Vineet Seth, Managing Director – South Asia & Middle East, Mastercam India Pvt Ltd
Tell us more about CNC Software Inc., and its widely accepted products like Mastercam.
CNC Software, Inc. is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art software tools for CAD/CAM manufacturing markets. The main goal is to provide superior software products based on users’ needs to solve simple to complex design and machining problems along with exceptional service and support to customers.
Founded in 1983, CNC Software is one of the oldest companies in the PC-based CAD/CAM industry. It is one of the first companies to introduce CAD/CAM software designed for both the machinist and the engineer, providing a practical solution to both markets. With Mastercam, the engineer could construct his or her own parts quickly and easily as well as machine them, for an affordable price.
CNC Software, Inc. corporate headquarters and training facility is located in Tolland, Connecticut – USA.
As an industry leader for over 30 years, CNC Software has provided CAD/CAM solutions to over 250,000 installations worldwide in the mold making, automotive, aerospace, and consumer industries.
Mastercam offers solutions for designers and NC programmers in a spectrum of industries, including milling, turning, wire EDM, router programming, plasma cutting, lasers, and 3D design and drafting. CNC Software’s customers range from one-person job shops to Fortune 100 manufacturers. The same software that is utilized by corporations such as Boeing, IBM, and Sikorsky is still affordable enough for the small job shops. To ensure a new generation of trained metal and woodworking personnel, Mastercam is available to educational institutions at affordable pricing.
CNC Software, Inc., is committed to delivering tools that support the higher productivity and greater precision demanded by today’s, and tomorrow’s, manufacturing.
CNC Software, Inc has recently announced Mastercam India Pvt Ltd, how do you plan to tap the growing Indian market?
Micro, Small and Medium Industries are the backbone of the Indian manufacturing industry. In the past 20 years, I have worked closely with both – the larger organisations as well as the small and medium supply chain, specifically in the areas of Allied Design, Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing, Inspection and Manufacturing Automation – across diverse industry domains. Every organisation requires hand holding at one point or the other when a technology application is required; more so when it comes to complex and multi axis metal cutting. Therefore, this calls for thoroughbred application software, advanced metal cutting and measuring strategies as well as a team that knows the nitty-gritties of manufacturing.
The recently announced Mastercam India is comprised of a highly experienced, well-established team of professionals from sales, marketing, technical, and channel expertise gained in the Indian CAM market over many years. I am certain that this combination will help us address the “pain-areas” of manufacturing by providing practical and reliable solutions, rather than box products.
Please tell us more about its recently launched product Mastercam 2017…
Mastercam 2017 brings a new suite of programming tools focused on delivering speed, automation, and efficiency to our customers. The new version includes Dynamic Motion improvements, Multiaxis and Mill-Turn enhancements, and many Design and system features to make using the software, and machining easier.
Mastercam 2017 features a new ribbon interface, similar to the Microsoft Office products. The new interface capitalizes on user experience with other software, and uses that familiarity to make it easier to find the functions one needs to complete tasks. The ribbon tabs group similar functions and display them in order from simple to more complex. Each tab relates to a type of activity, from creating wireframe geometry to generating toolpaths. Editing functions are on the same tab as creation functions, so all the tools are available at a click of the mouse button.
Micro lifts in the Dynamic Mill toolpath now use a line-of-sight approach to move the tool where it needs to go through unobstructed areas.
As a result –
- Reposition moves during micro lifting are more efficient, less complex, and travel a shorter distance
- Toolpath creates less motion, which creates smaller NC file sizes
- Improves the cycle times at the machine
The Maximum Stock Engagement option for 3D HST Finishing toolpaths allows to select a previously made stock model and set the maximum depth so that this can limit how deeply the cutter engages uncut material. This is particularly useful when semi-finishing a part.
It is now possible to display a tool assembly in the graphics window and make edits to it. This allows to see what the tool assembly will look like against the part that is being machined.
Mill-Turn now supports multi-station tool locators for turrets, as well as half index positions. Tool locator positions are set in the turret setup. Information for index positions, mounting locations, and several other options, including half index locations can now be entered.
What are the latest improvements in the CAM industry? Please take us through the current technology trends in the industry?
On the CAM front, there is always a demand to finish the toolpath computations at faster times, while maintaining or increasing reliability. Since machine tool, CNC controls and cutting tool technologies are evolving at a rapid rate, CAM software are also required to be abreast with these developments. Demands on post processors for complex machine kinematics continue to challenge the depths of this technology.
In order to machine components efficiently, sophisticated set of rules that take into consideration a broad data set are required. In order to create the most efficient cutting motion possible, special toolpaths such as Mastercam’s Dynamic Motion Toolpaths calculate more than just the areas where metal will be removed; they also take into account the changing condition of the material throughout various stages of machining. Such toolpath has enough intelligence to look ahead, see what’s coming and modify feeds, speeds, stepovers and cutting motions based on ever-changing material conditions. Significant benefits include radically shorter cycle times, less wear and breakage of tools, and less wear on machines.
By dramatically reducing stepovers and air cutting, Dynamic Motion toolpaths can reduce cycle times by 25% to 75%. Dynamic Motion toolpaths ensure that the tool spends most of its time cutting at full-depth with far fewer stepdowns resulting in more parts cut in less time. These toolpath strategies uses the full flute length so users will get even wear and heat distribution resulting in fewer tool changes and less grinding that slows you down and costs money. Dynamic Motion produces consistent chip load, reducing vibration and extending the life of your machines. The looping motion eliminates abrupt directional changes, keeping your machine more accurate with less maintenance.
Roughing hard materials can also pose a challenge but Dynamic Motion toolpaths make it easier by ensuring even heat and load distribution throughout the cut. This even distribution prevents material surface hardening and reduces the risks of tool breakage, giving more consistent, predictable results.
What makes Mastercam unique, given the fact that there are many CAM solution providers globally?
There is no doubt that the product speaks volumes for itself as far as technical capability is concerned, and Mastercam has validated this time and again, for the past 21 years, by being the World’s most widely used CAM software. This is a testimony of the faith put into the software by customers around the world.
Having said that, the CAM market is highly segmented and has many local as well as Global players. What makes any CAM solution provider unique – whether it is us or any of our competitors is to –
- Listen to the customer voice
- Embrace newer technology while maintaining quality and reliability
- Provide solutions that will help customers win
- Be ready for tomorrow’s possibilities, yet flexible for today’s needs
- But most importantly, be there for the customer when they need you the most
We are indeed fortunate at Mastercam to have a team that truly believes in the above mentioned ideals and ensure that these are put into practice and not left to words alone.
What would be the market size of CAM solutions in India and at what per cent is it growing?
In my opinion the market size of CAM solutions is growing at about close to 12% YoY.
What are the key growth drivers in India?
Stable demand in the Automotive markets, growth in the medical devices market and the promise of an Aerospace manufacturing expertise in the region continues to spur new investments in machine tools, and robots, amongst other capital equipment in manufacturing. These are key to increase the overall contribution of manufacturing in our GDP. The most awaited rollout of GST this year also has many manufacturing companies poised to expand and diversify.
Overall the sheer expectation of a booming economy in itself is a great growth driver. We remain optimistic about the market and our commitment to a manufacturing economy.
The much awaited exhibition IMTEX is around the corner. How do you plan to leverage on the event? What are the products you are going to showcase during IMTEX?
IMTEX is a great platform to meet people and understand the pulse of our business. As always, we look forward to this event to join hands with our industry partners and provide information to our prospective customers on their purchase decisions. We also use this platform to demonstrate the capability of our software – live at our booths, as well as on machine at some of our machine tool partners’ booths. We are also promoting our “Dynamic Motion” toolpath by branding at strategic locations at the event.
We will be demonstrating our latest version of Lathe, Mill, Wire and Robotic machining at our booth. We are CAM people. That’s what we do. That’s all we do.
