CAM on baby! WOODEXPERT CAM Module

In today’s market, to stay afloat, one has to keep up to date with newest technologies. There’s nothing wrong with being an artisan with a plane in one hand and a pencil in the other, but big players are focusing on one thing: automation.

WOODEXPERT supports all kinds of CNC woodworking machines – nesting and otherwise – by all manufacturers. With just a few clicks you can generate production files and documentation for machine operators, joiners and assemblers.

In this article we will be looking under the hood of the program. What does the process of generating CNC files look like from the inside?

Watch a video presenting generating NC files in WOODEXPERT!

A closer look

After you’ve finished designing, in order to generate CNC files, the program needs to analyse each part based on conditions set up by the user in WE settings. Which face contains the most machinings? Does the saw on your machine go alongside X axis, X and Y, or can it rotate freely? Is it more important that the longer side is parallel to machine’s X, or that the edgebanding touches the limiters? We don’t want to think about all that in our everyday operations. Our experts (in contact with the customer) set those up when implementing the software – and let the program worry about that from now on.

If, for some reason, you need to set up a part by hand – that’s no problem. With a couple of clicks you can define which face should be treated as top and which edge as front X on a machine.

Based on those conditions, WOODEXPERT creates a CAM (Computer Assisted Manufacturing) setting. It consists of the part’s zero point, its orientation and parameters for all machinings. Depending on their shape, size, position etc. they will be defined accordingly: as through-drillings, depth-drillings, hole millings, pockets and so on. After that, each operation is assigned a tool and a machining strategy.

It’s all well and good, but where are my files?

Next step is generating CNC files. Now that ain’t easy. There’s no one standard; every CNC machine manufacturer uses their own file format; even worse: different machines from the same producer can have different file formats! That’s why we need a capable “translator” that will convert CAM data into a language your machine understands. This “translator” is a separate program: a postprocessor.

As one can imagine, each machine requires their very own postprocessor. Here at WOODEXPERT, we have collected a wide range of postprocessors for all sorts of machines by many different producers. If need be, we will write one specifically for your machine.

And that’s it! CAM data is sent to a postprocessor, it translates it to your machine’s language and generates CNC files.

It all sounds terribly complicated

Luckily, from the user’s perspective the case couldn’t be simpler. Select the elements – select the machine – generate files. The whole process takes no more than a couple of clicks and takes a few seconds. The program takes care of all the rest.

Start saving time and money today! Download a free 30-day trial and contact us to schedule an online presentation.