Machining
PowerMILL is the world's leading specialist CAM software for the manufacture of the complex shapes typically found in the toolmaking,
automotive and aerospace industries. Key features include a wide range of strategies,
including the latest high-efficiency roughing, high-speed finishing, and 5-axis machining techniques,
exceptionally fast calculation times and powerful editing tools to ensure optimum performance on the machine tool.
PowerMILL can accept data from any CAD system, via IGES, VDA, STL or a variety of direct interfaces. The combination power, flexibility and ease of use ensures that users can generate roughing and finishing toolpaths which optimise the productivity of CNC machine tools, while ensuring the highest quality machining of models and tooling. A fully-integrated simulation module allows the safety and efficiency of all toolpaths to be checked before machining starts.
PowerMILL's versatility makes it suitable across a broad spectrum of manufacturing sectors. It allows companies in many industries to increase efficiency and productivity as well as saving time and improving quality by reducing the need for hand finishing.
Data Input
Data can be imported via a variety of data exchange formats including IGES, VDA, STL, SDRC IDEAS, ProE, SolidWorks, SolidEdge, Cimatron, CATIA, Unigraphics and Parasolids. PowerMILL is tolerant to poor quality data offering gouge free machining even when gaps exist. When these gaps are larger than tolerance PowerMILL retracts to a safe z height, when the gap is smaller than tolerance the tool runs over the gap and continues machining.
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High Efficiency Area Clearance Strategies
PowerMILL leads the way with it's range of machining strategies for efficient area clearance. The main requirements of these techniques are to keep the load on the cutter as consistent as possible and to minimise any sudden changes in the cutting direction. One of the basic changes in strategy needed to achieve these conditions is the use of offset machining for roughing rather than the traditional raster approach.
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High Speed Finishing
PowerMILL includes many strategies for High Speed Machining that give the smooth consistent cutting conditions required to ensure rapid material removal and excellent surface finish. Three examples are 3D Offset, Constant Z finishing and Optimised Constant Z.
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5-Axis Machining
PowerMILL offers both positional and continuous 5-axis machining strategies for more efficient production of components in aerospace, automotive and precision engineering applications. 5-axis machining offers many benefits including faster machining, longer tool life and reduced need for fixtures. PowerMILL supports a wide range of machining strategies and tool types, together with many styles of leads and links.
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5-Axis Machining