Freeform Technology

Freeform Technology is a CNC machine shop specialising in the manufacture of composite patterns and moulds primarily for the Formula 1 and motorsport industries. Thanks to its use of NX CAM Computer Aided Manufacturing software supplied and supported by TEAM Engineering, Buckingham-based Freeform is producing high-quality patterns and moulds for the manufacture of carbon-fibre composite body parts, helping Red Bull Racing in its most successful Formula 1 season ever.

Simon Burchett, Director and joint founder of Freeform Technology says, ‘with NX CAM, there are a number of ways of achieving what we want, which allows us to be more flexible in our approach to manufacturing the patterns. With the other solutions we were very much forced to machine in the way the software decided.’

TEAM Engineering are Siemens PLM longest serving, and in recent years, most successful Reseller. ‘Initially,’ Burchett says, ‘we thought that NX CAM might be too expensive. However, when we explained our requirements for simultaneous five axis machining, TEAM were able to reassure us.’

In Burchett’s experience, ‘working with TEAM’s consulting engineers is like having your own IT Department! They are as fleet footed and responsive as we are and we haven’t had a problem that hasn’t been sorted out within the hour.

‘They know we are a small company with demanding customers that need a fast turnaround and they act accordingly. We have an annual support contract with TEAM – and it is worth it.’

Burchett concludes, ‘without NX CAM to rely on to produce consistently accurate toolpaths, we could not run at the speed that we do. All our patterns are one offs and we have already produced a good two or three hundred of them gouge free over the last six months with no NX CAM errors.

To rework something is costly to us, lets down our customers and is taking up time we could be using on another job. As far as I am concerned, NX CAM is just as important to our business as the machine tool itself.’