Rasi Maskinfabrik

Rasi Maskinfabrik has transitioned from being a traditional machine shop to delving into customer-focused complete solutions – especially on multiaxis parts. And the machine shop rarely turns down a job.

“We make a lot of complex parts in-house. And we are very focused on the collaboration with our customers, especially on development and figuring out; What can be done and what can’t be done,”

says Lars Jacobsen, owner.

Rasi uses SolidCAM for their mill-turn machines and traditional lathes. Specifically, they have advanced machines such as Mazak INTEGREX and Mori Seiki NLX 2500 with 2 spindles, C-axis and Y-axis as well as rotary tools.

There is a lot of potential to take advantage of with such machines. And the machine shop’s previous CAM solution hadn’t succeeded. In fact, the machine shop had to turn down jobs they couldn’t do.

Something had to be done. And based on prior knowledge of – and experience with – SolidCAM and its possibilities, Rasi decided to switch systems.

There is no doubt about the improvement, they have experienced. In one specific case, a job with a large part that the machine shop previously had to reject could now be done in SolidCAM.

“Today, we do it in SolidCAM. And from I set up parts to I take parts down, it takes 3.5 hours. And it’s done in one setup. SolidCAM has managed to make this possible,”

says Ole Klinge, machinist at Rasi Maskinfabrik and the primary user of SolidCAM.

He mainly turns on a B-axis mill-turn – a multi-axis lathe.

“I use SolidCAM and SOLIDWORKS every day to make all kinds of different parts in many different materials,” he says about his daily tasks.

Switching from CAD to CAM, customizing and setting up – it’s all quick to do

“90% of the time I use SolidCAM while the machines are running, preparing the next part. I start from the customer’s 3D file, which I import into SOLIDWORKS and customize to what I need. Then we fire up SolidCAM and program it from there,” says Ole Klinge.

Being able to switch from CAM to CAD in the blink of an eye has proved to be of great advantage. And it has made it easier to customize the machine shop’s solutions.

“A big part of the game is that you have SOLIDWORKS at hand. You can engineer and redesign. And you can send it back to the customer and say: Is this ok?”

says Lars.

The machine shop also finds that SolidCAM has really helped them out on the mill-turn front. Especially with its machine simulation.

“We can review everything about collisions, machine clashes and whether the tool fits. We have a lot of parts that require special overhangs or special tools. It’s very helpful that you can simulate machine limits – the kinematics of the machine – and test whether we are pushing machine limits etc.,” Ole elaborates.

“So having your digital twin of the machine.
I use that a lot.”

He continues:

“Tool lengths, tool holders – everything is in the machine simulation. It takes a bit of work, but you get it back 10 times over when you run it,” he concludes.

Lars Jacobsen adds that machine simulation is helping improve the most important factor in the industry – achieving faster setup times. And this impacts the bottom line directly. Being able to simulate whether it’s right or wrong also provides much greater certainty.

“It’s a huge help because these are quite expensive machines we’re talking about. And the consequences are really serious if it’s not right,”

says Lars.

“That’s where I think SolidCAM has really stepped up,” he adds.

The best CAM features drive results – and they show on the bottom line

“The best feature in SolidCAM right now is probably the new Edge Breaking. I’m really happy with it. It has helped me out a lot of times. And then the one called Geodesic Machining,”

says Ole.

Edge Breaking is a feature for automatic deburring of workpieces in 3-5 axes. And Geodesic Machining is an intelligent feature for surface machining in 3-5 axes. Therefore, they are particularly relevant to the tasks handled in the machine shop.

“Where SolidCAM really helps us is with its Deburr function. We don’t have as much handling on the parts afterwards – and that has really helped a lot. One part in particular – we’ve gone from 1.5 hours of deburring to only 15 minutes of deburring,”

says Lars.

Evidently, it’s faster and easier to solve the tasks at hand. And Ole Klinge agrees, emphasizing that this is not at the expense of quality.

“The quality of the parts has definitely improved. With these new features for deburring when you transfer the parts, you’re sure that the transfer will be where the part is facing each other from side 1 to side 2. So your chamfers and curves – it just turns out really well,”

says Ole.

Ole also highlights the tool library as particularly useful in his daily work.

“Also because it’s based on SOLIDWORKS, so you can model your own tool faster. Then move it into SolidCAM and work on the file you’ve just modelled yourself. I use that a lot.”

He works a lot with files from the machine shop’s tool suppliers – especially on custom milling cutters. He gets their 3D files and can put them directly into the tool library.

“It works perfectly,” he emphasizes.

It’s all about the combination of CAM, support and post processors

Lars Jacobsen concludes with advice for others who are considering replacing their CAM system:

“No matter what CAM system you choose, it’s really important that you have support at hand. And that there are people who can step in and create post processors for the machines. We have been happy with CADSYS* for those purposes.”

“CADSYS* is really good at creating the post processors that are needed in order for us to succeed. And you are good at supporting us,” emphasizes Lars Jacobsen.

As the primary user of SolidCAM at the machine shop, Ole is directly affected by the collaboration in his daily work.

“You made a post processor that really just works,” he says.

If challenges arise, Ole is also the one to reach out to support for help.

“When I call, it’s because I can’t get any further. And then the machine is just on standby waiting. And you’re quick – and the support you provide works really well,” he concludes.

Want to test out SolidCAM for yourself?

Get a free 1-month trial version of SolidCAM and try out the capabilities of the complete functionality – and discover how it can benefit you and your production.

*Note: CADSYS has partnered with PLM Group to bring SolidCAM to the Nordic and Baltic market. Under one roof, we now offer a comprehensive, end-to-end CAD-CAM package to manufacturers and product developers. The team behind it is exactly the same. Read the story here.