Custom Software

Let's face it - commercial CAD & CAM software vendors create products to mass market, and if your needs fit their mold, your OK, but what do you do when your needs are outside the scope of what they consider to be "normal" requirements? CAMcad has worked with clients that have had unique CAM-related needs over the past ten years, helping them automate difficult or otherwise impractical processes. Once we've implemented a solution, they usually enjoy a significant (huge) return on their investment because nobody else can compete. Here are a few examples: Unusual Application - CNA Flex Tooling (http://www.cnaflextool.com), a manufacturer of programmable fixtures for large aircraft skin panels, came to us looking for a "postprocesor". After we fully understood their requirements, the solution involved a Design-Only version of SURFCAM and an XML-based project management system that allows the programmer to import, reorient, and locate multiple parts on their 165' multi-section fixture table, producing production-ready control data for the fixture and a detailed CAD drawing file for setup.   Unusual Application - An aircraft manufacturer approached us to solve a design and machining problem during final assembly. A production worker was taking precision readings of the deliberately designed-in gap between the wings and fuselage, writing the readings on a paper "shim request form" that was sent to design engineering. Due to inter-departmental schedule differences turn-around sometimes took 12~24 hours while an expensive aircraft sat waiting. Our solution included a small CNC milling machine next to the final assembly area, special-purpose software that allows the production worker to directly enter the gap amounts, browse for the wing/fuselage profile, and generate CNC machining data in less than 10 minutes.   Unusual Toolpath Requirements - In one case we solved a unique toolpath generation problem that was taking a skilled engineer 8~12 man hours. CAMcad’s solution generates consistent, high quality output in a few minutes. Since the product was medical in nature, the client also needed detailed records of who generated the paths, and when, and for what, etc, so we integrated the toolpath generators with a database record-keeping system. They have since patented their process and we cannot even discuss the details because they consider what we created their competitive edge in getting their product to market quickly. Complex Geometry – Unskilled Worker - In another instance it was taking an aircraft manufacturer 12~24 hours turn-around to have their engineering department CAD model and program a custom shim for a $25M jet aircraft. The aircraft was sitting in a custom fixture at final assembly, and the wasted time and money tied up in in-process inventory was huge. We helped implement a shop floor system whereby a production worker can create and machine the same shim in less than 15 minutes after taking the measurements. Imagine the cost savings. Complex Parts – Non-Standard Geometry - High Volume - One of our key accounts produces patient-specific consumables for radiation therapy. Over the past several years we've helped this company grow from a 5-man, 1-CNC machine shop to a 50-man, 28-CNC world-leading production facility in an emerging marketplace, turning out 250+ unique and complex machined components each day. Our software ranges from a unique web-based interface to radiation clinics whereby each clinic has instant access to job status but can only see their own jobs, to a fully FDA-compliant internal process with 100% audit of every step in the process, to lights-out toolpath generation, machine routing, inspection, and shipping. As such we can truly claim that our automation software is the lifeblood of this highly sophisticated operation. As a result of these projects and others, CAMcad has learned how to efficiently spec, implement, document, develop, and maintain custom manufacturing applications. Talk is cheap, but you'll never know if your unusual application can be streamlined or automated unless you ask. If you have an interest or think you may have an automation candidate and want to discuss alternatives, please contact Don McKillop @ x116.