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Delcam is a supplier of advanced
CAD/CAM CAD/CAM refers to the integration of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Both of these require powerful computers. ''CAD'' software helps designers and draftsmen; ''CAM'' "reduces manpower costs" in the manufacturi ...
software for the manufacturing industry. The company has grown steadily since being founded formally in 1977, after initial development work at
Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
, UK. It is now a global developer of product design and manufacturing software, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in North America, South America, Europe and Asia with a total staff of over 800 people and local support provided from over 300 re-seller offices worldwide. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange until 6 February 2014, when it was acquired by
Autodesk Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational software corporation that provides software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. Autodesk is headquarte ...
. It now operates as a wholly owned, independently operated subsidiary of Autodesk.


History


Overview

In 1965, Donald Welbourn saw the possibility of using computers to help pattern makers solve the problems of modelling difficult 3D shapes. He persuaded the
Science Research Council The Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) and its predecessor the Science Research Council (SRC) were the United Kingdom, UK agencies in charge of publicly funded scientific and engineering research activities, including astronomy, biote ...
to support research at the Cambridge University Engineering Department. Early sponsorship was provided by Ford and Control Data in Germany, whose customers included
Volkswagen Volkswagen (VW; )English: , . is a German automotive industry, automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Established in 1937 by German Labour Front, The German Labour Front, it was revitalized into the global brand it ...
and
Daimler-Benz Mercedes-Benz Group AG (formerly Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler, and Daimler) is a Germany, German Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive company headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is o ...
. In 1974 the Delta Group seconded Ed Lambourne (later the
Technical Director A technical director (TD) is usually a senior technical person within e.g. a software company, engineering firm, film studio, theatre company or television studio. They are responsible for overseeing and coordinating all of the technical aspect ...
at Delcam) to the Cambridge Team. After Lambourne returned to Delta, a Birmingham-based development centre was established in 1977. In 1989, the company was bought from Delta Group in a buyout led by
Managing Director A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...
Hugh Humphreys and Ed Lambourne. The company was renamed Delcam International in 1991 and moved to a new purpose-built office in
Small Heath Small Heath is an inner-city area in south-east Birmingham, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England situated on and around the Coventry Road about from the city centre. History Small Heath, which has been settled and used since Roman t ...
. In July 1997, Delcam Ltd was floated on the
Alternative Investment Market AIM (formerly the Alternative Investment Market) is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange that was launched on 19 June 1995 as a replacement to the previous Unlisted Securities Market, Unlisted Securities Market (USM) that had been in opera ...
to expand international operations and increase the investment in software development. The company now have over 300 offices assisting 90,000 users worldwide with an annual turnover of over £100 million with the largest development team in the industry. Clive Martell became chief executive from August 2009. In February 2015, Pete Baxter, former vice president of sales and country manager for Autodesk in the UK, was appointed vice president.


Key Dates

;1960s: Initial research at Cambridge University ;1970s: Development taken over by Delta Group ;1980s: Software sales start ;1989: Staff purchase company ;1991: New HQ, Birmingham, UK ;1997: Delcam floats on UK Market ;2001: Alcami Joins Delcam ;2005: EGS (FeatureCAM) joins Delcam ;2006: IMCS (PartMaker) joins Delcam ;2007: Crispin joins Delcam ;2008: 25,000th Customer ;2009: 30,000th Customer ;2010: 35,000th Customer ;2012: 40,000th Customer ;2013: 45,000th Customer ;2014: Acquired by Autodesk ;2015: 50,000th Customer ;2017: ArtCAM Announced End of development / End of support The ArtCAM code was then licensed to the company Carvceo who re-branded the software and continue to develop and sell to previous ArtCAM customers ;2018: upon request to comm. dep.: Autodesk did not continue to develop and supporting the (Footwear) software; beside Powershape


Products


Advanced Manufacturing Solutions

;'' PowerSHAPE'' Is a 3D
CAD Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve c ...
(Computer-aided Design) solution that runs on
Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
which allows for the design of 3D complex models using surfaces, solids and triangles. The software allows for the import of 3D
point cloud A point cloud is a discrete set of data Point (geometry), points in space. The points may represent a 3D shape or object. Each point Position (geometry), position has its set of Cartesian coordinates (X, Y, Z). Points may contain data other than ...
data to
reverse engineer Reverse engineering (also known as backwards engineering or back engineering) is a process or method through which one attempts to understand through deductive reasoning how a previously made device, process, system, or piece of software accompl ...
3D models. PowerSHAPE is used for a variety of applications including Modelling for manufacture, electrode design, mould and toolmaking. The code of PowerSHAPE originates from the DUCT software. ;'' PowerMILL'' A
CAM Cam or CAM may refer to: Science and technology * Cam (mechanism), a mechanical linkage which translates motion * Camshaft, a shaft with a cam * Camera or webcam, a device that records images or video In computing * Computer-aided manufacturin ...
solution for the programming of tool paths for 2 to 5 axis CNC Milling (
Computer Numerical Control Computer numerical control (CNC) or CNC machining is the Automation, automated control of machine tools by a computer. It is an evolution of numerical control (NC), where machine tools are directly managed by data storage media such as punched ...
). ;''PowerINSPECT'' A
CAD Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve c ...
based inspection solution package for use with many types of inspection hardware, including manual and CNC CMMs, portable arms, optical measuring devices and CNC machine tools (OMV). Developed for use on
Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
, the software is sold to a wide range of industries. In 2004 Delcam won a Queen's award for innovation for PowerINSPECT and by 2008 PowerINSPECT was Delcam's second biggest selling product. ;''PowerMILL Robot Interface'' A software package for the programming of machining robots with up to 8 axes. ;''FeatureCAM'' A feature-based CAM solution for milling, turning, and wire EDM. ;''PartMaker'' A CAM software for programming of turn-mill equipment bar-fed mills and Swiss-type lathes. ;''Delcam for
SolidWorks SolidWorks (stylized as SOLIDWORKS) is a brand of software used for solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE). It was one of the first 3D CAD applications designed to run on a desktop PC. The brand is owned ...
'' A CAM solution based on PowerMILL and FeatureCAM embedded into
SolidWorks SolidWorks (stylized as SOLIDWORKS) is a brand of software used for solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE). It was one of the first 3D CAD applications designed to run on a desktop PC. The brand is owned ...
. ;''Delcam Exchange'' A CAD data translator for reading and writing all commonly used CAD format files. ;''Delcam Electrode'' An integrated software within PowerSHAPE for automatic generation of solid electrode models for EDM with optional tool path generation in PowerMILL.


Metrology Solutions

;''On-Machine Verification'' A package for measurement of complex parts directly on the machine tools.


Artistic CADCAM Solutions

;''ArtCAM JewelSmith'' A specialist 3D design and manufacture solution for jewelers. ;''ArtCAM Pro'' A complete solution for the design and manufacture of 2D Artwork & 3D Reliefs. ;''ArtCAM Insignia'' Is for production-level layout and manufacture of 2D Artwork & 3D Reliefs. ;''ArtCAM Express'' Is a low cost introductory design and machining solution. After acquisition by Autodesk in 2014, Artcam brand was discontinued However the software is still in existence and licensed under another name - 'Carveco'


Footwear Solutions

;''OrderManager'' Is a web-based workflow management tool for tracking orders remotely. ;''OrthoMODEL'' Is a software package for the design of custom orthotic insoles. ;''OrthoMILL'' Is a software package for the manufacture of custom orthotic insoles. ;''iQube Scanner'' Is a foot, plaster cast and foambox scanner ;''LastMaker'' Is a software package for 3D last modification and 3D last grading. ;''ShoeMaker'' Is a software package for the 3D design of footwear. ;''SoleEngineer'' Is software for 3D sole unit engineering and grading. ;''Engineer Pro'' Is software for 2D pattern engineering and grading. ;''PatternCut'' Is software for 2D pattern part nesting and cutting. ;''KnifeCut'' Is software for 2D pattern part nesting and cutting for projection cutting machines. ;''ShoeCost'' Is software for total footwear costing. ;''TechPac'' Is a technical documentation software package


Awards

;1991: Queen's Award for International Trade ;2003: Queen's Award for Innovation awarded for ArtCAM ;2004: Queen's Award for Innovation awarded for PowerINSPECT ;2005: Queen's Award for International Trade ;2010: Queen's Award for Innovation awarded for Dental CADCAM Software ;2011: Queen's Award for International Trade ;2011: Ringier Technology Innovation Award for 'Delcam for SolidWorks' from International Metalworking News ;2012: MTA Manufacturing Industry Award for Best Supplier Partnership for its relationship with Coventry Engineering Group ;2014: MWP Awards 2014 – Best CADCAM or Control System ;2014: Asian Manufacturing Awards 2014 - Best CAM Systems Provider


Graduate Programme

Delcam operates a development scheme for engineering and software graduates. The graduate programme consists of five 10-week rotations across different functions of the company. Functions include Professional Services, international support, marketing, ArtCAM, PowerINSPECT, and training. Graduates also have the opportunity to work at Delcam USA in
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
or
Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake Ci ...
.


Boris

Delcam's logo incorporates a computer-modelled spider named Boris. This was produced as an experiment to render hairs in Delcam's CAD software in 1984. Upon seeing a machined version at a show, the
Managing Director A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...
Hugh Humphreys decided to take it home and use it within the company's logo. ''Boris' History''
Delcam Website;


References

{{reflist, 3


External links


Official Delcam Site
Computer-aided manufacturing software Computer-aided design software Companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands