Automation has long been established as a leading technological advancement since the advent of industrialization. We can now look around and see how its wide range of applications has made its way into our everyday lives.
Take, for example, the automated traffic light that beautifully conducts the flow of moving vehicles on every major street corner, or the touchscreen self-checkout machine that efficiently guides you through your purchase in most retail stores. Automation began in the industrial environments of automotive mass production and is still in great effect; large, automated machinery piecing together most of your car’s nicely fitting parts (barring any recent traffic mishaps, of course).
CADFusion takes incoming drawings into defined shapes and entities. (Source: CADFusion)
The increased productivity and optimizing benefits of automation is largely handled by computer-aided engineering programs, known as CAD software to most of us. This computer-aided mathematical and organizational control over machinery, most commonly operating under the G-code programming language, is a large contributor to the expansion of automated design found in everyday human activity.
Some may argue that automation is also a major contributor to the rise of unemployment, though its goal of increased production can also be seen as a benefit to those deprived of goods that aren’t as easily accessible on a global scale. Even so, the opportunity that computer automation presents moves our focus away from the old predominant ways of human labor and into the design world within.
The increased popularity and availability of CAD software, to anyone willing to fork over the money, results in creating an army of new engineers. We now have easier access to design, models, and even manufacture capabilities. Of course, CAD software on its own is limited in its capability.
That is where Aerotech’s state-of-the-art CADFusion software comes in. Aerotech, a pioneer of precision motion control products, creates a wide range of software and hardware to meet the needs of various industries and applications such as medical, life sciences, electronics manufacturing, automotive, photonics, semiconductors, testing, research, and development. CADFusion is a program that allows you to import your CAD drawings directly into an easy-to-use canvas that is used to create a tool path for CNC machine tools. In essence, it is automation made easy.
The software implements G-code for motion programming and contains features such as manual or automatic shape reordering, feature scaling, rotational and translational capabilities, user-defined initialization, process shutdown, and shuttering commands. Once your drawing is imported into CADFusion, it is broken down into basic shapes that can be easily manipulated by the user.
Once you’re ready to export the file, a full motion control program is compiled, which gives you the option of entering your own code for user-specific initialization and trigger events. The key here is that CADFusion is a platform built around the idea of motion control, not simply a plug-in like most other programs. The result is a well-designed and machine-ready product conveniently made on your home computer. Of course, it is also tremendously beneficial for industrial applications. So if you’re an automation design and manufacturing aficionado, try this program out, and bring the true engineer out of you. Since I have my own home machine shop, the software will soon be put through its paces.
Aeorech makes their own controllers that run G-Code. This product was developed to output specifclly for these controllers as a direct response to customer requests for a tool that could utilize all the functionality of these control platfroms without having to configure post prcessor settings on a thrid party application.
It is normally sold as part of a system that includes the controller, motors and drives. Pricing is provided as part of that package.
I try not to be so harsh, but this looks like junk. Off the top of my head, the first question I have to ask is "Who's G-code?". In other words, there is a post processor (PP) that needs to compile the G-code in the "flavor" for the machine it's to run on. So, does this software have some way to create/modify the PP? The website for the product gives almost no information, and at this stage of the game anyone that doesn't openly publish the price for the product is missing the boat.
If you are looking for "real" tools to do this job, have a look at the offerings from Vectric: http://www.vectric.com. They have a ton of info on their site, offer free trial software and publish the prices for everything they have. I have personally used VCarve Pro, Cut2D and Cut3D. These are fantastic tools and do exactly what they say. I built a custom 2.5D machine and use this software as the "front end". Amazingly easy to use and you can create your own PP (or use one the 100's available for standard machines).
From the information on their website, the product does not look comparable to even the most simplistic CAM programs. Maybe the website leaves a lot out, but I don't see any way to define tool geometry. I would consider that essential to any CAM program that is going to be used for machining. I see references to laser, which is the most simplistic case of cutting (zero cutter diameter, can only cut profiles).
To do machining, the software must be aware of the cutter geometry so that it can offset the path for the size of the tool. This is somewhat trivial in the case of 2d profiling, but it is non-trivial in the case of 3d contouring. The shape and size of the cutter must be taken into account by the CAM software to generate the correct cutter path. The ability to "offset" the stock to allow for roughing and finishing cuts is also pretty essential for CAM programs. Again, somewhat trivial in 2d, not so trivial in 3d.
This software appears to be a way to generate 2d paths based upon dxf files for relatively simple situations, such as laser or waterjet cutting, glue dispensing, etc. where the "tool" follows the exact dimensions of the drawing. I don't see it as being useful for milling if it doesn't allow cutter geometry to be entered.
What would be the retail price for this product and how does this price compare with their competitors (price vs. features/performance). I'm assuming that CADFusion bringing increased functionality to a new price point.
Motion vendors like Aerotech have been generating G code programming for their motion systems for a long time, but this looks like it takes it to another levels in terms of the user interface and flexibility/functionality. Cabe, you'll have to let us know how it works on your test system.
How is this different from all of the other CAM programs out there? It looks like a minimally functional CAM program.
I use Visual Mill, but there are many other programs that convert popular drawing formats into cutterpath data.
Does Aerotech's product allow cutter geometry to be factored in? I don't see the use for something that just converts a drawing file to motion without requiring the cutter context, and/or the design intent to be conveyed to the software. That is, how does the the software know whether I want to mill the surface, or drill holes, or mill the edge, etc.
CAM software allows for cutter dimensions, and design intent to be factored in when generating cutterpath. Many other factors are controllable as well, such as entry and exit paths, reversal methods, feeds, speeds, stock offsets, etc.
There is a product called Feature CAM out there that I saw demonstrated years ago. It had an interesting feature, in that it would take a solid model, and a tooling database, and attempt to completely machine the part with no other input from the user. If it had to drill holes, and didn't have the right size drill, it would pocket mill the hole if it had a suitable end mill. It did a pretty good job of creating all of the necessary machining operations with minimal input. It had a built in knowledge base of speeds, feeds, materials, etc. which it drew on to create the machining operations.
I use Visual Mill, which I consider to be a very good "value". It has very high end features, and a modest cost, as compared to the typical high end CAM programs. At the time I purchased it, it was one of the few programs that was actually completely "Windows". Others were migrating to Windows by using DOS shell type methods to make older software run under Windows.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Labs have observed a reaction in lithium-air batteries that could help improve the design of these cells for electric vehicles and other applications.
Healthcare might seem to be an unlikely target application for the Internet of Things technology, but recent developments show small ways that big-data is going to make an impact on patient care moving into the future.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
2 
