Case Study: Wilson Tool International achieves automated, high-productivity CNC programming and 'lots-of-one' production with 3D Systems' GibbsCAM

GibbsCAM Helps Wilson Tool Grow and Automate CNC Programming

Wilson Tool International, the world’s largest supplier of standard and custom tooling for punching, bending and stamping, faced rising demands for custom, made‑to‑order parts across its multi‑machine shop. With dozens of mills and complex tombstone setups, programmers struggled with slow, manual G‑code tweaks, unpredictable tombstone scheduling and the limits of batch processing, creating bottlenecks and risk of machine errors.

Wilson standardized on GibbsCAM for full programming, accurate machine/tool/tombstone modeling and simulation, and built reusable process templates. A senior programmer developed dynamic GibbsCAM macros that handle tombstone rotation, call saved processes, and—when integrated with SAP barcodes—auto‑model and auto‑generate complete part programs in about 20 seconds. The result: faster quoting and programming, fewer on‑machine errors, a shift from batch runs to “lots of one,” and a planned roll‑out and training program across divisions.

Wilson Tool International

Gary Warlow

Wilson Tool International