Both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the latest GibbsCAM programming software for CNC machine tools have been certified for Autodesk Inventor 2011 Digital Prototyping software, under the Autodesk Inventor Certified Application Program. The certification is granted only after a product has been thoroughly tested by Autodesk to ensure it meets guidelines and testing criteria, according to Gibbs and Associates, which reported the news. "Certification demonstrates that the product is of high quality and up to date, and that it provides the highest level of interoperability with Autodesk Inventor software," the developer stated. Autodesk Inventor is a digital prototyping software that lets manufacturers digitally design, visualize and simulate how a product will work under real world conditions before it is built, which helps reduce cost and speed time to market in highly competitive industries.
"Autodesk Inventor users can rest assured that they will continue to have the high interoperability they have enjoyed between GibbsCAM and Autodesk Inventor for several years," stated Bill Gibbs, founder and president of Gibbs and Associates, "but now with both versions of GibbsCAM, 32-bit and 64-bit, which have been shipping since January. Our joint customers will be very pleased with the number and depth of features included in GibbsCAM 2010, as they begin to take advantage of the multiple usability and functional enhancements and new machining features that we included."
GibbsCAM 2010 includes additions to the 5-axis module, such as adaptive cuts, impeller roughing and tool retraction options; additions to Advanced 3D (Solids) Machining, including a new plunge roughing function for very fast material removal with inserted tools, and integration of the ultra high performance toolpath of VoluMill, for fast and efficient material removal with traditional end mills, plus machining strategy and tool entry-exit additions; additions to Multi-Task Machining’s Sync Manager and the Wire EDM modules; and many ease-of-use and interface enhancements across the product suite.
GibbsCAM reads native Autodesk Inventor models and assemblies directly for process planning and toolpath generation. The Inventor-to-GibbsCAM add-in also allows transferring Autodesk Inventor models and assemblies directly from Autodesk Inventor to GibbsCAM. Updates to part geometry and process parameters are readily accommodated by GibbsCAM’s full associativity across geometry, processes and toolpaths. GibbsCAM’s industry leading ease-of-use allows users to quickly take advantage of its powerful capabilities – from minimizing the time it takes to learn use of the software, to making manufacturing engineering tasks and production machining extremely intuitive and efficient.
"We are very pleased to have Gibbs and Associates renew Inventor certification for GibbsCAM," stated Amy Bunszel, senior director of Digital Engineering, Autodesk Manufacturing Industry Group. "GibbsCAM has supported Autodesk Inventor with direct reading of Inventor models for ten years, and the Gibbs dedication to interoperability and ease of use strongly supports our goals. We are proud to have companies like Gibbs and Associates as partners in delivering extensible, flexible and easy-to-use applications to our shared manufacturing customers."