Die & Mould Making - CNC - Computer Numerical Control

However, it is also very common that both
halves of a tool is machined as the only
difference is that it is made of aluminium.
Which is easy to machine and cheaper than
the real tool steel.
While the blank is being cast the machining
strategy and the tool paths are being
decided with the help of CAM equipment
at the programming department. When the
blank arrives the CNC-programme should
be out by the machine tool in the workshop.
In some work shops the machine
tools are connected to a CAM work-station,
which enables the machinist to make
changes in the programme if he realises
that there is too much material to remove
in certain places or another tool might be
more suitable.
The machinist can, in fact, decide the
whole milling strategy by the machine in a
WOP-station (Workshop Oriented
Programming).
The machining is often structured to perform
the roughing and restmilling operations
during the day shift, while attended
by a machinist. The time consuming finishing
operations are often done unmanned
during the nights and week ends. When
doing this it is important with a good
monitoring system on the machine to
prevent that the component gets damaged
if a cutting tool breaks. If a good tool wear
analysis has been made and the tool life
has been established, automatic tool changes
can be made to utilize the machine tool even
further. However, this calls for very accurate
tool settings especially in the Z-axis to
get as small mismatch as possible.
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