June 17, 2008 --

Rietberger Fassadentechnik (Rifa), based in Rietberg, Germany, was established in 2000, and specialises in manufacturing metal fronts for buildings. They also provide sheet manufacturing subcontract services for different materials such as glass and carbon due to their range of machining technologies available.

In 2000 Rifa purchased their first punch press machine along with a JETCAM Expert programming system, supplied as standard by the machine tool vendor. Mr. Laukötter, Director, commented; “After only a very short training session of two days it was very easy for us to program parts and generate accurate NC code with JETCAM.”

The real efficiencies of JETCAM Expert became apparent after the purchase of a Ridder Waterjet cutter, which was purchased for cutting thicker metals, composite materials and plastics. A postprocessor was supplied by local JETCAM reseller Blechwelt. After only one day the machine was running and Rifa were generating NC code for it.

Programming of the waterjet also benefited from automatically applied technologies within JETCAM. Feedrate is automatically reduced when approaching a corner and increased when starting from a corner to ensure optimal cutting quality on every edge.

In 2007 they purchased a SCM Pratix 15 Router to extend their machining capacities and increase prospective business. JETCAM Expert supports many high level routing functions, utilised by many companies serving the aerospace industry which drastically reduces the programming time for complex operations.

Features on the routing module include automatic auxiliary milling of ‘sharp' angles in corners with small cutters, along with the ability to cut pockets and set up 3D micro joints, as well as numerous other routing-specific functions to ensure that programming time is kept to a minimum. All of these features can be intelligently applied automatically.

Today two users program the machines using JETCAM. Parts can be programmed and tooling information applied for all three machines, ensuring that they are immediately available to be nested, regardless of the technology used to cut them.

Mr. Laukötter concluded: “With JETCAM we are not only able to program the machines quickly and easily, but because we can apply tooling information for all machines on each part we can move jobs to another machine with a mouse click. We can also easily compare the costs and runtimes of running jobs on the different machines production. This saves enormous money and time. Also online support is excellent - Blechwelt dials into our computer so that every question can be solved within the shortest time possible. Since the foundation of the company Rifa has trusted in the JETCAM product and the expert knowledge of JETCAM reseller Blechwelt GMBH. As a result of this we have enjoyed considerable company growth. ”

Benefits Achieved:

• Extremely easy to use, requiring just two days of training
• Modular system, allowing functionality to be easily added as the company grows
• JETCAM applies the correct cutting technology to the nest depending on the machine in use
• Run time and cost estimation information can be easily extracted
• Single CAM system driving punch, routing and waterjet technologies
• Parts can be moved between machines quickly
• Excellent local dealer support
• Software, help files and support in local language

About JETCAM International
JETCAM International has been developing and distributing its JETCAM Expert range of CADCAM software since 1986. In use in over 70 countries worldwide, JETCAM Expert software supports virtually every CNC punching, laser, plasma, routing, waterjet and flatbed cutting machine available today, allowing users to program any combination of CNC machines with a single CAM system.

For more information please contact Martin Bailey, Group Marketing Manager for JETCAM at Email Contact. Digital images are available to download from www.jetcam.com/images/cs_rifa_pics.zip (6MB).

Contact information:

JETCAM International
Terrasses du Port
2 Avenue des Ligures
MC98000 Monaco

Tel: +44 (0)870 760 6469
E-mail: Email Contact
Web: www.jetcam.com