This category contains posts related to information for new released features for all Kipware® software titles.
Kentech Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the conversational SUB SPINDLE programming option for KipwareT®
KipwareT® now offers conversational sub spindle programming where users can create TRANSFER and CUT-OFF TRANSFER cycles and G code cutting programs all conversationally using fill-in-the-blank forms.
For complete information on this upgrade we have prepared a video presentation which has posted to our YouTube channel … KTSoftware
Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.
Our CNC XChange applications have helped thousands of clients around the world overcome the “control incompatibility” issues between Fanuc … Okuma … Haas … DMG Mori … Mazak … and more … G code formats for equipment on their shop floors.
Kentech Inc. is now pleased to announce the release of our latest version of CNC XChange that can auto convert Fanuc and “fanuc compatible” G code to Fagor format for 2.5 and 3 axis milling programs. All models of Fanuc controls are supported as the “convert from” format … and Fagor models 8055 / 8037 / 8060 / 8065 / 8070 are supported as the “convert to” format.
An option is also available to auto convert Fanuc MACRO B code to Fagor Variable Prgramming format.
For additional information and an in-depth look at how CNC XChange operates … we offer a brief release / informational video below.
Please visit www.KentechInc.com for more information on CNC XChange and ALL our Real World CNC / Machine Shop Software products.
Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.
We are pleased to announce the release of our auto-tool list creation feature for KipwareM® – Conversational CNC Programming Software for milling.
As the name describes, this feature will create a tool list for tools used in the currently developed program and includes for every tool in the program :
This information is critical in set-up and users have the ability to have that tool list created :
Below is a video link that illustrates this new feature in action :
Auto tool list creation is now shipping standard with all new KipwareM® orders … and is available in all KipwareM® UPGRADE purchases.
Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.
Kentech Inc. is pleased to announce the release of Version 16.0.0 of our KipwareQTE® – Machine Shop Job Costing and Estimating Software.
With Version 16 we have moved beyond just quoting and estimating and have included optional modules that integrate with KipwareQTE® to provide cost review and analysis as well as real time material resource tracking and planning.
KipwareCRM® was developed to allow users to see clearly estimated costs vs. actual costs between what was estimated and was was actually utilized in production. This module will give users a clear view of profit and loss for each of the major areas of quoting with KipwareQTE® – material, tooling, labor and non-machining costs.
Users can load a previously created KipwareQTE® estimate and either load a report that can be generated either on the shop floor or use manual inputs to create an ITEMIZED or GENERAL analysis for each area. Through these features actual costs incurred during production can be entered … and KipwareCRM® will create a cost analysis to reflect profit or loss for each area.
The screenshot above illustrates a sample cost analysis showing profitable areas in blue and non-profitable areas in red. The costs analysis is a complete itemized breakdown to keep your quoting and estimating on track.
KipwareMRP® was developed to integrate with KipwareCRM® and to allow for real time material resource tracking and planning. The KipwareMRP® module can be installed on an unlimited number of computers on the shop floor to allow shop floor personnel to input resources used in production in real time. Items like number of inserts used, number of bars used, number of end mills used, time spent deburring, or packing can be logged into the report from KipwareMRP®. That report can then be loaded into KipwareCRM® and used to auto-generate a cost report / analysis against the original KipwareQTE® estimate to view profit and loss.
As illustrated in the above screenshot, KipwareMRP® allows for tracking of material … perishable tooling … labor … and all non-machining hours that are applicable.
You can watch an in-depth video on KipwareCRM® and KipwareMRP® below :
As with ALL our software … KipwareCRM® and KipwareMRP® bring cost analysis and resource planning and tracking to the Real World. Without the clutter, the big bucks or the unnecessary complexity … any size manufacturer can realize realistic and profitable quoting … estimating … and production with KipwareQTE®.
Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.
Have you ever had to machine a slot but didn’t want to mill the slot out completely with an end mill?
Looking for a quicker way to remove material from slots or other linear type patterns?
We just completed what we call a new “drill nibbling” or what others might call a “plunge milling” conversational menu in our KipwareM® – conversational CNC programming software for milling. For the machining described above … why would you pull out your complex and expensive CAD/CAM system or run to your overpaid CAD/CAM operator to create this G code ?? … when you could pull up KipwareM® … answer a few questions … and bang out some awesome G code in a matter of minutes.
Here’s a look at some of the screen and results.
The DRILL NIBBLING conversational screen has a number of unique features like :
You can create efficient plunge milling G code in a matter of seconds with KipwareM® … no drawing … no complex and expensive CAD/CAM system required. Just answer a few questions and BANG … G code.
As this capability demonstrates … Kipware® conversational is NOT a G code “wizard” creating underdeveloped and simplistic toolpaths … but rather a robust, shop floor programming system that can tackle the everyday CNC programming quickly and easily because it IS a powerful, complete CNC programming system.
If you are ready to STOP the CAD/CAM OVERKILL and reap the benefits of shop floor programming … we invite you to explore Kipware® conversational in more detail at www.KentechInc.com.
Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.
5 axis CNC machining is quickly becoming all the rage as it’s benefits become more and more apparent. The real problem though is everyone thinks that 5 axis programming is only meant for complex, multi-axis workpieces. But that is very far from the actual truth.
Well let’s back up and start with some facts. There are basically (2) school’s of thought when talking about 5 axis milling. Yes, if you want to make a fan blade … true 5 axis is probably needed and yes it’s complicated. But the 2nd school of thought involves what is called 3+2 positional 5 axis milling. As the name implies … it involves 3 axis ( X / Y/ Z ) and 2 additional axis … A which usually revolves around the X axis and B which usually revolves around the Y axis. This type of programming usually includes A nd B axis as indexing axis’s only. Perfect for multi-sided machining where “true” 5 axis (all the axis moving at the same time) is not required … you basically want to just reduce set-up and fixturing and you want to machine on multiple faces of the part using a single set-up. Like that sample parts illustrated below.
If you have ever worked with a 4 axis indexing table on your VMC … you can relate pretty easily. The 4th axis gives you the ability to fixture the part once and by indexing the 4th axis machine on up to 4 faces of the workpiece. Well adding the 5th axis is similar … but gives you the ability to machine on 5 faces … or use a combination of A and B axis achieve more angles and thus more faces to machine on.
See … not so complicated when you consider 3+2 positional 5 axis.
When we built KipwareM® … our conversational CNC programming software for milling … we built a robust, user friendly, powerful CNC programming tool … not some under developed “wizard”. We know from our experiences on the shop floor that CAD/CAM can oftentimes be overkill and even slow down the programming process and remove good chipmakers from that process. So if you want an alternative to CAD/CAM … it better be robust and capable of handling a little complexity and import DXF files for the non-standard type stuff. We built that in KipwareM®.
We also built a very flexbile and powerful feature with our EIA MENU. This menu allows users to create ANY snippit of G code they might need … create it once and then recall and use it any time when programming any part.
This feature gives you the ability to create an indexing program for the A and / or B axis and use that snippit any time in any program.
Below is a video showing this feature in a 4 axis programming example … 5 axis is pretty similar.
Below is a video illustrating how to create a 5 axis program on a Haas 5 axis CNC.
So … if you’re in the market for a new CNC for your shop … maybe consider 5 axis. Now knowing there is a REAL WORLD tool out there … that isn’t a complex and expensive CAD/CAM system … that can help you get easily program 5 axis you can take a deeper look at how a 5 axis CNC can benefit your shop. As mentioned … not all 5 axis work is complex fan blades but more often than not just multi-surface programming. And KipwareM® conversational has you covered !!
Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.
With an internet based business … your website is your company. It is your “brick and mortar store”. So it’s gotta be good !!
Kentech Inc. has been business since 1986 … and launched the first version of www.KentechInc.com around 1989. Since then it has gone through quite a few versions as we try to keep it modern, fresh and employing the latest technology. We have always designed and coded on our own and made it a point to learn the latest in web publishing and to employ that technology in our website.
In today’s day … it’s not enough to simply put together a website … it MUST function well on all devices. That means on everything from that big PC screen to that small iPhone or Android cell phone screen. Well … we are software people … so we put the same thought, consideration and testing into our website build as we put into our CNC and machine shop software products.
If you’re shopping around for CNC and machine shop software … take a look at the website of the company you are considering on multiple devices. If it doesn’t function well on everything … do you really want to consider their software?
The latest version of our website was COMPLETELY DESIGNED — CODED — CREATED by our staff of programmers and engineers … no outside assistance whatsoever. And we are pretty proud of it.
We invite you to visit the latest version of www.KentechInc.com … and send along any feedback to our Sales Team at Sales@KentechInc.com.
Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.
Kentech Inc. is pleased to announce the release of Version 17.0.0 of our KipwareM® – Conversational CNC Programming Software for Milling.
This version contains new support options for RIGID TAPPING in all conversational hole menus in KipwareM®. The first area to set-up would be in the SETTINGS page …
… where the user can define the PRE-COMMAND G code … and then select whether or not to include the S command on that line as well. Some controls … like most Fanuc controls … require a command prior to the G84 tapping canned cycle command line … and some require the appropriate S command to also appear on the line. For example … the standard Fanuc command for rigid tapping is :
M29 S1500
G99G84 X— Z— F—
Some controls … like Okuma … require the pre-command but do not require the S command.
With this new upgrade … KipwareM® will format and output the code according to this SETTING … and will carry the appropriate S command value and place it on the pre-command line if desired.
Also … on all hole menus … a new field has been added for the user to define the PERCENTAGE of calculated FEEDRATE to use when generating the G code program. All feedrates calculated through KipwareCSF® will now be output using a 100% value for the feedrate calculated.
Previously … we had a built-in factor of 90% to accommodate non-rigid tapping … where the standard 90% of actual feedrate is used to allow the compression holder to pull out just a little to avoid bottoming out the tap when tapping using a compression holder. We have removed that 90% factor … and all feedrates are now calculated to a 100% factor. This field on the form allows the user to input a desired percentage factor if not employing rigid tapping … or to leave the default of 100% if employing rigid tapping.
With almost all of today’s CNC machines having the capability of using rigid tapping … these new features in KipwareM® will keep pace with this trend … and allow both older CNC and current CNC users to employ rigid tapping … or not … quickly and easily with any KipwareM® program created.
UPGRADE pricing is available on the www.BuyKipware.com website through the link below :
Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.
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.
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.
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.
Our Kipware® CNC XChange and KipwareXC® software continue to be the industry leading tools for removing the “control incompatibility” issues from today’s shop floor. Today’s typical shop floors contains many different CNC machines with different CNC controls … and the inability to quickly move G code programs from one machine to another means loss productivity and efficiency.
Since 1986 when we first started creating G code conversion software for Raytheon Corporation … Kentech Inc. has become the pioneer and leader in G code conversion software … enhancing efficiency and productivity in thousands of manufacturers by allowing all their CNC machines to operate seamlessly.
Today we are announcing the release of NEW features to our Kipware® CNC XChange … Fanuc <–> Okuma Milling Conversion application … that enables a “look ahead” feature for inserting the “next tool” call into converted programs. When converting Fanuc milling G code to Okuma OSP … this new feature will scan ahead in the Fanuc program to find the next tool being employed … and will auto-insert that call into the tool change line of the current tool. This insures greater efficiency by getting he next tool indexed and ready for tool change … saving valuable cutting cycletime in the newly converted G code program.
As with all features in Kipware® CNC XChange … and after living on the shop floor for 30+ years … we know that no two G code programs or formats are alike. That’s why we build customizable features into our conversion software … to allow the user to select and customize the conversion and output.
Initially … the user can use the powerful USER OPTIONS in Kipware® CNC XChange to set-up this “look ahead” feature as the screenshot below illustrates.
Users have the ability to customize the output by :
With a simple push of the CONVERT button … Kipware® CNC XChange goes to work … all automatically … in seconds … to execute this and many other conversions to produce the sample as illustrated below.
First the TOOL CHANGE RETURN LINE was added as defined … and then the LOOK AHEAD Q# was auto-inserted onto the converted tool change line.
You can also watch the presentation video below …
Industry leading Kipware® CNC XChange and KipwareXC® can help any size shop remove the “control incompatibility” issue from their floor … and bring with it increased efficiency and productivity.
For more information on Kipware® CNC XChange or KipwareXC® … please visit our website … www.KentechInc.com.
Kenney Skonieczny – President
Kentech Inc.