SolidCAM claims dramatic cycle time reductions with iMachining InventorCAM 2012 for Autodesk users

iMachining technology in InventorCAM 2012 uses morphing spiral cuts and controlled step-over algorithms to enable tools to cut at their full depth, without suffering from shock loading or rubbing. Cutting at full depth helps to spread the load over the length of the tool, instead of the bottom few millimetres, while precise control of chip thickness keeps cutting loads steady, enabling far greater metal removal rates to be achieved, even in hard materials. SolidCAM says applications requiring the use of small diameter tools particularly will benefit from iMachining. Optimised feeds and speeds are automatically generated by the software's technology wizard – taking into account the properties of the machine, tool, material, geometry and the user's selected aggressiveness level for cutting. iRest and iFinish technologies are an integral part of this process, cutting the rest material with smaller and smaller cutters so that the final finish path can be cut at full depth and chatter free. InventorCAM 2012 is powerful in its ability to drive multi-spindle and multi-turret mill-turn centres. In these applications it takes advantage of iMachining to overcome the problems associated with low rigidity and over-long tooling set-ups. By lowering the aggressiveness of cutting and utilising the constant tool loading produced by iMachining, programmers can compensate for less than perfect cutting conditions, enabling the machine tool to achieve maximum efficiency and productivity in a collision-free environment. Simultaneous 5-axis milling, multi-sided indexing, high speed surface machining and 3D high speed surface machining in InventorCAM 2012 give engineers the ability to cut the most complex parts designed in Autodesk Inventor, while turning, mill-turn and wire EDM modules extend the software to program all the machines in the workshop. An intuitive, Autodesk Inventor-like interface will enable experienced designers to quickly become proficient in InventorCAM 2012, says SolidCAM. Online tutorials also provide 24/7 self-teach opportunities to make it easy to optimise CNC programming and machining productivity.