Officials from Gibbs and Associates, developer of GibbsCAM software for programming CNC machine tools and a Cimatron company, announced that this month it delivered its 1,250th post-processor for GibbsCAM in support of a large variety of Multi-Task Machines (MTMs) from nearly 70 manufacturers. Each of the 1,250 post-processors is uniquely developed and configured for a specific combination of MTM machine, machine options and control. The achievement of this milestone evidences continuing adoption of MTMs for the productivity those machines can provide, and increased utilization of GibbsCAM to program this type of machine.
Most MTMs require a CAM system capable of programming the complex combination of milling and turning while synchronizing the motion of multiple tool groups and spindles, with part transfers and release, all within a restricted space. This complexity, combined with the necessity of optimizing programs to minimize production time and cost, drives MTM users to GibbsCAM because (i) programming and optimization of machine motion is much simpler and faster with GibbsCAM, and (ii) GibbsCAM has the post-processors to generate CNC code that optimizes machine tool efficiency and accommodates shop-process preferences. The library of MTM post-processors, in combination with GibbsCAM software – widely known for its ease of learning and ease of use – allows Gibbs to provide a more complete and immediate solution to customers who need the productivity offered by MTMs.
“We continue our leadership position in MTM programming, with the best assortment of MTM post-processors in the industry, as, when new machines and new machine capabilities are introduced, we broaden GibbsCAM’s programming and post-processing functions to accommodate them,” says Robb Weinstein, senior vice-president of sales and strategic planning of Gibbs and Associates. “Then we develop and deliver error-free post-processors, and maintain them ourselves, to ensure that our users never need to edit the output. This helps customers attain the highest levels of productivity in programming and machining, strengthens our relationships with our multiple machine tool partners, and maintains our reputation for having the most effective, easiest to use, and most versatile solution for MTM programming.”
Most CAM software vendors provide a post-processor as a generic tool, and relegate time-consuming configuration and implementation (which require reiterative testing, trouble shooting and correction) to their users and resellers. In contrast, Gibbs has a staff dedicated to developing, implementing and maintaining post-processors. The GibbsCAM post-processor group maintains a current library of nearly 11,000 unique post-processors to accommodate all types of lathes, mills, multi-task machines, and their associated controls.
The 1,250 MTM post-processors support the various machine model-control combinations from a vast range of manufacturers of multi-task machines.