Over 80 people from 45 of the UK’s leading advanced-manufacturing and technology companies gathered at Silverstone racing circuit in October for CGTech’s (www.cgtech.co.uk) latest VUE 2017 (Vericut Users Exchange) event.

They were introduced to the latest release of the company’s CNC machine tool simulation and optimisation software — Vericut version 8.1, with the recently launched physics-based Force module taking centre stage.

Rob Lightfoot, CGTech UK’s sales manager, said: “Within the leading technical industry sectors, we see the ever-increasing complexity of components produced by machine tools and processes as an opportunity for Vericut to support industry’s goals of efficiency and productivity.

“This latest release of our software ties complex processes together, with the ability to monitor and evaluate many potential problems in an efficient and consolidated way, thereby reducing the time spent in the programming and machining cycle.”

He went on to highlight the benefits of Force — a software module that uses a physics-based optimisation method to determine the maximum reliable feed rate for a given cutting condition, based on four factors.

They are: force on the cutter, spindle power, maximum chip thickness, and maximum allowable feed rate.

It calculates ideal feed rates by analysing tool geometry and parameters, material properties of the stock and cutting tool, detailed cutting-tool edge geometry and Vericut cut-by-cut contact conditions.