DATRON neo high-speed milling machine.
DATRON Dynamics Inc. has announced that its high-speed machining technology has combined with Autodesk's software innovation as part of the Autodesk Generative Design Field Lab located at the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) facility in Chicago.
DMDII is part of Manufacturing USA, a network of 14 institutes all focused on advancing individual technologies and revitalizing U.S. manufacturing. DMDII's goal is to bring together the processes that manufacturers employ in a single digital manufacturing and design facility equipped with advanced technology. Ultimately, DMDII is a place where companies of all sizes meet up with innovators to develop disruptive technologies and plot the future of manufacturing. DMDII's mission is to provide U.S. factories with the tools, software and expertise they need to build things more efficiently, less expensively and faster, so manufacturers can win more business and bring jobs back to the U.S.
One of the prominent spaces within this 100,000 sq. ft. facility is occupied by software innovator, Autodesk. In developing this space, it decided to include "additive," "subtractive" and hybrid "additive/subtractive" manufacturing equipment to leverage the full power of its software. For the subtractive manufacturing piece of the puzzle, it chose the DATRON neo, made in Germany by DATRON AG. The DATRON neo is a compact high-speed CNC milling machine with an image-driven touchscreen interface designed to eliminate traditional numerical input required to program most conventional CNC equipment.
Autodesk's Senior Manager, Business Strategy & Marketing, Sean Manzanares said, "When building out the Autodesk Generative Design Field Lab, we had a vision of world class vendors supporting the complete workflow from design through manufacturing. Autodesk has relied on the successful partnership with DATRON. Having the DATRON neo as the featured CNC milling solution was an easy decision because it showcases the ease-of-use and power of design and manufacturing within an integrated environment."
This is not the first partnership between these two companies as DATRON neo is also in Autodesk's Pier 9 Technology Center in San Francisco. John Sullivan, DATRON Director of Sales and Marketing, said that the pairing could not be more perfect. "A lot of DATRON users choose Fusion 360 because the post processor is rock solid. Our technology is all about speed and efficiency. The fact that DATRON and Fusion 360 integrate seamlessly results in an unbeatable user experience."
Autodesk Technical Innovations Manager Rossen Maltchev has been selected to operate the DATRON neo at DMDII. "I work with other CNC mills and VMCs and there is nothing like a DATRON," he said. "These machines are fast, easy-to-use and produce the best surface finish I have ever seen. The contribution that such a small machine can make to a facility like this is incredible."
The DATRON neo is a compact machine with a footprint of 27.5" x 51". Inside the machine is an integrated camera/probe combination designed to eliminate the time-consuming task of setting up jobs. The camera shows the machining table below and the operator can select the workpiece simply by tracing the area on the touchscreen where the workpiece is displayed. Once the part is located, and the machining parameters are set, any irregularity is automatically compensated for in the software. This virtually eliminates part rejection due to improper set-up. An on-board "CAM Assistant" guides the operator through the program and tool management on an interface that looks and feels like using a smartphone. All of these tools combine to help even a novice operator create a machined part in just four steps. "This type of innovation is exactly what makes DATRON neo a logical fit for DMDII's Generative Design Field Lab," said a company spokesperson.
DATRON will be using this installation at DMDII as its Midwest Technology Center where it will host events and demonstrate its technology for prospective customers and machining enthusiasts. VP Business Development Robert Murphy said, "DMDII in Chicago is the hub for digital design and manufacturing and the perfect to place to showcase our NEO machining system. Companies of all sizes can see the latest advancements in manufacturing technology and how they all work together. They can quickly fabricate a model or learn about the latest approach to improving manufacturing efficiency. Our partnership with Autodesk and DMDII helps educate American manufacturers on the latest technologies for improving efficiency and making parts better, faster and smarter".
For more information contact:
Steve Carter
DATRON Dynamics, Inc.
115 Emerson Road
Milford, NH 03055
603-215-5848
steve.carter@datron.com
www.datron.com