Our View on Using G Code Programs to Estimate Cycletime

Oftentimes when we are demonstrating our KipwareCYC® - Machining Cycletime Estimating Software to clients and ask : "How do you currently estimate cycletime?" ... the answer we often receive is "I create a G code program and then get the run time from that.

Having lived and worked on the shop floor for over 25+ years ... this answer blows us away. But we do understand why they're looking for a better cycletime estimating solution.

Our belief has always been that it's a fine line between obtaining an accurate machining cycletime for an estimate ... and going over the line with both overkill and investing a tremendous amount of time in something that may never lead to results. Creating a G code program ... even though a CAD/CAM package ... and then obtaining a run time off of that G code program is DEFINITELY overkill ... which is why they are seeking a better solution.

Using a G code program for cycletime is a good alternative if you have a job that is currently running or has run on your shop floor and you want to know the cycletime. But for estimating ... we disagree strongly.

KipwareCYC® was designed after years spent creating machine justifications for clients looking to purchase new CNC equipment. Clients wanted to know an accurate run time for their parts on the equipment we were proposing to sell them for production. So ..... if the client decided our machine was it ... that cycletime better be correct.

KipwareCYC® was designed to utilize a perfect blend of time, effort, user input and application calculated data. BUT ... I don't want to go on and on here telling you the how's and why's. Instead ... if you are in the market for a quality cycletime estimating solution ... log on http://www.kentechinc.com/livedemo.shtml. There you can request a date and time that is convenient to attend a live, online demonstration and let us show you how KipwareCYC® can create accurate cycletime estimates for your quotes ... with a minimum of effort.

Let's get that bottom line growing in the coming New Year.
Wishing All a Happy and Prosperous New Year !!

Kenney Skonieczny - President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® is Going to India !!

Kentech Inc. is pleased to announce the finalization of our distribution agreement with Jayashree Enterprises for distribution of Kipware® software in India. Jayashree Enterprises will operate in the Indian states Mahastra, Gujrat, Karnatak and Chennai distributing a wide array of Kipware® titles.

We welcome this new adventure in India and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Mr. Venkatesh Kulkarni and Jayashree Enterprises.

Kenney Skonieczny - President
Kentech Inc.

Kipware® is Going to China !!

Kentech Inc. is pleased to announce our relationship with Randy Gu and AAASCM Consulting Co. Ltd. for distribution of Kipware® software in China.

In addition to providing sales and support in the China market ... Randy and AAASCM will be assisting in the translation of various Kipware® titles into Chinese.

We expect the first release of the first Chinese titles to be completed before April of 2014.

We welcome this opportunity and are looking forward to a long and prosperous future with Randy and AAASCM Consulting Co. Ltd.

Kenney Skonieczny - President
Kentech Inc.

New KipwareM® 4th Axis Conversational Engraving Feature Released

2013 might be in it's last days ... but we are determined to add to our accomplishments for the year. So the development here at Kentech Inc. goes on at breakneck speeds.

As we continue to receive feedback from our valued clients for our newly released 4th Axis Menu for KipwareM® ... we are pleased to announce the release of the 4th Axis Engraving option. This conversational menu will allow you to quickly and easily create G code programs for engraving along the OD of a circular part mounted in your 4th axis. This is a powerful menu that allows the user to quickly and easily set the following parameters using a simple fill-in-the-blank form :

• HEIGHT of the text string
• DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LETTERS in the text string
• DIAMETER of the stock

With those simple inputs along with the user defined text string ... KipwareM® will perform all the calculations and create the complete G code programming to ENGRAVE the text string along the OD of the part including all X and rotary axis moves.

Simple ... Powerful ... No CAD or Drawing Required

Currently the operation is available for engraving along the X and rotary axis ( along the length of the part ) but will soon be available for engraving along the Y and rotary axis ( along the complete diameter of the workpiece ).

This new feature is now shipping standard as part of the included standard KipwareM® 4th Axis Menus.

Enjoy !!

Kenney Skonieczny - President
Kentech Inc.

Yearly Development Report - WOW !!!

We had ANOTHER aggressive year regarding development and enhancements in 2013. We would like to take a post here in our BLOG to blow our own horn ... and to demonstrate to those potential customers the kind of PARTNER you will find in Kentech Inc..

First though ... I would like to reiterate a couple of points we try to make during the year :

1. Kentech Inc. is a full C corporation. We are not a hobby ... we didn't tinker with a hobby idea and put it out there with no support. Call us ... you'll talk with a real person. Email us ... you'll have a response not in 24 hours but probably within 2 or 4 minutes during normal business hours or 2 to 4 hours on off hours. Want to see our software ... you can schedule a live online demo in as little as 15 minutes !!
2. We do charge a realistic fee for our software because we stand behind it. There's plenty of "free" software out there ... mostly the reason it's free is because those that wrote it figure that if they don't charge for it they are not responsible to support it or to insure that it even works correctly.
3. We are committed to our products and our customers ... we have been in business for almost 28 years. This list below I think that makes it crystal clear ... You can count on us for the long haul !!

KipwareCYC® 
Machining CycleTime Estimating Software

We released a number of new enhancements for KipwareCYC® in 2013 including our new and improved CUT LENGTH CALCULATOR. The new CLC SketchPad gives the user the ability to use mouse movements to virtually machine the workpiece while the SketchPad records the length of the tool in the cut. That LOC is then used to determine that operations cycletime. You can get all the info in this blog post : http://kentechinc.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html

KipwareW® 
Conversational CNC Programming Software for Wire EDM - Waterjet - Plasma

Using the proven-in-the-trenches design and features of our KipwareM® ( milling ) and KipwareT® ( turning ) conversational titles ... we released our KipwareW® application in February. You can check out all the features and power of KipwareW® here : http://www.kentechinc.com/KipwareW.shtml

KipwareM® 
Conversational CNC Programming Software for Milling

WOW !!! Hard to know where to start we have released so many new features in KipwareM®. I guess a list is probably the most complete and easiest :

1. Added CUSTOM EIA CYCLE to the menus ... create any user defined G code block for auto-insertion when the G code is created.
2. Added RAMPING to all pocketing menus.
3. MULTI-LOCATION feature for ROUND POCKET and HELICAL milling operations.
4. Increased the number of cycles that can be linked to a single tool from 5 to 10.
5. QUALIFY STOCK menu added to assist in milling the ends of stock to qualify.
6. O RING GROOVE menu added to create G code for machining an OD Groove on the face of a workpiece.
7. Groundbreaking 3D CONVERSATIONAL OPTION released and includes a variety of "standard" 3D shapes .... such as curbed surface, cones, tapered pockets, tapered bosses, troughs and more ... all able to be programmed using strictly a conversational fill-in-the-blank format.
8.  4th AXIS CONVERSATIONAL OPTION released and we continue to add new menus and features based on user inputs.

KipwareT® 
Conversational CNC Programming Software for Turning

Development has begun on the conversational Y axis module for KipwareT® with development expected to be completed by years end. Stay Tuned to this blog for additional info ... here is a tease post from the blog : http://kentechinc.blogspot.com/2013/10/first-look-conversational-y-axis_16.html

KipwareXC® 

G Code Conversion Software

In March 2013 we released a completely re-designed KipwareXC® utilizing all the features and power of the Microsoft .NET4 framework. With tons of new features and a new slick user interface ... KipwareXC® is now built for the long haul and it will be much easier for us to continue to add new and powerful features.

Kipware® CNC XChange 

Fanuc <--> Okuma G Code Conversion Software

2013 made CNC XChange the premier G code conversion application that allows FANUC and OKUMA CNC controlled machines to operate seamlessly. We saw an explosion of sales for CNC XChange in 2013 and that has led to tons of new features and new power ... all driven by client requests and developed in short order by the new Kentech Inc. CSD Unit ( Custom Software Development Unit ).

New Ground Breaking Feature Leads to 

Patent Application
Kipware® SketchPad - Machinist Mode

In our never ending quest to add "real world" features to our software ... we developed our patent-pending Machinist Mode for the Kipware® SketchPad. For all the details ... too many to list here ... please review this blog post : http://kentechinc.blogspot.com/2013/04/fastest-and-easiest-cam-ever.html

New Custom Software Development Unit Launched

Custom CNC and Machine Shop Software Development is NOW a REALITY !

We receive so many requests to develop custom CNC and machine shop applications that we created a whole Strategic Business Unit to devote to this area of our business. Operating under the motto "If you can DREAM IT ... we can CODE IT" ... the SCD unit of Kentech Inc. stands ready to turn your CNC and machine shop ideas into reality. You can get all the details on our CSD UNIT at their website : www.KentechInc.us.

New Websites Launched 
Kipware.com - MachineShopSoftware.com - KentechInc.net

We wanted to help streamline our information delivery ... so we created individual websites to specifically handle our major software categories.

MachineShopSoftware.com is devoted to our Kipware® Business applications.

Kipware.com is devoted to our conversational CNC programming applications.

KentechInc.net is devoted to our Kipware® G Code Conversion applications.

.... and as always, it's all there at www.KentechInc.com

KipwarePA® 
G Code Programming Wizard

In June 2013 we released a completely re-designed KipwarePA® - Advanced G Code Programming Wizard. For all the details ... please see this blog post : http://kentechinc.blogspot.com/2013/06/kipwarepa-advanced-g-code-wizard.html

Now that's a year !!! 

To quote a famous phrase :

"BAM !!!! We really took it up a notch !!!"

WHAT LIES AHEAD ?? 
Where are we going now ??

As we look ahead to 2014 ... we can let you in on some of the possibilities :

1. We are currently in discussions to have KipwareQTE® translated and developed into Chinese ... as we work to establish a new VAR in China. Other titles would follow as well.
2. With all the development and conversions of our older source code into the latest OS's ... we are now primed to release many new features to our titles ... quite a few were already mentioned in this post. 
3. Andoid development will be jump started this year ... you WILL see Kipware® for Android in 2014.
4. Our new CSD ( custom software development ) unit is getting more and more interest ... I see great things for CSD in 2014. If you have a CNC / machine shop problem that requires a custom software application ... please visit www.KentechInc.us to see if Kentech's CSD unit can develop a custom software solution for you.
5. .... and so much more !!

Just one more thing .... With enhancements and development like this, shouldn't you become a member of the Kipware® family ?

It's not too late to make an IMPACT PURCHASE for 2013 ....

A purchase that will really have a positive impact on your bottom line ... on your shop floor ... A Kipware® Purchase !!

Kenney Skonieczny - President
Kentech Inc.

4th Axis Threading Added to KipwareM® 4th Axis Menus

At a request of one of our KipwareM® users ... we are pleased to announce the release of a new standard option to the KipwareM® 4th Axis conversational options.

The X/Y Thread Milling option allows users to program thread cutting using their 4th axis rotary table.

As with all KipwareM® conversational menus ... the XY Threading screen presents the user with many professional machining options such as :

1. Ability to utilize multiple depths of cut to achieve the final depth
2. Ability to designate + or - 4th axis rotation ... for both left and right hand threading
3. Ability to define both roughing and finishing into the same cycle ... or create individual cycles for roughing and finishing
4. Ability to select left-to-right or right-to-left cutting directions ... not only for right and left hand threading but also climb or conventional machining.

After some initial test cutting ... below are some pics of the results.

Initial Pass for a 10 TPI Thread

Finished Product

 As we continue towards years end ... it's been another BIG year of development and feature enhancements to all our Kipware® titles. Both KipwareM® and KipwareT® have seen major enhancements begging the question ... Isn't it time to DUMP the limited G code "wizards" ?? ... and GO PRO with Kipware® Conversational !!

Kenney Skonieczny - President

Kentech Inc.