Gibbs and Associates released the latest version of its NC programming software for machining. GibbsCAM 2013 reportedly includes functional enhancements across the entire suite, “to improve efficiency and profitability,” and two new options, 5-Axis MultiBlade and 5-Axis Porting.

The GibbsCAM product line supports 2- through 5-axis milling, turning, mill/turning, multi-task simultaneous machining, and wire-EDM, and provides fully integrated modeling for 2D, 2.5D, 3D wireframe, surface, and solid modeling.

GibbsCAM 2013 includes many software enhancements too, most of these focusing on increasing the efficiency of part programming and the efficiency of machine run time.

“We have worked hard to provide our customers with a robust group of enhancements that will help them become more profitable by increasing the efficiency of not just their NC programming, but also improving their machine run times,” according Bill Gibbs, founder/president of Gibbs and Associates.

As detailed by the developers, the nhancements incorporated to the new version include:
• Mill Feature. This improvement allowsusers to assign certain machining attributes directly to part features, meaning they can save and reuse Knowledge Based Machining (KBM) information for best practice machining on families of parts. New parts and part changes are handled quickly and easily by a single mouse click.

• Lathe Threading/Thread Whirling. Users can use this function to define lathe threads from any valid shape, including shapes that contain arcs or splines. Post processors can be upgraded to support native arc threads (G35 and G36) for a more efficient NC program.

• Surface Flow. Improved machining strategies for solids machining include an improved algorithm that smoothly handles most nonplanar fillets and other blended faces, resulting in better surface finish and more efficient NC code.

The List Continues...

• Geometry Shape Combine. This new functionality allows users to manipulate shapes that can be combined through Boolean operations such as union, subtraction, and intersection, trimmed, or broken into segments.

• Profiler modes. The Profiler has new functionality allowing users to slice spun bodies, silhouettes, and cylinders.

• Lathe Plunge Roughing. Improvements to Lathe Plunge Roughing result in toolpaths that remove more material in less time, with improved tool wear.

• Drilling and Thread Milling Patterns. Users now can place Drilling and Thread Milling in patterns. Pre-mill drilling of patterned milling operations will pick up the pattern automatically.

• Pocketing Improvements. Several improvements to Pocketing continue to improve the efficiency of the program, including features such as “Outermost Shape As Boss” and improvements to mixed-shape pocketing, with smarter entry and exit moves.

The new 5-Axis MultiBlade option is aimed at machining of turbo machinery parts. It simplifies the programming of impellers, blisks and blings, and has specialized functions that include roughing, blade finishing, hub finishing, splitter, sub-splitter and wall finishing, and extension and control of leading and trailing edges.

A new 5-Axis Porting option provides specialized functionality for machining hollow shapes that have significantly different shapes or sizes at each open end, or have a significant amount of curvature from one end to the other, including engine ports, manifolds, and throttle bodies. This new, dedicated option simplifies creation of these highly complex shapes with faster programming time, a cleaner, more efficient toolpath, and more efficient machine times.

“We have listened to what our customers want and need, and these are just the types of enhancements that customers need to stay competitive in today’s economy,” Bill Gibbs said.