PRESS RELEASE

 

16 October 2004            MWC 8591

 

SPRUTCAM SOFTWARE PROVES ITS WORTH AT

WILTSHIRE FOUNDRY

 

When Surecast, a company with a strong heritage in sand and gravity diecasting sought to start machining patterns and dies in-house, it realised it required a cutting edge CAM system that was both cost-effective and easy to use. After consulting more than a dozen vendors, Surecast opted for the latest version of SprutCAM from Sprut Technology UK of Taunton – a move that has already helped the company achieve considerable savings and boost profit margins.

 

In order to help customers reduce their supplier base, Surecast has made a conscious effort in recent years to build on its expertise outside of casting by providing services such as added-value machining. Following a significant investment in machine shop equipment, the company now provides a complete production service to its customers for machining its sand and gravity diecastings and prototyping service.

 

In selecting the CADCAM system machine shop supervisor, Mark Knight maintains: “We initially investigated the market and spoke with at least a dozen CAM vendors, made a shortlist of six and got them to provide us with demonstrations.  Our decision to buy SprutCAM was made against four main factors, effective ease of use, a dedication to back-up from Sprut Technology UK, the software’s automatic hole recognition capability and price.  In fact, the software provided the same facilities we needed as all of the other systems but at a fraction of the cost!”

 

The machine shop at the Devizes foundry houses the latest CNC twin-pallet machining centres which are now linked to SprutCAM allowing the company to control programming, storage and manage any engineering changes. Not only does the software ensure increased security and data integrity, it works very effectively alongside the company’s Pro-Engineer CAD system.

 

Within four weeks of installation in August 2004, SprutCAM was really being put through its paces as Surecast was enjoying a very busy period. In fact, such is the current workload that Mark Knight has still to take up the on-site training from Sprut Technology UK. To which he offers:  “I guess it’s a testament to how easy it is to use that we are managing to effectively deploy the software without any formal training. Compared to other packages, it just seems easier to control – it really is very simple to navigate.”

 

He explains some of the components machined are very complex and adds: “We don’t really have typical parts.” He then describes a heatsink component he had just processed and maintains it was part of a contract they would never have been able to produce in the time required without SprutCAM.

 

With over 1,000 users worldwide, SprutCAM offline programming software is ideally suited to subcontract, pattern making and toolmaking businesses. Starting at just £1,295, the 2, 21/2-D Machinist milling package includes full on-site training and 12 months telephone and Internet support. The higher functionality 3-D Expert package, with the same level of support and training sells for just £3,250. Both systems are available with a 30-day free-of-charge trial license that allows potential users to experience the full system in their own working environment.

 

The latest version 4 of SprutCAM combines powerful 3-D strategies, model feature recognition and surface analysis capability with high quality toolpath simulation. In addition, SprutCAM is now an accepted SolidWorks Solution Partner product. This means that users can continue to design the CAD model and then update and apply existing toolpaths without having to switch between one application and another.

 

Mark Knight maintains the ability to bring pattern work in-house will create considerable savings and help to boost the business. However, most important is the possibilities to reduce overall lead time from project initiation to completed parts. He says: “Our justification to purchase SprutCAM has been upheld already and it is giving us a very competitive edge without breaking the budget.”

With Compliments:

Mike Wildish

  • Wildish Communications Ltd

    • 36 New Road

    Chatham

    Kent ME4 4QR

    Tel: 01634 832221

    Fax: 01634 832224

    Issued on behalf of:

    Sprut Technology (UK) Limited, 2 Scott Close, Staplegrove Park, Taunton, Somerset   TA2 6UN

    Tel: 01823 353525

    Contact: Mr Dave Pearson, Managing Director

    SPRUT TECHNOLOGY             MWC 8591

     

    SprutCAM provides off-line programming solution to added-value machining of castings at Surecast.