Delcam demonstrates technology advances at Paris Airshow

These will include the new releases of its PowerMILL machining software for high-speed and 5-axis machining, and of the PowerINSPECT inspection software, plus a range of adaptive machining solutions to allow more accurate manufacture and repair of complex components. The latest release of PowerMILL, version 10, offers the fastest-ever toolpath generation on multi-processor computers. It incorporates the latest background-processing and multi-threading technologies, and so uses the full power of recent hardware developments to reduce calculation times and increase output dramatically. Other enhancements to further increase productivity include reduced memory usage when programming the largest and most complex parts, and improved ordering to give faster cycle times on the machine tool. Version 6 of PowerINSPECT includes a range of enhancements to make it easier and more flexible to use. The most obvious change is a completely new interface for undertaking "simple" measurements. This will make it much easier to undertake basic tasks, such as measuring the distance between two points or two planes, or the centres of two circles, or checking the thickness of a section. Delcam will also demonstrate new ways in which machining and inspection can be integrated to give adaptive machining. One example of this integration is electronic fixturing. With this technique, toolpaths are adjusted to match the actual position of the surface of the workpiece, rather than trying to align the part into exactly the nominal position specified in the CAM system. It can overcome the problems encountered when machining large, heavy components or flexible composite panels.