Delcam's PowerMILL gives five-axis and more

Gelre Rijn Tools swapped its previous CAM system for Delcam's PowerMILL machining software after adding its first five-axis machine. The company soon found that the change of software also gave other benefits.

Based in Heteren in the Netherlands, Gelre Rijn Tools manufactures injection moulding tools for the plastic and rubber industry, and technical components for machine construction. The company specialises in tooling for thin-walled plastics products, in particular packaging for salads, ice cream, ready-made meals, household utensils and paints. To remain successful, it is essential to meet customers' demands for high quality parts, efficient tool performance and rapid delivery times.

The move to PowerMILL at Gelre Rijn Tools came after the company installed a new five-axis Hermle C40U milling machine. Following problems with the existing software, a search began for an alternative CAM system that would be able to drive this machine tool without any difficulties. Other requirements were for an improved surface quality so that polishing could be reduced to a minimum, and for software that was easy to learn and so would allow a fast implementation.

Richard Adams, a manufacturing engineer and modelmaker at the company, was impressed with PowerMILL from the start. As well as providing the five-axis functionality that was needed, the toolpaths from PowerMILL produced much smoother and better-looking results. This improved surface quality generated the desired reduction in the amount of polishing.

In addition, the fast and easy-to-learn graphical user interface, coupled with the professional support by reseller Bemet International, meant that the switch to the new software went smoothly.

"We have been working with PowerMILL since 2007," said Mr. Adams. "During that time, we have become convinced that our first impression of the software was right. We have been very impressed by all possibilities of this CAM system, especially by the range of milling strategies. We look forward to working with PowerMILL for many years to come."