Published 9/25/2008

Updated CAM Software

DP Technology's Esprit 2009 features new technologies in three- and five-axis milling, feature recognition and the user interface as well as productivity-enhancing features for milling, turning and wire EDM part programming.

Edited by: MMS Editorial Team

The latest version of DP Technology’s software, ESPRIT 2009, features new technologies in the areas of three- and five-axis milling, feature recognition and the user interface as well as productivity-enhancing features for milling, turning and wire EDM part programming. The CAM software is designed to run on both the Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Vista operating systems.

Five-axis machining strategies have been added to the existing five-axis functionalities of both ESPRIT SolidMill and SolidMillTurn FreeForm with cycles for both milling and mill-turn machines. The FreeForm five-axis composite machining cycle allows the user to independently define the machining pattern and the tool orientation strategy to be used when creating the simultaneous five-axis tool path, and it includes 20 different machining strategies (cycles) in one. Five-axis swarf milling, five-axis contour milling and three-axis Z-level undercut machining are also available for FreeForm machining.

The ESPRIT FX feature tree includes better rendering and visualization options, and it now supports multiple CAD models and assemblies. The associative technology is also fully integrated into the feature tree, linking design features built inside the CAD system with manufacturing features built inside ESPRIT.

The updated CAM software includes support for CATIA, Pro Engineer and Autodesk Inventor (support also exists for SolidWorks and Solid Edge), in addition to support for assemblies and the ability to merge multiple CAD bodies — even when they are created in different CAD applications. Associative technology allows for the recognition of engineering changes made to a part model and the association between the original and changed part.

The CAM software features a new graphical user interface (GUI) for the ESPRIT Cutting Tool Manager, a new style of user interface for FreeForm machining cycles and a new Wizard technology that is now available to programmers of Charmilles and Sodick wire EDM machines.

Also, the user interface for Agie 123 and AgieVision have been updated to include automated draft feature recognition for geometry and solids, an underlying application programming interface (API) and a new expert system for AgieVision and AgieVision V controls.

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