solid cam release_notes2008

SolidCAM2008 R12 Release Notes

1

SolidCAM2008 R12 Release Notes SolidCAM2008 R12 includes the following new functionality and enhancements:

General

• SolidCAM2008 R12 offers you a new enhanced interface for milling and turning operations.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the support of SpaceNavigator 3D mouse by 3Dconnexion (www.3dconnexion.com).

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the possibility to obtain the summary of a specific operation directly from the SolidCAM Manager, without opening of the operation.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with an advanced option to summarize the CAM-Part information by generating a tool sheet documentation in PDF format.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the functionality of templates that is useful for simplifying the repetitive tasks in the CNC programming. SolidCAM enables you to save the operation data as a template and load it into a new operation of the same type. SolidCAM enables you also to specify the default operation template that is used for each newly created operation of the appropriate type. SolidCAM enables you also to define and use a Process Template, which is a template of a series of operations that executes a specific machining task.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 enables you to define the positions for operations transformation by picking on the model. This functionality is implemented for Move and Translate by List options.

• In previous versions, SolidCAM provided you with the possibility to automatically perform the synchronization check. During this check the unsynchronized geometries and operations based on them are detected. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides the additional capability to perform the synchronization and tool path calculation automatically for detected unsynchronized operations.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with complete support of the 64-bit version of SolidWorks working under the Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

Geometry

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the Curve + Close Corners option of the chain geometry selection. This option enables you to close the gaps between successive chain entities by virtually extending the selected entities.

• SolidCAM enables you to share geometries between a number of SolidCAM operations. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the additional capability to modify a shared geometry, specifically for each operation; this includes assigning different values to the geometry Extension, Offset and Define Start. The geometry modification also includes choosing which geometry chains are active


2

in the operation (in case of multiple chain geometry). The modification is relevant only for the current operation and does not affect other operations where the geometry is shared. The geometry modification is supported for the Profile, T-Slot and Translated Surface operations.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the possibility to automatically close the open geometry chains for Pocket operations.

• In previous SolidCAM versions, SolidCAM provided you with a constant link between the geometry and the design model configuration which was used for the geometry definition (parent configuration). With such a link, switching between configurations of the design model does not affect the defined geometry; the geometry can be updated (through synchronization), only in case the parent configuration is modified. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with an additional functionality that enables you to synchronize the geometry, when the configuration changes; SolidCAM discontinues the link between the geometry and its parent configuration and establishes a new link between the geometry and the new current configuration. Such functionality enables you to automatically update SolidCAM geometries according to the current configuration of the design model.

Tools

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a number of new tool types: Bull nose mill, Bore, Center drill, Chamfer drill, Dove tail mill, Engraving tool, Face mill and Spot drill. Also SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a number of improvements to the existing tool types to better describe the real.

• In previous SolidCAM versions, the tools in the tool library were saved without the units data. When a tool was loaded into a CAM-Part, its dimensions were interpreted according to the CAM-Part units; therefore it was impossible to use tools with different units than the units of the CAM-Part. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the possibility to assign units data for each tool in the tool library. The tool library can store tools of different units. Such functionality enables you to use tools, defined in different units than the units of the CAM-Part, without converting the tool parameters into the CAM-Part units.

• In previous versions, SolidCAM provided you with a separate tool type to define rough end mill tools. SolidCAM2008 R12 enables you to define rough tools of all the following types: End mill, Bull nose mill, Ball nose mill, Face mill, Taper mill, Slot mill, Drill, Bore, Dove tail mill.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a link to the Vardex software for thread milling tool selection from the Vardex tools library- TM Gen (www.vardex.com). This link enables you to define the thread mill tool parameters and, based on this, it will search the Vardex library for the thread milling tools that fit these parameters; you can then choose one of the offered tools for the operation.

Milling

• In the previous versions of SolidCAM, you could define the depth for the variable-depth profiles only manually with the Define depth option. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the new 3D option for machining 3D profiles. This option facilitates the depth definition by determining the depth-change points automatically according to the model geometry.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the new Contour 3D operation which enables you to utilize the power of the 3D Engraving technology for the 3D


3

contour machining. In this operation SolidCAM enables you to prevent the gouging between the tool and the 3D contour.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a new T-Slot operation that enables you to machine slots in vertical walls with a slot mill tool.

• In previous SolidCAM versions, face milling (the machining of large flat surfaces with face mill tools) was performed by utilizing the Clear strategy of the Pocket Operation. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a new Face Milling Operation which includes the functionality of the Clear strategy and new advanced functionality.

• In previous SolidCAM versions the linking of the profile machining passes, located at successive Z-levels (defined with the Step down parameter), was performed by rapid movement upto, at and down from the Clearance level, keeping the same cutting direction (either climb or conventional) along the whole tool path. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the possibility to connect the passes, located at two successive Z-levels, directly from the end of a pass to the beginning of the next pass. With this connection method the machining is performed in a zig-zag manner.

• In previous SolidCAM versions, the distance between two successive Z-levels in the Profile and Pocket operations was determined by the Step down parameter. If the machining depth was not divisible exactly by the Step down parameter, the depth of the last cut was less than the Step down parameter. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the Equal step down option that enables you to keep an equal distance between all Z-levels.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the option to divide the depth to be machined into two regions, each with its own Step down, with the second region, close to the depth bottom, having the smaller Down step.

• In previous SolidCAM versions, it was possible to perform Profile and Pocket operations on vertical walls only. SolidCAM2008 R12 enables you to perform the machining of walls inclined with a constant draft angle along all the geometry.

• In previous SolidCAM versions, the Profile operation enabled you to define a machining allowance in XY direction, leaving it unmachined during the profile roughing and removing it during the finishing. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the possibility to define a similar allowance in the Z-direction. This allowance is left unmachined during the profile roughing and removed during the finishing.

• In previous SolidCAM versions, the pocket walls finishing was performed with a single cut at the whole Pocket depth. SolidCAM2008 R12 enables you also to perform the finishing of the walls in a number of successive cuts, with the distance between them defined by the Step down parameter.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the functionality to perform the machining of a pocket with a combination of open edges and closed walls. This functionality generates optimized tool path and lead in movements.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the Adjacent tool paths connection option for the Profile operation. This option enables you to choose the connection method for adjacent cutting passes generated using the Clear offset method with Zigzag option.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a new Complete Z-level option which enables you to define the order of the machining Z-levels during the machining of several pockets within a single Pocket operation.


4

Automatic Feature recognition and Machining (AFRM)

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the new Drill Recognition operation that combines the power of automatic hole feature recognition and the interactive control by the user of the machining technology. The Drill Recognition operation performs powerful drill feature recognition and automatic Drill geometry creation using SolidCAM AFRM module functionality. While the Drilling operation enables you to define only one set of Milling Levels parameters that is common for all the drill positions, the new Drill Recognition operation enables you to handle separate sets of Milling Levels for each drill position. The initial values of the Milling Levels sets are automatically recognized from the model and they can be edited by the user.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the Pocket Recognition operation which enables you to recognize the pocket features on the solid model and perform their machining.

High Speed Machining (HSM) Module

• SolidCAM2008 R12 HSM Module provides you with new method of the boundary definition which enables you to define the boundary by faces selection similar to the Working area definition for the 3D Milling Operation.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 HSM Module provides you with a new Helical Machining strategy. With this strategy, SolidCAM generates a number of closed profile sections of the 3D Model geometry, located at different Z-levels, similar to the Constant-Z strategy. SolidCAM then joins these sections in a continuous descending ramp in order to generate the Helical Machining tool path.

• In previous versions, SolidCAM was offering you the Morph Machining strategy, where the tool path is generated between two Drive curves, that define the shape of the tool path. SolidCAM2008 R12 HSM Module provides you with an additional Offset Cutting strategy. This strategy is a particular case of the Morph Machining strategy; the Offset Cutting strategy enables you to generate a tool path using a single Drive curve. The tool path is generated between a Drive curve and a virtual offset curve, generated at the specified offset from the Drive curve.

Simultaneous 5-axis machining

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a number of enhancements of the Sim. 5-Axis operation user interface. These user interface enhancements are intended mainly to group parameters in a more logical manner.

• In previous versions, SolidCAM offered you three types of Sim. 5-Axis Operations to perform 3-, 4- and 5-Axis machining. In SolidCAM2008 R12 the Sim. 5-Axis operation performs both simultaneous 4- and 5-Axis machining. The Sim. 5-Axis (3-Axis) operation of the previous version has been renamed as HSS (High Speed Surface machining) and set as a separate operation.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with an additional capability to define the Clearance area plane by an arbitrarily-oriented vector (the User defined direction option). SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with an additional capability to define the Clearance area cylinder axis by an arbitrarily-oriented vector (the Parallel to user defined direction option).

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a new Scallop parameter that enables you to define the cusp height of the machined surface.


5

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the Orthogonal to edge curve option for the side tilting definition in the Parallel to curve and Morph between two curves strategies. With this option, the plane of the side tilting is orthogonal to the edge curve at each cutting position.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a new option which enables you to define the tool axis orientation when the 4-Axis output is chosen. With this option, the tool is oriented in such a way that its axis is intersecting the rotary axis.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a number of new retract options available for the Move tool away strategy of the gouge checking. With these options, SolidCAM enables you to define the direction of the retract movements performed when possible collisions are detected.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the possibility to shrink/expand the stock model used for avoiding air cuts. The defined Shrink/Expand value enables you to define the 3D offset by which the stock model will be modified.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with enhanced functionality to control the linking and trimming of the tool path generated with the Rotate option. SolidCAM enables you to apply trimming/linking to the tool path either before or after the rotation.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a number of Sim. 5-Axis sub-operations dedicated for specific Sim. 5-Axis machining tasks. Such sub-operations provide you with a subset of the parameters and options, relevant for the chosen technology. Using such sub-operations provides you with quick programming of specific Sim. 5-axis tasks. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the following Sim. 5-Axis sub-operations:

Swarf Milling

Impeller Machining

Roughing

Wall finish

Floor finish - curve control of tilt

Floor finish - surface control of tilt

Turning

• SolidCAM2008 R12 offers you a new functionality that supports rough, semi-finish and finish machining of long turning parts. In long turning parts the machining of the whole geometry all at once might cause problems due to the deformation of the workpiece under the cutting tool. The new functionality provides the capability to machine the geometry partially by dividing it into several sub-geometries.

• In previous SolidCAM versions, all the tool movements between turning operations where performed through a position that is located outside of the CAM-Part. This means that when the cutting passes of a specific operation are completed, the tool moves to the point mentioned above and from there continues to the start position of the next operation (if tool change is not performed). Such behavior causes a number of unwanted extra tool movements. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the capability to optimize the interoperational movements between turning operations in order to shorten them.


6

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the functionality of automatic turning rest material calculation for the Drilling operations performed by the rotating tool (Milling Drilling operations). The Rest material update is performed in the same manner as for Turning Drilling operations.

• In previous versions, SolidCAM was automatically generating the updated Material boundary after each turning operation. The Material boundary, generated after a specific turning operation, was used for the automatic rest material calculation for the succeeding operation. SolidCAM was also enabling you to generate a sketch in the CAM-component of the CAM-Part assembly, containing the Material boundary after a specific operation. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the additional functionality to generate a revolved solid feature that represents the Material boundary after a number of turning operations.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 enables you to define the application direction for the turning tools. In addition to the application direction definition, SolidCAM provides you with the possibility to define the imaginary nose point of the tool that will be used for the tool nose compensation; this replaces the previous Origin.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the functionality that enables you to establish associativity between Material boundary and Clamp and the design model; the associativity is available if the Material boundary and Clamp are defined using sketches.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a new enhanced method for the envelope calculation. In the new method, SolidCAM determines the type of the model faces used for the envelope calculation. For regular model faces, like cylinder and cone, SolidCAM uses an analytical algorithm which generates envelope segments relevant for this type of face. For complex B-spline surfaces, SolidCAM generates the envelope segment related to this surface using the facetted model of the surface.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the capability to define the geometry for turning operations, on the generated envelope/section, by picking the model entities such as faces, edges and vertices. When model entities are picked, SolidCAM automatically defines the geometry on the envelope/section segment corresponding to the selected model elements.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the capability to perform rough turning at an angle to the X-axis. Such capability enables you to optimize the cutting passes for the machining of inclined revolution faces like a cone.

Mill-Turn

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a new type of CAM-Parts named Mill-Turn. This type is intended for the programming of Mill-Turn CNC machines, especially 5-axes milling CNC machines with turning capabilities (e.g. DMU FD-series of DMG).

• The Mill-Turn functionality provides you with a number of significant advantages compared to the current Turn-Mill type:

The Mill-Turn module provides you with the full functionality of the Coordinate System definition, identical to the SolidCAM Milling.

The Turning mode of the Coordinate System enables you to use the same coordinate system for milling as well as for turning without additional definition.


7

In stock definition, you can define the Stock in the same manner as in SolidCAM Milling and the Material boundary in the same manner as in SolidCAM Turning.

The Mill-Turn module enables you to perform Milling, Turning and Mill-Turn operations with the same postprocessor.

Using the Mill-Turn module, you do not need to learn new rules; you just work in regular milling and can add turning operations as needed.

Wirecut

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the number of improvements of the geometry definition user interface for the 4-Axis Operation.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the possibility to define the geometry for the 4-Axis Operation by picking on the solid model face. When the face is picked, SolidCAM automatically determines the closed loop of the picked face and all the faces adjacent to this loop.

Simulation

• In previous SolidCAM versions, the Machine Simulation mode provided you with the capability to simulate the tool path and CNC machine motions during the machining. SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with an additional capability to perform the solid verification of the material cutting process using the SolidVerify mode, integrated into the Machine Simulation. With this functionality, SolidCAM enables you to display the stock model and perform the simulation by dynamic subtraction of the tool solid model (using solid Boolean operations) from the stock solid model.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with the support of the Machine Simulation mode for Turning, Turn-Mill and Mill-Turn modules.

• SolidCAM2008 R12 enables you to display the fixtures defined for the CAM-Part in the Machine Simulation.


8

System Requirements • Microsoft® Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 (recommended),

Microsoft® Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 or 4

• Intel® Pentium™, Intel® Xeon™, Intel® Core™, Intel® Core™2 Duo, Intel® Core™2 Quad, AMD® Athlon™, AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual‐Core - class processor (emphasized processors are recommended).

• 1 GB RAM or more (2 GB or more recommended for large CAM-Parts machining)

• An OpenGL workstation graphics card (512 MB RAM recommended) and driver

• Mouse or other pointing device

• CD drive

• Internet Explorer version 6 if you are using the SolidCAM online help

• For viewing the What's New manual, Adobe Acrobat version 8.1.2 or higher is recommended.

Installation To install SolidCAM2008 on Windows 2000 or Windows XP:

• From the Windows Start bar, click Run • Type d:\SolidCAM2008\Disk1\setup.exe or

<your CDRom Drive Letter>:\SolidCAM2008\Disk1\setup.exe) • Follow the instructions on the screen

Dongles • SolidCAM dongles updated for previous SolidCAM versions have to be updated

for SolidCAM2008 R12.

• Update dongle procedure cannot be performed in the Microsoft® Windows XP Professional x64 Edition platform. You can update your dongle using other version of Microsoft® Windows. The updated dongle can be used with the Microsoft® Windows XP Professional x64 Edition platform.

SolidCAM data The following data is installed by SolidCAM2008 R12:

• Technology database • Machining Processes Table • Tool Tables • CNC-Machines database • Tool Holders table • Shaped Tools Table • Tool Type Names Table • Feed & Spin Table

The SolidCAM2008 R12 installation utility copies these files supplied by SolidCAM to the ../Tables folder under the SolidCAM2008 R12 location you choose. You can import Machining Processes Tables, Tool Tables, etc. created with the previous


9

SolidCAM version into SolidCAM2008 R12, according to the following guidelines: Machining Processes Tables

• Using SolidCAM interface — import the necessary Machining Processes from the MP Table that you created with the previous SolidCAM copy into the Machining Processes Table installed by SolidCAM2008 R12. For more information about importing Machining Processes, please refer to the Managing Machining Processes topic in the SolidCAM On-Line Help.

• Using Windows browser — you can copy your Machining Processes Tables (files *.mpt and corresponding folders) into the SolidCAM Tables directory (../Tables, by default).

Tool Tables

• Using SolidCAM interface — you can import the necessary tools from your Tool Tables created with the previous SolidCAM copy to the Tool Tables created by SolidCAM2008 R12. For more information about importing tools, please refer to the Managing Tools topic in the SolidCAM On-Line Help.

• Using Windows browser — you can copy your Tool Tables (*.tab) into the SolidCAM Tables directory (../Tables, by default).

CNC-Machines database

• SolidCAM2008 R12 provides you with a new updated CNC-machines database used for Machine simulation. You can either use the SolidCAM Settings to update your SolidCAM Tables directory to point on your ../Tables folder or copy updated CNC machines to your current SolidCAM Tables directory.

Tool Holders Table, Shaped Tools Table and Feed & Spin Table

• Using SolidCAM interface — you can update the tables installed by SolidCAM2008 R12 with the data from your tables created with the previous SolidCAM copy. For more information, please refer to the Tools topic in the SolidCAM On-Line Help.

• Using Windows browser — you can copy your tables (files: Tools.tht, Holders.tht and TM_WM_DEFAULT.DFT) into the SolidCAM Tables directory (../Tables, by default).

Tool Type Names Table

• Using SolidCAM interface — you can update the Tool Type Names Table installed by S SolidCAM2008 R12 with the data from your Tool Type Names Table created with the previous SolidCAM copy. For more information, please refer to the Tool Types topic in the SolidCAM On-Line Help.

• Using Windows browser — you can copy your Tool Type Names Table (TOOL_TYP.TMT) into the SolidCAM directory (../SolidCAM, by default).

How to Contact SolidCAM For any additional technical question, please contact our Technical Support department - [email protected].

solid cam release_notes2008

Education