Delcam’s PartMaker 2010 for mill centres and lathes

Latest features are the ability to perform five-axis simultaneous milling on multi-axis lathes, more powerful milling functionality, enhanced grooving routines, faster tool path creation, improved solid model-based programming tools and better programming of thread whirling. The software now supports a direct interface to all the advanced 5-axis machining strategies currently supported by PowerMILL, including blade and blisk machining, as well as its 3-axis strategies. PowerMILL tool paths can be imported directly into PartMaker, manipulated and synchronized on PartMaker's process table, and then simulated and post-processed directly from that working environment. An optional module is available to perform simultaneous 5-axis swarf milling on multi-axis lathes. Additional milling strategies, also based on PowerMILL technology, include advanced 2½ axis milling routines, trochoidal milling, rest-area machining, face milling and pocketing. Improvements have been made in the software's chamfering and thread whirling programming. A number of user requested enhancements have been included such as enhanced grooving functionality, powerful and flexible threading capability, improved solids-based programming and additional CAD functionality. Additionally, 2D toolpath selection has been improved from previous versions to speed up programming time. Finally, a number of improvements have been made to the software's Tool Database.