CAM Software solution WorkNC has just launched their latest 2016 version, which integrates Vero Software’s Waveform technology to reinforce its key assets of toolpath reliability, time savings, cost reduction and high surface quality.
Miguel Johann, WorkNC product manager, said: "Our development team worked tirelessly for the past 12 months to bring us WorkNC 2016, a version based on more modern technologies, from the tools we use internally and the methodology we use to develop software, to new manufacturing techniques like Vero's Waveform constant cutter engagement and Vero's Client License Server (CLS). WorkNC 2016 offers more stability and reliability to the everyday use of WorkNC, increasing the comfort of our users with ergonomic improvements to the product's interface."
The Waveform technology, developed over several years by Vero, significantly improves standard roughing strategies by removing a consistent amount of material while preserving machine and tool service life.
In order to maintain a constant load on the cutter, the strategy consists of machining from the stock material towards the part geometry. This approach results in a reduced number of intermittent cutting movements, especially in the outer areas, meaning that the tool stays engaged in the material for as long as possible and leads to fewer retracts and air cutting periods.
The stepover distance automatically adjusts in order to maintain a constant load on the cutter over the complete toolpath trajectory, making it possible to maintain optimal feed rates during the whole cycle, which can attain rates of up to five times faster than a traditional roughing strategy. Machining is performed over the full cutting length of the tool (whenever possible) which distributes load evenly.
Combined with the WorkNC Collision Detection module, which allows detecting collisions and out-of-limit conditions in the whole machining environment, the Waveform technology offers highly secured and reliable toolpaths that improve quality while maintaining high productivity level.
Still aiming at reducing time cycles and improving surface quality, WorkNC 2016 enhances its wall machining strategy with a lace cycle used with the appropriate tools.
Without this lace option, machining is done from top to bottom, and the tool moves up in rapid feed rate.
With the lace option, the first pass is done from top to bottom, and the next pass is done from bottom to top. The toolpath is shorter, with less retracts, machining time is therefore reduced.
