SolidCAM 2010

What’s New
 General
• Managing SolidCAM settings
• CAM-Part synchronization settings
• Simultaneous display of tool path for multiple
operations
• Browsing to last opened location
• Removing unused CAM-Part data
• Template improvements
• SolidCAM controls in SolidWorks environment
• Support of 64-bit computing
 Managing SolidCAM settings

SolidCAM 2010 offers the new

functionality that enables you to

save the SolidCAM settings as an

external file and then load the

saved file into SolidCAM.

Furthermore, SolidCAM 2010

enables you to reset the

customized settings to their default

values.
 CAM-Part synchronization settings

In SolidCAM 2010, the

synchronization settings can
also be customized for each
CAM-Part. The synchronization
options have been added into
the Synchronization page of the
Part Settings dialog box.
Managing warning messages and prompts

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with

the possibility to control the visibility
status of the most frequently
displayed messages.
 Deleting Coordinate Systems in
SolidCAM Manager

In SolidCAM 2010, deletion of multiple Coordinate Systems needs only one

confirmation message.
Simultaneous display of tool path
for multiple operations
SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the functionality to easily display
the tool path for all the CAM-Part operations or for a number of
selected operations.
 Browsing to last opened location

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the

functionality that stores the last used
location, when the browser dialog box is
used.
Removing unused CAM-Part data
SolidCAM 2010 introduces a new functionality that
enables you to perform the cleaning of the CAM-Part data.
The cleaning operation automatically removes unused
geometries, updated stock model files (which can be
automatically recalculated), and any other unused data
saved in the CAM-Part.
 Simulation and GCode generation for not
calculated operations
SolidCAM 2010 provides you with a time-saving solution for the cases when the simulation/GCode
generation is needed for non-calculated operation.
 Facet tolerance for CoordSys definition
SolidCAM 2010 added the
possibility to customize the facet
tolerance used for the CoordSys
definition.
Template improvements

In SolidCAM 2010, the process template insertion functionality is

improved by adding the following parameters: Geometry, Upper level
and Lower level. These parameters are common for all the
operations contained in the process template.
Template improvements
SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the
possibility to filter the defined templates, by
selecting items in the table as filtering criteria.
Template improvements
SolidCAM 2010 provides you
with the possibility to rename the
defined templates.
 Closing the Machining Process from
SolidCAM Manager
SolidCAM 2010 provides you
with the possibility to close the
Machining Process directly from
SolidCAM Manager.
 Support of 64-bit computing

To take full advantage of the increased SolidCAM 2010 includes two separate
RAM capabilities of 64-bit systems, installation packages for 32-bit and 64-bit
SolidCAM 2010 supports 64-bit versions of operation systems.
computing, so that the calculation and
simulation of large parts will be further
accelerated.
SolidCAM controls in SolidWorks environment

SolidCAM tab in SolidWorks Command Manager

SolidCAM toolbars in SolidWorks environment

 Geometry
• Loop geometry selection
• Chains filtering by Z-levels
• Browsing geometries
• Defining the direction of geometry chains
• Definition and synchronization of geometry for Drill
Recognition operations
 Loop geometry selection
Marking external loops as open pocket edges

In SolidCAM 2010, an improvement to the Faces

mode has been made by adding the possibility to
mark all edges of the loop as open edges, for use
within Pocket operations.
 Loop geometry selection
Primary and secondary loop selection

In SolidCAM 2010, a new loop selection

functionality has been added to facilitate the
process of single loop selection for geometry
definition.
 Chains filtering by Z-levels
In SolidCAM 2010, the chain filtering functionality has been enhanced by adding the possibility to
define the range of Z-levels as a filtering criterion.
Browsing geometries
SolidCAM 2010 provides an improvement to this
functionality by enabling the user to visualize the
geometries during the selection process.
 Defining the direction of geometry chains
In SolidCAM 2010, the geometry selection
functionality has been improved and provides you
with control over the chain direction, during the
picking of the first chain entity. SolidCAM
determines the start point of the picked entity
closest to the picked position.
Definition and synchronization of geometry for
Drill Recognition operations
Automatic and manual geometry definition

In SolidCAM 2010, a manual geometry

selection mode has been provided, in addition
to the existing automatic mode. The manual
mode can be useful in cases when the
geometry has to be defined only for individual
holes.
Definition and synchronization of geometry for
Drill Recognition operations
Defining geometry by color

SolidCAM 2010 introduces a

new parameter that enables you
to perform geometry filtering
according to the color of the
hole faces.
Definition and synchronization of geometry for
Drill Recognition operations
Removing recognized holes from the list

SolidCAM 2010 enables you to remove a single hole or a group of

holes (Shape/Group) from the geometry.
 Tools
• Cutting Length improvements
• H Length improvements
• Spin and Feed definition improvements
• Visual tool check in Part Tool Table
• Turning tool holder definition and visualization
 Cutting Length improvements
SolidCAM 2010 provides you with improvements in the
length definition functionality. Whenever a new tool, of the
type below, is created in a SolidCAM operation, its Cutting
Length is automatically assigned the value of the machining
depth in this operation.

• End Mill;
• Bull Nose Mill;
• Ball Nose Mill;
• Taper Mill;
• Drill;
• Tap tool;
• Reamer.
 Cutting Length improvements
Tool filtering
SolidCAM 2010 enables you to perform the tool
range filtering by the Cutting Length parameter.
The Cutting Length section is added to the Range
dialog box.
 H Length improvements
Sp in d le

Ho ld e r Ove rh a n g
Le n g t h

To o l Ho ld e r H Le n g t h
Ou t sid e
Ho ld e r
Le n g t h

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with a

number of improvements in the process
of H Length parameter definition.
Spin and feed definition improvements

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with

improved functionality enabling the user
to assign for each tool a table, containing
different sets of spin and feed defaults,
to be used with different work materials
and different CNC-machines.
 Visual tool check in Part Tool Table

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with

additional functionality of visual tool
check – a tool preview is provided
directly on the solid model.
Turning tool holder definition and
visualization
SolidCAM 2010 introduces a new
functionality of turning tool holders
definition and visualization in
Machine simulation. With this
functionality, SolidCAM 2010 also
enables you to define the correct
position of the tool on the CNC-
machine.
 2.5D Milling

• Drill Recognition improvements

 Drill Recognition improvements
Minimize hole cycle
SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the capability to
(DR-DRILL-R7-T3 - DRILL-HR) shorten the GCode file by grouping similar drilling
(-------------------------)
positions under the same Gcode cycle - the holes
X35.85 Y35.85 Z10.
G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33 that have the same Upper level and Depth data are
G80 grouped under a common single Gcode cycle.
G0 X509.85
X509.85 Y35.85 Z10.
G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33
G80
G0 X35.85 Y459.85
X35.85 Y459.85 Z10.
G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33
G80
G0 X509.85 (DR-DRILL-R7-T3 - DRILL-HR)
X509.85 Y459.85 Z10. (-------------------------)
G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33 X35.85 Y35.85 Z10.
G80 G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33
X509.85
X35.85 Y459.85
X509.85
G80
 Drill Recognition improvements
Complete hole group

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the additional

capability to sort holes by groups, in which the
Upper level and Depth data are the same.
 High Speed Machining (HSM)

• HSM Rough machining module

• Constant Z and 3D Corner offset combined
strategy
HSM Rough machining module
In production of prismatic parts, generally using
2.5D Milling operations, machining of 3D surfaces
is often required (e.g. fillets).

SolidCAM High Speed Surface Machining (HSS)

module brings the capabilities and surface quality
of 3D Finishing to 2.5D users. But in many cases
there is a need to remove large volumes of
material. For these purposes, SolidCAM 2010
introduces the new HSM Rough module that
provides the you with power and productivity of
high speed roughing.
Constant Z and 3D Corner offset combined
strategy
SolidCAM 2010 offers the
combination of the Constant Z
strategy supplemented with the
secondary 3D Corner offset
strategy.
 Turning
• Selecting geometry on envelope
 Selecting geometry on envelope
In SolidCAM 2010, the mechanism of the turning Automatic selection
geometry definition on solid has been facilitated. The
new interface offers you two modes of geometry
definition: Automatic selection and Manual selection.
 Selecting geometry on envelope
Manual selection - Close gaps
 Selecting geometry on envelope
Manual selection - Extensions
High Speed Surface Machining (HSS)

• Stock definition improvements

Stock definition improvements
In SolidCAM 2010, in order to clarify and facilitate
the definition of these groups of parameters
separately, the Roughing page interface has been
changed.
 Stock definition improvements
SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the Ignore
segments shorter than option that enables you to
exclude the segments that are shorter than the
specified tool path length.
 Sim. 5-Axis machining
• Start point definition improvements
• Tool path linking definition improvements
• 4-Axis output format for 5-Axis sub-operations
• Axial offset technology for 5-Axis Engraving
• Stock definition improvements
• Motion limits control improvements
• Multi-Axis Drilling operation
• Sorting of cylindrical drilling patterns
• HSM to Sim. 5-axis tool path conversion
 Start point definition improvements

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the additional

possibility to define the start point position via the
vector of the surface normal.
Tool path linking definition improvements
Separate Approach/Retract and Linking definition

In SolidCAM 2010, in order to clarify and

facilitate the definition of these groups of
parameters, the Link page has been divided into
two tabs: Approach/Retract and Links.
Tool path linking definition improvements
Home position definition
SolidCAM 2010 introduces a new Home
position option for tool path linking that
can be applied to the first entry and last
exit links.

Home position is a point from which the

first rapid movement of the tool starts
during the approach and to which the tool
eventually returns after the retreat.
4-Axis output format for Sim. 5-Axis
sub-operations
In SolidCAM 2010, the possibility to
generate 4-Axis output has been
added into the Output format combo-
box of the Toolpath parameters page
of the operation dialog box, for the
following sub-operations:

• Cavity machining
• Turbine Blade machining
• Engraving
• Electrode machining
 Axial offset technology for
Sim. 5-Axis Engraving

SolidCAM 2010 enables you to offset the Sim. 5-Axis Engraving tool path along the tool axis. The
Axial offset parameter defines the offset value.

Each point of the tool path (including the start position) is shifted in the tool axis direction. The gouge
control takes out all the gouges that result from this shift.
Motion limits control improvements
In SolidCAM 2010, this feature
has been improved by adding
more possibilities for machine
limits use.
 Multi-Axis Drilling operation

SolidCAM 2010 introduces a new Multi-Axis

Drilling operation that enables you to machine a
series of drills that have different orientations,
using a single Coordinate System.
Sorting of cylindrical drilling patterns
In SolidCAM 2010, the new Cylindrical sorting option is
provided to be used within the Multi-Axis Drilling. This option
enables you to sort the drill position located on the revolution
faces.
 HSM to Sim. 5-Axis tool path conversion

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with a new

Converting HSM to Sim. 5-Axis
operation, intended to perform conversion
of HSM and 3D Milling tool paths into Sim.
5-axis tool paths.
 Simulation
• Simulation interface improvements
• External Simulator in SolidCAM
• Turning tool holding system in Machine
simulation
Simulation interface improvements
External Simulator in SolidCAM
SolidCAM 2010 provides you with
a new External Simulator for
simulation of operations in a
separate window, in parallel to
continued working in SolidCAM.
 Turning tool holding system in
Machine simulation

SolidCAM 2010 enables the display of the turning tool

holding system in the Machine simulation mode.
 Turning tool holding system in
Machine simulation
Holder definition for machines with rotary turret

In SolidCAM 2010, the rotary turret feature is

supported in turning tool holding system.
SolidCAM 2010
What’s New