GibbsCAM 5-Axis0 pages

GibbsCAM 5-Axis Option
5-Axis Simultaneous Multi-Surface Milling
Today’s manufacturers are under constant pressure to continually improve product
quality and reduce production times. As part complexity and labor costs continue to
increase, 5-axis CNC machine tools provide a key way to address these and other
critical machining factors. Today, 5-axis CNC machine tools are being applied in a
wide variety of applications and industries, from aircraft and aerospace components,
such as spars and ribs, and turbine blades, to electrodes, to deep mold cavities.
The GibbsCAM® 5-Axis option was specifically developed to provide a powerful way
to program 4- and 5-axis CNC machine tools while being consistent with GibbsCAM’s
commitment to ease-of-use. The new 5-axis functionality is seamlessly integrated
into GibbsCAM allowing the user to access the entire GibbsCAM environment,
providing unparalleled programming flexibility and support. When the 5-Axis option
is integrated with the GibbsCAM MTM configuration the resulting combination is
capable of supporting advanced multi-task machining systems with live tooling
mounted in an articulated head. With its breadth of capability and its ease of use, the
GibbsCAM 5-Axis option is ideal for your 5-axis programming needs.
Using a variety of different cutting styles, 5-axis
toolpath can be created on any number of trimmed
or untrimmed surfaces. The 5-Axis option’s toolpath generation functionality works directly from
the part model’s surfaces resulting in a superior
surface finish. The toolpath generation automatically handles model and geometric imperfections.
For example, the surfaces’ UV lines do not need to
be oriented in any special direction prior to creating
toolpath offering full flexibility with surfaces being
machined. Full support for all standard 4- and
5-axis tool types (ball, flat, bull, conical, and lollipop) is provided with collision checking of the
tool tip, tool shaft and holder.
The user has complete control over all aspects of
the tool axis. Powerful tilting options can be used
to produce a better surface finish. For example,
the tool can be set to a specific angle to the
surface normal or the 4th or 5th axis can be locked
to reduce tool moves. The user does not need to
define a guide surface to control the tool axis.
Comprehensive collision checking is supported
ensuring milling of sharp corners, avoidance of fixtures and clamps, while producing compact toolpath.
Each position of the tool is automatically calculated
to ensure that the tool and holder do not collide with
the part. A variety of different avoidance strategies
are available to address potential collision situations.

The types of geometry that are machined using
4- and 5-axis functionality also introduce
specialized modeling requirements. GibbsCAM’s
geometry creation and editing tools have been
expanded to include a new suite of spline modeling
tools to address these needs. Splines can be
manipulated or modified as desired to suit specific
machining conditions.
To optimize the 5-Axis option’s ease of use,
task-oriented dialog panels are provided to only
display the parameters specific to a particular
function. Choices such as projection machining,
swarf milling, mold cavity machining, cylinder
head machining, electrode machining, and turbine
blade shaft finishing are included. A set of dialog
panels are also available specifically for machining
impellers: floor machining, general roughing, and
blade finishing.
GibbsCAM 5-Axis users can create CNC Gcode
a number of different ways. For new 5-Axis users,
Gibbs posts provide what-you-see-is-what-you
machine posted output. For users with established
posting solutions based on APT-CL, APT-CL
output can be generated. ProAXYZ 5 axis drivers are
also fully compatible with the GibbsCAM 5-Axis
option which allows ProAXYZ 5as customers to use
their existing post processors. In addition, 5-axis
posting solutions from Camplete can also be used.