Category Archives: New Product Release Information

This category contains posts related to information for new released features for all Kipware® software titles.

Kipware® Programming Software, New Product Release Information

There’s a NEW MEANING for the Acronym CAD/CAM …

The success of Kipware® conversational CNC programming software … conversational CAM … has meant a new meaning has been given to the acronym CAD/CAM.

  • NO LONGER is creating a DRAWING the start point for CNC programming .
  • In fact, NO LONGER is the entire CNC programming process driven by a drawing.

Kipware® conversational has taken the concept of creating G code to another level. A level that includes ease-of-use … a level that invites everyone ( not just CAD/CAM users ) to creater and explore G code creation … a level where speed and increased efficiency is a standard when creating G code programs. And as a result … the new meaning for the acronym CAD/CAM has been crowned :

  • C = CANCEL
  • A = ALL
  • D = DRAWING
  • /
  • C = CONCENTRATE
  • A = ABSOLUTELY on
  • M = MACHINING

Join us in the fight to END CAD/CAM OVERKILL … and spend more time MAKING CHIPS … NOT DRAWINGS … with Kipware® conversational CNC programming software.

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® Quoting and Estimating Software, New Product Release Information

NEW RELEASE : Features for Swiss / Multi-Spindle / Multi-Turret for Machining Cycletime Estimating

Version 11.0.0 of KipwareCYC® – Machining Cycletime Estimating Software has been released.

This upgrade includes a new feature called GHOSTING  for estimating machining times on swiss machines as well as multi-spindle and multi-turret CNC turning centers.

How Does It Work?

To utlize this new features users create times in KipwareCYC® for all operations required to machine the workpiece completely as usual. Then, using the GHOSTING feature users can then “ghost” operations that would be performed in tandem with other operations … leaving only the operations actually taking up cycletime as the main focus of the estimate.

Ghosted operations will still remain part of the estimate for  all reporting features such as in ROUTING SHEETS and any operation in the estimate can be easily transferred to and back from a ghosted operation. In addition, should the user wish, ghosted operations can be deleted permanently from the estimate once the desired sequence and set-up is obtained.

This new feature greatly strengthens the power of KipwareCYC® when emplyed to estimate machining time for swiss type machines as well as multi-spindle and multi-turret CNC turning centers.

Version 11.0.0 is shipping standard as of December 16, 2022.

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® Programming Software, New Product Release Information

NEW RELEASE : Conversational 3D Programming for KipwareM® – 3D Conversational Hole Fillet Menu

Kentech Inc. and Kipware® conversational continue to show their innovative and pioneering  spirit with the latest release for our conversational 3D option for KipwareM® – Conversational CAM / CNC Programming Software for MILLING.

KipwareM® is the only application on the market that gives users the ability to create 3D G code for standard 3D shapes like CONES … TAPERED HOLES … TAPERED Square &  Rectangular BOSS … TAPERED Square & Rectangular POCKET … Horizontal & Vertical TROUGHS … Female BENDING DIES … CURVED SURFACES … BOWLS … RADIUS EDGES … TAPERED RADIUS EDGES … HOLE FILLETS … and we’re constantly adding new options based on user requests !!

Our latest version … 22.0.0 … now includes standard our conversational 3D HOLE FILLET menu in the 3D conversational option. Using a simple fill-in-the-blank form … using no drawing, no CAD  and no drawing experience required …. users can quickly and easily create G code to machine fillet radii on holes. Any size fillet … using any size tool … using a square end mill or ball end mill … can be programmed in seconds with this powerful and groundbreaking option. Below are some images and details.

Above is an example of what we refer to as a HOLE FILLET.

Conversational CNC programming for a 3D Hole Fillet is now available in KipwareM®The above image is a screenshot of the conversational 3D HOLE FILLET screen in KipwareM®. Simple plain english inputs … along with the ability to select a square or ball end mill … combined with the users ability to select climb or conventional milling make this menu so very powerful.

Conversational CNC programming for a 3D Hole Fillet is now available in KipwareM®Above is an image of a 3D plot of the resulting toolpath … all created using a fill-in-the-blank form … no CAD nor CAD / drawing experience required.

This new menu was created through a request from a client and we continue to pursue new conversational menu options based on user request and our own real world experiences. This new 3D HOLE FILLET menu is now included STANDARD with all KipwareM® w 3D option purchases.

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® G Code Conversion Software, New Product Release Information

KipwareXC® G Code Conversion Software – New Release – Security Features

Kentech Inc. is pleased to announce the release of Version 19.1.0 of our KipwareXC® – User Configurable G Code Conversion Software.

The newest feature release includes security features for users that wish to block access to the editing of created PROFILES and / or converted G code.  Under the SETTINGS page … users now have the ability to LOCK the editing of BOTH the MAIN and SECONDARY PROFILES using a Password protection feature as well as locking out the editing features in the KipwareXC® EDITOR once a file has been converted.

Post Processor Security Features Released

Checking the LOCK PROTECT PROFILES box will lock the ability to edit or amend both the MAIN and SECONDARY PROFILE. Attempting to change this setting will trigger the display of the PASSWORD screen where the user is required to input the current set PASSWORD. The DEFAULT Password initiated when KipwareXC is initially installed is 9999. Users can change this by opening the file PASSWORD.TXT located in the KipwareXC folder in any text editor … Microsoft NOTEPAD is recommended … and inputting the desired Password.

Checking the LOCK PROTECT EDITOR box will lock the ability to edit the CONVERTED file in the Editor once a conversion is completed. All options for the CONVERTED file … except the SAVE file function … will be disabled in the Editor. Attempting to change this setting will trigger the display of the PASSWORD screen where the user is required to input the current set PASSWORD … instructions are the same as outlined in the section above.

Version 19.1.0 is now shipping standard.

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® Quoting and Estimating Software, New Product Release Information

New Reporting features Released for KipwareCRM® – MRP / ERP Cost Review Module for KipwareQTE®

We continue to improve and innovate our KipwareCRM® – Cost Review Module for our KipwareQTE® – Machine Shop Job Costing and Estimating Software.

KipwareCRM® allows users to easily compare estimated costs vs. actual costs as related to quotes and estimates created with KipwareQTE®. After client suggestions and requests for enhanced reporting features … we are pleased to announce the release of Version 2.0.0 of KipwareCRM®. Two new enhancements contained in Version 2.0.0 are :

(1) The ability to PRINT either a side-by-side or actual cost only report for cost reviews created with KipwareCRM®.

(2) The ability to SAVE as a CSV ( Excel compatible ) spreadsheet a side-by-side or actual cost only report for cost reviews created with KipwareCRM®.

Cost review report enhancements for KipwareCRM®
Cost review report enhancements for KipwareCRM®

These new reporting features will allow users the ability to dig even deeper to insure that work being won is actually profitable work and to take the necessary steps to make any cost corrections as required.

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® Quoting and Estimating Software, New Product Release Information

INCH / METRIC Enhancements for KipwareCYC® – Machining Cycletime Estimating Software

Kentech Inc. is pleasesd to announce the release of Version 10.0.0 of our KipwareCYC® – Machining Cycletime Estimating Software.

The first enhancement deals with the inclusion of separate INCH and METRIC databases for BOTH the cutting parameters database and machine specification database. Previously inch and metric settings were contained in a single database … but we feel the two separate databases give users more flexibility and options when having to change between creating estimates in inch and metric. When the user selects INCH or METRIC in the KipwareCYC® SETTINGS page … the appropriate databases will automatically be loaded at start-up.

The second enhancement allows the user to have KipwareCYC® automatically convert the INCH specific database to METRIC … and REVERSE. This new feature allows users to create the database contents using, say, inch specific parameters and then have KipwareCYC® automatically convert that database and save it as a file with metric settings automatically. The reverse can also be accomplished with a single button push … as the image below illustrates.

The third enhancements was a soft-release in 2021 and allows the user to easily create back-up copies of all the KipwareCYC® databases with a push of a single button. The date of the last back-up is saved and displayed on the SETTINGS page.

KipwareCYC® Webpage : https://kentechinc.com/kipwarecyc/

UPGRADE Pricing and Purchase Options : https://www.buykipware.com/product-category/kipware-upgrades/kipware-estimating-upgrades/

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® G Code Conversion Software, New Product Release Information

KipwareXC® – New Release Feature – Auto-Calculate Tapping Feedrates

Kentech Inc. is pleased to announce the release of Version 18.4.0 of our KipwareXC® – G Code Conversion Software.

Among other “under the hood” revisions and improvements, Version 18.4.0 contains a new feature that will reverse calculate feedrates for standard tapping and rigid tapping cycles.

Users have been requesting this feature because they have run across G code conversion scenarios where one machine uses a tapping feedrate based on IPM ( pitch x RPM ) and the other machine utilizes the F(eedrate) expressed as a function of the thread pitch.

As you can see from the screenshot below …

… users can define a few parameters in the PROFILE to effect this conversion. Among them are :

  1. Turn the function ON or OFF using the “Reverse Calculate Tapping F” checkbox
  2. Designate the tapping G code that will act as a “trigger code” to activate the conversion.
  3. Designate the direction of the conversion … IPM to PITCH or PITCH to IMP.

The TAPPING G CODE acts as a trigger. When KipwareXC® sees this G code, and the function is turned on, the conversion will be executed based on the direction specified and the original F command will be replaced by the newly calculated F command. This is a powerful feature that will remove the need for any manual calculations  and eliminating the potential for calculation errors.

Version 18.4.0 and this new feature is currently shipping standard with all KipwareXC® purchases as of this writing.

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® Programming Software, New Product Release Information

New KipwareT® Release – Simple Turn & Simple Bore Menus

We have received requests from our KipwareT® users for a quick, down-and-dirty menu to help create G code to machine very simple one diameter OD or ID bore with chamfers or radii on the corners. Although our current SIMPLE TURNING and SIMPLE BORING menus can easily handle from one to an unlimited number of diameters … with any angles or radii … the idea presented was for a very simple one diameter part with corner chamfers or radii to enable anyone to quickly and easily create that roughing and / or finishing toolpath.

We have now released Version 23.4.0 of KipwareT® … that now contains both a turning and boring menu for workpieces containing only one diameter which has corner chamfers and / or radii on the ends. The new menus are illustrated below :

Simple Bore Menu

Simple Turn Menu

For more information on KipwareT® … CLICK HERE

To watch our YouTube Playlist for KipwareT® … CLICK HERE

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® G Code Conversion Software, New Product Release Information

KipwareXC® G Code Conversion Software — Hidden Gems #1

After 30+ years of working and living on the shop floor, Kentech Inc. develops REAL WORLD software solutions. Our experiences have shaped and molded our thinking and development goals to push us to create software solutions that make huge impacts in our clients manufacturing systems and processes.

No where is this more in show than in our INNOVATIVE and GROUNDBREAKING G code conversion applications, KipwareXC® and Kipware® CNC XChange. In this post we look to highlight #1 in a series of HIDDEN GEM videos that feature some of the innovative and groundbreaking features, somewhat hidden away in our G code conversion apps. There are so many features included in KipwareXC® that we want to make sure to highlight some of these maybe unknown features … all standard … all there for the taking … but maybe missed in the everyday use of KipwareXC®.

Let’s start with a couple of questions :

(1) Have you ever wanted to take a proven G code program and adjust … up or down …  all S commands or all F commands by a certain percentage?

(2) Have you ever needed to shift all X and / or Y commands by a certain amount? Or lower all Z commands by a certain amount?

If you answered YES to either of the above … or some other similar situation you can think of … then  the video below is well worth the watch … enjoy !!

For more information and details on all our G code conversion applications … please use any of the links below :

KipwareXC® Information : https://kentechinc.com/kipwarexc/

CNC XChange Information : https://kentechinc.com/cncxchange/

Kentech Inc. MAIN Website : https://kentechinc.com/

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® Programming Software, New Product Release Information

New KipwareT® Release – Pulley Groove / Undercut Turning Option

Kentech Inc. announces the release of Version 23.3.0 of KipwareT® – Conversational CNC Programming Software for Turning.

Included in this release is a new and powerful turning option for our OD PULLEY GROOVE Menu making it easier to create more efficient G code for shapes like the image below :

We have always had the ability to create a grooving type toolpath for this menu … and this new release gives users the option to create a turning type toolpath as well. For more information … please review the video below :

For users still within their 6 month free upgrade window … please email Sales@KentechInc.com to request an updated build with this new feature.

For users outside the window … please review all Kipware® UPGRADE options here : https://www.buykipware.com/product-category/kipware-upgrades/kipware-programming-upgrades/

For more information on Kipware® conversational software … please visit www.KentechInc.com

Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.