Mechanical components produced with WorkNC CAM software (www.worknc.com) are being used by the research body CERN (the European Organisation for Particle Physics, which has been located in Geneva since 1954) to study the structure of the universe.

The organisation’s physicists and engineers use highly complex scientific instruments — such as accelerators and particle detectors — to study the basic constituents of matter.

The EN engineering department at CERN is involved in the production of these components, some of which are manufactured in its own workshops.

About 50 people work in the main machine shop, which houses 10 five-axis machining centres, as well as other equipment. EN installed its first version of WorkNC in 2016 — and soon added another five seats.

Pierre Naisson, who is responsible for implementing CAM applications, said: “Workshop production was based on 2-D drawings, whereas programming and quality control uses a 3-D model; and while a technician will look after one machine and is totally responsible for deciding on the required machining sequences and taking charge of the part, advanced programming tasks were managed by dedicated programmers away from the workshop.

“Wanting to work as much as possible directly with 3-D models, we evaluated several CAM solutions before choosing WorkNC; it was also our intention to involve our technicians and make the CAM solution available for them to use in the workshop.”

In addition to its everyday use in the workshop for generating three-axis and 3+2-axis tool paths, advanced programming is regularly required for machining more-complex five-axis parts; these are generally machined from a solid billet, which Mr Naisson says requires a highly efficient roughing strategy (adding that he is impatient to start using WorkNC’s Waveform roughing strategy, which is said to ensure high rates of material removal while also prolonging tool life).

“Our technicians use the full range of features to control and edit tool-paths — including the collision management module. Machining strategies such as Z-level finishing, three-axis undercut re-machining, flat surface finishing, chamfering and tangent to curve are programmed on a daily basis.

“We have been able to combine the skills acquired by our technicians along with the performance of WorkNC and create a highly efficient production process.”