50 years. The manufacturing community is, of course, not impervious to this phenomenon. More than ever, it is techno- logical advancement that keeps manufacturers ahead of the competition and investing in more advanced and complex machinery. However, with complex machinery comes inherent programming challenges and, in many cases, these machines are being programmed with ineffective CAM software. Compa- nies and users are realizing that software changes are needed and want a CAM solution that not only supports the latest generation of machine tools, but a full-spectrum CAM capable of programming all of their CNC machines. ME: How does the business climate look for the upcom-
ing year? Bartholomew: While it’s impossible to predict the future, DP
Technology is pleased to share that we have enjoyed a very healthy business year and we expect this trend to continue. Despite and partly because of the economic downturn, our cus- tomers—like all manufacturers—need to remain competitive.
Profi t as it equates to effi ciency, time savings and best practices has always been the bottom line in manufacturing, but the ne- cessity of staying on top of technology in order to thrive becomes increasingly obvious as machine tools and the software that drives them continue to evolve in capability and complexity. ME
Complexity Drives Changes in PLM Industry
T
he rapid pace of technological change in manufactur- ing took center stage at CIMdata Inc.’s (Ann Arbor, MI) 2012 PLM Road Map annual conference held Oct. 2–3 in Plymouth, MI, focusing on new product lifecycle management (PLM) strategies for managing the manufacturing global IT and engineering enterprise.
Manufacturers seeking the latest engineering tools to man- age global product developments presented their approaches to PLM at the conference with the theme Strategic Imperative:
The New Grinding Edge
SMART III technology is now available in a multi-functional 2- and 3-axes CNC surface grinder. The SMART’s PC-based control, combined with a user-friendly conversational TaskLink function, makes it easy to learn and operate. The SMART series produces “mirror” surface finishes on highly accurately ground workpieces that result in micro- finishes of 5 RMS with a positioning and grinding accuracy of (±) 1 micron. The SMART’s movements are programmable in increments of 0.001mm and include a table size up to 24"W x 80"L. The standard spindle speed is 1200rpm to 3600rpm with a spindle power of up to 25HP (greater HP is available).
Call your local dealer to see our comprehensive product line for all your machining needs.