuitive manner. Fixture models can be imported from virtually any 3D CAD system or directly cut and paste from Delcam’s PowerSHAPE.
Multiple Process Drag and Drop Selection
PartMaker Version 2012 allows the user to optimize and rearrange machining processes faster and easier than ever before. The new version allows processes to be simply dragged and dropped into place on PartMaker’s Process Table. It also lets multiple processes be selected and moved at the same time, rather than having to move processes individually as was the case before.
Support for New Bar-Fed Mill and Multi-Axis Lathe Architectures
PartMaker Version 2012 supports a number of new, cutting-edge architectures found on today’s latest Bar-Fed Mill and Turn-Mill Center offerings. This new technology has been developed in concert with a number of the industry’s leading machine tool builders. It includes support for such unique machine tool architectures as the Star SF and Mori-Seiki NTX where the sub-spindle can work at articulated positions in addition to the articulation of these machines’ tool head in the B-axis plane.
Enhanced Tool Path Visualization and Control
PartMaker Version 2012 provides much improved visualization across the entire PartMaker applications suite. This enhanced visualization includes the ability to display a 3D model of the stock being machined at any time without having to import a solid model as well as the ability to see tool paths and tool path verification on a 3D stock model even when no 3D model is available. Doing so allows the user to see the part in 3D before going to machining simulation, speeding up programming and reducing the chance of error. Additionally, the visualization and creation of tool path Approach and Escape points have been improved by allowing these points to be quickly defined with convenient snap modes. Approach and Escape points can also be much more clearly visualized after creation in PartMaker Version 2012.
Additional Productivity Enhancements
In addition to the improvements mentioned above, PartMaker Version 2012 includes a host of other productivity enhancements including the abilitity to directly output PartMaker’s graphical set-up sheets to Microsoft Excel, a direct Copy/Paste functionality from PowerSHAPE, 64 Bit version availability, tapered Thread Milling support, improved, more robust network licensing, more flexible sub-spindle control for twin spindle machines, improved CAD data translation, crisper rendering of imported solid models and improved 4 and 5 axis milling table definition.
More on PartMaker
PartMaker is a Knowledge Based Machining system, allowing it to provide a substantial gain in programming efficiency by remembering the tools, material and process information necessary to machine individual part features. It thus relieves the user from reentering the same features information for subsequent parts. It also improves productivity by placing the emphasis on tool management functions.
PartMaker is the market leading CAM software for production machining applications. PartMaker pioneered the field of CAM software for Turn-Mills and Swiss-type lathes with its patented Visual Programming Approach for programming multi-axis lathes with live tooling. It assures quicker learning and easier use. It makes an extensive use of pictures to help the user describe tools, part features and machining data. Synchronization of tools working on multiple spindles is achieved by a few mouse clicks.
PartMaker Inc. is a subsidiary of Delcam Plc, the world’s leading developer and supplier of complete CAD/CAM software solutions. Delcam Plc is publicly traded on the AIM exchange in London. While PartMaker is sold direct in North America by PartMaker Inc. PartMaker is sold overseas through a network of sales partner offices operating in over 120 countries.
Press Contact: PartMaker Inc. - Hanan Fishman, President
Phone/Fax: (215) 643-5077 ext. 304/(215) 653-0105