ping into a library of blade models that had been collected over decades. Once we had worked our way through our own library of nasty blades, we also began benchmarking the expert blade program against blade models sent to us by several five-axis machine tool builders. By the time this simulation process was finished, the program was tested on more than 50 different blade designs.”
“It’s common for programming to take a couple days.”
After extensive benchmarking, Blade Expert is being
released along with Mastercam X6, which is available now. Us- ers are able to purchase a seat of the product as is and use it specifically for blade manufacturing or in conjunction with a full five-axis seat of Mastercam with a broad range of “big toolbox” capabilities. Postprocessor modifications have been developed
so that the expert blade programming works cleanly with a wide range of five-axis manufacturing systems. Before blade manufacturers can begin using their Blade
Expert seat, however, they will be required to go through a qualification process to verify that their five-axis machine tool is calibrated and that their postprocessor is capable of precise code generation for blade manufacturing. Mastercam appli- cation specialists will modify the posts if necessary, train the programmers, write the first part program for the user, and manufacture it on the customer’s own five-axis equipment to assure that the process works. ME
For more information from Mastercam/CNC Software,
go to www.mastercam.com or phone 860-875-5006. Aerospace Alloy Machining HMCs