Delcam to demonstrate composites CADCAM at MAKA Open House

Delcam will demonstrate the use of its CADCAM systems in the manufacture of composites components at a three-day Open House to be held by router manufacturers MAKA at the company’s UK headquarters in Telford from 3rd to 5th June. The demonstrations will cover the complete manufacturing process, including the development of the mould design from the component design, the generation of toolpaths to trim the moulded part, and the design of the fixture to hold the part during machining.

Delcam’s software is already used in many successful applications within the composites industry, such as the manufacture of components for the aerospace, marine, autosport and luxury car industries, the production of top-of-the-range sports equipment, and the machining of patterns and tooling for compression moulding and reaction injection moulding. Benefits of the systems include increased productivity, higher quality and shorter lead times.

Unlike many other areas within UK manufacturing, the composites industry is continuing to grow as the materials are used increasingly to replace metals and wood. New applications continue to be found as the properties of the materials are developed, especially in the aerospace, automotive and marine industries.

These developments offer significant opportunities to component manufacturers and the toolmakers that support them. In particular, companies that have been hit by the decline in UK toolmaking could find new opportunities in the composites area. Their skills in producing complex injection moulds could be transferred relatively easily to the manufacture of tooling for compression moulding and reaction injection moulding of composites. Similarly, firms that have traditionally made models and patterns for the metals industry could turn to producing similar items for composites manufacture. However, in order to make the transition successfully, companies must ensure that they are using the appropriate machine tools and the most efficient manufacturing software.