International Truck signs from Icon
Identity Solutions are a regular feature
of North American highways |
Delcam’s ArtCAM software is used in the manufacture of many different
products incorporating intricate decoration, including jewellery, coins,
badges and medals, signs, confectionery, tableware, packaging and footwear.
It enables people with creative flair, such as artists, designers and
engravers, to increase their productivity and raise quality by using computerised
manufacturing techniques, alongside their traditional skills.
Unlike conventional CADCAM systems, which tend to require knowledge of
engineering and mathematical principles, ArtCAM is a more artistic application,
which makes extensive use of colour in developing designs. This approach
makes it very easy to produce sophisticated designs, even for people that
are not usually strong in technical subjects.
ArtCAM can produce high-quality
visualisations for presentation to
customers
before manufacturing begins |
Another important benefit of ArtCAM is that it includes both design and
manufacturing capabilities within a single program. This allows users
to control the machining of their designs on equipment ranging from the
small desk-top equipment used in the jewellery industry to the large woodworking
machines used to produce signs and architectural decorations. In this
way, designers can ensure that their original design concept is captured
accurately in the finished product.
The Award recognises the continuing development made in the ArtCAM software
since it was first introduced almost ten years ago. The latest version
includes more powerful on-screen visualisation. This allows new design
proposals, such as fully-assembled ring designs with gems set in place,
to be viewed on the computer for customer approval before manufacturing
begins.
While only those in manufacturing industry may be aware of ArtCAM, there
are few people that have not seen examples of products that it has been
used to design. For example, the signs used to promote Virgin’s V-Shops
were created by sign company Blaze Neon with ArtCAM. Similarly, signs
for the sales and service centres for International Truck and Engine Corp.,
created by Icon Identity Solutions with ArtCAM, can be seen at regular
intervals on all American highways.
People around the world can also find examples of products produced with
ArtCAM in their pockets. The software is used in the manufacture of coins
at many mints, including the Royal Mint in the UK and others in Canada,
Australia and Russia.
Even the Queen has seen the quality of workmanship possible with ArtCAM.
At last year’s Royal Ascot Race Meeting, a prize designed and manufactured
using the software was presented by Her Majesty to the winner of the King
George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. |
On
21st April, computer-aided design and manufacturing software developer
Delcam will be presented with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in
the Innovation category in recognition of the continuing innovation in
its ArtCAM software. The Queen’s Awards are the UK’s most
coveted commercial awards, with only a small percentage of those who enter
each year measuring up to the demanding standards required to win an Award.
