Automation tool for CNC programming

Pathtrace told IMM at the recent EuroMold Show in Frankfurt that the newest part of its EdgeCAM Solid Machining software suite is aimed at a relatively neglected part of machining a mold: plate work. Core and cavity, they say, is important, and EdgeCAM already addresses that, but time can be saved and efficiency increased in the plate work as well.

Enter EdgeCAM Strategy Manager, a knowledge-based method of programming CNC machines that lets the machining company capture its own best practice methods, refine them, and apply them to subsequent jobs. An interactive graphical interface makes it easy to define the way parts are best cut, capture that information, and store it. Pathtrace says this combines the best of rules-, knowledge-, and feature-based programming.

The basic sequence goes like this: A solid model is loaded and a component is machined using EdgeCAM Solid Machinist; the machining instructions are captured and the output process pasted into EdgeCAM Strategy Manager; a flowchart is defined, to which decisions and logic are added; the resulting strategy is saved for future use; and a library continues to grow. Strategy Manager does not impose rules or methods, but allows you to use the knowledge and experience of your own skilled workers.

The flowchart tool is at the core of the software and works by basic cutting and pasting of a machining process. Since the process is entirely graphical, no high-level programming knowledge is needed.?RN

Pathtrace Systems, Southfield, MI
(248) 356-8800
www.edgecam.com