WWW. SOLI DCAM. COM Power and Ease of Use - the winning combination SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New 1995-2006 SolidCAM All Rights Reserved. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Contents 3 Contents 1. General ............................................................................................................. 9 1.1 SolidCAM Hardware Key ..................................................................... 10 1.1.1 Choosing a seat confguration for a network user .................. 13 1.1.2 CAM Modules list ........................................................................ 15 1.2 Suppress/Unsuppress ........................................................................... 16 1.3 Cut/Copy/Paste Operations in the SolidCAM Manager ................ 20 1.4 MAC fle enhancements ........................................................................ 21 1.5 Fast G-Code generation. ....................................................................... 22 1.6 Operations recalculation ....................................................................... 28 1.7 User control of coordinate system visibility...................................... 29 2. Tools .................................................................................................................. 31 2.1 New tool types ....................................................................................... 32 2.1.1 Ball nose mill ................................................................................ 33 2.1.2. Thread Mill .................................................................................. 34 2.1.3 Reamer ........................................................................................... 35 3. Geometry.......................................................................................................... 37 3.1 Setting CW/CCW direction for wireframe geometry chains.......... 38 3.2 Copying geometries ............................................................................... 39 3.3 Boolean operations between working areas and boundaries .......... 40 3.4 Check faces selection ............................................................................. 45 3.5 Wireframe geometry selection ............................................................. 46 4. Milling ............................................................................................................... 49 4.1 High Speed Machining (HSM) Module .............................................. 50 4.2 Thread Milling operation ...................................................................... 51 SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Contents 4 5. Turning and Turn-Mill ..................................................................................... 59 5.1 Material boundary .................................................................................. 60 5.2 Modify profle in Turning/Grooving operations ............................. 61 5.3 Smooth/Stairs options of the roughing in Grooving operation ... 62 6. Automatic Feature Recognition and machining (AFRM) ........................ 65 6.1 Reaming in holes recognition and machining ................................... 66 6.1.1 Hole Feature recognition ............................................................ 66 6.1.2 Preparing for machining ............................................................. 68 6.1.3 Technology ................................................................................... 71 7. Simulation ........................................................................................................ 75 7.1 Rapid Verify simulation mode ............................................................. 76 7.1.1 Rapid Verify Control panel ......................................................... 76 7.1.2 Updated Stock Model.................................................................. 77 Document number: SCWNENG07001 SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Contents 5 SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Contents 6 SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New 7 SolidCAM2007 R11 is a major release of SolidCAM that includes new functionality and enhancements in the following topics: SolidCAM Manager Suppress/Unsuppress of operations Cut/Copy/Paste of operations Tool types New tool types: Thread Mill, Reamer, Ball-nosed 2.5D Milling New Thread Milling Operation 3D Milling New High Speed Machining (HSM) module Turning and Turn-Mill Material boundary generated as sketch New Modify Profle option in Turning/Grooving operation Smooth/Stairs option in the Rough mode of Grooving operation AFRM Support of reaming in hole feature recognition and machining Simulation Rapid Verify mode for fast 3D Milling verifcation G-Code generation Fast generation of G-Code by defning Line/Arc translation to G- Code in MAC fle instead of GPP fle Miscellaneous About this book This book is intended for experienced SolidCAM users. If you are not familiar with the software, start with the lessons in the Getting Started Manual and then proceed to the SolidCAM Training Materials and User Guides. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New 8 1 General SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 10 1.1 SolidCAM Hardware Key SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to check the confguration of your hardware key. To view the information about the hardware key you are using, click SolidCAM and choose Hardware Key Profile Info from the menu. The Hardware key info dialog box is displayed. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 11 Key type This section displays the type of the key you are using: either standalone or network. Standalone hardware key enables you to run SolidCAM only on one computer where the key is installed. Network hardware key enables you to run SolidCAM simultaneously on several computers connected to a local area network. Up to this release the SolidCAM Network hardware key was able to support only one confguration (a specifc set of modules) for all SolidCAM network users. From SolidCAM 2007 R11 each SolidCAM User on the network can have a different seat confguration. Expiration date This section displays the expiration date of the key. (In case of Evaluation key). Additional features This section lists the additional modules, that the key enables you to work with, such as the DNC software. Modules The list of CAM modules you can work with using this key. Seats This parameter displays the number of computers in the network that are enabled with the network hardware key. Version This parameter displays the version of SolidCAM that this key supports. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 12 Evaluation When this check box is selected, all machining modules of SolidCAM are available. Save info This button enables you to save the information about the key as an *.htm fle. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 13 1.1.1 Choosing a seat configuration for a network user In SolidCAM 2007 R11 the network hardware key contains a number of seat confguration (specifc set of SolidCAM modules). When you start SolidCAM, choose the seat confguration you want to use (on condition that it is available). Click on the corresponding row in the table under Seat configuration selection. The row will become green if you are connected to the network successfully or red if the connection failed; in the latter case an error message will be displayed. Seat configuration selection Available This column shows the maximal number of users that are licensed to work simultaneously with the module set. Free This column shows the number of free seats for the specifc confguration. Hosts supported This column shows CAD systems you can work with using the specifc confguration. Modules The list of CAM modules you can work with using the specifc confguration. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 14 Configuration # (optional) In case you want to know which seat confguration is used on which host, this number enables you to identify the users that are currently using SolidCAM in the network with the help of the Aladdin Monitor utility. You can turn on this option in SolidCAM Settings if needed. Automatically load this seat configuration Select this check box if you wish to always start SolidCAM with the chosen confguration without displaying the Hardware Key Info dialog box. In case of connection failure an error message will be displayed. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 15 1.1.2 CAM Modules list M25 2.5D Milling RM25 Profle/Pocket 2.5D Rest Material and chamfering + AFRM SP25 Special Additional 2.5D Mill Options M3 3D Milling HSM High Speed Machining MI4 4-Axis Indexial Milling MI4/5 4/5-Axis Indexial Milling MS4 Simultaneous 4-Axis Milling (C-axis) MS5X-3 Sim. 5-Axis module - 3-Axis (supports undercut and morphing) MS5X-3/4 Sim. 5-Axis module - 3/4-Axis MS5X-3/4/5 Sim. 5-Axis module - 3/4/5-Axis MSim Machine Simulation T Turning T/MT-C Turn-Mill - XZC-axes T/MT-YC Turn-Mill - XYZC-axes T/MT-YBC Turn-Mill - XYZCB-axes BS Back Spindle W2 WireEDM 2-axes W4 WireEDM 2/4 axes DNC WinDNC application for NC data Transfer SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 16 1.2 Suppress/Unsuppress SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to suppress any operation in the CAM-Part, thus temporarily excluding it from the CAM-Part. When you suppress an operation, the operation does not participate in the calculation, simulation and G-code generation, as if the operation was deleted from the CAM-Part. In the SolidCAM Manager tree, the names of suppressed operations appear in gray. The tool path check box is disabled for the suppressed operations. When an operation is unsuppressed, it goes back to its original normal state. The Suppress/Unsuppress command is available via the right-click menu, for a single operation or a list of operations. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 17 When all selected operations are not suppressed, right-click on the list of selected operations and choose Suppress. This command will suppress all selected operations. When all selected operations are suppressed, the Unsuppress command available in the right-click operation menu will unsuppress the selected operations. When the list of selected operations contains both suppressed and unsuppressed operations, both Suppress and Unsuppress commands are available in the right-click menu. The Suppress command will suppress all the unsuppressed operations in the list. The Unsuppress command will unsuppress all the suppressed operations in the list. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 18 Editing suppressed operations SolidCAM enables you to edit a suppressed operation. However, the Save & Calculate, Simulate and G-Code buttons are unavailable. Tool path When an operation is suppressed, SolidCAM re-generates the CAM-Part tool path to exclude the tool path data related to the suppressed operation. The tool path of the suppressed operation stays unchanged unless the parameters of the operation are updated. During the unsuppressing of the suppressed operation, the CAM-Part tool path is re-generated in order to include the data of the unsuppressed operations. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 19 Suppressing linked operations 3D Drill operation + 3D Milling operation When the Suppress command is applied to the 3D Drill operation, the result is the following: The 3D Drill operation is suppressed; The tool path of the related 3D Milling operation is removed and the operation appears marked with an asterisk. When the Suppress command is applied to the 3D Milling operation, only this operation is suppressed. Both 3D Milling and related 3D Drill operations must be selected in order to be suppressed together. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 20 1.3 Cut/Copy/Paste Operations in the SolidCAM Manager SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to cut, copy and paste operations. Copy. This commands copies the selected operations into the clipboard. Paste. This command inserts the operations from the clipboard, after the selected operation. The pasted operations are marked by an asterisk; they must be calculated to obtain the tool path. If the clipboard is empty, the Paste command is disabled. Cut. This operation enables you to cut the operations and copy them into the clipboard. When the operations are pasted from the clipboard, the source operations are removed. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 21 1.4 MAC file enhancements SolidCAM 2007 R11 provides you with a number of enhancements of CNC Controller confguration fles (MAC fles). The number of MAC options defned by he options parameter in the Part options section of the MAC fle is increased to 50; The number of operation options (Extra parameters) defned by he job_opt_type parameter in the Job options section of the MAC fle is increased to 50; SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to use variables of text type for the defnition of operation and MAC options. For example: job_opt_type = Operation_name STRING SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 22 1.5 Fast G-Code generation. G-Code for surface machining commonly has a lot of lines (G1) and arcs (G2/G3). In previous SolidCAM versions each line (G1 X... Y... Z... F...) was generated according to rules described in @line subroutine in the *.gpp fle. Each arc (G2/3 X... Y... Z... R... F...) was generated according to rules described in @arc subroutine in the *.gpp fle. The line and arc G-code generation may take a lot of time, especially if @line and @arc subroutines are complicated. For reducing the time for G-Code generation, SolidCAM 2007 R11 offers you a new option Fast G-Code Generation. The internal_line MAC parameter enables you to turn on the Fast G-Code Generation option for lines. The default value is : internal_line = N. To turn on the option set internal_line = Y. With the Fast G-Code Generation mode, SolidCAM does not check the @line subroutine, but generates the G-Code according to internal rules. The internal_arc MAC parameter enables you to turn on the Fast G-Code Generation option for arcs. The default value is : internal_arc = N. To turn on the option set internal_arc = Y. With the Fast G-Code Generation mode, SolidCAM does not check the @arc subroutine, but generates the G-Code according to internal rules. The following MAC-parameters enable you to defne the line/arc format: gcode_line = G1/G01/... gcode_line is a string parameter that defnes the format of G command for line. The default is: gcode_line = G1. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 23 gcode_arc_CW = G2/G02/... gcode_arc_CW is a string parameter that defnes the format of G command for arc in clockwise direction. The default is: gcode_arc_CW = G2. gcode_arc_CCW = G3/G03/... gcode_arc_CCW is a string parameter that defnes the format of G command for arc in counter clockwise direction. The default is: gcode_arc_CCW = G3. space_in_line = Y/N space_in_line is a logical parameter that defnes there is a space before addresses X, Y, Z, I, J, K, R, F, M. The default is: space_in_line = Y. movement_precision = 0/1/2/3/4/5... movement_precision is an integer parameter that defnes the number of digits after the decimal point for X, Y, Z, I, J, K, R values. The default is: movement_precision = 3. feed_precision = 0/1/2/3/4/5... feed_precision is an integer parameter that defnes the number of digits after the decimal point for F values. The default is: feed_precision = 3. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 24 point_in_coordinate = N/Y point_in_coordinate is a logical parameter that defnes if there is a point after the coordinate value (X, Y, Z, I, J, K) if there is no fraction part of the value. The default is: point_in_coordinate = N. point_in_feed = N/Y point_in_feed is a logical parameter that defnes if there is a point after the feed value if there is no fraction part of the value. The default is: point_in_feed = N. point_in_radius = N/Y point_in_radius is a logical parameter that defnes if there is a point after the radius value if there is no fraction part of the value. The default is: point_in_radius = N. zero_in_coordinate = N/Y zero_in_coordinate is a logical parameter that defnes if there is a point after the coordinate value (X, Y, Z, I, J, K) if there is no fraction part of the value. The default is: zero_in_coordinate = N. zero_in_feed = N/Y zero_in_feed is a logical parameter that defnes if there is a point after the feed value if there is no fraction part of the value. The default is: zero_in_feed = N. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 25 zero_in_radius = N/Y zero_in_radius is a logical parameter that defnes if there is a point after the radius value if there is no fraction part of the value. The default is: zero_in_radius = N. max_d_before_p_in_c = 5/4/3... max_d_before_p_in_c is an integer parameter that defnes the number digits before the decimal point for coordinate value (X, Y, Z, I, J, K). The default is: max_d_before_p_in_c = 5. max_d_before_p_in_f = 5/4/3... max_d_before_p_in_f is an integer parameter that defnes the number digits before the decimal point for feed value. The default is: max_d_before_p_in_f = 5. max_d_before_p_in_r = 5/4/3... max_d_before_p_in_r is an integer parameter that defnes the n umber digits before the decimal point for radius value. The default is : max_d_before_p_in_r = 5. x_string = X/X=... x_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of X address. The default is: x_string = X. y_string = Y/Y=... y_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of Y address. The default is: y_string = Y. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 26 z_string = Z/Z=... z_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of Z address. The default is: z_string = Z. f_string = F/F=... f_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of F address. The default is: f_string = F. comp_string = R/R0... comp_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of compensation in line address. The default is: comp_string = . end_string = M/M0... end_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of the end of line. The default is: end_string = . r_string = R/R=... r_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of R (radius) address. The default is: r_string = R. i_string = I/I=... i_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of I (X coordinate of the arc center) address. The default is: i_string = I. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 27 j_string = J/J=... j_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of J (Y coordinate of the arc center) address. The default is: j_string = J. k_string = K/K=... k_string is a string parameter that defnes the format of K (Z coordinate of the arc center) address. The default is: k_string = K. r_less_360 = Y/N r_less_360 is a logical parameter that defnes if the arc that is not a circle may be defned by radius with a negative sign (Angle>180 : R-) The default is: r_less_360 = Y. rel_center = Y/N rel_center is a logical parameter that defnes if the arc center coordinates are relative or not. The default is: rel_center = Y. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 28 1.6 Operations recalculation One of the enhancements provided in SolidCAM 2007 R11 is related to the operations calculation. In SolidCAM 2007 R11 there is no need to recalculate an Operation if only the Feed used in the Operation is changed. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 29 1.7 User control of coordinate system visibility The Coordsys Manager dialog box in SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to control the visibility of Coordinate Systems. This feature simplifes the work when you have a number of coordinate systems. In the CoordSys Manager dialog box unmark the coordinate systems in order to hide them. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New General 30 2 Tools SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Tools 32 2.1 New tool types SolidCAM 2007 R11 provides you with a number of new tool types: Ball nose mill Thread Mill Reamer SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Tools 33 2.1.1 Ball nose mill In previous SolidCAM versions such a tools were defned using the End Mill/ Rough Mill tool types with the Corner radius value equal to a half of the tool diameter. SolidCAM 2007 R11 provides with a separate tool type for Ball nose tool. The Corner Radius of a tool of the Ball nose mill type is always equal to a half of the tool diameter. Diameter C u t t i n g
L e n g t h T o t a l
L e n g t h Corner Radius SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Tools 34 2.1.2. Thread Mill This tool is intended to machine the internal and external threads within the Thread Mill operations. The following parameters defne the geometry of thread mill tools. Pitch SolidCAM enables you to defne a Pitch of the thread either by Metric value (MM) or by a number of tracks per Inch (TPI). Diameter Shank Diameter C u t t i n g
L e n g t h T o t a l
L e n g t h SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Tools 35 2.1.3 Reamer This tool is intended to machine precise holes within the Drill operations. The following parameters defne the geometry of reamers. Diameter 45 Shank Diameter C u t t i n g
L e n g t h T o t a l
L e n g t h Chamfer Length SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Tools 36 3 Geometry SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 38 3.1 Setting CW/CCW direction for wireframe geometry chains SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to to set either clockwise or counter clockwise direction for the selected wireframe geometry chains using the appropriate commands in the chain right-click menu. CW direction CCW direction SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 39 3.2 Copying geometries SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to create a copy of geometries. Copy This command enables you to duplicate the selected geometry. The Geometry Name dialog box is displayed to defne the name of the new geometry. Copy as Working area This command copies the selected geometry as a working area. SolidCAM generates a SolidWorks sketch containing chains of the selected geometry. The sketch will be generated in the CAM component of the SolidCAM Part assembly. A new Working area geometry is defned using this sketch. The Geometry Name dialog box enables you to defne the name of the new geometry. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 40 3.3 Boolean operations between working areas and boundaries SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to perform a number of boolean operation between working area geometries and boundaries. The Boolean Operations commands is available in the right click menu for the Geometries header. The Boolean Operations dialog box is displayed. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 41 Coordinate System This feld enables you to choose the Coordinate System where the source geometries for the boolean operation are located. The resulting combined geometry will be created in the chosen coordinate system. Configurations This feld enables you to choose the SolidWorks confguration where the source user-defned geometries for the boolean operation are located. Operation type This feld enables you to defne the type of the boolean operation. The following boolean operations are available: Union This option enables you to unite selected geometries into a single one. All internal segments are removed; the resulting geometry is outer profle. Geometry 1 Geometry 2 Source geometries Resulting geometry SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 42 Merge This option enables you to merge a number of geometries, created by different methods, into a single one. Subtract This option enables you to perform subtraction of two geometries. The order of the geometry selection is important; the second selected geometry is subtracted from the frst selected one. Geometry 1 Geometry 2 Geometry 3 Source geometries Resulting geometry Geometry 1 Geometry 2 Source geometries Resulting geometry SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 43 Intersect This option enables you to perform intersection of two geometries. The Accept button performs the chosen operation with the geometries chosen in the Geometries section. Geometries The Geometries section displays all the available working area geometries classifed by the defnition method. This section enables you to choose the appropriate geometries for the boolean operation. Mark the check box near the geometry name in order to choose it for the boolean operation. Geometry 1 Geometry 2 Source geometries Resulting geometry SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 44 When you press the Accept button, the resulting geometry is displayed in the list under the Combined 2D header. SolidCAM enables you to edit the name of the created geometry. The newly created geometry is automatically choose for the further boolean operation. The resulting combined geometry is always a 2D geometry even if one or more of the input geometries is a 3D boundary. The right click menu available on the list items enables you to perform the following operations: Accept. This button enables you to perform the chosen boolean operation with the selected geometries. UnCheck All. This option unselects all the chosen geometries. Delete. This option enables you to delete combined geometries generated in the current session of the Boolean Geometries dialog box. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 45 3.4 Check faces selection SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to automatically select for Check Faces (used in the Working area defnition for the 3D Milling) all the faces adjacent to the Drive faces. The Add Drive adjacent faces button is added to the Choose faces dialog box for Check faces. Drive faces Adjacent Check faces SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 46 3.5 Wireframe geometry selection In previous versions SolidCAM worked only in the Edit assembly mode of SolidWorks. SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to work in Edit Part and Edit sketch modes. This enhancement provides you with the possibility to select model entities by box in the Multi-Chain mode using SolidWorks Selection flter. 1. Before starting the SolidCAM Geometry defnition, right click on the necessary component of the CAM-Part assembly or sketch and choose either Edit Part command or Edit sketch command accordingly. 2. In a SolidCAM operation dialog box, click on the Define button to start the geometry defnition. The Geometry Edit dialog box is displayed. 3. In the Multi-Chain section, click on the Add button to start the geometry selection. The Chain Selection dialog box is displayed. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 47 4. In the SolidWorks Standard toolbar, click on the icon to display the SolidWorks Selection filter toolbar. This toolbar enables you to set the necessary settings for the selection flter. For sketch entities selection click on the icon. 5. Drag the box around the necessary entities; they will be selected. 6. When the selection process is fnished, confrm the selection in the Chain Selection dialog box with the icon. 7. Confrm the Geometry Edit dialog box with the icon. The Machining geometry is completely defned for the operation. 8. If the selection was performed in a sketch environment, right click on the background of the graphic area of SolidWorks and choose the Exit Sketch command. 9. Switch SolidWorks back to the Edit Assembly mode. Right click on the background of the graphic area of SolidWorks and choose the Edit Assembly command. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Geometry 48 4 Milling SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Milling 50 4.1 High Speed Machining (HSM) Module SolidCAM HSM is a very powerful and market-proven high-speed-machining module (HSM) for molds, tools and dies and complex 3D parts. The HSM module offers unique machining and linking strategies for generating high-speed tool path. SolidCAMs HSM module smooths the paths of both cutting moves and retracts wherever possible to maintain a continuous machine tool motion an essential requirement for maintaining higher feed rates and eliminating dwelling. With SolidCAM HSM module retracts to high Z levels are kept to a minimum. Angled where possible, smoothed by arcs, retracts do not go any higher than necessary thus minimizing air cutting and reducing machining time. The result of HSM is an effcient, smooth, and gouge-free tool path. This translates to increased surface quality, less wear on your cutters, and a longer life for your machine tools. With demands for ever-shorter lead and production times, lower costs and improved quality, High Speed Machining (HSM) is a must in todays machine shops. A complete explanation on the SolidCAM High Speed Machining Module is covered by the SolidCAM HSM User Guide (with exercises). SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Milling 51 4.2 Thread Milling operation SolidCAM 2007 R11 provides you with a new 2.5D operation - Thread Mill. This operation enables you to generate a helical tool path for the machining of internal and external threads with thread mills. Most current CNC controls have a standard feature called helical interpolation. This feature is used to make a circular move in two axes and a linear move in a third axis. When thread milling, you will use this feature to form a circular motion in X and Y and a linear motion in the Z axis. The X and Y circular motion will form the diameter to be thread milled. The Z- axis linear motion will form the actual pitch (or lead) of the thread. The Thread Mill Operation dialog box enables you to defne parameters of thread milling SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Milling 52 Geometry This section enables you to choose the necessary Coordinate System for the operation and defne the machining geometry. The machining geometry for the Threads Mill operation is of Drill type; it is a set of center points of holes where the threading is performed. Tool This section enables you to choose the tool for the operation from the Part tool table. This section also displays such major parameters of the chosen tool as Tool Number, Tool Diameter, Pitch and Number of teeth. Only tools of Thread Mill type can be chosen for the operation. Milling levels This section enables you to defne Start level, Clearance level, Safety distance and Upper level of the Thread Mill operation. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Milling 53 Depth definition This section enables you to defne the depth of the thread. SolidCAM enables you to defne the Depth either by a Value or by Number of teeth. The generated helical tool path is effected by the following Thread Mill tool parameters: Pitch and Number of teeth. Thread data This section enables you to defne the geometry parameters of the thread. Type This section enables you to choose either ID (Inside diameter) or OD (Outside diameter) type of the machining. The Major thread diameter parameter enables you to defne the largest diameter of the machined thread. Inside Diameter Outside Diameter Major Thread Diameter Major Thread Diameter SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Milling 54 Direction This section enables you to choose either Left or Right hand direction of the machined thread. Cut from This section enables you to defne the direction of thread machining. The thread can be machined either from Top to bottom or from Bottom to top. Left Hand Right Hand Top to bottom Bottom to top SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Milling 55 Multi-Passes Rough This section defnes the parameters of the rough machining of the thread. This option will generate several concentric helical passes that start from the Clear Offset distance from the thread and fnish up to the thread, thus cutting the thread profle in a number of constant Step Over steps. Step Over defnes the offset between two successive concentric helical profles. Clear offset Step Over SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Milling 56 Finish This section enables you to perform the Thread fnishing. The Number of passes parameter enables you to generate a number of fnish paths to achieve the best surface quality. Start Angle This parameters defnes the start angle of the thread relative to the X-axis direction. Compensation If Compensation is activated, the tool radius compensation options G4x of the CNC controller are used in the G-Code. Start angle SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Milling 57 Sequence You can select one of 3 available options to control the sequence of the thread positions. Default. The threads will be performed according to the order in which the center points were picked during the geometry defnition. Line. This option enables you to defne the direction of the sequenced thread positions machining. Distance. This option minimizes the length of the necessary tool movement. The frst thread will be performed on the frst point defned in the geometry. Subsequent threads will be executed according to the nearest position, i.e. within the shortest distance to the previous thread position. For more information about sequences, refer to the Drill Operation topic of the SolidCAM Milling User Guide. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Milling 58 5 Turning and Turn-Mill SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Turning and Turn-Mill 60 5.1 Material boundary In previous versions SolidCAM enabled the defnition of the material boundary for turning/turn-mill CAM-Parts using either Value, 2D Boundary, 3D Model or Cylinder modes. The generated material boundary was not created as SolidWorks sketch; therefore the user could not use it to create additional sketches, e.g. of clamps. SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to automatically generate a sketch representing the Material boundary, when the Cylinder mode is used. Click on the Add to CAD Model button; a new sketch named Stock will be created in the CAM component of the CAM-Part assembly. This sketch is located on the XZ-plane of the actual Coordinate System and contains the material boundary. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Turning and Turn-Mill 61 5.2 Modify profile in Turning/Grooving operations SolidCAM 2007 R11 provides you with a possibility to defne the Modify profile parameters in Turning and Grooving operations. The Modify profile parameters Offset X and Offset Z enable you to defne an offset for the Machining Geometry; the machining will be performed on the profle modifed by the specifed offsets. Offset Z Offset X SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Turning and Turn-Mill 62 5.3 Smooth/Stairs options of the roughing in Grooving operation SolidCAM 2007 R11 provides you with the Smooth/Stairs options for the roughing performed by Grooving operation. These options are active only in case of Step Over mode is From Middle outside. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Turning and Turn-Mill 63 Smooth This option causes the tool, at the end of every tool path segment, to continue along the geometry until it meets the previous tool path; then it retreats from the material. A smooth material boundary results from this type of turning. Stairs This option causes the tool, at the end of every tool path segment, to retreat away from the material. A stairs-like material boundary results from this type of turning. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Turning and Turn-Mill 64 6 Automatic Feature Recognition and machining (AFRM) SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New AFRM 66 6.1 Reaming in holes recognition and machining Automatic Hole Feature Recognition and Machining Module (AFRM) of SolidCAM 2007 R11 enables you to automatically recognize holes in solid models and perform their precise machining by reaming technology. 6.1.1 Hole Feature recognition If during the Hole Feature recognition SolidCAM fnds a combination of Cylinder-Planar-Cylinder Hole Feature segments, and the difference between the diameters of the Upper Cylinder and Lower Cylinder is less then 0.2 mm, SolidCAM recognizes Upper Cylinder and Planar segments as precise hole suitable for applying the reaming technology. The Reaming Diameter and Reaming Height parameters are determined as shown below. Reaming diameter Reaming Height Reaming Depth Reaming Upper Level Upper Cylinder Lower Cylinder Planar segment SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New AFRM 67 These parameters are displayed in the Hole Feature Parameters dialog box for the Upper Cylinder. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New AFRM 68 hr_segm_height hr_segm_diameter hr_segm_depth hr_segm_upper_plane 6.1.2 Preparing for machining SolidCAM converts a suitable combination of Cylinder and Planar Hole Feature Segments into a Reaming Machinable Hole Feature Segment. The scheme and parameters of this segment are shown below. Reaming Upper level (hr_segm_ upper_plane) Reaming Diameter (hr_segm diameter) Reaming Height (hr_segm_height) Reaming Depth (hr_segm_depth) SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New AFRM 69 Conversion of Hole Feature segments into Machinable Hole Feature segments During conversion process, SolidCAM creates Reaming segments from suitable combinations of Cylinder and Planar Hole Feature segments. A Reaming segment is created with the following parameters: hr_segm_diameter = Reaming Diameter hr_segm_height = Reaming Height hr_segm_upper_plane = Reaming Upper level hr_segm_depth = Reaming Depth User Interface The user-defned Reaming segment can also be added manually with the Insert Reaming command in the right-click menu. This command is available only for Drill and Flat Cylinder Machinable Hole Feature segments. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New AFRM 70 The Machinable Hole Feature parameters dialog box for the Reaming MHF segment displays the following parameters: Reaming Diameter (hr_segm_diameter) Reaming Height (hr_segm_height) Reaming Upper Level (hr_segm_upper_plane) Reaming Depth (hr_segm_depth) Drill Diameter (hr_prev_segm_diameter) Changing the Reaming Upper level (hr_segm_upper_level) causes the Reaming Depth (hr_segm_depth) to change. The Reaming Height (hr_segm_height) is unchanged. Changing the Reaming Height (hr_segm_height) causes the Reaming Depth (hr_segm_depth) to change. The Reaming Upper level (hr_segm_upper_level) is unchanged. Changing the Reaming Depth (hr_segm_depth) causes the Reaming Upper level (hr_segm_upper_level) to change. The Reaming height (hr_segm_height) is unchanged. The Diameter parameter can be changed without any limitations. The Drill diameter parameter cannot be changed for the Reaming segment; to change the value you have to edit the Drill/Flat Cylinder segment on which the Reaming is performed. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New AFRM 71 6.1.3 Technology Technology Data Base (TDB) Like other MHF segments, the Reaming MHF segment is included in the TDB. All the related solutions are defned under the Reaming segment. The default solution supplied by SolidCAM for reaming contains one Drill operation: The technology step is performed by the usual Drill operation using the Drilling canned cycle. The Upper level of this operation is defned by the hr_segm_ upper_level parameter of the Reaming segment. The Depth is equal to the hr_segm_height. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New AFRM 72 Tool choice/definition SolidCAM uses tools of Reamer tool type for the Reaming operation. SolidCAM searches the suitable tool for the operation according to the following criteria: The tool must be of Reamer tool type. The Reamer Diameter of the tool must be equal to the Reaming diameter defned in the Technology solution (hr_segm_diameter). The search is performed in the Part Tool Table and Current tool library. If a suitable tool is not found, SolidCAM automatically defnes in the Part Tool Table a new tool according to the tool defnition in the Technology solution. The Reaming Diameter will be equal to the hr_segm_diameter, The Shank Diameter will be equal to the Reaming Diameter, The Chamfer Length will be equal to Reaming Diameter/6, SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New AFRM 73 The Cutting_Length is defned by the following formulas: For Metric: Cutting_Length = int(hr_segm_depth+5.5) For Inch: Cutting_Length = int(10*(hr_segm_depth+0.25))/10 The Outside_Holder_Length is defned by the following formulas: For Metric: Outside_Holder_Length = Cutting_Length+15 For Inch: Outside_Holder_Length = Cutting_Length+0.5 The Total_Length is defned by the following formulas: For Metric: Total_Length = Outside_Holder_Length+25 For Inch: Total_Length = Outside_Holder_Length+1 This defned tool will be chosen for the operation. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New AFRM 74 7 Simulation SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Simulation 76 7.1 Rapid Verify simulation mode SolidCAM 2007 R11 provides you with a new simulation mode: Rapid Verify. Rapid Verify simulation mode enables you to quickly simulate 3-axis tool path containing a large amount of tool movements. The major application of this mode is verifcation of the tool path generated by 3D Milling operations or by SolidCAM HSM operations (see SolidCAM HSM Module User Guide). Rapid Verify provides high performance because it uses a simplifed representation, as opposed to the solid representation used by Solid Verify. The limitation of this simulation mode is that the machined part cannot have any concavities in the Z- direction in other words, for any X, Y point on the machined part there is only one Z-value. Therefore, multi-sided 4- and 5-axis machining cannot be simulated using Rapid Verify. The shaped tools are also not supported; only end mills, bull- nosed, ball-nosed and taper tools can be used in the operations that are simulated with Rapid Verify. 7.1.1 Rapid Verify Control panel The Rapid Verify data structure is based on a grid of material height values. The resolution of this grid can be modifed by the Grid Resolution slider. Greater resolution will improve verifcation accuracy but at the expense of slower graphical update and increased memory usage. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Simulation 77 Using the Speed-up Animation option, SolidCAM enables you to increase the simulation speed by simplifying the intermediate simulation images. When this option is turned on, SolidCAM merges a specifed number of facets into a single one; the Facets Merging parameter enables you to defne the number of neighbouring facets that are merged together. The simplifed model is displayed during the simulation, resulting in accelerated rendering and refreshing. When the simulation is paused or fnished, the non-simplifed machined stock is displayed. The simplifed image is also displayed during pan, zoom or rotate operations. There are two possible scenarios for using the Rapid Verify simulation mode: 1. For the fastest verifcation, use Turbo mode and click on the right mouse button (or rotate/pan) to get intermediate updated stock; you do not need to use the Speed-Up Animation option in this scenario. 2. For regular verifcation, set the Speed-up Animation option to a higher number for Facet Merging; you will see a continuous verifcation on a not so clear model. Whenever you stop the verifcation you will see an accurate model representation. 7.1.2 Updated Stock Model If you want to perform the Rapid Verify simulation on a specifc operation, starting from the Updated Stock model of the previous operations, you must make sure to perform a Solid Verify simulation on the previous operations. Otherwise, Rapid Verify will perform the simulation on the original stock of the CAM-Part. SolidCAM 2007 R11 Whats New Simulation 78