For LB Mold, embracing technology isn’t just par for the course, but an essential part of  the recipe for sustained success.

  对LB Mold来说，拥抱技术是一种常态，而且是其持续成功的关键因素。

 “A distinct advantage that can easily get overlooked in manufacturing is not only having the best manpower or equipment, but the ability to intentionally and successfully integrate  technology,” says John Bodine, owner of LB Mold, an Edinburgh, Indiana‐based whee‐mold manufacturing company.

“在制造业中容易被忽视的一个明显优势，不仅是拥有最好的人力或设备，而且还能有意地、成功地整合技术。”位于印第安纳州爱丁堡的轮模制造公司LB Mold的老板John Bodine说。

Bodine says of his business philosophy, “We always have to be willing to take calculated risks —and perform calculated experiments -in order to be innovative and continue to push our standard upward.”  

   Bodine说他的经营理念是:“我们一直愿意承担风险，将风险进行评估并实践，持续创新并向上推动我们的标准。”

LB Mold was established in 1996, after Bodine had accrued over 20 years of experience in the mold and pattern industry. Having been exposed to various lines of CAM software over the years, he knew that the WorkNC solution by Vero Software would be his system of choice. The solution was in place when LB Mold secured its very first customer.

LB Mold成立于1996年，经过20多年的模具和模具行业经验积累。多年来，他接触过各种各样的CAM软件，他知道Vero软件的WorkNC解决方案将是他的选择系统。当LB Mold获得他的第一个客户时，就采用了WorkNC解决方案。 

“I would have had a lot more headache trying to run this business without WorkNC. It’s very dependable software,”Bodine says. “The wheel molds that we manufacture produce a very visual part of the automobile. There is no room for error.”

“如果没有WorkNC，经营业务会是非常头疼的事。” WorkNC是一个非常可靠的软件，”Bodine说。“我们制造的车轮模具制造了汽车的视觉部件，没有犯错的余地。

LB Mold is a tier-two supplier that serves a customer base in North America. Despite being one of only a few American wheel-mold manufacturers to survive the auto industry’s instability in 2008 and 2009, Bodine concentrates less on world trends and more on business.  

LB Mold是在北美为客户服务的二级供应商。在2008年至2009年，仅仅只有少数几个美国轮胎制造商在汽车行业的不稳定中幸存下来，Bodine却很少关注世界趋势，更多的关注其业务。

“Our work will speak for itself. There is a lot of noise that could easily distract you from doing your work,”Bodine says.“We choose to stay focused. When we focus on our customers, we are more apt to support them as they grow.”

“我们的工作将为发声。有很多噪音很容易分散你的注意力。” Bodine说。“我们选择保持专注。”当我们关注客户时，我们更倾向于支持他们的成长与发展。

With only a“couple small glitches having occurred in their nearly two-decade working relationship with WorkNC, Bodine reports that ongoing upgrades paired with strong customer support have helped to ensure the software’s irreplaceable role in his company.“There is no other software out there that can compare to WorkNC,”he says.

“在与WorkNC的20多年的工作关系中，仅仅出现了“小故障”，”Bodine说，“不断升级的功能和强大的客户支持有助于确保软件在我的公司中有着不可替代的地位。没有其他软件可以和WorkNC相比。”

In 2014, when LB Mold expanded its machining capabilities by adding two top-of-the--line  5-axis Mazak machining centers and acquired four new YCM 3-axis machines, it revisited how WorkNC could maximize its new equipment.

2014年，LB Mold增加了两种顶级的5轴马扎克加工中心和 4台新的YCM 3轴机。他重新验证了WorkNC如何最大化驾驭其新设备。

To test the company’s options, CNC Programmer and Lead Engineer Darren Wright sent component files to a handful of CAM companies to gauge their ability to program LB Mold’s most challenging components.  

为了测试公司的选择，CNC程序员和首席工程师Darren Wright将组件文件发送给了几个CAM公司，以评估他们对LB Mold最具挑战性的组件能力。

“WorkNC was the only one of the four or five companies that were sent part files that—a few hours after we sent the files—asked if we wanted to see a demo of the software with our parts,”Wright says. “The attentiveness to the customer’s needs (and our previous work history) made the decision easy for us.”  

“WorkNC是这四、五家公司中唯一的一个，在我们发送文件几个小时后，就回复文件，询问我们是否想要用我们的部件来演示软件，”Wright说。“WorkNC对客户需求的关注(以及我们之前的工作经历)使我们的决策变得容易。”

Two WorkNC features consistently utilized by LB Mold are its ability to apply sequences and its Auto 5 feature — a handy tool for a 3‐axis shop integrating 5-‐axis capabilities.  

LB Mold一直使用WorkNC的两个特性：序列功能和Auto 5——这是一个3轴集成5轴功能的便利工具。  

Designed to further automate the programming process, sequences can be easily established by utilizing data from previously machined jobs.Sequences can be loaded to designate multiple machining operations, including all parameters, at once. For instance, a sequence for“hard steel finishing”can be used again and again to streamline the programming process.  

为了进一步自动化编程过程，可以通过利用以前加工过的工作的数据轻松地建立序列。可以加载序列来指定多个加工操作，包括所有参数。例如，可以一次又一次地使用“硬钢精加工”的顺序来简化编程过程。

Machining parameters may include speeds and feeds, as well as all tool parameters attached to the sequence. Utilizing sequences in WorkNC also ensures consistent programming among multiple users, as sequences aid in the recording and implementation of best practices throughout the shop.

加工参数包括速度、进给，以及所有附加在序列上的工具参数。在WorkNC中使用序列也确保了多个用户编程的一致性，且序列有助于在整个车间记录和实现最佳的加工方案。

“The ability to bring in sequences is something that I use all the time,” CNC Programmer David Fredericksen says. “If the job is similar to a previous job, I just bring in the sequences and apply them.”

CNC程序员David Fredericksen说:“我一直都在使用序列功能。如果在做的工件和以前的工件很相似，我就直接套用序列加工。”

WorkNC’s 5-axis capabilities have also allowed LB Mold to eliminate a portion of lathe time previously required for some of its components. A component that previously required two operations on a lathe and one on a mill took two hours to machine. Those same operations can now be combined into one operation on a 5-axis machine, cutting machining time by 70 percent.

WorkNC的5轴功能还使LB Mold削减了一些零件以前需要的车床时间。以前需要在车床上进行两个操作的组件，以及在磨机上进行一个操作，需要两个小时的时间。这些相同的操作现在可以组合成一个在5轴机器上的操作，将加工时间减少70%。

WorkNC Auto 5 enables programmers to automatically generate collision-free 5-axis toolpath that is based upon existing 3-axis toolpath. It also takes into account the kinematics of the selected 5-axis mill. The 5-axis toolpath supports the use of short, rigid cutters and allows more of the job to be finished in one setup, reducing both machining time and human error.

WorkNC Auto 5使程序员能够基于现有三轴刀具路径自动生成无碰撞的5轴刀具路径，并且自动考虑到选定的5轴机的运动极限。5轴的刀具路径使得刀具更短，且刚性更强。并实现了一步设置完成更多工作。既减少了加工时间和也避免了人为出错。

“Ten years ago, when we would machine the cosmetic side of a component, it would take 24 hours,” Wright says, “and now have it down to seven.”

Wright说:“十年前，当我们加工一个装饰品的零件，它需要24小时，现在只需要7小时。”

Most importantly, after all the employees have gone home and the lights have been turned off, all the machines continue to run. They are able to utilize WorkNC for lights-out machining because of its reliability, and the accuracy of its toolpath verification, simulation, and collision detection.

最重要的是，所有的员工都回家了，灯都关掉了，所有的机器都在运转。由于WorkNC的可靠性，刀具轨迹验证、仿真和碰撞检测的准确性，他们可以放心地在熄灯后加工。

WorkNC pinpoints collisions and out-of-limit conditions in a global machining environment that includes the machine, workpiece, fixturing, and complete tool assembly.

WorkNC在全局加工环境中准确地判断出碰撞和极限条件，包括机器、工件、夹具和完整的工具组件的检测。

“I’ve used a lot of software packages and WorkNC is the only package that, if it says it isn’t going to crash, it isn’t going to crash,” says Fredericksen. “We have an enormous investment in our equipment. When applicable, we have those machines running 24 hours a day. We can do this with confidence because of WorkNC.”

  “我已经使用了很多软件，而WorkNC是唯一的一个，如果它说它不会碰撞，它就不会绝不会碰撞的，” Fredericksen 说：“我们对设备投资巨大。一旦投产，就要确保机器每天24小时运转。因为有WorkNC，所有我们可以信心十足地做到这一点。”

For LB Mold, lights-out manufacturing is a direct byproduct of making the most of its technology with WorkNC.  

对于LB Mold来说，熄灯制造是充分利用WorkNC的技术的直接副产品。

“When I can get technology working for me, I’ve got a competitive edge that allows us to sustain success. WorkNC empowers me to compete and succeed in today’s global market,” Bodine says.

“当我能利用科技为我工作时，我就有了一个使我持续成功的竞争优势。WorkNC使我能够在今天的全球市场上竞争并取得成功” Bodine说。