IMTS: Machine technologists get ready

Staff -- Control Engineering, 7/1/2006

Chicago, IL—Machine technology providers and others intent on sharing knowledge are preparing for "The Americas' largest manufacturing show." According to organizers, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world, with thousands of exhibitors and more than 85,000 expected visitors. The event is held every two years in September at McCormick Place, Chicago.

Introductions expected there include new toolpath editing functions in FeatureCAM Version 2007 by Delcam; Esprit 2007 computer-aided manufacturing software with new milling, turning, and wire EDM programming functions from DP Technology; and PMCprimo and PMCtendo motion control safety products from Pilz Automation Safety.

This year's Sept. 6-13 IMTS includes 10 pavilions geared toward specific industries and technologies, and a summit for students and educators in the metalworking industry. The IMTS Website includes 77 years of IMTS history, a wrap-up from the 2004 show, as well as travel, registration, and exhibitor information.

Delcam expects to demonstrate toolpath editing, a new function of FeatureCAM Version 2007 that allows users to make changes to part toolpaths after the toolpaths have been generated, without retracing programming steps back to feature setup. Users can click on the section of the toolpath they want to edit and indicate the desired change. For production machining, having the ability to make a few minor changes in generated toolpaths can reduce cycle time and save significant amounts of time with large runs, the company says. Examples of edits include changing a rapid move to a linear feed move, changing a linear move to an arc, setting or changing feed rate, deleting a move, inserting a toolpath from another operation, reversing the path, combining two moves into a single move, and several other options.

DP Technology will introduce Esprit 2007 with new functionalities for milling, turning, and wire EDM programming. Included is Esprit FX software, said to offer the latest in "advanced CAD-to-CAM feature exchange." Esprit 2007, which begins shipping to customers in late summer, allows users to automatically capture the original design intent, clearly define what the user is machining, and program parts quicker and more accurately. It goes beyond transferring part geometries to providing CAD features, tolerances, material properties, surface finishes, administrative data, etc., which are mapped into machinable features. Resulting knowledge aids the user in automatically selecting how to machine the part based upon existing best practices. Esprit Mold is new family member, an automated, easy-to-use, robust, and powerful 3-axis and 5-axis CAM system.

Pilz Automation Safety offers new PMCprimo and PMCtendo safety motion control products to provide and extend programmability of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and servo motors in machines and systems for packaging, printing, material handling, and other industrial applications. Included in the family of products is the PMCprimo 16+ for controller-based automation of machines with more than 100 synchronized motion axes. PMCprimo Drive is said to provide complete automated control of drive-based machines designed for 1-9 axes of motion. PMCtendo DD is a programmable servo drive for electronically commutated motors, and PMCtendo AC is a highly dynamic brushless servo motor. The product family reportedly provides complete safety automation that can be integrated and networked for a growing number of multi-axis industrial applications. Pilz acquired the "primo" and "tendo" product lines from Mayr Systems division of Mayr GmbH & Co.

Siemens says it will introduce technologies and services for machine tool manufacturers and end-users. Under the theme "Productivity in Motion," its presentation will focus on turnkey solutions for the aerospace, automotive, job shop, and medical manufacturing industries. The new Siemens Sinumerik line—comprised of panel-based Sinumerik 802D sl, PC-based Sinumerik 840Di sl, and flagship Sinumerik 840D sl with panel PC-based versions—will be on display at IMTS, with demonstrations.

www.imts.com;www.featurecam.com (Delcam); www.dptechnology.com; www.pilz.com; www.siemens-imts.com/pr