AM Staff

CAD/CAM software developer Gibbs and Associates has agreed to collaborate with Celeritive Technologies to incorporate the latter’s VoluMill software as an integrated option for the GibbsCAM product line. In its statement, Gibbs said the partnership will provide “a seamless integration between GibbsCAM and VoluMill’s ultra-high performance toolpath engine.”

According to a release, the collaboration recognizes the CNC machining industry’s need for CAM software that adjusts to technology advances that allow increased speed-to-feed ratios, to optimize cycle times and tool life.

Integrated with GibbsCAM, VoluMill will “build” toolpaths that optimally control tool cutting factors, to expand milling options. The software automatically identifies the best option for milling pockets, including the speed of a tool plunging into the material and material-removal rates. Variation in tool load is reduced, it says, so that the machine is able to operate at higher speed and feed rates.

Currently, GibbsCAM offerings support 2- through 5-axis milling, turning, mill/turning, multi-task simultaneous machining, and wire-EDM. GibbsCAM also provides integrated manufacturing modeling capabilities that include 2D, 2.5D, 3D wireframe, surface, and solid modeling.

“One challenge of CNC machining is how to cut a part faster,” according to founder and president Bill Gibbs. “CAM software plays a key role in the production of part programs that can cut parts faster.” In addition, the company believes that VoluMill’s capabilities with provide GibbsCAM with a high-performance solution to optimize run cycle times.