Surface effects on plastic moulded products can be created using mould inserts treated by a laser process more efficient than ablation.

Energy is constantly becoming more expensive. By analysing the energy consumption of cutting machine tools and the cutting processes, concrete leverage points for raising energy efficiency can be identified, according to Eckehard Kalhöfer and Jochen Kress.*

With its standardisation strategy and the C 22 UP machining centre from Hermle, the tool and mould making division of the WMF Group has managed to streamline the die and tool production processes, thereby creating the scope for services for external customers.

DPS Software, IT system house with focus on digital solutions for the manufacturing industry, presents itself at the Intec 2019 with three main topics: Design solutions with Solidworks CAD and production-related solutions in CAD, manufacturing software CAM using SolidCAM as well as the simulation of factories and manufacturing plants with Visual Components.

USA/ Canada – Large investments in the manufacturing industry have been driving the US tool and die making industry's growth in recent years. The Canadian tool and die industry is closely linked to the production in the US. However, most of the North American investments in the automotive sector are currently made in Mexico.

The RigiMill high-speed machining centre from Swedish manufacturer Modig holds the world record for high-speed milling. The Y and Z axes of the RigiMill feature twin drives with cooled HMD ball screws from NSK. Axial bearings and roller guide-ways for the axes are also supplied by NSK.

Moduleworks announces the release of its 2018.12 CAD/CAM software components. With this latest release, Moduleworks launches its new components for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). There are also new features for 5-axis, 3-axis and 2-axis machining, machine simulation, the MultiXPost post processor and the NC Editor.

Leading Spanish company Ona carried out a study to analyse a wire electro-erosion process (WEDM) as an alternative to conventional machining (broaching) of firtree profiles in discs for the aeronautical sector. The EDM company says that firtree slot WEDM could become a viable industrial option and replace broaching in future.

The latest version of the hypermill CAD/CAM suite, 2019.1, is now available. Open Mind, one of the leading manufacturers of CAD/CAM solutions, has expanded the finishing module in the hypermill Maxx Machining performance package. Further highlights include process optimizations as well as new functions for reducing calculation times.

Hypermill 2019.1 by Open Mind Technologies will be showcased at Solidworks in February. The new software promises more efficiency and an easy to use interface.