DP Technology Announces New AI Capabilities on Flagship Product

Today’s machine tools have extensive capabilities, but without the right software to drive them, it is difficult to realize their full benefits. Many factors determine the best software for a given shop, but perhaps the most important is its compatibility with the shop’s machine tools—the software’s ability to create machine-optimized, edit-free G-code the for the given machines.

Unlike machine tools, which remain relatively static throughout their lives, the right CAM software will be updated frequently as new innovations become available. That’s why it’s so important to partner with a CAM software company with a strong, long-term commitment to the market like ESPRIT. Led by a robust R&D team, the people behind ESPRIT are excited to embrace the possibilities of tomorrow. Making the right CAM choice can keep a shop on the leading edge of innovation for years to come.

The New ESPRIT is powered by a patent-pending AI engine to simplify the programming process for CNC operators and improve machine productivity on the shop floor. The result of nearly four decades of innovation, this exciting product rollout includes the following features:

Machine Swap

There are many different scenarios that might require a new program for a different machine: an inoperable machine, the need to increase production, moving from prototype to production, and more.

This feature uses an AI engine to automatically update your program any time you change the setup or swap the machine. It can also automatically detect setup changes without manual input. Many times, switching between short runs for small lot sizes and multi-part production runs for larger lots seems like it’s more trouble than it’s worth. But the AI machine awareness behind machine swap provides an extra set of highly skilled eyes to reorganize the program, maximizing process concurrency across multiple parts and optimizing the total cycle time—regardless of the machine you’re running.

Automatic Links

Create your cutting cycle and let your AI-driven software create the fastest and safest positioning between tool operations with consideration of the limits of your specific machines. Think of automatic links as your software’s GPS. Just as your app can provide you with the fastest route (even avoiding tolls and freeways if you’d like), the link engine can “see” the best route to connect your machining processes. With automatic links, you can tell your machine what to prioritize and watch it go from there.

Simulation, Analysis, and Verification

These capabilities take the collision avoidance feature we mentioned earlier to a new level, generating a digital twin of the entire machining environment. You’ll be able to view a perfect model of your machine’s kinematics, reviewing the potential for collisions, axes overtravel, acceleration exceptions, and other conflicts before you make a single cut.

Machine Awareness for Automatic Program Generation

This feature allows users to define the process plan for a single workpiece independently of the machine and how the workpiece is set up. For example, select tooling—and the cutting strategy and AI automatically adapts, sequences, and optimizes the list of tasks to be performed before generating the job for the CNC machine.

Stock-Aware Toolpath

The right AI-driven software analyzes the real-time state of your stock, eliminating air cuts and minimizing repositioning. The result? There’s meaning behind each movement, leading to unparalleled efficiency and, often, significantly reduced cycle times.

Synchronization

Multichannel machines are especially useful because they can perform different actions concurrently. But with the wrong software, concurrent actions can set the stage for collision. An AI engine can automatically synchronize and sequence the program for optimal use of the capabilities of a multichannel machine.

Short-Run and Production Programs

Many times, switching between short runs for small lot sizes and multi-part production runs for larger lots seems like more trouble than it’s worth. But with AI machine awareness, you’ll have an extra set of eyes reorganizing the program, maximizing process concurrency across multiple parts and thereby optimizing the total cycle time.

Intelligent Work Coordinates

For tombstone, fixture, and work offset management, a high-quality AI engine can offer automatic selection of work offset and coordinate transformations based on its awareness of the job. The system determines local references for every local machining feature and activates the necessary machine functions including RTCP, tilted plane, and dynamic fixture offset.

Capturing Best Practices

Features such as ESPRIT’s KnowledgeBase™ eliminate the need for manual recall of your shop’s best machining practices. Instead, it stores them in the software itself, allowing any operator to access what they need at any time.

“Our AI engine represents a fundamental change in the way CNC machines are driven,” says Chuck Mathews, Chief Technology Officer for DP Technology. “The new ESPRIT CAM system's AI machine-aware algorithms provide an exceptional user experience—simplifying programming, increasing tool life, and improving machine performance.

With the right tools, automation in your shop can deliver what Industry 4.0 has long promised—highly efficient manufacturing that doesn’t sacrifice safety for speed.

Is your job shop ready to embrace it?