Reprinted From: PRODUCTION MACHINING Magazine Urgent Need A CAM package plays an integral role in helping this shop fulfill its customers’ emergency machining requirements. By Chris Felix Along with price and quality parts, timely delivery is always a priority for the Swiss-parts customer. In fact, quick turnaround is often what sets a shop apart from its competition. Sometimes the need for one shop to turn a job around in a matter of days is brought on by the failure of another shop to deliver on its much longer production schedule. So when a shop designs its entire production process around turning out quality parts fast, it naturally

s With its lineup of Citizen Swiss machines, EMC prides itself in its ability to handle a high volume of machining orders without backlogging. develops a reputation for being a company to turn to in times of urgency. In recent years, EMC Precision Machining (Elyria, Ohio) has positioned itself for delivering in these situations, taking on jobs that other shops have not been able to complete in time. Having the right tools in place, from personnel to machine tools to software, has been the integral element for being successful in this type of work, and EMC has used this ability to land new customers...

Software the system. Although the software has modeling capability, Mr. Marcell feels this is the most effective method for their needs. “We used SolidWorks before we bought the CAM package,” he says. “Once you understand how to do modeling and how to manipulate the 3D model, you can easily transition to the CAM system.” Mr. Marcell sees the geometries that the software provides and the speed at which the engineers have been able to program as being the biggest factors in helping boost the company’s success in its urgent machining capabilities. “Part geometry is essential because that’s the starting...

Simplifying Swiss Programming Multitasking machines, including Swisstype lathes, may be the most difficult CNCs to program. Tool paths may not be as complex as those for five-axis milling, but coordinating the multiple tool groups and spindles of these machines, with as many tools as possible working simultaneously, without crashes or interference, is often very challenging. That is why close consideration was given to the dynamics of these machines when Gibbs and Associates developed GibbsCAM MTM (multitask machining), the module for programming Swiss-type machines. The software is designed...