SolidWorks/GibbsCAM Interoperability Streamlined with Free Add-In from Gibbs
Gibbs and Associates, developer of Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software for programming Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machinery and controls, announced today that they are now offering an add-in for SolidWorks® software that facilitates push-button transfer of model files from SolidWorks to GibbsCAM. Using this add-in, the already high-level of interoperability between the two applications is further streamlined.
"The SolidWorks/GibbsCAM combination is very popular with SolidWorks users," states Bob McGill, SolidWorks Solution Partner Program manager. "The new SolidWorks-to-GibbsCAM Add-In allows users to experience a seamless exchange between the two applications, making using them together even easier than before."
The release of this add-in further demonstrates the companies' commitment to work together to provide industry leading, best-in-class CAD/CAM solutions. "Working directly with SolidWorks, we were able to develop a higher level of integration between our products," says Bill Gibbs, founder/president of Gibbs and Associates. "As a result, the SolidWorks/GibbsCAM combination delivers incredible value and performance to customers."
The SolidWorks/GibbsCAM Add-In introduces a pull-down menu item to the user's SolidWorks interface called, "GibbsCAM Add-In." When the "Transfer Part To GibbsCAM" entry on this pull-down menu is selected, GibbsCAM automatically opens and loads the current part model ready to be machined. If GibbsCAM is already running, the user is prompted with the options "New Part", "Insert" and "Replace". "New Part" closes the current GibbsCAM session and starts a new one, reading in the SolidWorks file. "Insert" adds the SolidWorks file to the current GibbsCAM session. "Replace" substitutes all solid bodies designated as "part" geometry in the current GibbsCAM sessions with the SolidWorks file. GibbsCAM's associativity mechanism then allows the toolpath to be updated to reflect changes in the geometry without having to redefine parameters or re-associate geometry through "Redo All Ops". Changes to process parameters, such as tooling changes, and speed and feed rates, can also be easily accommodated at any time.
The SolidWorks Add-In is offered free of charge to GibbsCAM end users and is now available for immediate download from the Gibbs Online maintenance section on the web at www.gibbsCAM.com.
GibbsCAM has also been updated to Parasolid V13 to maintain compatibility with SolidWorks. Because GibbsCAM and SolidWorks are both based on the Parasolid modeling kernel, part model data can be directly exchanged. Not only does this common usage of Parasolid eliminate the need for data translation, but it also insures that model evaluation between both systems is exactly the same, preventing geometric differences from being introduced. This ensures that the part geometry will be machined directly as designed, resulting in the highest degree of fidelity in the finished product. GibbsCAM customers continue to experience significant reductions, often as much as 75 to 85 percent, in their overall programming time through the SolidWorks/GibbsCAM CAD/CAM solution.
Gibbs & Associates, 323 Science Drive, Moorpark, CA 93021. Tel: 805-523-0004; Fax: 805-523-0006.