Over 20 visitors from leading manufacturing and technology companies based in the Netherlands and Belgium recently attended CGTech’s launch of Vericut Force, a new physics-based feed-rate optimisation module.

Officially launched in the UK last year and shown for the first time in the Netherlands at Van Hoorn Carbide’s Technical Centre in Weert, the Force module from CGTech (www.cgtech.com) was demonstrated optimising machining cycles for hard metals on a Hermle C12U machining centre.

The Force module uses a physics-based optimisation method to determine the maximum reliable feed rate for a given cutting condition, based on four factors — the 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.

Force provides significant benefits when applied to any precision machining operation where challenging materials are involved; these include titanium, high-nickel super-alloys (such as Hastelloy, Inconel and Waspaloy), duplex and stainless steels, and any work-hardening materials.

Gerard van Kessel, senior applications engineer at Van Hoorn Carbide, said: “We are always looking for technical ways to improve production processes and save money for our customers.

“With Vericut Force, it is possible to improve the efficiency and speed of your processes. By measuring forces like bending moment, torsion and pulling forces, we can significantly reduce peaks — even with a shorter cycle time.

“Where lower forces are encountered during a process, the software increases the feed until a fixed average chip thickness is achieved; and in the areas where the forces are considerably higher, such as corners, the software decreases the feed — giving us a more stable, efficient and faster cycle.”

CGTech sales manager Lee Fowkes said: “Force provides a ‘purple patch’ for companies using machine tools.

“It can: increase the life expectancy of the cutting tools; improve the post-processed cutting-tool path from the CAM system, leading to shorter machining cycle times; and look after the machine tool’s structural elements by minimising any ‘shock loads’ and creating a smoother but quicker cutting cycle.”