Computer Aided Design / Manufacture (Cad/Cam)

We use the latest Windows based Licom Alpha Cam Cad/Cam software and Trumpf ToPS software for producing CNC code for our Heidenhain, Trumpf and Flow Machines. All cutting machines are networked to the file server, for down loading CNC code to the machine controller's. The Alpha Cam software package is used for geometry generation, checking customer .dxf and .dwg files and producing dimensioned drawings for shop floor manufacture.

A Mutoh CX3000 digitiser is linked to the Alpha Cam software, with a table co-ordinate area of 1150 x 950mm. Primarily used to convert customer artwork into digitised X-Y co-ordinates, typically for weather vanes, logos and customised text. Where artwork can be scanned we use a H-P Scan Jet 5300C system. A raster scan is converted into vector units and transferred to the Alpha Cam system.

Our Cad/Cam system is particularly useful for helping customers with development at the early design stage, where we can suggest alternatives to reduce manufacturing costs or include additional design features for subsequent operations. We can also receive customer files as an e-mail, downloading directly from the Internet in mainly .dxf, .dwg or .igs format, although other formats are available.