Large step-over increments contribute to faster cycle times and longer tool life.
Designer edge ballnose for aggressive nose section cutting.
Both a static and dynamic view are supported.
The ToolRoom update includes new ToolTypes.
Using LaserPlus, both ball radius and tangential form radius can be maintained within +/-0.002 mm.
ANCA has added the latest barrel shape ballnose (BSB) tooltype to its ToolRoom software. The recent enhancement also includes revamped double corner radius (DCR) endmills. "Barrel and lens shapes and taper and oval forms are relative market newcomers and are predominantly used in the die/mold, aerospace, general machining and power generation industries," said a company spokesperson.
ANCA Software Product Manager Thomson Mathew said: "The ability to create endmills with a larger radius edge permits greater step-over increments. This enables machining with a larger crossover pitch during pre-finishing and finishing operations-improving productivity. Shorter cutting distances means longer tool life and faster cycle times."
Thomson added: "Replacing conventional ballnose and corner radius applications with the large tangential form radius simulates these applications but the outsized cutting diameter is what saves cycle time and cost; and the resulting surface finish is better as well. Bringing these new endmills together with the expert advantages of ToolRoom, such as iView and laser compensation, designer edge ballnose, variable helix and tool balancing, sets tool manufacturers up with a complete solution and is unique to ANCA software. In addition, a special fluting operation ensures a constant hook angle all the way along the trajectory of the cutting edge resulting in vibration-free tools, with less wear and tear during machining."
According to the company, manufacturing complex, sophisticated endmills is made easy with wizard-based BSB design in ToolRoom, suitable also for catalog production.
"BSB and DCR tool types are high performance endmill cutters, mainly used for finishing requiring high accuracies," said the spokesperson. "They may be more familiar to some as circular segment or high-feed end mills. In the current market, cutting tool manufacturers may be looking to enter new markets. This software release makes diversification with high-quality specialist tools attainable. This enhancement retains ANCA's software user-friendliness and completes the ToolRoom RN34 endmill package."
Compensation methods are covered because ANCA supports manual, iView and LaserPlus compensation for all geometry. Both ball radius and tangential barrel form radius can be maintained within +/-0.002 mm using LaserPlus. This accuracy can also be maintained in batch grinding with automatic in-process compensation for large volume production on machines with LaserPlus.
The wizard-based design also provides the option to scale tools and add other operations like roughing or chip breakers. Wizard support is available for oval form, taper form and also a custom form for specials. A static view gives parameter inputs for geometry description, and there is also a dynamic view available to visualize the geometry when parameters are entered.
Practical advantages of ToolRoom software for cutting tool manufacturers include:
- iView and laser compensation for large volume manufacturing
- Designer edge ballnose for aggressive cutting
- Variable helix/index with radial margin option for fluting cycles
- Tool balancing for variable helix/index tools for chatter-free cutting
- Constant hook along cutting edge trajectory (special flute from solid)
- User-friendly GUI with static and dynamic view specially for catalog tools.
For more information contact:
ANCA Inc.
31129 Century Drive
Wixom, MI 48393
248-926-4466
usainfo@anca.com
www.anca.com