Last week we had the privilege of working closely with two of our clients who were in the middle of those "gotta have it tomorrow" projects ... creating CNC programs for two very different machining projects.
Problem #1 - Creating Parts for a Tesla Automobile
Simultaneously while working on the issue below ... we also had a client contact us who was in the midst of a rush programming project .... programming a contour to machine a part that would eventually be used in the Tesla electric car. Although they had been using the conversational module of Kipware® conversational for years to program their "standard" parts ... this particular part required a no-traditional contour be programmed ... and required the use of the Kipware® SketchPad. Not having too much experience and in a rush to get their parts made ... we stepped in and up.
The Solution :
The client emailed a DXF file of the contour ... and using our Kipware® SketchPad we created the G code program to machine the parts. It was great to have the opportunity to utilize the software we created to create a real world G code program to machine a real world part. And the coolest part was that it was for Tesla car ... although Elon Musk's SpaceX is already a member of the Kipware® family with (40) seats of Kipware® in their Hawthorne California manufacturing facility.
As mentioned ... while working on the project above ... we were also called into action to support another small manufacturer client who was working to create a one-off specialty item for their customers. They were creating their program using Kipware® conversational ... and found the machine doing some strange movements when executing the G code program. Unable to diagnose the issue ... it was something they never experienced before ... they submitted a Support Ticket through our Helpdesk and asked for our assistance. The problem was new to us as well ... and required we talk directly by phone to get more information and lend some deeper assistance. It turned out that the client was new to CNC programming ... had been using Kipware® conversational for quite a while and getting all their programming done with Kipware® quite nicely ... but were now experiencing a little more complex part and programming that was getting a bit more complex ... mainly dealing with cutter compensation. Long story short ... their machine had some specific requirements and the program being created by Kipware® using standard cutter comp programming was causing the generation of some errors by the control.
The Solution :
We worked with the client suggesting some alternative G code programming solutions ... explaining how to create the revised G code and why ... to try a few different scenarios to diagnose the issue. Once the issue was diagnosed and an alternative G code model created that worked ... in less than (2) hours we had revised Kipware® to include a new, user selectable alternative option for cutter compenstion output ... and had an UPGRADE installation ready and available for the user to download. It was great working hand-in-hand with the client ... both teaching and helping them program ... and creating some newer features for our Kipware® conversational based on their real world inputs.
As you can see from the scenarios above ... Kentech Inc. is more than committed to our software support ... we are committed to our clients. This is just a small sample, a couple of scenarios from one week in our business life. These types of scenarios are repeated quite often here ... and we're always happy to jump in and assist in any way possible. And it's especially rewarding as we get to go into the "real world" ... on the shop floor ... and help make some chips !!
Kenney Skonieczny - President
Kentech Inc.
