CAD/CAM software increases output

#delcam #cadcam #softwaredesign #powershape #powermill #manufacturing #engineering #ukmfg Using Delcam’s (www.delcam.com) CAD/CAM software to design and manufacture its custom orthotic insoles has allowed Birmingham-based Salts Techstep to greatly increase its output in the last five years — from 50 pairs per month to more than 1,000.

Other benefits include a reduction in the delivery time from a minimum of 72hr to just 1hr for urgent cases. In addition, Salts Techstep no longer has to store fragile plaster casts of patients’ feet; it can keep a digital record of each scanned foot indefinitely.

Technical support manager Phil Wells was an early enthusiast for the use of CAD/CAM in the orthotics business; he started out by customising Delcam’s standard engineering software — PowerShape for design and PowerMill for machining.

With this experience, he was an obvious choice when Delcam put together a panel of experts to guide the development of its dedicated OrthoModel software. In addition to making the most of the software, Mr Wells has built up a variety of machine tools to optimise productivity. “With the Delcam software and the size of the machine tool that we use, we can keep costs much lower and make much higher volumes.”

He has also introduced a number of developments to reduce manufacturing times, including dedicated jigs for the standard-size blocks of material used, plus vacuum beds that simplify and speed up machine loading.

In addition, he spent a lot of time experimenting with different tooling before finding cutters that could run for up to 12 months without needing to be replaced.