Vero’s Edgecam Workflow application speeds up toolpath generation

Edgecam Workflow understands the component topology and therefore understands the required manufacturing environment. The application's tools aid in loading and positioning the component; choosing the manufacturing method and suitable machine tools; adding user defined stock or stock from a database; importing fixtures; selecting a machine and toolkit; and managing strategies to automate manufacture. At each stage Workflow takes decisions or makes suggestions as to how the goal is best achieved. However, the user can easily override the decisions if required making the whole process flexible. The process is divided up into five stages, file, set-up, features, machining and NC Code. File, (Microsoft Office 2010 compatible), just allows users to manage files and folders. Set-up dynamically sets up datum position, and adds stock and fixtures through the interactive stock, fixture and machine manager functions. Loading and positioning of the component is fully automatic. (Previously the user had to manually set the environment and use traditional commands to create a datum. A selection of user-defined materials are listed in three categories, valid, normal and invalid, allowing suitable stock to be selected – while the user can define fixtures, including vices, chuck and clamps, and apply them through fixture manager.) Features, using Edgecam automatic feature recognition, allows features to be found quickly. Machining's planning board, applying suggested order to manufacture, is easily drag and drop manipulated. (Edgecam engineers have derived suggested methods of manufacture to machine the part on a feature-by-feature basis, with automatic ordering to rough all features before finishing. Users can have additional input to produce the exact toolpath required for their processes, but it is also possible for the user to update the strategies to match the user's best practice, to remove all manual intervention.) In the final NC code stage, the toolpath is verified in the full machine simulator. The toolkit can be reviewed and edited before NC code is then generated to complete the five-stage Workflow process.