Fully automatic CAM for your CNC Homag, Biesse, Morbidelli etc

WOODLAB CAD is aimed at carpenters and cabinet makers working with a digitally controlled machining center, or CNC.

Testimony of a carpenter: my CNC saved me !

WOODLAB CAM can only be operated in combination with WOODLAB CAD. It is an entirely automatic CAM program, also known in the industry as: "Black box". It is hence not a CAM program with a programming interface like Alphacam, Mastercam, etc.

WOODLAB CAM is based on a set of rules designed to interpret the different machining and drilling operations it receives from WOODLAB CAD according to:

• the tools the CNC is equipped with
• the machining center specificities

All the rules are created by the technician installing WOODLAB CAM on the joiner's working site. They can very easily be modified by the user, who can even create new rules.

WOODLAB CAM systematically comes with a post-processor compatible with the one driving the carpenter's CNC. WOODLAB CAM directly generates the manufacturing programs in the language used by the machine (for example Biesseworks, TPA, Woodwop, Genesis, CN12, Xilog, etc.).

GENERATION OF RULES AND PHASES

The operator can define his set of machining rules according either to the geometry (depth, path etc.), either to the file name, material name etc. For example, one can assign a diamond cutter to one material or a widia cutter to another one.

TABLE FOR TOOL ASSOCIATION

Allows maximum freedom to associate virtual tool names to be used on the CAD with the real tools set up on the CAM. In this mode, the operator who is working with the CAD must not know how the machine is set up, and if several machines are available, it is not necessary to duplicate the tools codification.

MACHINE SETUP

Allows to define the individual properties of the machine: working coordinates, spindle maximum rotation speed, coordinates for tool changing etc.

ASSOCIATION TABLE FOR MACHINING

Allows to program special machinings to tools assigned by the operator. For example in the case of a cut, one can assign a machining that will not execute straight from one point to the other, but one that will start from the middle of the path and then reverse to the other point to finish up the machining. This avoids damaging the edges while leading out. Programming this directly on the CAD would be expensive and would require two different machinings, defining directions etc. Machining rules can be defined by the operator or by Quality.

PARAMETERS MODIFICATION

A graphic rendering of the parts and their machining is presented to the operator. On the side of the graphic representation, sorted by face, the machining, their geometric and their technological properties are displayed. Thanks to the contextual menu, it is possible to assign various operations, new geometric properties, or other tools which are defined by the CAD or new tools on geometries that we are designing and that have no technological properties yet.

It is possible, among other things, to edit the machining direction or the bladed direction, to define a lead-in and a lead-out, to assign repetitive strokes, to rotate the part position on the machine and to/or overturn it and to activate calibrating or not. Modifications can be easily made either before the execution of the part either in correction mode once the automatic processing has been executed.