5XCAM – Next Generation Hybrid Manufacturing Software

数字制造主要利用两种制造工艺：3D打印，在材料添加过程中逐层构建物体，以及机械加工，用锋利的工具将材料从库存中切割出来，在减法过程中将其塑造成最终部分。3D打印是一项革命性的技术，可以轻松制造具有复杂几何形状的零件。然而，零件通常公差差，表面粗糙度大。机加工可以生产出具有严格公差和卓越表面光洁度的零件，但会浪费材料，通常50%-90%的原始材料在加工过程中丢失。这些过程可以结合在一个新的“混合制造”过程中。5AXISWORKS开发了一款名为“5AXISMAKER”的台式五轴混合机床，这是过去6年来5AXISWORKS的核心产品。像“5AXISMAKER”这样的机器可以将3D打印的强度和加工的精度结合起来，通过3D打印接近形状的部件并使用其五轴加工能力进行精加工。用于数字制造的计算机数控（CNC）机床需要计算机辅助制造（CAM）软件来创建机床将遵循的刀具路径来生产零件。3D打印切片机（CAM）软件对这项技术的采用和推广起到了重要作用。针对普通用户，易用性使其成为一种通用工具，可以很容易地适应任何制造环境。驱动像5AXISMAKER这样的五轴机床的软件传统上被航空航天等行业的高技能专业人员使用。就操作所需的技能和可负担性而言，这使得适合的软件对大多数人来说遥不可及。5AXISWORKS将开发一种名为“5XCAM”的新型CAM软件程序，它将使混合制造像3D打印一样容易实现。它将把“5AXISMAKER”机器的5轴减法和加法功能结合在一个界面上，就像在3D打印机上按下“开始”按钮一样容易使用。我们的目标是通过自动化劳动密集型工具路径创建，为更广阔的市场释放混合制造的力量。混合制造的民主化将极大地提高个人和企业创新和发展的能力，特别是在经济衰退时期。

Digital manufacture predominately makes use of two fabrication processes: 3D printing that builds objects up layer-by-layer in a material additive process, and machining where material is cut away from stock with a sharp tool to shape it into the final part in a subtractive process. 3D printing is a revolutionary technology that allows for easy fabrication of parts with complex geometry. However, the parts often have poor tolerances and a rough surface finish. Machining can produce parts with tight tolerances and superior surface finish but is wasteful of material, where typically 50%-90% of the original material is lost in the process.These processes can be combined in a new "hybrid manufacturing" process. 5AXISWORKS have developed a desktop 5-axis hybrid machine called "5AXISMAKER", which for the past 6 years was the core product for 5AXISWORKS. Machines like "5AXISMAKER" can combine the strength of 3D printing and the accuracy of machining by 3D printing a near-shape component and finishing it using its 5-axis machining capability.Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine tools used in digital fabrication need Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software to create a tool path that the machine will follow to produce the part. 3D printing slicer (CAM) software was a significant contributing factor to the rate of adoption and spread of this technology. Targeted at casual users, ease of use made it a universal tool that could easily fit within any fabrication environment. Software to drive 5-axis machines like 5AXISMAKER has traditionally been used by highly skilled professionals in industries like aerospace. This places suitable software out of reach for most in terms of skill required to operate as well as affordability.5AXISWORKS will develop a new CAM software program called "5XCAM" that will make hybrid manufacturing as accessible as 3D printing. It will combine 5-axis subtractive and additive functionality of a "5AXISMAKER" machine in a single interface which is as easy to use as pressing a "go" button on a 3D printer. Our aim is to unlock the power of hybrid manufacturing for a wider market by automating labour intensive toolpath creation. Democratisation of hybrid manufacturing will greatly increase the ability of individuals and businesses to innovate and grow, especially through times of economic recession.