CAMWorks Automates 3 Axis Mold Programming

Have you ever needed to program a complex 3 axis mold and wished there was an easier, faster way? With CAMWorks technology database or TechDB and Tolerance Based Machining (TBM), complex molds can often be programmed in less than 5 minutes!

How, you might ask? Let me explain… CAMWorks captures the best practices of your top CNC programmers, mold makers, and machinists and automatically reuses them to automate the CNC programming process. Users can program molds and save their machining strategies back to the technology database or TechDB™ and automatically apply them to similar parts or molds as needed.

In addition, CAMWorks can read the surface finish symbols and automatically apply the correct machining strategies to meet the surface finish requirements specified by the Model Based Definition or MBD data. This cutting-edge technology is called Tolerance Based Machining or TBM.

Using CAMWorks, the TechDB and TBM, complex molds can often be programmed in less than 5 minutes and the toolpaths are fully associative to the SOLIDWORKS model so if a change is made to the design, the toolpaths will update automatically!

CAMWorks is the only CAM system that provides the technology necessary to automate the CNC programming process for molds in an easy to use system, fully integrated solution inside SOLIDWORKS.

Capture Your Best Practices In this example, a mold for a PVC fitting is programmed using CAMWorks. Once programmed, the machining strategy is saved back to the TechDB™. All of the tools, feeds & speeds, depths of cuts and other machining parameters are stored in a single, easy-to-apply machining strategy. The machining strategy can then be applied automatically based on the type of material being machined, size of the cavity or core, and other geometric criteria. The toolpaths will be generated correctly regardless of the cavity or core shape! Subsequent operations (such as rest-roughing) will recognize the work-in-process, and machine only the areas where there is remaining material. By storing various strategies, you can capture your best practices and build a library of machining strategies that can used to machine virtually any mold cavity or core in any material! The CAMWorks toolpaths for machining are also fully associative with the design model so if the design of the mold changes, the toolpaths will update automatically.

Mold for PVC Fitting

Use MBD data to Further Automate the Process In this example, a mold for a PVC fitting is programmed using CAMWorks. Once programmed, the machining strategy is saved back to the TechDB™. All of the tools, feeds & speeds, depths of cuts and other machining parameters are stored in a single, easy-to-apply machining strategy. The machining strategy can then be applied automatically based on the type of material being machined, size of the cavity or core, and other geometric criteria. The toolpaths will be generated correctly regardless of the cavity or core shape! Subsequent operations (such as rest-roughing) will recognize the work-in-process, and machine only the areas where there is remaining material. By storing various strategies, you can capture your best practices and build a library of machining strategies that can used to machine virtually any mold cavity or core in any material! The CAMWorks toolpaths for machining are also fully associative with the design model so if the design of the mold changes, the toolpaths will update automatically.

Tolerance Based Machining

The Bottom Line Thanks to the automation in CAMWorks, CNC programs become consistent, the machinist knows what to expect in the CNC program, and more easily identifies any issue that might arise. New programmers can become immediately productive and benefit from the best practices of experienced CNC programmers, mold makers, and machinist. The bottom line is even the most complex molds can be programmed in just a few minutes reducing the delivery lead time and programming effort. Furthermore, thanks to standardization using the same proven tools, feeds & speeds, and machining strategies… the quality of the molds improves and tooling costs are reduced. Note: The same technology described in this post can be used to automate the CNC programming process for medical device, aerospace, automotive, commercial equipment, and other types of CNC machined parts.