Online Service Promises Better Toolpaths

By Sara Ferris

Celeritive Technologies (Cave Creek, AZ) has launched VoluMill, a commercial Internet-based toolpath service. VoluMill is a toolpath engine that plans a toolpath based the capabilities of the machine tools and cutting tools rather than on the geometry being machined. According to the company, this approach delivers productivity increases and extends cutting-tool life on the shop floor.

VoluMill dynamically controls the rate of material removal, eliminating sharp corners from the toolpath and managing axial and radial depths of cut to achieve a consistent tool load.

"The toolpaths typical of CAM systems force machine tools and cutting tools to operate under widely varying conditions, often subjecting them to severe stress," said Glenn Coleman, chief product officer for Celeritive. "The consistent machining loads inherent to VoluMill toolpaths, in contrast, enable machining hardware to be utilized to its fullest potential; machining times are significantly reduced, while equipment life is significantly extended. When tools are driven properly, metal can actually be cut much faster than most people realize."

VoluMill currently generates toolpaths for 2-axis pockets, with support for an unlimited number of islands. Full 2-axis milling, including open shapes and cleanup milling, is scheduled for the first quarter of 2008, with a 3-axis rough milling service to follow in the second quarter.

Products are delivered on a subscription basis. All new accounts include a 15-day free trial, during which the service can be cancelled for any reason and at no cost.

A dedicated client for Mastercam X2 is available for download now, as is an Open Source universal client that can be used with any CAM system. Dedicated clients for other systems, including GibbsCAM and CAMWorks, are under development.