Integrated Computer Aided Manufacturing (ICAM)

Use your own PC to make things by just drawing what you want to make on the monitor, it works just like a PC printer but in three dimensions!

Can I cut really hard materials like stone ? Yes you can, cutting and engraving even granite is no problem, cutting materials like porcelain that can be even harder is not a problem but the cutters can be expensive and cannot be re-sharpened. Working honed, calibrated and riven stone is not difficult, engraving must be done with a sole plate pressed hard on to the substrate to stop the cutter riding upward and messing up! Stone cutting requires the generation of a large lateral force for deep "V" traditional cutwork. Use the Working Stone link for more information.

What can I make? The list is endless, you can make just about anything you can draw, or copy on to the screen. You can engrave any text or clip art etc. or design and make complicated gearbox parts, even aircraft wings, the sky is not the limit! See below,

Can I make 2 and 3 dimensional objects ? Yes, and even better, you can make "Cut and Fold" items, its easy to "V" cut material and make boxes, display cases and even geodetic hemispheres that look like half a football.

Can I cut and engrave wood with these machines ? Yes, ICAM powered machines can use inexpensive routers, it can do this because ICAM is powerful enough to move a cutting tool with a sole plate pressed down hard on to the workpiece. This enables true auto-router operation.

Pine engraved headboard, with personal name. Any resident computer text can be applied along with clip art as required. Chinese and Japanese characters as well as western text can be applied.

Making a simple box in plastic is quick and easy, the plastic could be clear if required. MDF sheet products can be readily cut out with the sides folded over and glued after being machined with a "V" cutter. The cut is made almost right through, PVA wood glue is applied to the cut and this wets the folding point enabling the folding action to be completed without the external surface rupturing. The finished box or container can have softly rounded and small radiused corners, things made this way can be inexpensive to fabricate yet be very strong and light.

What types of machines can be used with ICAM? Thanks to new digital technology many DIY'ers and amateurs build there own machines from kits, while others automate mills or lathes in their workshop. Many types of machine can be driven, ICAM electronic drive devices are very reliable and precise therefore the mechanical components need to be of good quality. Accuracy of manufacture will be dependent on the mechanical transmission and the rigidity.

As soon as you are happy with the design, switch to the CAM program and view the job. Check the drawing is the right size. If you are engraving and want to cut some of the lettering or art work at a greater depth to give the sign more impact this is easily done.

Now press the "RUN" button and the machine will begin to run the job. The machine will engrave or cut in the same order as the drawing was done, however, the order of machining is easily changed as you require. Remove the job from the machine, clean up and you are done.

Almost anyone to make things by just drawing them, if you can't draw, then just copy drawings, clip art, etc., you can drag and drop stuff on to the screen. There are no number strings or codes to mess with. Never used CAD? the kit comes with a CAD package that is quick and easy to use. The example below shows a simple engraving task to be done on stone. Making complex machine parts requires a bit more practice, but perfect results are not that difficult to achieve in a short time!

Start the CAD program on your PC, draw a rectangle the size of the job using the on screen rules, select any font or text style you want. Type in the text in the dialog box, position the text with the mouse, add a border or clip art etc.

How much is it going to cost to convert my machine and get automated? It can cost as little as a few hundred pounds, but don't confuse TrueMotion ICAM with other systems, the product described here does not use stepper motors or servo devices it is an entirely digital system very reliable and powerful. Click on the Automating Machines link for more info.

Advanced Micro Solutions are manufacturers of TrueMotion ICAM Systems

TrueMotion was awarded a Gold Medal for Inovation in Mechatronics

by the British Society of Inventors in London.

AMS are members of the Welsh Inovation Network (WIN)

The Long Barn Thornhill Cardiff CF14 9UA.

Tel 07855198839 e-mail truemotion@btinternet.com

Type 400 QDS Auto-Router Powered by TrueMotion

This small auto-router has an "X" axis or processing width of cut of 1250mm, it can however load sheets as wide as 1500mm. The sheet on the top of the work bed is 4ft. wide (standard Imperial sheet width). The "Y" axis can process 1250mm but can load with a little overhang an 8x4 sheet so there is no need to cut down a sheet to load the machine.

The machining head in the centre of the picture is capable of loading interchangeable routers up to 3HP and can work in several modes. Auto-router mode, when the sole plate is pressed hard down on the job for accurate depth and engraving work, terrain mode when the router depth follows the surface contour and flying mode when the cutter runs above and profiles the job. The "Z" axis displacement or depth of cut can be controlled manually or by the controlling computer.