Billet CNC's Renishaw Tracecut 2D and 3D machining module

In order to be effective any scanning system must not only be able to produce quality scanning it must also be capable of producing CNC programs which are efficient at machining the part.

Billet CNC offers you a wide range of machining options and strategies, to cover all your machining needs. The machining strategies are completely independent of the data capture parameters and probe diameter.

Machining options - 2D

• 2D profiling
• 2D multiple profiling
• Area clearance

These functions allow you to machine 2D profiles in a number of ways. Profiles (either single or multiple) may be machined inside or outside with multiple offsets and in any number of depth passes. Profiles may also be area cleared with a variety of strategies.

Machining options - 3D

• Terrace machining
  
  Terrace milling creates a series of XY contours on the model with a Z axis cutter feed direction. It is mainly used for roughing or semi-finishing purposes. Whilst Terrace machining is normally used for roughing because it offers better cutting than parallel machining, it can nevertheless be very useful for finish machining, particularly on parts that have vertical or near vertical walls. It is not suited to finishing near horizontal surfaces.
  
  

• Parallel machining
  
  Parallel machining produces a series of parallel cutter paths at any angle - milling can be one or two way. Other options include rectangular spirals with an optional corner radius which can machine from center out or from outside inwards. Parallel machining can be used for both roughing and finishing operations.
  
  

• Circular machining
  
  This option does not offer any area clearance functions and is intended for semi-finishing and finishing operations. The cutter path can be a true circle with stepover or a continuous spiral centered on a defined point. Cutting can start at at center or at the outside. The maximum cutting radius is defined by the nearest model edge.
  
  

• Radial
  
  This option produces a radial cutter path centered on a defined point. The tool path created is divided into a series of pie segments rather than being truly radial. This has the advantage that the distance between tool passes can never be larger than the defined step-over. Radial machining can be used for both roughing and finishing operations.
  
  

Copy machining In addition to the machining options mentioned above, we also provides a range of options for copy machining.

• Copy machine 3D model as scanned
• Copy a 3D free hand curve
• Copy point to point data
• Copy profile with varying Z-heights
• Copy normal to profile data

Machining simulation - Virtual Milling Machine

The virtual milling machine (VMM) is an application designed to display, in a graphical format, how the numerical control (NC) files sent to milling machines will cut the stock material, and to show the state of the stock at any point throughout the cutting process.

With this capability you can:

• Step line by line through the NC file and spot faulty machine instructions.
• Determine which cutters are responsible for cutting the different areas of the stock.
• Find errors and machining problems, before wasting valuable machining time.
• Produce high quality pictures of the finished part before it gets near a real machine.