Sescoi hosts collaborative CADCAM and machining seminar for Chinese engineers

Sescoi is helping Chinese engineers to learn about the latest advances in the metal cutting industry and CADCAM software through a recent seminar in Huangyan, held in collaboration with Fidia, Hitachi Tools and Rego-Fix.

50 delegates from automotive, consumer electronic and mold and die companies were welcomed by representatives from the Huangyan and Shanghai Mold and Die Associations before hearing about the improvements in Sescoi’s WorkNC V21 CADCAM system.

WorkNC V21 now includes parallel processing, which takes advantage of the new generation of multi core computers, resulting in calculation speed improvements of up to ten times compared with previous versions of the software. Concentrating on the benefits and technology required for high speed machining, Sescoi’s engineers showed how WorkNC dynamically updates the stock model to ensure there is no shock loading on the tool, that cutting loads are kept constant, and unnecessary retract moves eliminated. This overcomes the problems often found with HSM of tooling marks on the finished part, and damage to the cutter itself, enabling companies to successfully do away with extra operations such as die sinking and hand finishing.

The visitors then heard about the new combined Z-Level finishing strategy, which includes the optimized toolpath required to machine fine details. They were also told about the new capabilities, within the software, to handle canonical tools and to machine undercut conditions.

5-axis machining is just starting to be utilized by Chinese companies in the region, according to a Sescoi survey. Delegates were interested in a demonstration of WorkNC Auto 5 automated 5-axis programming and WorkNC 3+2 programming techniques, which showed how easy it is to implement and program machine tools with these capabilities.

Presentations from Fidia, Hitachi Tools, and Rego-Fix allowed the attendees to see the contribution of the machine tool, the cutters and the tool holders to the process. Feedback from the visiting engineers showed that they appreciated the chance to understand the interdependence between machinery and software, and the importance of selecting the right combination of equipment and CADCAM software to maximize productivity.