PW&SS July 2011:Layout 1 - PAWPRINT PUBLISHING

SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS
Parallel and flat 3D machining just got even better!
THE LATEST release of Alphacam
— 2011 R2 — is part of the
leading CNC software’s ongoing
program of development and
enhancement, ensuring it not
only keeps pace with the changing
needs of its users throughout
the world, but also delivers
maximum return on investment.
The following are just some of
the many functionality improvements
in Alphacam 2011 R2:
3D Solid and Surface Machining:
Much improved parallel and
flat area 3D machining strategies
for cutting solid models and
surfaces.
Automatic exclusion of flat
areas on parts allows for flat,
rather than ball ended cutters to
be used. Steep and shallow areas
of parts detected allows for different
strategies to be adopted — for
example, a smaller tool step-over
in a steeper gradient to that used
in a shallow area.
And there are options to always
down or up mill, and loop or
round external corners. Benefits
include reduced cutting time, improved
surface finish, and an improved
tool life.
Geometry Query Manager: A
user defined set of rules can be applied
to a drawing to help automate
toolpath generation. Based
on these user defined rules,
geometries are moved into specifically
named user layers, eg
Machining Style can be applied to
Flexible and accurate
LEADING CAD software specialist
for the KBB sector, ArtiCAD,
has plenty to offer both designers
and manufacturers working
in the KBB sector, and particularly
those dealing with panelling,
wood and solid surfaces.
For designers, the latest version
(v 17) of the ArtiCAD-Pro and
BathCAD software is going down
a storm with users. It contains a
host of innovative features with
two major new developments
being VR-Pro and ArtiCAD HD.
With VR-Pro, designers are able
to ‘move seamlessly’ around their
design with superior quality
graphics. Additional features include
the ability to ‘orbit’ the room
design and view the design as it
rotates. Any item within the design
can be selected and edited in
walkthrough mode.
ArtiCAD HD provides real life
scene lighting for designers regardless
of whether it is direct
light or indirect diffused light. For
what is believed to be the first
time, lighting behaves in exactly
the same way that it would in real
life, thus delivering even greater
realism to all ArtiCAD-Pro and
BathCAD designs.
For suppliers to the KBB sector,
ArtiCAD’s Supplier Partnership
Programme is going from strength
to strength. An increasing number
of manufacturers and suppliers to
the KBB industry are joining forces
with ArtiCAD to bring customers
the latest and greatest choice of
products to incorporate into design
— all available as easy to
search graphics catalogues within
ArtiCAD-Pro.
Theresa Turner, a director of
these layers, automating the
generation of toolpaths.
Autostyles and CAD to CAM
have also been updated to take
advantage of this new functionality,
providing further automation
improvements.
Solid Model Extract Edge for
Sawing: This allows the creation of
a special sawing geometry from a
selected solid model planar face,
automatically setting the correct
tool side, orientation and depth of
cut, giving faster toolpath generation,
while ensuring it is correct
first time from the scale model.
Work Plane Ordering: The
order of geometries and toolpaths
can be optimised using Order
Work Planes. The shortest path
ArtiCAD, said: “Whether we are developing
new versions of the software,
introducing new schemes
for our industry partners or designing
new approaches to training,
everything we do is aimed at
making the software as easy as
possible to use so that our clients
find it easier to sell their products
around a four or five-axis component
is automatically calculated
based on the configuration of the
CNC machine. The two main benefits
of this are the elimination of
time-consuming manual ordering,
and faster machining time as a result
of the reduced rapid distance.
Editable Spline/Polyline Toolpaths:
Toolpaths created to cut
Splines and Polylines, including
those that are simultaneous fiveaxis,
can now be modified and updated,
creating faster toolpaths,
and meaning the toolpath settings
can be referred to at a later
date.
Alphacam
Tel 01233 506100
www.alphacam.com
and services. ArtiCAD-Pro is fast,
flexible and accurate, saving our
clients time and money — and ensuring
that every job is right first
time, every time.”
ArtiCAD Ltd
Tel 01923 888101
Email info@articad.cc
www.articad.cc
Page 24 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011