Cutting Tool Engineering Reprint

Since the dawn of machining, part manufacturers have looked for ways to squeeze greater efficiencies out of existing equipment, materials and labor. CAM and CNC machining were huge steps in the right direction several decades ago.

But in recent years, the improvements in machining productivity haven’t been as large. This is because productivity-enhancing research focused primarily on computerization to streamline toolpath generation and toolpath optimization software, slowing feed rates at corners to reduce stress on tools. Nearly all innovations assumed a parallel-offset toolpath used for roughing parts, not realizing this was the real bottleneck.

Ultrahighperformance toolpath (UHPT) software changes this and improves the way tools cut through material, using high-speed continuous tangent motion rather than sharp, interrupted movements. Imagine driving through a neighborhood without arterial streets. At each corner, you must slow down or stop at a stop sign, make a turn and proceed for another block while encountering changing traffic conditions. It’s maddeningly inefficient.