Tag Archives: conversational cnc programming software

Kipware® Programming Software, New Product Release Information

Kipware® Conversational Programming Software – New 4 Axis Drilling Option Released

Kentech Inc. is pleased to announce the release of a new 4 axis DRILLING menu created in response to a customer request. As with all 4 axis conversatinal programming option … this new menu is available STANDARD with KipwareM® Version 19.5.0 as of April 22, 2019.

Screen #1 – Cutting Parameters

Initiating this programming menu in KipwareM® displays the cutting parameter input screen. Along with standard inputs for stock diameter, clearance, feedrates, spindle speed, depth of cut and retract (peck plunging parameters) … the user can select from (3) available machining cycles.

PLUNGE Cycle : most closely resembling a drilling cycle where the cutter will feed down in the Z axis only. Inputting a DEPTH OF CUT and RETRACT AMOUNT will initiate a peck drilling routine … whereas 0 values in these fields will initiate a straight drilling cycle.

POCKET Cycle : selecting this cycle will first execute a drilling / peck drilling cycle as defined using the PLUNGE cycle parameters … then a pocket mill cycle will execute including circular entry and exit to insure smooth machining and a smooth side wall finish to open up the hole diameter. This cycle is best executed when machining larger holes greater than the cutter diameter.

BOTH : selecting this cycle will begin the hole machining with a drilling / peck drilling cycle as defined like a PLUNGE cycle … and then execute a pocket milling cycle at the final Z depth to open up the hole diameter. This cycle is best executed when peck drilling to depth is required and the hole diameter is greater than the cutter diameter.

Screen #2 – Hole Locations

Once the cutting parameters are defined … user have the ability to define an UNLIMITED number of hole locations through the HOLE LOCATION screen.

Each location can include an X axis and Y axis coordinate … going beyond just center line operations … along with different Z depth coordinates … to avoid “air machining” … and 4 axis angular coordinates. In addition a different hole diameter can be included for each location … allowing the user the ability to program a wide variety of hole locations and diameters in one operation and with one menu.

We are always developing new options and new power for our Kipware® conversational. We were happy to work closely with this client and many others to develop new menus to help save them time and increase their programming efficiency.

KipwareM® Version 19.5.0 is now shipping with this new programming menu standard.

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® Programming Software, New Product Release Information

New Enhanced Drilling and Milling Features for KipwareM®

We are always listening to our customers … and love submissions for revisions and enhancements per their actual shop floor experiences. This post outlines (2) new features we have released for our KipwareM®… development based on client input and recommendations.

If you would like to submit your real world feature request … please send an email to Sales@KentechInc.com.

Enhanced Hole Location Input Options for Drilling

KipwareM® provides the user with the multiple options for automatically calculating hole locations for bolt circles, holes on a line and grid patterns … but sometimes you just need to enter random locations that don’t fit into a set pattern.

That drilling conversational menu has now been enhanced to give the user (3) options for entering such locations.

  1. X / Y locations can be entered directly on the conversational form with the # of locations available being unlimited. Just increment the counter up and enter the X/Y coordinates.
  2. Users can pop-up a form where up to (12) locations can be entered directly on that form all at once.
  3. Users can define a DXF file and KipwareM® will read through the DXF file and define every POINT element in the file as a hole location and automatically enter that location into the list. This is great option for loading a large number of hole locations directly from a DXF drawing.

Enhanced SLOT MILLING Options

We have enhanced our HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL slot milling menus in KipwareM® to include the option of THROUGH slots as well as partial slots … what we call CAPTURED slots.

In addition … a recent past upgrade gave the user the option for total removal of the material in the slot or simply create a tool path that milled down the side(s) of the slot. This is a great option for creating toolpaths for narrow slots or slots where the cutter and slot width are the same or the cutter is only slightly smaller.

Our labels HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL slots is a bit misleading … because the single ROTATION ANGLE input allows the user to rotate the slot at any angle … all done with a simple single angular input.

As mentioned above … we are always happy to receive feedback and to hear new options users would like to see in our applications. If you have a suggestion … please reach out to Sales@KentechInc.com.

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.