Box cutter video. Our most recent application development is in the cardboard box cutting industry, which is huge. They use wooden platens which contain steel blades either to cut or to press for later folding. (3rd party software produces the templates). We modified our FastCAM® Drawing System to automatically expand these into slots and direct a laser to cut the wooden base for the knives.
The video shows the process and the end result. You can map the width of the slot to the DXF layer. We also convert any text into laser marking using our Font generation logic, so that instructions to the knife installers are burnt onto the wood.
Laser manufacturers can now consider the potential of this market. If you see opportunies for this technology, please email us for information and pricing.
Breaking news.. ... "Gas Axe" is nearly complete. In testing now. This will allow post nest skeleton breakup and more.
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 FastFRAME® Software is a purpose built product to develop multiple tube or pipe intersections as in a spaceframe.
The possibility of using our software to produce light aircraft frames was identified by Mr John Zuelhcke from North America Cutting Systems. He suggested that Univair in Denver combine our software with a purpose built tube cutting machine. The machine is fitted with a Inner Logic fine beam plasma and multi-axis Fagor motion controller for complete automation.
Univair produce replacement light aircraft frames and were grinding the tubular ends with a manual template, the process was slow, imprecise and lacked the highest manufacturing standards demanded by the company. The fully automated NC cutting machine took data from the FastFRAME® program and automatically cut each end of the connecting spa's in each frame. The automatic feed system pushes the tube stock through a custom-designed clamping system that spins the tube under the plasma machine torch. Highly accurate components are produced by the system with each end correct for length, angle and relative twist. Production savings are substantial due to improvements in speed and accuracy of the fitup. The high quality of the end cuts has a marked improvement in weld quality and consistency .
BEVELING: Our FastFRAME® and FastPIPE® programs now support beveling for the development of structural space frames. This means you don't have to do any manual weld preparation (no more sitting there with an angle grinder to get 'bite'!!). Beveling is included when you purchase the latest edition. Call for upgrade pricing or email us.
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If you have a lot of drawings, old optical templates or have a regular need to digitize actual parts, consider automating the process with our FastCOPY® Digitization software. It's a cost effective option for large scale vectorization. Easily digitize all your required processes into the one program, Marking, Centre Punch / Pop Mark, and all cutting processes. Ensures all arcs are true arcs, lines are true lines and Circles are true circles. NC Code is compact and the quality of cut is high. Takes only minutes.
If you have a need to reverse engineer in 3D, this technology has really advanced in the last few years with these systems getting better and cheaper. You simply trace over the contours of a physical object to build complex 3D data sets in a matter of minutes. Our new 3D digitzing technology will work with a finished component measuring under 8ft (2.4m) x 8ft (2.4m) x 12ft (4.2m).
If you have our FastSHAPES® Surface progam you can use the new 3D technology to replicate existing surfaces in only a few minutes. A revolution in boat (hull) building!
If you're interested in digitizing technology please email us.
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FastCAM® Quoter v3.8.3 has been released. Included in the new version are:
1) The ENTITY limit for the CAD/CAM input module in Quoter has been dramatically increased to 2200 entities, now allowing for much larger files to be quoted. This new enhancement also aids our Laser customers who typically have large complex/dense parts to quote. Along with the increase for the entity limit a gain in speed has also been achieved inside the CAD/CAM module as well.
2) CAD Clean has now been automatically added into the CAD/CAM input module of FastCAM® Quoter. This is the same CAD clean that is currently available in FastCAM®. It automatically removes duplicate and/or redundant entities from the file and also has new 'GAP fix' technology to automatically close small gaps in parts.
In addition, we have also released more optional modules to FastCAM® Quoter. These were specifically built for individual sites but are now available to other users.
3) A new output format has been added to suit the TRUMPF brand machine/software. The output is GEO and has been specifically created from a user request, now allowing them to save time and programming steps when taking a quote into their programming system.
4) XML Ouput has been added into the program. An XML file can now be generated which is a replication of the quote information, again added in as a direct request from a current FastCAM® Quoter user. This enables many people to easily integrate FastCAM® Quoter with their own accounting/MIS/ERP systems!
If you're interested in quoter technology please email us.
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We're interested in hearing from customers and resellers! If you have news or can suggest a topic that you think will be of interest to our reader base or if you have a fabrication problem to solve, we invite you to email us!
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Copyright 2004, FastCAM Inc.
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