CGTech expands its technical support

A time-served apprentice with a wealth of CNC machining experience, Dave Woolams joins CGTech’s Technical Support department offering product guidance for Vericut users, CNC machine model building services and bespoke simulation services.

Having started his career with a small precision engineering business in the South West, he gained valuable experience with various manual and CNC machine tools: “As well as general engineering we did a lot of engine building and machining for anything from agricultural usage to motorsport,” he recalled.

“A local performance car garage supported Cosworth race cars, not just blueprinting but high-performance tuning, and we did any machining required. It was a great learning curve for me – a lot of manual machines, grinding, engine balancing, porting and polishing – anything to do with engines. Most of it came down to ‘feel’ and an eye for detail, because obviously microns mattered and you had to get the best out of the machines.”

After completing his apprenticeship, he stayed at the company for around 10 years before joining Renishaw. Having started on the shopfloor as a CNC setter operator in a turning cell at the company’s advanced manufacturing facility in Stonehouse, he progressed to its proprietary Ramtic automated milling and turning section before moving into prototyping and low volume production.

At this time, Mr Woolams started to use CAD/CAM: “We used GibbsCAM as the programming tool for all the low volume work and prototyping that the design engineers would supply as solid models from the Siemens NX CAD/CAM system,” he explained.

“After around four years I aspired to the position of CAM development engineer, handling all the NX CAM work with post processors, helping out with Siemens PLM software Teamcentre interface and the interaction of all CAM features for the whole of Renishaw’s business.”

Mr Woolams joins CGTech having regularly dealt with Vericut as part of his previous role for CAM and system control.

“Having first-hand experience of the software and the exceptional level of technical support delivered by CGTech, I know what is expected of me in my new role. I’m very much looking forward to making a significant contribution to the Technical Support team,” he concluded.

CGTech www.cgtech.co.uk