Speed Up Machine Processes and Cutting Tools

DP Technology (Camarillo, CA) just released ESPRIT 2008, the latest version of its flagship CAM software, which offers productivity-enhancing technology for CNC programmers of mills, lathes, and wire EDM machines.

Advancements to ESPRIT 2008, which runs on both Microsoft Windows XP and Vista, include turning stock automation for lathes, EDM machine specific machining technology, improved 3D machining performance, open pocket milling, expanded CAD to CAM feature exchange (FX), enhanced KnowledgeBase machining (KBM) functionality, and B-axis turning for 5-axis mill-turn machines.

The new open-pocket feature and machining cycles offer greater machining flexibility and improved cycle times when machining pockets with a combination of open edges and closed walls. These new machining cycles allow the tool to hang partially over the open edge to improve the edge finish and provide a more constant cutter load.

The stock automation technology lets ESPRIT maintain awareness of the state of lathe stock during the machining process, and allows ESPRIT to automatically manage lead-in and lead-out distances and moves -– thereby eliminating the possibility of gouging material or crashing tools.

Lathe programmers will benefit from new threading cycles with a database of standard thread dimensions, a new cutoff cycle with greater tool control, flexibility for a larger variety of cutting tools, material removal and machine simulation for realistic computer-based dry-runs; a larger variety of machine configurations, including spindles and turrets, can be handled.

The new B-axis Turning Cutting Cycle achieves higher performance levels from multitasking machines by fully using the rotational capabilities of the B-axis; the contouring cycle allows for dynamic, continuous rotation of the B-axis throughout the cut as the tool follows inner and outer contours without stopping for tool changes.

Expanded control for wire EDM support the latest machines and cutting technology for Charmilles, Fanuc, Mitsubishi, ONA and Sodick wire EDMs. Plus, a new rotate entry point strategy for EDM operations gives the user the option to alternate the start point on profiles that have multiple cutting passes.

ESPRIT FX, feature exchange, improves the direct exchange of the part geometry and the CAD feature tree. The KnowledgeBase user interfaces have been centralized in one location to make it easier to manage all of the data in the database.

For further details, contact DP Technology.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.