He cites an example when they were working on two cavity plates on one side of the machine, and four inserts on the other. It includes the EDGECAM NC code, datums to set the parts on, Zero Transfer, and cutter tool heights.” It collates data from all programs for the job and merges them into a single file, many at 36 megabytes and containing around 1.5-million lines of code. “But it’s no ordinary machining process thanks to the customised software which we call Merge. EDGECAM drives seven high-speed CNC mills with spindle speeds varying from 12,000 to 30,000 rpm, and a Sodick EDM machine. This can be done with any number of components, thanks to another piece of customised software which Kavia Tooling devised themselves and which engineers from their CAM system, EDGECAM, developed for them. We only have to put the Zero Transfer Plate, which is micron-accurate, into position on the machine, and it knows exactly where the part is.” Instead of having to put each part on the machine and then set it, we set it on the CMM which gives us the X, Y, Z, and U orientation. “Hexagon customised the flexible PC-DMIS software which comes as standard on their measurement devices, to enable us to use it to find offsets at the beginning of the operation. But Kavia’s unusual use of the Hexagon CMM means the machines are cutting another job while the set up for the next one is being carried out. Production Director Mark Cole says some components are particularly time-consuming to set up traditionally on machines…and even simple parts mean the machines are idle during set up. But it’ll only take about an hour on the CMM, and we can be confident that they’ll all be absolutely accurate.” “To set up six fairly difficult components directly on the machine may take one day, during which time it’s not running. This considerably reduces downtime on their CNC and EDM machines when setting up new jobs. Mould maker Kavia Tooling uses a Hexagon Coordinate Measuring Machine to create an offline Zero Transfer system ahead of the manufacturing process for parts and electrodes.
Hexagon CMM used in unique zero transfer system Mould maker Kavia Tooling combines EDGECAM with a CMM and
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