Product category:
Software, off-line programming, CAM, for metal cutting machine tools
News Release from: Mastercam | Subject: CAD/CAM software - high speed machining
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 30 March 2007
CAD/CAM has improved HSM toolpaths
Latest CAD/CAM software offers significant new capabilities, including improved toolpaths for high speed machining, multi-axis enhancements, and much more.
The Eastec show ushers in the latest CAD/CAM software from CNC Software Mastercam X2's Maintenance Release (MR1) will be showcased in booth 5245 at the Big E Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts on May 22-24 This release introduces significant new capabilities, including improved toolpaths for high speed machining, multiaxis enhancements, and much more
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Apr 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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* Pencil Rest material optimization - the high speed machining Pencil toolpath has been enhanced to provide much smoother motion with fewer retracts when used with rest material.
Also, Mastercam can now calculate the appropriate number of offset passes needed, based on tool diameter.
* Core roughing trochoidal controls - trochoidal motion in high speed toolpaths assists with the machining of harder materials.
Further reading
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For the thirteenth successive year, Mastercam CAM software has ranked first in installed seats worldwide, with almost 125,000 installed seats.
CAD/CAM certified for Autodesk Inventor 2008
The Autodesk Inventor Certified Applications Programme has tested and approved Mastercam X2 CAD/CAM Software for Autodesk Inventor 2008 software.
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Milling CAM developments include radial and spiral finishing and rest material functionality as well as added support for SolidWorks assembly files and Z-oscillation.
Trochoidal motion maintains an acceptable tool load, allowing feeds and speeds programming to be reliable.
In MR1, Mastercam gives you the ability to control when and how the trochoidal motion occurs in a toolpath.
* Multi-axis enhancements - Mastercam's 5-axis Flowline toolpath has been enhanced to support undercuts.
On complicated files where controlling the normal direction of the surfaces are cumbersome, Mastercam has an option that lets you either allow undercuts or ignore the surface normal direction, greatly simplifying the process.
The advanced multi-axis toolpaths have also been enhanced to support solid geometry.
When a solid model is present, Mastercam provides the option to select solid geometry.
* Viewsheets - new to Mastercam, viewsheets will save time when working with multiple views or working with different levels at the same time.
Viewsheets let you create different user-defined sheets consisting of the view orientation, zoom scale, and visible levels of the part.
Bookmarks allow you to save a specific state inside the viewsheet and recall it later.
Mastercam saves the current view orientation, zoom, and visible level information each time you move from one viewsheet to another.
** Additional MR1 enhancements.
* Z Oscillation contour type has been added to minimize tool wear.
* Z Oscillation is especially useful when cutting thinner materials or laminated materials.
* The high speed Scallop toolpath has been enhanced to optimize toolpath retracts during shallow applications.
* The high speed toolpaths have been modified to allow the user to control when automatic feeds, speeds, stepovers, and stepdowns are calculated.
** About Mastercam - developed by CNC Software, Incorporated, Mastercam is Windows-based CAD/CAM software for 2- through 5-axis milling and turning; 2- and 4-axis wire EDM; 2D and 3D design, surface, and solid modeling; artistic relief cutting, and 2D and 3D routing.
CNC Software is a privately owned corporation founded in 1984.
The USA-based company provides Mastercam CAD/CAM solutions to more than 85,000 installations in 75 countries in industries including mold-making, prototyping, automotive, medical, aerospace, and consumer products.
Mastercam runs under Windows 2000 and Windows XP and is compatible with all other CAD/CAM systems.
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