Exploiting modern CAD is transformational

“Few machine shops exploit the full capabilities of CAD/CAM,” says Hugh Watson, technical director of small machine shop Innova. “Most consider their business to be machining, and shy away from 3D design solutions. For this reason, they are not prepared to do one, two or three offs, whereas we are.” He says engineering firms are missing a trick. “For a long time, I looked for a business opportunity. It occurred to me that I spent a lot of time doing designs, then sending them off into the black hole of a machine shop, and would then have to wait two months or so before I got the parts back.” Innova is a two-man, two-computer company, with three machining centres and a new co-ordinate measuring machine. It reckons to turn 3D designs into hardware in anything from an afternoon to a few days. Recent jobs include: prototype, single component gearbox housings for higher strength prosthetic grippers; yacht rigging components; and an electronic housing for Sony. 3D models are e-mailed, and if necessary, converted into SolidWorks. Machining strategy is planned and simulation undertaken using CamWorks. CNC instructions are transferred to one of the machines, which is set to cut metal without try-out. No additional drawings are produced, and the operation is the nearest thing we have seen to a paperless office. “We have no need for rapid prototyping when we can prototype so rapidly,” quips Watson.