EdgeCam for high production parts

[FanukRC]

Hi Everyone,

My company is looking into EdgeCam or any other CAM software that would suit to our needs. We do both high production parts on a double density tombstone and flex jobs per customer request on a tombstone as well. We make pneumatic valve bodies where it's mostly a slab of aluminum with different holes and slots. Here is what I mean about high production and flex jobs:

High production - avg of 25 parts per order on one month and 3 months later make another avg of 25 parts again.
Flex - a customer request a few changes to a standard part and needs 8 pieces and about a year later, that customer requires 10 pieces to make.

If anybody could answer these questions, it would be helpful....Thanks

1) What company do you know that uses CAM for high production parts?
2) Is CAM suited more for machine shop jobs?
3) Given that handwritten code is the most optimize way, can CAM codes come up to par with handwritten code?

[Mike Mattera]

The answer to all your questions is simple. Everyone uses Cam for everything from single part protypes to high volume production. There is no reason to stop your machine from running just to program a part.

There is no advantage to hand written code. If it runs the machine and makes the part, it's good code. No one cares if it's done in 10 lines (optomized) or in 10,000 lines.

The Cam system (Edgecam at least) will give you all the additional things you dont get from doing it manually. Tool List, Setup Instructions, Pictures of the part layout, Machine simulation, A record of past jobs, The ability to update a complete program from the updated Cad file. To name a few.... All of these are a by-product of the programming process.

Mike Mattera

[FanukRC]

Thanks Mike for your answers,

Its true a generated code runs and makes a part is a good code. However, our machines have limited number of memory capacity and we can not use a DNS. We still use long hand code to keep our procedures simple and thats why we try to keep the programs the least amount of space in the machine's memory. I understand that CAM system offers alot of abilities handwritten could not offer. Given that a part is done, is it justifiable to say that there will be no second thoughts a cam code can offer the same or even less amount of machine running time than handwritten?

[Mike Mattera]

So is that what "Optimized" means to you, shorter cycle? To some people it means shorter program (less code).

Edgecam offers a number of cutting styles and I usually run one style and then check the cycle time. Then pick the other style and then compare.

You can also sort (Rationalize) toolpaths in a number of ways to reduce cycle time.

The real time savings with a cam system is whan you get an engineering change to a part that's alread been programmed. Re-programming it in Edgecam is a snap. Re-doing a manual program can be much more time consuming. So that depends if you ever get enginering changes to you parts .

As for less code, Edgecam will also create subroutines to reduce the amount of code. So the same drilled pattern on several faces will be put into a sub.

Mike Mattera