Why VoluMill Can Reduce Cycle Time Dramatically?

We did several tests on the comparison between traditional operations and VoluMill for ZW3D, indicating VoluMill can dramatically reduce cycle time, up to 80%.

Below are the details of one of the tests.

Material: Aluminum 6061
Part Size: 118X105X36mm
Machine: Spinner U620
Controller: Heidenhain
Date: 2018-09-09
Tool: D10R0

Traditional Operation
Machining Time:45.8min
Speed: 10000RPM
Feed Rate: 3000MMP
Step-down: 1mm

VoluMill
Machining Time:8.7min
Speed: 10000RPM
Feed Rate: 5000MMP
Step-down: 20mm

It’s easy to find that traditional operations and VoluMill work under different parameters, especially on the Step-Down size. The huge gap between 1mm (traditional operations) and 20mm (VoluMill) makes it simple for everyone to understand why VoluMill can save 80% of cycle time.

Then you may wonder why VoluMill gets much higher parameters. What if the traditional operations work under the same parameters as VoluMill? Is it possible for them to mill as fast as VoluMill?

We did some researches on this question, and found out the answer is absolutely NO.

Let’s take Offset 2D operation as an example.

When cutting into a pocket, the Offset 2D operation will drive the tool directly into the material as shown below. If the operation uses the same Speed/Feed and Step Down values as VoluMill, there is no doubt that the tool will be broken. On the contrary, VoluMill cuts into the pocket in a smooth and tangent way, so the tool can work safely.

VoluMill can make it by its intelligent algorithm. The toolpath will always drive the tool along a high-speed continuous tangent motion, as well as under a constant stepover and cutting load, thus resulting in uniform chip formation, excellent heat evacuation and a much faster speed/Feed.

What’s more, VoluMill will always try to use the entire flute length of tools, which not only can reduce wear, but also increase milling speed to the highest level.

All in all, as one of the fastest toolpath engines throughout the world, Volumill speeds up your machining based on its amazing powerful algorithm. It is proved to work perfectly in ZW3D.

Have you tried VoluMill? What do you think about VoluMill for ZW3D? Welcome to leave your comment here.

If you want to try it, click: www.zwsoft.com/zw3d/download-center.
Learn more about ZW3D 2019: www.zwsoft.com/zw3d/overview
More details of the tests: https://www.zwsoft.com/forum/forum.p...xtra=#pid36345

Written by Zack Wang, Senior CAM Engineer
Zack Wang is a ZW3D CAM expert with seven-year manufacturing experience. As a member of ZWSOFT Technical Team, he has been involved with most new CAM projects in ZW3D. He loves sharing all the new ideas and functionality planned or realized in CAD/CAM industries.