Chilean-Miner-Rescue Drills Made with CNCs Programmed by GibbsCAM

GibbsCAM customer, Center Rock produced the highly advanced drills

that shortened the Chilean miner rescue.

MOORPARK, CA – November 9, 2010 – Gibbs and Associates, developer of GibbsCAM^® software for programming CNC machine tools and a Cimatron company, today congratulated GibbsCAM user Center Rock on its significant role in the October 2010 rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners: Center Rock’s Low Profile (LP) Hole Opener drills – which were produced with machine tools programmed with GibbsCAM – shortened the rescue effort by two and a half months.

Center Rock Inc., of  Berlin, PA, has been using GibbsCAM for almost six years. The air drill maker has significantly reduced expenses with multi-task machines programmed by GibbsCAM, eliminating the cost of fixtures and the time and cost of handling and multiple set-ups. Other key reasons for using GibbsCAM include its ease of use and its ability to program all configurations of CNC machining centers, turning centers, mill-turn and multi-task machine (MTM) tools.

Center Rock has been using the GibbsCAM mill-turn and 3-axis milling modules since 2005, and GibbsCAM rotary milling and advanced MTM modules since 2006. The integrated GibbsCAM modules open SolidWorks CAD models directly, so that Center Rock programmers can use and manipulate engineers’ solid-model geometry to program their seven CNCs. For turning operations, Center Rock uses three Doosan 2-axis lathes: a Puma 300, a Puma 400 and a Puma 480. Three-axis milling and rotary milling is done on two Mazak horizontal machining centers, while parts with complex geometry and parts that would otherwise require multiple set-ups on lathes and machining centers are made with two Doosan Puma MX2500 multi-task machine tools.

Unlike the drills used by the two other drillers attempting to reach the Chilean miners trapped 2,067 feet below the surface, Center Rock’s drills use highly compressed air instead of fluids to drive drill bits and clear rock fragments. Other drills grind through rock, typically with roller cone bits, flushing and clearing the ground rock away from drill bits with water or other fluids. A Center Rock drill, representing newer technology, uses multiple pneumatic hammers, each steadily pounding a drill bit to crush rock as the drill rotates, much like a group of rotating jack hammers. In addition to driving the hammers, the compressed air is circulated to blow rock flakes and dust upward away from the bits. These newer DTH (down the hole) drills cut through hard rock much faster than older, fluid-operated systems.

In the Chilean miner rescue, Center Rock used three drill sizes to reach the 33 miners 2,067 feet below the surface. The first was their 5.5 x 12 QL 120 hole opener, used to widen one of the ventilation holes from its 5.5 inch diameter to a 12 inch diameter that larger drills could use as a guide or pilot hole. The second and third were LP (low profile) drills of 28 inch diameter and 26 inch diameter, respectively, both configured as hole openers, and each using four pneumatic hammers and four, 7-7/8 inch diameter, tungsten steel drill bits.

Among the machined components for the LP drills are the flange and receivers at the top, the flat plates, the chucks for the hammers, and a long, serrated pilot or “nose.” However, the hardest parts and those with the most complex geometry are the LP drill bits, which Center Rock manufactures with various face shapes for specific applications. In addition to turning operations, areas of each bit may require flat, contour, radial or axial milling, and each bit may require various holes at different angles. These features, combined, lend themselves well to multi-task machining. With GibbsCAM MTM software and the Doosan MX2500, Center Rock programmers and machinists make each bit in a single set-up, eliminating the cost of fixtures and the time and cost of handling and multiple set-ups.

Because GibbsCAM integrates all operations, the CNC programmer stays within the same user interface, without having to exit an active module to initiate another, when programming mill-turn or MTM. All operations – turning, milling, drilling, and non-cutting motion, such as tool changes, turret motion and transfers between spindles – are executed within the same interface. GibbsCAM MTM provides automated and interactive ways to insert syncs (wait codes) and displays flows for each tool group side by side, making it easy for the programmer to optimize the toolpath. It also includes toolpath verification with dynamic display of tool motion and material removal, so the programmer can verify the toolpath whenever he wants: after each operation as it is completed, after a group of operations, or when the entire toolpath is completed.

Much as Center Rock used its own technology and expertise to cut in half the time to rescue the 33 miners – from five months to two and a half – Center Rock programmers and machinists speed up production of drills and drill bits every day, using GibbsCAM to drive their Mazak machining centers, Doosan Puma lathes and MX2500 MTM machines.

For more information about GibbsCAM, or to locate your local GibbsCAM reseller, call 1-800-654-9399, or email info@GibbsCAM.com. Information about GibbsCAM is also available at the company’s website, www.GibbsCAM.com. 

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Brandon Fisher, Center Rock founder and CEO (left), with Richard Soppe, down-hole-drill project manager, and their worn 26” Low Profile drill that made the final bore to the Chilean miners, 2,067 feet below the surface.

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Center Rock uses GibbsCAM to program all their CNC machine tools, including their Doosan MX2500 multi-task machines, which are used to machine complex parts and all Low Profile drill bits. Here, GibbsCAM Cut Part Rendering displays multiple views of toolpath for machining the 7-7/8” LP drill bits loaded on the 26” and 28” LP drills.

About Gibbs and Associates and GibbsCAM

For over twenty five years, Gibbs and Associates has been a leader in providing cutting edge CAD/CAM technology, while maintaining its signature ease-of-use and productivity.  Powerfully Simple, Simply Powerful is the guiding philosophy at Gibbs.  Gibbs believes in empowering the NC programmer, machinist, and manufacturing engineer, not eliminating them.  Gibbs’ goal is to introduce manufacturers to new technologies and new ways of working that makes their machining easier and their businesses more profitable.  To achieve this goal, Gibbs creates tools that are naturally intuitive, graphically interactive, extremely visual, associative, and just plain enjoyable to use.  Gibbs provides a total quality solution with the service and support that successful customers require.

The current GibbsCAM product line supports 2- through 5-axis milling, turning, mill/turning, multi-task simultaneous machining and wire-EDM.  GibbsCAM also provides fully integrated manufacturing modeling capabilities that include 2D, 2.5D, 3D wireframe, surface, and solid modeling. GibbsCAM is Compatible with Windows 7 and Certified for Windows Vista.  GibbsCAM’s data exchange capabilities are able to access the broadest range of native and industry standard CAD data formats.  GibbsCAM is certified under the Autodesk Inventor Certified Program, is a Siemens Solution Partner Program-PLM for Solid Edge product, and is a SolidWorks Certified CAM Product.  GibbsCAM is either offered or endorsed by a number of leading worldwide control and machine tool manufacturers, including GE Fanuc, Infimatic, Siemens, Doosan Infracore, Haas, Index, MAG Fadal, Mazak, Mitsubishi, Mori Seiki, and Tornos. Gibbs and Associates distributes its products worldwide through a network of international Resellers.

In January 2008, Gibbs and Associates merged with Cimatron Ltd., and is now operating as a wholly owned subsidiary.  For more information about Gibbs and Associates and its CAM software packages, call 1-800-654-9399, or visit the company on-line at www.GibbsCAM.com.

About Cimatron

With over 25 years of experience and more than 40,000 installations worldwide, Cimatron is a leading provider of integrated, CAD/CAM solutions for mold, tool and die makers as well as manufacturers of discrete parts. Cimatron is committed to providing comprehensive, cost-effective solutions that streamline manufacturing cycles, enable collaboration with outside vendors, and ultimately shorten product delivery time.

The Cimatron product line includes the CimatronE and GibbsCAM brands with solutions for mold design, die design, electrodes design, 2.5 to 5 axes milling, wire EDM, turn, Mill-turn, rotary milling, multi-task machining, and tombstone machining. Cimatron's subsidiaries and extensive distribution network serve and support customers in the automotive, aerospace, medical, consumer plastics, electronics, and other industries in over 40 countries worldwide.

Cimatron's shares are publicly traded on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol CIMT. For more information, please visit the Company's web site at: http://www.cimatron.com

The Gibbs logo, GibbsCAM, GibbsCAM logo, Virtual Gibbs, SolidSurfacer and “Powerfully Simple. Simply Powerful.” are either trademark(s) or registered trademark(s) of Gibbs and Associates in the United States and/or other countries.  Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.  All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

SafeHarborStatement

This press release includes forward looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such statements may relate to the Company’s plans, objectives and expected financial and operating results. The words "may," "could," "would," “will,” "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," and similar expressions or variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward looking statements include, but are not limited to: currency fluctuations, global economic and political conditions, marketing demand for Gibbs and Associates or Cimatron products and services, long sales cycles, new product development, assimilating future acquisitions, maintaining relationships with customers and partners, and increased competition. For more details about the risks and uncertainties related to the Company's business, refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cannot assess the impact of or the extent to which any single factor or risk, or combination of them, may cause. Gibbs and Associates and Cimatron undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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EDITOR’S NOTE:  Electronic image available upon request.