Gibbs and Associates

Multitasking machines, including Swiss-type 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.

A CAM package plays an integral role in helping this shop fulfill its customers’ emergency machining requirements.

600 Europe Appoints New Managing DirectorMike Berry has been appointed managing director of 600 Europe, responsible for managing and developing the Group’s newly centralized machine tool business in the U. K.

Software Certified by Autodesk InventorGibbs and Associates’ GibbsCAM 2009 has been certified for Autodesk Inventor 2010 software under the Autodesk Inventor Certified Applications Program. Certification is granted only after a product has been thoroughly tested by internal staff at Autodesk.

Machine shops prioritize different challenges daily, but some challenges are more critical than others. Precise Products Corporation (Minneapolis) was faced with a challenge when one of its original customers asked the company to reduce the cost of a family of parts or risk losing the job.

New updates to the five-axis module of GibbsCAM 2009 include postprocessor enhancements that extend support to drive all five-axis machines with rotary heads.

GibbsCAM MTM (multitask machining) now includes lathe features that are said to provide more efficiency through tool control and take advantage of newer high-tech cutting tools that turn harder materials and machine smoother surfaces.

While still running a few different CAM systems in the shop, this manufacturer of aerospace and oil and gas industry components has implemented what it sees as the ideal package for programming its multitasking work.

GibbsCAM 2009 is one of Gibbs and Associates most significant releases, with new features and many enhancements for the entire GibbsCAM product line. This release further decreases programming effort for all machine tool configurations and provides additional tools for its customers to easily achieve incremental gains in productivity. Features most applauded by early usersof the updated software generally fall into the categories of milling, turning, user interface and productivity and interoperability:These machining methods, specifically developed for multi-surface hard milling and high-speed machining in SolidSurfacer, provide high-quality surface finishes to reduce or eliminate polishing.

Gibbs and Associates has developed GibbsCAM post processors for Mori Seiki’s NZ series of machine tools. The software’s posted output effectively supports the advanced capabilities of these multitasking machine tools because of a collaborative effort with Mori Seiki, according to Gibbs.  The NZ series of machine tools are especially suited for mass-production machining.

Gibbs and Associates has developed a set of post processors for Mori Seiki's NMV line of VMCs. This collaborative effort between the two companies ensures that GibbsCAM's posted output supports the five-axis simultaneous capabilities of these machine tools. Using Mori Seiki's DCG (driven at the center of gravity)

In 1998, race car driver Robby Gordon wanted to make his own racing components, so with partners Larry Novak and Larry Kaford, he opened SR Machining in Anaheim, California. CNC Programmer Warren Myers arrived the first day, an hour before the shop’s first machine, a two-axis lathe. Because race car parts were insufficient to keep the lathe running at full capacity, the shop split its time evenly between racing components and parts for customers.

Advanced 3D with HSM enhancement for GibbsCAM SolidSurfacer introduces a range of advanced three-axis milling functionality with support for high speed machining. The three-axis capabilities provide more control and flexibility in toolpath generation with internal high-speed machining support.

Available from Gibbs and Associates, GibbsCAM 2008 software features enhanced capabilities across the entire GibbsCAM product family, along with a complete range of three-axis milling functionality with support for high speed machining. Enhancements include virtually unlimited undo/rollback capability, multiple viewport display capability, toolpath tool traversal visualization, hidden line toolpath display, pre-select highlighting and expanded display color management.

GibbsCAM 2008 adds a range of three-axis milling functionality with support for high-speed machining. Some of the more significant enhancements in the upcoming GibbsCAM 2008 release are as follows: a virtually unlimited undo/rollback capability; multiple viewport display capability; toolpath tool traversal visualization; hidden line toolpath display; pre-select highlighting; expanded display color management; persistent features and Feature Manager interface; and advanced 3D, high-speed machining for SolidSurfacer.   .

Gibbs and Associates' SFP (Shopfloor Programming) is now offered with a line of MAG Infimatic open architecture, PC-based controls. Able to support programming wire frame geometry, the SFP version bundled with the Infimatic controller can be upgraded to support programming of more complex parts including surface and solid models. A key advantage of the programming ability is its compatibility with the GibbsCAM product line. Programs developed offline using GibbsCAM can be directly transferred to Gibbs SFP on the controller for review and easy modification.

The GibbsCAM Machine Simulation option complements GibbsCAM cut part rendering process simulation functionality and allows for entire machine tool motion of a CNC program to be validated in an accurate simulation. According to the company, multitask machine tools represent one of the fastest growing machine tool segments in the market. Therefore, Gibbs has formed key partnerships with a number of machine tool vendors, which are focusing on multitasking as part of their strategic market position.

The new GibbsCAM option, which supports five-axis simultaneous milling, further extends GibbsCAM's existing machining capability and provides the user with a complete range of five-axis milling functionality. According to the company, not only do five-axis machine tools minimize the number of setups required to machine a part, but many of the models being created by today's CAD system contain geometry that can only be machined using five-axis technology. Impellers, turbine blades, porting on cylinder heads and wing spars are great examples of parts whose geometry requires five-axis machining.

GibbsCAM is offering a machine simulation option, which complements GibbsCAM cut part rendering process simulation functionality. It allows the entire machine tool motion of a CNC program to be validated in an accurate simulation. GibbsCAM Machine Simulation adds support for turning, mill/turn and multitasking machine tools.

GibbsCAM is offering a machine simulation option, which complements GibbsCAM cut part rendering process simulation functionality. It allows the entire machine tool motion of a CNC program to be validated in an accurate simulation. GibbsCAM Machine Simulation adds support for turning, mill/turn and multitasking machine tools.

Without a good postprocessor, many machine tools are underutilized. It takes a well-matched post to access the full potential built into a machine.

The GibbsCAM machine simulation option, software for programming CNC machine tools, supports simulation and validation of a CNC program’s machine tool motion, including five-axis simultaneous milling machines.   Multi-task machine tools can machine a variety of parts within their working space and without human intervention, which increases productivity and quality.   The software offers support for turning, mill/turn and multitask machine tools.

GibbsCAM 2006 features various enhancements aimed at addressing the needs of production manufacturing, including programming tombstone-fixtured parts, multi-task machining machine tools and four- and five-axis simultaneous machining.   To enhance holemaking, the software includes Automated Feature Recognition (AFR) to support intersecting holes; Profiler circles that can be used as input to the hole manager; and improved hole processes, which support multiple retract levels and depths and fixture/clamp avoidance. An operations manager that provides a spreadsheet interface to sort and interact with large program files with large numbers of operation; HSM toolpath modification, which introduces arcs and feed rates changes to minimize the effect of direction changes in the tool path; enhanced toolholder support; and surface flow gouge checking are among the program’s noteworthy features.

Structure Medical is not new to the medical supply industry; it is a spin-off of a company called Inovo, which is a manufacturer of oxygen regulators used in hospitals, nursing homes and the like. Inovo’s principals had been looking for growth opportunities.

Some of the new functionalities included in the GibbsCAM 2005 program include enhancements for production milling and turning such as user-controlled entries and exits in contouring and pocketing; mill toolholder library for simulation display; form tool support in turning for contouring function; support for Mazak flash tooling; import data in STL format; management tools for the operations of large programs; automatic mirroring for left-hand parts; Helix bore; associativity tools and more. GibbsCAM's Network License Option has been enhanced in this release to allow multiple GibbsCAM sessions to be launched on a single PC. .

The GibbsCAM MTM (Multitask Machining) option supports machine tools with multiple spindles and turrets or tool groups. The software addresses synchronizing multiple tools through its Sync Manager, an interface element in the intuitive, graphical user interface environment. The Sync Manager allows multiple process flows to be displayed relative to one another to facilitate setting synchronization points.

GibbsCAM 2005 includes new functions such as import alignment tools, automated feature recognition, Gen III pocketing for volume removal, mill toolholder library, form tool support in turning, import data in STL format, methods to further optimize tool path and feed rate, and more. The program's network license option has been enhanced in this release to allow multiple sessions to be launched on a single PC. Also, GibbsCAM TMS module will also be on display, which targets programming multiple parts fixtured on a tombstone.

GibbsCAM tombstone management systems are said to provide an effective way of moving more material through a machine tool while minimizing human intervention. This software allows the user to duplicate workpiece programs across multiple locations and sides of a tombstone.  According to the company, the overall time required to create multi-part processes are reduced using this software, sometimes reduced as much as a tenth of the previous methods.

GibbsCAM 2004 contains a new Windows user interface that adds a conventional Windows look and feel and interface capabilities to the software’s front end. Multiple sessions can be run at the same time, and information can be transferred between them using cut, copy and paste capabilities. The software also introduces the 2.

The GibbsCAM 2. 5D Solids option was designed to provide CNC programming capability to production machining users who are manufacturing 2. 5D parts.

The GibbsCAM MTM (Multi-Task Machining) option introduces support for the growing segment of machine tools with multiple spindles and turrets or tool groups. This release marks the culmination of more than 2 years of focused development effort. MTM addresses synchronizing multiple tools through its Sync Manager, a new interface element in GibbsCAM's intuitive, graphical user interface environment.

Applying the right tools and technique to CNC part programming will let shops get the most out of their multitasking equipment.

The company is offering an add-in for SolidWorks software that facilitates push-button transfer of model files from SolidWorks to GibbsCAM. Using this add-in, the level of interoperability between the two applications is further streamlined. The release of this add-in shows the companies' commitment to work together to provide CAD/CAM solutions.

The Advanced Turning/Multi-Task Machining (ATM/MTM) and Machine Simulation modules address the programming needs of the new breed of CNC multi-task machine tools, which employ multiple tool groups/turrets and multiple spindles. Because of the complexity of multi-task machine tool programming, Machine Simulation has

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