Delcam’s PowerMILL 9 CAM to Offer Complete Control

Delcam’s next release of PowerMILL CAM software, PowerMILL 9, will offer a more complete solution for complex machining operations, together with more control for experienced machinists that know exactly how they wish to machine a particular part. The program will also include a range of enhancements to existing functionality to enable both faster programming and faster machining.

"Ever since its first release, PowerMILL has focussed on the more complex parts of any manufacturing operation,” explained Delcam’s CAM Development Director Steve Hobbs. "Many of our toolmaking customers tend to program the simpler tasks, like sizing the starting block of material, and finishing operations, such as cutting off, on the machine tool control rather than by off-line programming. However, as we have become more established in production machining, a growing number of our customers want to program everything with their CAM system. This has always been possible in PowerMILL but the new options in PowerMILL 9 will make the complete programming process much easier.”

PowerMILL 9 incorporates a number of improvements to reduce calculation times, together with some simplification of the user interface that makes it easier to select the required command and so makes programming faster, claims Delcam. In addition, toolpath ordering has been made more efficient, especially for roughing and rest machining, so ensuring that the cutter speeds more time machining and minimal time making air moves.

"These enhancements may not grab as many headlines as completely new machining strategies,” admitted Mr. Hobbs. "However, they are vital to our customers that need to increase their productivity and reduce their lead times in order to maximise their competitiveness.”