AM Staff

Gibbs and Associates (www.GibbsCAM.com), the developer of GibbsCAM software for programming CNC machines, and CGTech (www.CGTech.com

), the developer of VERICUT software for simulating CNC machine tools, announced a collaborative agreement that will allow integration between GibbsCAM and Vericut programs. In addition, GibbsCAM users will be able to use Vericut's existing library of CNC machine models and controls that the companies said is the largest collection available in industry today.

Bill Gibbs, founder and president of Gibbs and Associates, said he expects the collaboration to have a significant impact on both his and CGTech's customers.

"Today's machine tools have reached a level of complexity and cost that necessitates accurate simulation. This is especially true with advanced multi-tasking machining centers and 5-axis simultaneous milling machines," he said. Users who have the Vericut software in use in their facility will be able to take advantage of the integration to validate their CNC programs.

Gibbs said the CNC simulation programs will help users to cut machine cycle time, improve work quality and maximize throughput by identifying potential programming errors sooner and without putting the actual machine tool at risk.