Delcam to host free workshops on latest developments in CAM

Delcam will host a series of free workshops on the latest developments in CAM technology at its Birmingham headquarters on Thursday 8th July. The day will feature four sessions on five-axis machining, feature-based programming, integrated CAM for SolidWorks and software for metrology. Each one-hour-long presentation will be repeated four times during the day, giving all delegates the opportunity to custom-make their itinerary to fit their preferred interests and timings.

The day will be focussed primarily on the many new contacts that Delcam expects to make during the MACH exhibition to be held at the NEC, Birmingham, from 7th to 11th June. However, it will be open to any company interested in increasing their productivity, improving their quality or shortening their lead times by upgrading to Delcam software.

"The 2008 MACH was the busiest UK exhibition that Delcam had attended for many years and we are expecting a similar level of interest at this year’s show,” explained Delcam’s Marketing Manager, Peter Dickin. "This means that, unfortunately, we probably won’t have the time to go into detailed demonstrations with the many visitors to our stand. By organising this CAM day shortly after the exhibition, we can give companies the opportunity to learn more about the benefits of our programs. They will also be able to visit Delcam’s headquarters and learn about the unparalleled support that we can give to our customers.”

The workshops for the day will be as follows:

CAM for five-axis machining

Five-axis machining offers many opportunities to increase productivity and improve quality. Suitable equipment is now more affordable than ever, while CAM systems have become more powerful and easier to use. This session will provide an introduction to the programming of five-axis machines with Delcam’s PowerMILL CAM system. It will include details on a new PowerMILL module for the programming of robots for machining.

Feature-based programming

Feature-based programming provides the fastest and easiest programming for production machining of prismatic designs. Delcam’s FeatureCAM was the first feature-based CAM system when it was launched in 1995. This presentation will show how its highly-automated, knowledge-based programming, with machining strategies, tooling, and feeds and speeds set by the software, makes the system ideal for those with little CAM experience or for occasional users.

Integrated CAM for SolidWorks

Delcam for SolidWorks is a new CAM system that is fully integrated into the SolidWorks environment so that the program looks and behaves like SolidWorks. The software offers full associativity so that any changes in the CAD model are reflected automatically in the toolpaths. This session will show how this integration makes access to Delcam’s powerful machining strategies easier than ever for SolidWorks users.

Software for metrology

This presentation will cover Delcam’s software for metrology, in particular the PowerINSPECT program, the world’s leading hardware-independent inspection system for comparison of parts, tooling and prototypes against CAD data on all types of inspection device. It will also show how machining and inspection can be integrated more closely, in developments like electronic fixturing and on-machine verification, to give more efficient manufacturing and higher-quality results.