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  • SOLIDCAM - THE LEADERS IN INTEGRATED CAMThe complete integrated Manufacturing Solution inside SolidWorks

    www.solidcam.comwww.solidcam.com

    SOLIDCAM 2010WHATS NEW

  • SolidCAM 2010

    Whats New

    1995-2010 SolidCAM

    All Rights Reserved.

  • Document number: SCWNENG10001

  • Contents

    5

    Contents

    1. General 9

    1.1 Managing SolidCAM settings 10

    1.1.2 Loading the settings 111.1.3 Resetting the settings to default values 121.1.1 Saving the settings 10

    1.2 CAM-Part synchronization settings 14

    1.2.1 Synchronization of CAM geometry with design model 141.2.2 Synchronization of design model with original model 16

    1.3 Managing warning messages and prompts 17

    1.4 Deleting Coordinate Systems in the CoordSys Manager 18

    1.5 Simultaneous display of tool path for multiple operations 19

    1.5.2 Displaying the tool path for all CAM-Part operations 201.5.1 Displaying the tool path for several selected operations 19

    1.6 Browsing to the last opened location 21

    1.7 Removing unused CAM-Part data 23

    1.8 Simulation and GCode generation for not calculated operations 25

    1.9 Facet tolerance for Coordinate System definition 26

    1.10 Templates 27

    1.10.1 Common template parameters 271.10.3 Renaming templates 301.10.2 Template filtering 28

    1.11 Closing the Machining Process from the SolidCAM Manager 31

    1.12 Simulation interface improvements 32

    1.13 Warning about hardware key expiration 33

    1.14 Support of 64-bit computing 34

    1.15 SolidCAM controls in SolidWorks environment 35

    1.15.1 SolidCAM tab in SolidWorks CommandManager 351.15.2 SolidCAM toolbars in SolidWorks environment 40

  • 62. Geometry 43

    2.1 Loop geometry selection 44

    2.1.1 Marking external loops as open pocket edges 442.1.2 Primary and secondary loop selection 45

    2.2 Chains filtering by Z-Levels 47

    2.3 Browsing geometries 48

    2.4 Defining the direction of geometry chains 50

    2.5 Geometry definition and synchronization for Drill Recognition operations 51

    2.5.1 Definition of geometry 51

    2.5.2 Synchronization of geometry 53

    3. Tools 55

    3.1 Cutting Length improvements 56

    3.1.1 Definition of cutting length according to operation machining length 573.1.2 Tool filtering 57

    3.2 H Length improvements 58

    3.2.2 H Length 593.2.1 Holder overhang length 58

    3.3 Spin and Feed definition improvements 60

    3.3.2 Assigning the work material to the CAM-Part 613.3.3 Defining the sets of cutting conditions for different tools 61

    3.3.1 Defining the work material 60

    3.4 Visual tool check in the Part Tool Table 66

    3.5 Turning tool holder definition and visualization 68

    3.5.1 Choosing the tool holder 683.5.2 Defining the tool origin position 70

  • Contents

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    4. 2.5D Milling 71

    4.1 Drill Recognition improvements 72

    4.1.2 Complete hole group 734.1.1 Minimize hole cycle 72

    5. Turning 75

    5.1 Selecting geometry on envelope 76

    6. High Speed Machining (HSM) 81

    6.1 HSM Rough machining module 82

    6.2 Constant Z and 3D Corner offset combined strategy 83

    7. High Speed Surface Machining (HSS) 87

    7.1 Stock definition improvements 88

    8. Sim. 5-Axis Machining 91

    8.1 Start point definition improvements 92

    8.2 Tool path linking definition improvements 93

    8.2.2 Home position definition 94

    8.2.1 Separate Approach/Retract and Linking definition 93

    8.3 4-Axis output format for Sim. 5-Axis sub-operations 96

    8.4 Axial offset technology for 5-Axis Engraving 98

    8.5 Stock definition improvements 99

    8.6 Motion limits control definition improvements 101

    8.7 Multi-Axis Drilling operation 102

    8.7.1 CoordSys page 1038.7.2 Geometry page 1048.7.4 Levels page 1078.7.7 Miscellaneous parameters page 1168.7.6 Motion limits control page 1158.7.5 Technology page 113

  • 88.7.3 Tool page 1068.8 Sorting of cylindrical drilling patterns 117

    8.9 HSM to Sim. 5-Axis tool path conversion 127

    9. Simulation 133

    9.1 External Simulator in SolidCAM 134

    9.2 Turning tool holding system in Machine simulation 137

  • General 1

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    1.1 Managing SolidCAM settings

    SolidCAM provides you with settings that enable you to customize the SolidCAM environment.

    In previous versions, these settings were stored in the Windows registry. When user reinstalled SolidCAM on the current computer or migrated to another one, the SolidCAM settings customized by the user were lost and the default SolidCAM settings were installed. There was no possibility to save the SolidCAM settings externally in a file and then load them to substitute the existing settings.

    SolidCAM 2010 offers 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.

    1.1.1 Saving the settings

    The Save button enables you to save the SolidCAM settings in a file. When you click on this button, the Save As dialog box is displayed.

    The default location is the SolidCAM User directory displayed in the browser. The default file name SolidCAM_Settings.screg is used.

    When you click on the Save button in the dialog box, all the customized settings are stored in the settings file.

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    1.1.2 Loading the settings

    The Load button enables you to load the SolidCAM settings stored in the previously saved file. When you click on this button, the Open dialog box is displayed.

    The default location is the SolidCAM User directory displayed in the browser. All the settings files located in this or other location are available to be chosen.

    When a settings file is chosen and the Open button is clicked, SolidCAM displays the following message:

    When the message is confirmed, SolidCAM loads the settings file. During the loading, SolidCAM overwrites the parameters values with the values stored in the settings file. When the loading is successfully completed, the SolidCAM Settings dialog box is updated and displays the updated parameters values.

    Load options

    The Load Options section provides you with the choice of parameters to be loaded:

    When the SolidCAM Settings only option is chosen, only the parameters that can be edited in the SolidCAM Settings dialog box are loaded.

    When the Complete SolidCAM environment option is chosen, the whole branch of current SolidCAM version that can be edited in the Registry Editor is loaded. This complete environment includes additional items not available within SolidCAM Settings e.g. last used positions of some SolidCAM dialog boxes.

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    1.1.3 Resetting the settings to default values

    When launched for the first time, SolidCAM creates a set of settings stored in the SolidCAM branch of the Windows registry. These settings are available in the SolidCAM Settings dialog box and can be customized. In previous versions these settings could not be reset to their default values.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the possibility to reset the customized SolidCAM Settings to their default values.

    The Reset Page and Reset All buttons are added to the SolidCAM Settings dialog box.

    The Reset Page button enables you to reset all the parameters of the current settings page to their default values. When you click on this button, a confirmation message is displayed:

    When this message is confirmed, SolidCAM resets all the settings of the current page.

    The Reset All button enables you to reset all the parameters of the SolidCAM settings to their default values. Confirmation message is displayed:

    When this message is confirmed, SolidCAM resets all the settings to their default values.

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    CAM-Part settings can also be reset to their default values in a similar manner. The Reset Page and Reset All buttons are added to the Part Settings dialog box.

    During reset, the CAM-Part settings parameters, that are based on parameters in SolidCAM Settings, inherit new values from the SolidCAM Settings. The CAM-Part Settings parameters, that are based on hard-coded values, are reset to their default hard-coded values.

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    1.2 CAM-Part synchronization settings

    In previous versions, the synchronization settings were available only at the system level in SolidCAM Settings. The same settings were used for all the CAM-Parts.

    In SolidCAM 2010, the synchronization settings can also be customized for each CAM-Part. The synchronization options were added into the Synchronization page of the Part Settings dialog box.

    1.2.1 Synchronization of CAM geometry with design model

    Check synchronization always

    The synchronization check is performed automatically each time you click on the SolidCAM Manager tree.

    Askbeforesynchronizationcheck

    When this check box is selected, after every change in the part or in the assembly and rebuild, SolidCAM will prompt you, before checking the synchronization of the geometries with the model or sketches.

    When this check box is not selected, the synchronization checking will be performed without any prompt to the user.

    Synchronizeautomatically

    This option enables you to perform the synchronization of geometries automatically.

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    When this check box is selected, the synchronization check is performed, and then all the unsynchronized operations and geometries are automatically synchronized. When the synchronization fails for certain operations or geometries, SolidCAM marks these operations/geometries with an exclamation mark and deletes the operation tool path; such operations are marked with asterisk.

    This option is available only when the Check synchronization always check box is selected.

    Calculateoperationsafterthesynchronization

    This option enables you to perform the calculation of the synchronized operations automatically. When this check box is selected, SolidCAM automatically calculates all the synchronized operations. The operations marked with an exclamation mark are not calculated.

    This option is available only when the Automatically synchronize geometries check box is selected.

    Check synchronization on user demand

    In this case, SolidCAM will not check the synchronization automatically. The Check Synchronization item in the Operation and Geometry right-click menus is enabled and you can choose it to start the synchronization.

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    1.2.2 Synchronization of design model with original model

    Every time the CAM-Part is opened, SolidCAM automatically checks the correspondence of the dates of the CAM-Part and the original SolidWorks design model. When the date of the original SolidWorks model is later than the date of the CAM-Part creation, this means that the SolidWorks original model has been updated. You can then replace the SolidWorks design model, on which the CAM-Part is based, with the updated SolidWorks design model.

    The Ask user to find original model option defines the sequence of SolidCAM operations in case the original model is not found in the location specified in the CAM-Part. This option enables you to use the browser window to look for the original model.

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    1.3 Managing warning messages and prompts

    There is a number of messages in SolidCAM that are displayed in response to specific user input, such as warning messages, confirmation prompts and so forth. These messages are displayed each time a particular action is performed (for example, deleting operations), and it might be quite cumbersome to answer them every time.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the possibility to control the visibility status of the most frequently displayed messages.

    The Dont ask again check box, added to each of these messages enables you to avoid displaying the message after it appears on the screen for the first time.

    When the message box is confirmed, the message will not be displayed until you switch this option back on in SolidCAM Settings.

    The CAM Messages page, added into the SolidCAM Settings dialog box enables you to handle the visibility of all frequently displayed messages by selecting the relevant check boxes in the Activate following messages section.

    Each message box is controlled by the relevant check box. When the check box is cleared, the message is not displayed, and confirmation of the event is performed automatically. When the check box is selected, the confirmation message is displayed.

    The status of the check boxes, defined in the CAM Messages page of the SolidCAM Settings dialog box, is stored.

    By default, after SolidCAM is launched for the first time, all the check boxes in this page are selected, which means that all the confirmation dialog boxes are displayed.

    The Activate prompts to calculate operations section contains the list of operations that need confirmation before re-calculation of already calculated operation. When the check box is selected for the specific operation, the confirmation message will be displayed before this operation is re-calculated.

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    1.4 Deleting Coordinate Systems in the CoordSys Manager

    In previous versions, you were able to delete unused Coordinate Systems one by one or by groups of selected Coordinate Systems. When a group of Coordinate Systems was selected in the CoordSys Manager dialog box, SolidCAM provided you with the Delete command available in the right-click menu.

    When this command was chosen, SolidCAM deleted all selected Coordinate Systems one by one. For each Coordinate System a confirmation message was displayed:

    In case of deleting a large number of Coordinate Systems, answering all these confirmation messages could be cumbersome.

    In SolidCAM 2010, deletion of multiple Coordinate Systems using the same command in the right-click menu, is accompanied with only one confirmation message:

    When this message is confirmed, all the selected Coordinate Systems are deleted.

    If some of the Coordinate Systems cannot be deleted, SolidCAM displays the following message:

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    1.5 Simultaneous display of tool path for multiple operations

    In previous versions the display of the tool path of operations in the SolidCAM Manager was controlled using the check box located to the left of the operation entry, resulting in the tool path display one operation at the time. This meant that in order to view the tool path for a number of operations or for all operations of the CAM-Part, the user had to turn on the display of the tool path for all the operations, one by one.

    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.

    1.5.1 Displaying the tool path for several selected operations

    Each operation entry in SolidCAM Manager has a related tool path visibility check box, which can be selected to display the tool path of the corresponding operation.

    When several operations are selected in SolidCAM Manager, clicking on the check box related to one of the selected operations, changes the tool path visibility status for all the selected operations and the tool path of all these operations is displayed on the model.

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    When one of the tool path visibility check boxes related to selected operations is clicked again, the tool path display and the check boxes are cleared.

    1.5.2 Displaying the tool path for all CAM-Part operations

    The tool path visibility check box has been added to the Operations header in the SolidCAM Manager tree. Using this check box, you can control the tool path visibility status for all the operations defined for the CAM-Part.

    When this check box is selected, the tool path visibility check boxes are selected for all the operations and SolidCAM displays the tool path for all of the operations.

    When this check box is cleared, SolidCAM clears the tool path display and the tool path visibility check boxes for all the operations.

    When a CAM-Part contains operations with different status of the tool path visibility, the tool path visibility check box related to the Operations header has a solid black fill.

    When the mixed tool path visibility check box related to the Operations header is clicked again, it is cleared; the tool path display and all the related tool path visibility check boxes are cleared.

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    1.6 Browsing to the last opened location

    SolidCAM enables you to display the browser dialog box when you choose one of the following commands:

    Open. This command displays the browser dialog box that enables you to load a CAM-Part.

    Delete. This command displays the browser dialog box that enables you to delete a CAM-Part.

    Add Directory. This command is available from the Calculate CAM-Parts dialog box and enables you to choose the location where the CAM-Parts intended to be calculated are located.

    Save As. This command displays the browser dialog box that enables you to save the current CAM-Part in a different location and with a different name.

    Change model reference/Browse. The Browse button is available in the Change Model Reference dialog box. The browser dialog box available in this case enables you to locate the model that will be chosen as the reference model.

    In previous versions, in all cases above, the browser dialog box was loaded with the default location defined in the User directories page of the SolidCAM Settings dialog box.

    If the machining project you were working with was located in a different folder, you had to browse between directories to find the necessary file or location, which was inconvenient in some cases.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the functionality that stores the last used location, when the browser dialog box is used. When the browser dialog box is displayed next time, SolidCAM automatically displays the stored location as the default one saving your time spent on browsing for the necessary CAM-Part.

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    The Return to the latest used directory option is added in the CAM-Parts dialog box.

    When this check box is not selected, SolidCAM uses the directory defined in the User Directory for CAM-Parts section as the default location when the browser dialog box is displayed.

    When this check box is selected, each time you open a CAM-Part using the Open command in the SolidCAM menu, the browser dialog box is displayed with the last location chosen in the browser.

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    1.7 Removing unused CAM-Part data

    SolidCAM Parts can occupy a large amount of disk space, especially when they include updated stock model files, unused geometries, GCode files, etc. Some of this data might not be used in the CAM-Part anymore, but they are still located in the CAM-Part folder causing undesirable increase of the CAM-Part size.

    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 later automatically recalculated), and any other unused data saved in the CAM-Part.

    The Cleanup CAM-Part command is added to the right-click menu available on the CAM-Part header in SolidCAM Manager.

    When this command is chosen, the Cleanup CAM-Part dialog box is displayed.

    This dialog box enables you to define the options of the CAM-Part cleanup.

    Remove GCode files. When this check box is selected, SolidCAM removes all the GCode files from the CAM-Part folder. The files to be removed are determined according to the GCode Files Extension parameter specified in the MAC file used in the current CAM-Part.

    Remove Updated Stock model files used for simulation. When this check box is selected, SolidCAM removes all the Updated Stock model files used for the SolidVerify simulation (*.stf).

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    Remove Updated Stock model files used for rest material calculation. When this check box is selected, SolidCAM removes all the Updated Stock model files used for the rest material calculation (*.stfrm).

    Remove unused geometries. When this check box is selected, SolidCAM removes all the geometries that are not used in the operations of the current CAM-Part.

    Remove unused tools. When this check box is selected, SolidCAM removes all the tools located in the Part Tool Table that are not used in the operations of the current CAM-Part.

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    1.8 Simulation and GCode generation for not calculated operations

    In previous versions, when you performed simulation or GCode generation for an operation that was not calculated previously, SolidCAM displayed the following message:

    After the message confirmation, you had to calculate the operation by clicking on the Save & Calculate button in the operation dialog box. After the calculation you had to click on the Simulate button for tool path simulation or on the GCode button for the GCode generation.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with a time-saving solution for the cases when the simulation/GCode generation is needed for non-calculated operations.

    When you click on the Simulate or GCode button in the dialog box of an operation that was not previously calculated, the following confirmation prompt is displayed:

    When you click on the Yes button, SolidCAM performs calculation of the operation tool path and then continues to simulation or GCode generation (according to your initial request).

    When you click on the No button, SolidCAM closes the message box and returns the focus to the operation dialog box, enabling you to perform calculation manually.

    The Dont ask again option enables you to automatically choose the Yes option, without displaying this prompt, next time a similar situation occurs.

    The visibility status of this confirmation prompt can be controlled using the relevant check box in the CAM Messages page of the SolidCAM Settings dialog box (see topic 1.3).

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    1.9 Facet tolerance for Coordinate System definition

    During the CoordSys definition, SolidCAM generates the model box surrounding the model. Model facets are used in the process of model box generation. In previous versions of SolidCAM the facetting was performed with a hard-coded tolerance of 0.01 - this value could not be changed, which sometimes resulted in issues of inaccurate triangulation that resulted in imprecise CAM-Part levels values related to the model box (e.g. 49.99 instead of 50).

    To avoid this problem, SolidCAM 2010 has added a possibility to customize the facet tolerance used for the CoordSys definition.

    The Facet tolerance for levels measuring parameter is added in the CoordSys definition page of the SolidCAM Settings dialog box.

    This parameter enables you to define the tolerance for facetting that will be used during the model box generation in the process of CoordSys definition - the default value of the parameter is 0.01.

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    1.10 Templates

    1.10.1 Common template parameters

    SolidCAM enables you to insert a process template that contains a group of operations into the CAM-Part. In previous versions, at the stage of insertion, SolidCAM displayed a dialog box that enables you to define the Coordinate System that would be common for all operations in the process template.

    The geometries used in the process template operations had to be defined separately for each operation, after the process template insertion - even if there was a common geometry for several operations it had to be defined again for each operation.

    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 of the process template.

    When you choose the Add Operations from Process Template command to insert a process template into your CAM-Part, the Template Manager dialog box is displayed with the list of process templates available for insertion into the CAM-Part.

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    When you choose a process template from the list and confirm the dialog box, the Template Common Data dialog box is displayed. This dialog box enables you to define a Coordinate System, a Geometry and Upper/Lower levels to be common for all the operations contained in the process template.

    The CoordSys combo box enables you to define the common Coordinate System for all the operations of the process template. The combo box enables you to choose the relevant Coordinate System from the list. The button enables you to define a new Coordinate System using the CoordSys Manager dialog box with the entire SolidCAM functionality of Coordinate System definition and management.

    The Geometry combo box enables you to define the common geometry for all the operations of the process template. The combo box enables you to choose the relevant geometry from the list.

    The Upper Level and Lower Level edit boxes enable you to define the common machining levels values for all the operations of the process template. The corresponding buttons enable you to pick the levels on the model.

    The defined geometry and levels data will be used only in the operations in which these data are relevant.

    1.10.2 Template filtering

    When you have a large number of templates stored in your database, it might be time-consuming to navigate through the whole list and choose the necessary ones for particular machining tasks.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the possibility to filter the defined templates.

    In the Operation Templates table of the Template Manager dialog box, a filter row is added for defining the filter for the table items.

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    Template filtering can be performed by entering the first letters in the Name/Operation

    type/Technology cell and then clicking on the corresponding button.

    SolidCAM displays all items that include these letters at the beginning.

    Template filtering can also be performed by selecting items in the table as filtering criteria. Click on any row in the table to select a template. The Name, Operation type and Technology cells will be automatically filled according to the template you have selected

    as a potential criterion for filtering. Then click on the button in the column you want to consider as the filtering criterion (Name, Operation type or Technology).

    Filtering is performed according to the specified filter of the selected column.

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    To reset the defined filtering, click on the button at the bottom of the Template Manager dialog box. The results of the previous filtering are displayed in the table until you click on this button.

    1.10.3 Renaming templates

    When you define a template and save it in your templates database, you may not pay close attention to proper naming of the newly defined template. Afterwards you may find it difficult to locate the required template, navigating between a large number of templates with similar or non-meaningful names. SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the possibility to rename the defined templates.

    The Manage Templates command located in the SolidCAM menu displays the Template Manager dialog box that enables you to manage the existing templates.

    The Rename option is added into the template managing menu available by right-clicking on the templates in the table.

    When you choose this option, the template name in the list becomes available for edit, and you can rename it.

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    1.11 Closing the Machining Process from the SolidCAM Manager

    When there is a Machining Process open for the CAM-Part you are currently working with, its name appears in parentheses in the Machining Process header of the SolidCAM Manager tree. SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the possibility to close this Machining Process directly from the SolidCAM Manager.

    The Close command has been added into the right-click menu available on the Machining Process header. When you choose it, the current Machining Process is closed.

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    1.12 Simulation interface improvements

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with an enhanced interface for SolidVerify, VerifyPlus, Rest Material, RapidVerify and SolidVerify for 3D simulations. The icons and controls on the simulation toolbars has been modified.

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    1.13 Warning about hardware key expiration

    In previous versions, SolidCAM did not notify users in advance about the expiration of their evaluation license.

    In SolidCAM 2010, when your license is about to expire (10 days and less left), the following warning message is displayed:

    This message is displayed once a day during the whole mentioned period of time.

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    1.14 Support of 64-bit computing

    In previous versions, SolidCAM had a 32-bit functionality that was available for both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms.

    To take full advantage of the increased RAM capabilities of 64-bit systems, SolidCAM 2010 supports 64-bit computing, important for the calculation and simulation of large parts will be further accelerated.

    SolidCAM 2010 includes two separate installation packages for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of operation systems.

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    1.15 SolidCAM controls in SolidWorks environment

    In the current release, SolidCAM controls have been added into the SolidWorks environment for enhancement of the user interface.

    1.15.1 SolidCAM tab in SolidWorks CommandManager

    In the SolidWorks CommandManager, the SolidCAM tab appears when SolidCAM is activated.

    The SolidCAM tab contains the following buttons:

    About SolidCAM

    This button displays the dialog box that contains the information about the SolidCAM software. This button corresponds to the About SolidCAM command in the SolidCAM menu.

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    New CAM-Part

    This button displays the list of available SolidCAM modules such as Milling, Turning, Mill-Turn, and so forth. This button corresponds to the New command in the SolidCAM menu.

    Calculate CAM-Parts

    This button displays the Calculate Parts browser that enables you to calculate the CAM-parts stored in the specified location.

    This button corresponds to the Calculate CAM-Parts command in the SolidCAM menu.

    Open CAM-Part

    This button displays the CAM-Parts browser that enables you to open a CAM-Part stored in the specified location.

    This button corresponds to the Open command in the SolidCAM menu.

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    Copy CAM-Parts

    This button displays the Copy Parts dialog box that enables you to copy parts from one location to another.

    This button corresponds to the Copy command in the SolidCAM menu.

    Delete CAM-Parts

    This button displays the Part to delete dialog box that enables you to delete CAM-Parts from the specified location.

    This button corresponds to the Delete command in the SolidCAM menu.

    Template Manager

    This button displays the Template Manager dialog box that enables you to manage the operation and process templates.

    This button corresponds to the Manage Templates command in the SolidCAM menu.

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    Load Tool Library

    This button displays the Load browser that enables you to load the tool library to be edited.

    This button corresponds to the Edit Tool Library command in the SolidCAM menu.

    SolidCAM Settings

    This button displays the CAM Settings dialog box that enables you to manage the settings of the SolidCAM software.

    This button corresponds to the SolidCAM Settings command in the SolidCAM menu.

    Technology Database

    This button displays the Technology Database dialog box that enables you to manage the SolidCAM technology database.

    This button corresponds to the Technology Database command in the SolidCAM menu.

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    Hardware Key info

    This button displays the Hardware Key Info dialog box that enables you to get the hardware key info.

    This button corresponds to the Hardware Key Info command in the SolidCAM menu.

    CAM Views

    The CAM-Views toolbar contains buttons that enable you to manage the model views related to the orientation of the selected CoordSys position.

    Exit

    This button enables you to exit SolidCAM.

    This button corresponds to the Exit SolidCAM command in the SolidCAM menu.

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    1.15.2 SolidCAM toolbars in SolidWorks environment

    The following SolidCAM toolbars have been added into the SolidWorks window:

    SolidCAM General

    This toolbar contains the general buttons corresponding to the commands in the SolidCAM menu and the CAM-Views toolbar (see topic 1.15.1).

    SolidCAM New

    This toolbar contains buttons that enable you to activate the available SolidCAM modules: Milling, Mill-Turn, Turning, Turn-Mill, Milling STL, and Wire Cut.

    This toolbar corresponds to the New command in the SolidCAM menu.

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    SolidCAM New Tool Library

    This toolbar contains buttons that enable you to start the definition of a new SolidCAM Tool Library (Milling, Turning, or Mill-Turn).

    This toolbar corresponds to the Create Tool Library command in the Tool Library submenu of the SolidCAM menu.

    SolidCAM Tool Library Options

    This toolbar contains buttons that enable you to manage the existing Tool Libraries and the related features such as Tool Types, Tool Holders, and so forth.

    This toolbar corresponds to the Tool Library command in the SolidCAM menu.

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  • Geometry 2

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    2.1 Loop geometry selection

    2.1.1 Marking external loops as open pocket edges

    In previous versions, the Faces mode of geometry selection has been added to the Chains Selection dialog box. This mode enables you to define the wireframe geometry by selecting loops of model faces.

    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.

    The Mark all edges of the loop as open check box is added in the Loops filter section of the Chains Selection dialog box. This check box enables you to automatically mark all the edges of the external loop of the selected face as open. Such loops will be treated as open pockets, and the tool will machine over the open edges.

    This check box is available only for Pocket operations.

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    2.1.2 Primary and secondary loop selection

    In previous versions, SolidCAM enabled you to define the wireframe geometry by loops of model faces using the Chains Selection dialog box. With this dialog box, you could choose a single loop on the model using the Host CAD functionality and define the wireframe geometry on it.

    In SolidCAM 2010, a new loop selection functionality has been added to facilitate the process of single loop selection for geometry definition.

    The Loop option is added to the Chain section of the Geometry Edit dialog box. When this option is chosen, SolidCAM enables you to select a loop by picking one of its edges.

    In this mode, all the controls of the Chains list section are disabled until a model edge is picked. When a model edge is selected, two faces to which this edge belongs are determined, and their loops are highlighted. The first determined loop is considered to be the primary and is highlighted with yellow color. The second loop is considered to be the secondary and is highlighted with cyan color.

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    When you click on the Accept chain button, the primary loop (highlighted with yellow color) is chosen and displayed in the Chains list section; the closed geometry chain is defined on this loop and the secondary loop is rejected.

    You can make a loop primary by clicking on it.You can switch than between both loops to choose the loop to be used for the chain definition.

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    2.2 Chains filtering by Z-Levels

    In previous versions, the chains selection filter could be defined by picking the Z-level on the solid model, and SolidCAM selected all the chains found at this level.

    In SolidCAM 2010, the chain filtering functionality has been enhanced by adding the possibility to define a range of Z-levels as a filtering criterion.

    The From and To edit boxes enable you to define the range of Z-levels. The range can be defined either by typing the values in the edit boxes or as by direct picking on the solid model when the cursor is placed in the relevant edit box - the Z-coordinate of the picked position is displayed in the edit box.

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    2.3 Browsing geometries

    In previous versions, SolidCAM enabled you to define a new geometry for an operation or to choose an existing geometry from the combo-box. When there is a large number of geometries defined in the CAM-Part, navigating through this list and choosing the right ones for operations was cumbersome.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides an improvement to this functionality by enabling the user to visualize the geometries during the selection process.

    The button has been added to the Geometry section of the SolidCAM operation dialog box.

    Clicking on this button displays the Browse Geometries dialog box that lists all the geometries of the type suitable for the chosen operation.

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    49

    When a geometry is chosen in this dialog box, it is highlighted on the model.

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    2.4 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. The direction of the picked first chain entity is defined automatically from the start point to the picked position.

    Start point

    Direction

    Picked position

    Geometry chain

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    2.5 Geometry definition and synchronization for Drill Recognition operations

    2.5.1 Definition of geometry

    Automatic and manual geometry definition

    In previous versions, the hole recognition process in Drill Recognition operations was performed automatically according to the user-defined filtering criteria. The resulting set of holes could only be manually modified by excluding some hole features.

    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.

    The Auto and Manual radio buttons have been added into the Options section of the HR Drill Geometry Selection dialog box.

    The Manual option enables you to define the geometry for Drill Recognition operations by picking the specific hole features directly on the solid model. When this option is chosen, the filtering capabilities are disabled.

    In the Manual mode, a hole feature can be selected by picking its face or edge. When a face/edge is picked, SolidCAM checks in the HR database to which hole feature the selected entity belongs and adds the determined hole feature to the Holes Tree list.

    These two modes can be combined, but note that if you use the Auto mode after the Manual mode, the selections made in the Manual mode will be cleared.

    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.

    The Color section is added to the HR Drill Geometry Selection dialog box. This section can be enabled by selecting the corresponding check box.

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    Define

    This button enables you to choose the color for filtering. The standard Color dialog box is displayed. This dialog box enables you to choose the color from the basic palette or to define a new one.

    Pickfrommodel

    This button enables you to define the color by picking the faces of the hole features.

    When the color is defined using either of the two buttons, SolidCAM determines its RGB components and displays them in the Red/Green/Blue edit boxes. The chosen color is accepted, and when you click on the Find Holes button, SolidCAM will add all holes with the specified color properties into the geometry.

    In case of hole features consisting of several segments with different colors, the holes recognition is performed according to the color of the hole top segment regardless of the color properties of the lower segments.

    Note when the process of holes recognition takes place for the first time, a holes database is created containing all the colors of the hole features. If you change the colors after the holes recognition, these changes will not take effect only when you perform again holes recognition.

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    If the color parameter is chosen by picking the color of a model entity, then this color parameter becomes associative with the solid model. If the color is defined by choosing from the Windows palette, there is no associativity.

    Removing recognized holes from the list

    In the right-click menu available on the items in the Holes Tree list, the new Remove/Remove All options have been added. You can remove a single hole or a group of holes (Shape/Group) from the list using these commands.

    2.5.2 Synchronization of geometry

    In SolidCAM 2010, the functionality of geometry synchronization has been improved. When you define the geometry using the filters and then change it manually, these changes are taken into account during the synchronization.

    After the synchronization, SolidCAM includes in the geometry the previously selected holes (automatically and manually) and the new holes added in the process of model change (if there are any) that meet the criteria of the filtering initially used for drill recognition.

    SolidCAM does not include in the geometry the holes that were removed manually and those whose diameter has been changed such that they do not match the filtering parameters.

    Example:

    The geometry has been defined by filtering the holes according to the diameter. The following changes were then made:

    One of the recognized holes is removed manually from the list;

    A hole with a different diameter is selected manually;

    A new hole that meets the filtering criteria is added to the model.

    After the synchronization, the geometry contains the holes chosen by filtering except for the removed one, the hole that was selected manually and the newly added hole.

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  • Tools 3

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    3.1 Cutting Length improvements

    Definition of certain milling tools includes several length parameters: Cutting Length, Outside Holder Length, Shoulder Length, and Total Length. These length parameters are defined for the following tools:

    EndMill;

    BullNoseMill;

    BallNoseMill;

    TaperMill;

    Drill;

    Taptool;

    Reamer.

    When a new tool of one of these types was created in previous versions, SolidCAM automatically assigned hard-coded default values to these parameters. Since the default values were generated without consideration of the machining depth, the default tool length could be unsuitable for machining in certain operations, e.g. the Cutting Length value could be smaller than the operation machining depth - in this case, customization of the length parameters was required.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with improvements in the length definition functionality. Whenever a new tool, of the types listed above, is created in a SolidCAM operation, its Cutting Length is automatically assigned the value of the machining depth in this operation. SolidCAM enables you also to display, only the tools in the tool library, that are suitable for the Cutting Length parameter.

    OutsideHolderLengthCutting

    Length

    Diameter

    ShoulderLength

    TotalLength

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    3.1.1 Definition of cutting length according to operation machining length

    When a new tool, of one of the types mentioned above, is created in an operation, SolidCAM determines the cutting depth of the operation and uses it for the definition of the Cutting Length parameter value of the tool.

    The depth is determined as follows:

    For Face Milling, Profile, Pocket, Drilling, Thread Milling, and Slot (with constant section) operations, the Depth parameter is defined directly in the operation interface.

    For Drill Recognition and Pocket Recognition operations, the Depth parameter is automatically determined as the depth of the deepest hole/pocket machined in the operation.

    For Contour 3D, 3D Milling, 3D Drilling, 3D Engraving, HSM, Slot (with shaped section), T-Slot, Translated Surface, Sim 5-Axis and HSS operations, the Depth parameter cannot be automatically determined the default hard-coded value is used for the new tool length definition.

    When a tool is defined in the CAM-Part environment (with no operation open), the hard-coded value is used for the Cutting Length definition.

    3.1.2 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.

    The From value enables you to define the lower limit, and the To value enables you to define the upper limit of the Cutting Length range. Only the tools with the Cutting Length within the specified range will be displayed in the tool table as a result of filtering.

    To automatically define the lower limit value using the cutting depth of the current operation, click the From button.

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    3.2 H Length improvements

    The H Length parameter is available for each milling tool. This parameter defines the distance from the tool tip to the spindle end face and is used for locating the tool in the spindle unit in the SolidCAM Machine simulation.

    Generally, the distance controlled by the H Length parameter depends on the chosen tool holder and the tool overhang from holder (controlled by the Outside Holder Length parameter). The chosen holder defines the distance between the holder end face and the spindle end face. The sum of this distance and the Outside Holder Length provides the exact value of the H Length.

    In previous versions, the default value of H Length (100) was hard-coded and its definition did not depend on the holder type and the tool overhang from spindle.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the following improvements in the process of H Length definition:

    3.2.1 Holder overhang length

    The Holder overhang length edit box has been added to the Tool holders dialog box. This parameter defines the suggested distance between the tool adaptor end face and the end face of the spindle. This parameter is defined for each tool adaptor component of the tooling system defined in SolidCAM.

    H LengthOutsideHolderLength

    Tool Holder

    Spindle

    Holder OverhangLength

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    3.2.2 H Length

    In the Part Tool Table dialog box, a check box has been added to the H Length parameter edit box. This check box enables you to define the H Length parameter value either automatically or manually. When the check box is not selected, the H length edit box is disabled; in this case the automatically calculated H Length value is used and displayed in the edit box. When the check box is selected, the H Length edit box is enabled, and you can customize the H Length value.

    When a tool holder is chosen, the value of the H Length parameter is recalculated as the sum of the Outside Holder Length, the Holder Overhang Length and the length of the chosen tool holder extension.

    If one of the tool holding system components or the value of the Outside Holder Length parameter is changed, the value of the H Length parameter is recalculated.

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    3.3 Spin and Feed definition improvements

    In previous versions, the spin and feed defaults were defined according to the used work material and tool material.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides 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.

    3.3.1 Defining the work material

    SolidCAM enables you to define and manage the list of work materials to be machined.

    The Speed and Feed Defaults item in the Tool Library submenu of the SolidCAM menu has been renamed into Work Materials.

    When you choose this item, the Work Material dialog box is displayed.

    This dialog box displays the list of available work materials and enables you to set the tool related parameters for each of them. You can edit the list by adding new items and/or deleting the existing ones.

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    3.3.2 Assigning the work material to the CAM-Part

    The Work Material section of the Part Data dialog box enables you to choose the work material for each CAM-Part. The list displays all the work materials defined in the Work Material dialog box (see topic 3.3.1).

    3.3.3 Defining the sets of cutting conditions for different tools

    Each tool library in SolidCAM is accompanied by a database containing the feed and spin data for the tools.

    For each tool, several work materials can be assigned.

    For each work material, several sets of cutting parameters can be defined. Each set can be adjusted to a specific CNC-Machine through a cutting data correction table.

    The Cutting Conditions button has been added to the Default Tool Data page of the Part Tool Table dialog box.

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    This button displays the Cutting Conditions dialog box that enables you to define sets of cutting parameters relevant for machining of different work materials by the current tool (Sets sub-table). Also this dialog box enables you to specify the correction data for different CNC-Machines (Corrections sub-table).

    When the work material is chosen from the Work Material list, SolidCAM displays the Sets sub-table that contains a number of cutting condition sets relevant for the chosen work material. For each such set, several sets of correction data for different CNC-Machines, are displayed.

    If no cutting condition sets are defined for the specified material, you can create a new set and fill it with the cutting parameters data.

    Managing sets of cutting conditions

    You can add, edit and remove the sets of working conditions using the buttons at the bottom of the Sets section of the Cutting Conditions dialog box.

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    The Add button enables you to define a new set of cutting conditions. This button displays the Cutting Condition dialog box that enables you to define a set of cutting parameters for machining of the specified work material by the current tool.

    The Edit button enables you to edit the existing sets of cutting conditions in the Cutting Condition dialog box.

    The Remove button enables you to remove the existing sets of cutting conditions from the table.

    When one of the rows listed in the Sets sub-table is marked with a selected check box, this means the following: when this tool will be chosen for machining of a CAM-Part with specific work material, the corresponding parameters will be used by default.

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    Adjusting the cutting parameters to a specific CNC-machine

    The Corrections sub-table enables you to adjust the defined cutting conditions for use on a specific CNC-machine. The buttons at the bottom enable you to manage the defined corrections.

    The Add button enables you to add a new set of corrections. This button displays the CNC-Machine Definition dialog box that enables you to define a set of corrections. These corrections will be applied to the default parameters for machining of the current material, by the current tool, on a specified CNC-machine. The correction is defined as percentage from the original default value.

    The Edit button enables you to edit the existing sets of corrections in the CNC-Machine Definition dialog box.

    The Remove button enables you to remove the existing sets of corrections from the table.

    The check sign, marking one of the rows listed in the Corrections sub-table, indicates the current active CNC-Machine correction.

    The CNC-Machine chosen for the current CAM-Part is marked by default (if it was added to the corrections table), otherwise the Default correction set is marked (this set is automatically added to each corrections sub-table).

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    When you have defined cutting conditions for tools in your Part Tool Table and then you change the CNC-machine in the CAM-Part definition, the following prompt is displayed:

    If you confirm this prompt, the feed and spin data in the Part Tool Table are updated according to the corrections of the newly chosen machine (if these are defined), or are changed to values specified in the Default corrections set.

    Note that the feed and spin data are updated only in the Part Tool Table. If you want to update these parameters in the particular operation, you can perform this update by entering the tool data from the operation dialog box and clicking on the Reset according to Part Tool Table button.

    To update the data for multiple operations, right-click on the operation entry in SolidCAM Manager and choose Change Tool Data; in the Operation Tool Data dialog box click on the Reset according to Part Tool Table button.

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    3.4 Visual tool check in the Part Tool Table

    In previous versions, the tools contained in the Part Tool Table could be previewed using the Show button that displayed the selected tool in a separate window.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with additional functionality of visual tool check a tool preview is provided directly on the solid model.

    When the Part Tool Table dialog box is displayed with a tool selected, a half-transparent image of the selected tool follows the cursor that moves over the model. The tool image can be dynamically zoomed and rotated together with the model.

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    This functionality can be enabled by selecting the Enable visual tool check check box in the Miscellaneous page of the SolidCAM Settings dialog box.

    The visual tool check is available only for Milling tools.

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    3.5 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.

    3.5.1 Choosing the tool holder

    SolidCAM enables you to define tool holders in the Part Tool Table using STL files.

    The Holder tab has been added into the Edit page of the Part Tool Table dialog box.

    This page enables you to choose the tool holder, preview it and define its positioning on the machine.

    Use STL holder

    When this check box is selected, the holder use is enabled for the chosen tool.

    Holder name

    This field displays the name of the currently chosen holder.

    Holders folder

    This field displays the path to the holders storage location. The Browse button enables you to browse to the directory where the holder files are saved.

    Global Holders

    This list displays a number of tool holders existing in SolidCAM Holders Table, stored in the default Tables directory (see SolidCAM Turning User Guide).

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    A right-click menu available on the items in this list enables you to manage the available holders:

    Copyholdertolocal

    This option enables you to copy the selected tool holder to the Local Holders list.

    Copyallholderstolocal

    This option enables you to copy all the tool holders displayed in the list to the Local Holders list.

    Addholder

    This option creates another holder entry in the Holder name field and enables you to add a tool holder to the Global Holders list.

    Removeholder

    This option removes the selected holder from the list.

    Removeallholders

    This option removes all the holders from the list.

    Editholder

    This option enables you to edit the tool origin position coordinates for the selected holder. The edit boxes in the Tool origin position CS section become available.

    Tool origin position CS

    This section displays the XYZ coordinates of the tool coordinate system origin, relative to the tool position coordinate system, used for the positioning of the tool on the CNC-machine (station_transformXXXX). These coordinates can be edited using the Edit holder option available in the right-click menu on items in the Global holders list.

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    Local Holders

    This field displays the list of holders chosen for use in the current CAM-Part.

    3.5.2 Defining the tool origin position

    In the Topology tab of the Edit page of the Part Tool Table dialog box, you can define the coordinates of the tool origin position. The Origin Pos Z and Origin Pos X (formerly Extension and Side offset respectively) parameters define the coordinates of the tool origin position relative to the Tool origin position CS (see topic 3.5.1).

  • 2.5D Milling 4

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    4.1 Drill Recognition improvements

    4.1.1 Minimize hole cycle

    In previous versions, the GCode of Drill Recognition operations contained a separate GCode cycle for each machined position, which resulted in long GCode files.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the capability to shorten the GCode file by grouping similar drilling positions under the same Gcode cycle - the holes that have the same Upper level and Depth data are grouped under a common single Gcode cycle.

    The Minimize hole cycle check box is added into the Drill cycle section of the Drill Recognition Operation dialog box.

    When this check box is not selected, a separate GCode cycle is generated for each drilling position of the machined geometry. For example,

    (DR-DRILL-R7-T3 - DRILL-HR)

    (-------------------------)

    X35.85 Y35.85 Z10.

    G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33

    G80

    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

    X509.85 Y459.85 Z10.

    G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33

    G80

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    When this check box is selected, SolidCAM groups the drilling positions with the same Upper level and Depth under common GCode cycle. For example,

    (DR-DRILL-R7-T3 - DRILL-HR)

    (-------------------------)

    X35.85 Y35.85 Z10.

    G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33

    X509.85

    X35.85 Y459.85

    X509.85

    G80

    4.1.2 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.

    The Complete hole group check box is added into the Sequence of drill positions section of the Drill Recognition Operation dialog box.

    When this check box is not selected, the holes are drilled one by one, according to the chosen sorting method.

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    When this check box is selected, the holes are sorted by groups, according to the specified sorting method; the drilling order within each group is determined according to the sorting method.

  • Turning 5

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    5.1 Selecting geometry on envelope

    In the process of Target model definition, SolidCAM enables you to generate the envelope of the model. The envelope sketch is located in the CAM component of the CAM-Part assembly. SolidCAM enables you to define geometries on the envelope sketch.

    Turning geometry can be defined by selecting wireframe elements (the Wireframe mode) or by picking solid model entities such as faces, edges and vertices (the Solid mode).

    When the Solid option is chosen, clicking on the Define button displays the Geometry Selection on Model dialog box that enables you to define the geometry on the envelope by selecting model entities.

    In previous versions, geometry definition was governed by the choice in the Envelope side section of the dialog box. The segment of the envelope used for the geometry definition was determined between the start and the end entities picked on the model, on the chosen side of the envelope.

    Selected faces

    External envelope

    Internal envelope

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    In SolidCAM 2010, the geometry definition mechanism has been improved.

    The previously available envelope side definition is not needed any more and has been removed. The new interface offers you two modes of geometry definition: Automatic selection and Manual selection, which are mutually exclusive and can be enabled by selecting the corresponding check boxes.

    Automaticselection

    This mode enables you to automatically select the chain on the envelope by picking two model entities. When the Start and End entities are picked, SolidCAM projects their boundaries onto the envelope and determines the envelope segment between the picked entities, going counterclockwise from the start entity to the end entity.

    Geometry chain

    Start entity

    End entity

    Geometry chain

    End entityStart entity

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    Manualselection

    This mode enables you to define the geometry chain manually by selecting the model faces. When the faces are selected, SolidCAM projects their boundaries onto the envelope and selects the envelope segment for each selected face, and then joins these segments into the geometry chain.

    The Faces section lists the selected model faces.

    Close gaps

    The Close gaps options enable you to close the gaps between the chosen envelope segments:

    The Line from larger diameter option enables SolidCAM to close the gap by a horizontal line from the point of larger diameter to the vertical line passing through the point with smaller diameter.

    The Line from smaller diameter option enables SolidCAM to close the gap by a horizontal line from the point of smaller diameter to the vertical line passing through the point with larger diameter.

    Start faceEnd face

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    The Direct connection option enables SolidCAM to close the gap by connecting the end points of the envelope segments by a line.

    Extensions

    The Start extension and End extension edit boxes provide you with the possibility to tangentially extend the defined envelope segment. The extension is performed by the specified distance, tangentially to the geometry at the start/end points.

    When model faces are selected, the Chain list section enables you to confirm or reject the resulting chain.

    Selected faces

    GeometryStart extension

    End extension

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  • High Speed Machining (HSM) 6

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    6.1 HSM Rough machining module

    In machining 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 you with the power and productivity of high speed roughing.

    The new HSM Rough module includes the following operations: Contour Roughing, Hatch Roughing and Rest Roughing.

    The HSM Rough operations are available in the SolidCAM Manager tree.

    When the HSM Rough operation is chosen, the HSM Roughing operation dialog box is displayed. In the Technology section, you can choose the type of roughing operation.

    For more information about SolidCAM HSM Roughing operations, refer to the HSM Machining User Guide book.

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    6.2 Constant Z and 3D Corner offset combined strategy

    In previous versions, the option to integrate two machining strategies in a single HSM operation was introduced by adding the Constant Z combined with the Horizontal, Linear and Constant step over machining.

    The current release offers the combination of the Constant Z strategy supplemented with the secondary 3D Corner offset strategy which is based on the Pencil milling strategy and the 3D Constant step over strategy.

    These two combined machining strategies share the Geometry, Tool and Constraint boundaries data. The technological parameters for calculation and linking of tool path passes are defined separately for the Constant Z and 3D Corner offset strategies.

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    The Constant Z Passes page defines the parameters of the Constant Z machining strategy, which is used for semi-finishing and finishing of steep model areas.

    The Pencil Passes page defines the parameters of the Pencil milling strategy, which is used for removing material along internal corners and fillets with small radii that was not reached in previous operations.

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    The Corner Offset Passes page defines the parameters of the 3D Corner offset machining strategy, which is used in order to machine all the internal corner radii to size.

    Two Link pages, which are located under the Constant Z Passes and the Corner Offset Passes pages, define the linking of the tool path for each of these strategies.

    In the Link page for Corner Offset Passes, the Machining order tab enables you to define the order in which the Constant Z and Corner offset passes will be performed. The default option is Constant Z first.

    When the tool has finished performing the passes of the first machining strategy, it goes up to the Clearance level, then descends back to the machining surface to continue with the next strategy.

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  • High Speed Surface Machining (HSS) 7

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    7.1 Stock definition improvements

    In previous versions, the stock parameters were defined at the Roughing page of the High Speed Surface Machining Operation dialog box along with the other features used for rough machining such as Multi-passes, Depth cuts, etc. In the current version, in order to clarify and facilitate the definition of these groups of parameters, the Roughing page interface has been changed.

    In the Roughing page of the High Speed Surface Machining Operation dialog box, the new Stock definition button has been added.

    This button displays the Stock definition dialog box that contains the stock-related parameters previously available at the Roughing page.

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    Ignore segments shorter than

    This new option enables you to exclude the segments that are shorter than the specified tool path length.

    When this check box is selected, the segments whose length is smaller than the specified segment length are excluded from the tool path. The specified segment length can be defined as a percentage of tool diameter or as a value.

    Segmentlength

    Tooldiameter

    Check box is not selected Check box is selected

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  • Sim. 5-Axis Machining 8

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    8.1 Start point definition improvements

    In previous versions, the start position for the first cut was defined by specifying the coordinates of the point where machining was supposed to start.

    SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the additional possibility to define the start point position via the vector of the surface normal.

    The Start point by section has been added into the Start point parameters dialog box. The Position and Surface normal direction options have been added into this section.

    The Position option enables you to define the start point by specifying the coordinates of the position. This option was available in previous versions.

    When the Surface normal direction option is chosen, the start point is located at the intersection of the tool path with the vector specified by user-defined XYZ coordinates. Vector coordinates can be set by numeric values, or the direction can be picked on the model using the button.

    Start point

    Surfacenormal

    Vector

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    8.2 Tool path linking definition improvements

    8.2.1 Separate Approach/Retract and Linking definition

    In previous versions, the approach/retract parameters and linking parameters were defined in the same Link page of the 5-Axis Operation dialog box. In the current version, 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.

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    8.2.2 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.

    The Start from home position check box has been added into the First entry section in the Approach/Retract tab of the Link page of the 5-Axis Operation dialog box.

    The Return to home position check box has been added into the Last exit section in the Approach/Retract tab of the Link page of the 5-Axis Operation dialog box.

    The Home position section has been added into the Approach/Retract tab of the Link page of the 5-Axis Operation dialog box.

    When the Start from home position check box is selected, the machining is performed as follows:

    The tool is positioned at the specified Home position, with the tool axis parallel to the Z-axis of the Coordinate System. It then performs its initial rapid movement to the Clearance area/Retract distance/Safety distance level or to the start point of the first cutting pass (depending on the First entry setting), where it gets tilted according to the defined Tool axis control parameters. From that point it performs the approach movement to the drive surface (or directly starts machining the surface in case of the Direct option chosen for First entry).

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    When the Return to home position check box is selected, the machining is performed as follows: after the last cutting pass, the tool returns to the Clearance area/Retract distance/Safety distance level (depending on the Last exit setting) or directly to the Home position (in case of the Direct option chosen for Last exit).

    The Home position section enables you to define the coordinates of the home position.

    This section is available when at least one of the check boxes mentioned above is selected.

    Retract distance

    Safety distance

    Home position

    Retract distance

    Safety distance

    Clearance area

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    8.3 4-Axis output format for Sim. 5-Axis sub-operations

    In previous versions, Sim. 5-Axis sub-operations intended for specific machining tasks, such as Cavity machining or Turbine Blade machining, were available only with 5-Axis output.

    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:

    Cavitymachining

    TurbineBlademachining

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    Engraving

    Electrodemachining

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    8.4 Axial offset technology for 5-Axis Engraving

    SolidCAM enables you to offset the 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.

    The Damp option enables you to smooth the tool path so that vertical jumps in the tool path are avoided. When this check box is not selected, the resulting tool path exactly follows the defined edge curve. When this check box is selected, the tool path is smoothed, and therefore does not contain sharp jumps.

    In SolidCAM 2010, the Axial offset and Damp options have been enabled also for the Engraving sub-operation. The Axial offset option and the Damp check box have been added in the Toolpath parameters page of the Engraving dialog box.

    Axial offset

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    8.5 Stock definition improvements

    In previous versions, the stock parameters were defined at the Roughing page of the 5-Axis Operation dialog box, along with the other features used for rough machining such as Multi-passes, Depth cuts, etc. In the current version, in order to clarify and facilitate the definition of these groups of parameters, the Roughing page interface has been changed.

    In the Roughing page of the 5-Axis Operation dialog box, the new Stock definition button has been added.

    This button displays the Stock definition dialog box that contains the stock related parameters previously available at the Roughing page.

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    Ignore segments shorter than

    This new option enables you to exclude the segments of the tool path that are shorter than a specified length.

    When this check box is selected, the segments whose length is smaller than the specified segment length value are excluded from the tool path. The specified segment length can be defined as percentage of tool diameter or as a value.

    Segmentlength

    Tooldiameter

    Check box is not selected Check box is selected

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    8.6 Motion limits control definition improvements

    In previous versions, SolidCAM enabled you to use the machine limits defined within the machine definition to limit the tool path movements for translational and rotational axes. This option could be turned on (machine limits used for both translational and rotational axes) or off (no machine limits used).

    In SolidCAM 2010, this feature has been improved by adding more possibilities for machine limits use.

    Instead of the previously available check box that toggled the use of machine limits, a new combo-box has been added into the Machine limits section of the Motion limits control page of the 5-Axis Operation dialog box.

    In this combo-box, four options of machine limits use are listed:

    Alllimits

    When this option is chosen, SolidCAM uses the machine limits defined in the machine definition for both translational and rotational movements.

    Translationallimits

    When this option is chosen, SolidCAM uses the machine limits defined in the machine definition for translational movements.

    Rotationallimits

    When this option is chosen, SolidCAM uses the machine limits defined in the machine definition for both rotational movements.

    Nolimits

    When this option is chosen, all the machine limits defined in the machine definition are ignored.

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    8.7 Multi-Axis Drilling operation

    In previous versions, SolidCAM provided you with basic capabilities of drill machining in Drilling and Drill Recognition operations. These operations enable you to machine multiple drills, using a single Coordinate System.

    In cases of drills with different orientations (on multiple sides or on a free-form surface), the use of these operations was cumbersome since a separate Coordinate System was needed for each drilling direction; the Coordinate System definition often required some modelling and sketching.

    SolidCAM 2010 introduces a new Multi-Axis Drilling operation that enables you to machine a series of drills that have different orientations.

    When you choose the Multi-Axis Drilling command from the Add operation menu in the SolidCAM Manager tree, the Multi-Axis Drilling Operation dialog box is displayed.

    This dialog box enables you to define the parameters of the Multi-Axis Drilling operation.

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    8.7.1 CoordSys page

    This page enables you to define the Machine Coordinate System for the Multi-Axis Drilling operation.

    In the Multi-Axis Drilling operation, you have to choose only the Machine Coordinate Systems. The multi-axis drilling tool path positions and tool axis orientation at each tool path position are generated relative to the Machine Coordinate System. The tool path is generated in the 4/5-axis space, relative to a Machine Coordinate System. The Machine Coordinate System is defined relative to the center of rotation of the machine (CNC-machine origin).

    You can choose an existing Coordinate System from the list or click on the Define button to define a new one using the CoordSys Manager dialog box. This dialog box enables you to define a new Coordinate System directly on the solid model.

    When the Coordinate System is chosen for the operation, the model is rotated to the selected CoordSys orientation.

    For more information on the Coordinate System definition, refer to the SolidCAM Milling User Guide book.

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    8.7.2 Geometry page

    This page enables you to define the geometry data for the Multi-Axis Drilling operation.

    You can choose an existing geometry from the list or click on the Define button to define a new one. When the geometry is chosen, the Show button enables you to display it on the model.

    Geometry definition

    When you click on the Define button, the 5X Drill Geometry Selection dialog box is displayed.

    Geometry definition is not available if the Target model is not defined.

    Name

    Define the name of the geometry.

    Configurations

    Switch between SolidWorks configurations and choose the relevant configuration for the geometry definition.

    Modelfeatures

    Define the mode of geometry selection (Auto/Manual), the filtering of drills and the direction of drilling.

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    Auto

    When the Auto mode is chosen, clicking on the Find Holes button enables SolidCAM to find automatically all the drills present in the solid model.

    You can filter the drills by selecting the Use filter check box and clicking on the Filter button. The Filter dialog box is displayed. It enables you to filter the drills by Hole type (Blind/Through) and setting the Hole diameter and Hole height range.

    Manual

    When the Manual mode is chosen, you can select the drills manually by picking the hole faces on the solid model. The Use filter option and the Find Holes button are unavailable.

    The Show highlighted drills direction option enables you to display the direction of drilling by surface normals for the specific highlighted drills in the list.

    The Show all drills direction option enables you to display the direction of drilling for all drills in the list.

    The Reverse by model selection option enables you to reverse the direction of specific drills by selecting their faces on the model.

    DrillPositions

    This section lists all the drills found in the model.

    The Reverse button enables you to change the direction of the drill or a group of drills selected in the list.

    The Reject button enables you to remove the selected drill or a group of drills from the list.

    For more information on drilling geometry definition, refer to the SolidCAM Milling User Guide book.

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    8.7.3 Tool page

    This page enables you to define the tool for the Multi-Axis Drilling operation and to set the cutting parameters (feed and spin).

    The following tool types are compatible with the Multi-Axis Drilling operation:

    EndMill

    BullNoseMill

    BallNoseMill

    Drill

    CenterDrill

    ChamferDrill

    SpotDrill

    Reamer

    Bore

    Tap

    Taper

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    8.7.4 Levels page

    This page enables you to define the machining levels for the Multi-Axis Drilling operation.

    Clearance area

    The Clearance area is the area where the tool movements can be performed safely without contact with the material. The tool movements in the Clearance area are performed with rapid feed.

    Depending on the part shape, you can choose different clearance area types:

    Plane

    This option enables you to define the Clearance area by plane. The tool performs a retract movement to the Clearance plane, and then a rapid movement in this plane.

    SolidCAM enables you to define the location and the orientation of the Clearance plane.

    Clearance area

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    Cylinder

    This option enables you to define the Clearance area as a cylindrical surface. The tool performs a retract movement to the Clearance cylinder, and then performs a rapid movement along the cylinder surface.

    SolidCAM enables you to define the location, orientation and radius of the Clearance cylinder.

    Sphere

    When this option is chosen, the Clearance area has a spherical shape. The tool performs a retract movement to the Clearance sphere and then a rapid movement along the sphere surface.

    SolidCAM enables you to define the location and radius of the Clearance sphere.

    For more information about the Clearance area definition, refer to SolidCAM 5-Axis Milling User Guide book.

    Radius

    Radius

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    Levels

    This section enables you to define the Retract and Safety distance for the tool to approach and retract from the part.

    Retract distance

    In the Clearance area, the tool rotates to the final orientation for the first cut. After the rotation, the tool performs a rapid descent movement to the level specified by the Retract distance parameter. The Retract distance is measured from the start position of the drill.

    Safety distance

    After the descent movement to the Retract distance level, the tool starts the approach movement to the material. The approach movement consists of two segments. The first segment is performed with rapid feed up to the Safety distance. From the Safety distance level, the approach movement is performed with the cutting feed.

    Clearance area

    Retract distance

    Clearance area

    Safety distance

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    Depth edit

    This button displays the Depth Edit dialog box that enables you to choose the drills to be included in the geometry and modify the geometrical parameters of the chosen drills.

    HolesTree

    This section displays the list of all drills chosen for the geometry. All the drills in the list are structured in Groups. Each Group has the same Delta start, Drill depth, Delta depth and Depth type data displayed in parentheses.

    When one of the items of the list is selected, the relevant parameters are displayed in the Delta start, Drill depth, Delta depth and Depth type sections. The corresponding drills are highlighted on the solid model with the arrow indicating the machining direction.

    The right-click menu is available on each item in the list:

    Restore Data from Model

    This command enables you to restore the default parameters recognized on the Target model for the selected item (a group or a single drill). When this command is applied, SolidCAM checks the Holes Tree items and reorganizes them into groups according to the changed parameters.

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    Restore Data from Model to All

    This command enables you to restore the default parameters for all the drills in the list. When this command is applied, SolidCAM checks the Holes Tree items and reorganizes them into groups according to the changed parameters.

    Select All/Unselect All

    These commands enable you to toggle the selection of all recognized drills.

    HoleDiameter(D)

    This section enables you to set the diameter value and apply it to selected drills.

    DeltaStart(ds)

    This section enables you to change the Z-value of the default drilling start point recognized on the Target model. When a positive value is entered, the start point is moved upwards from the default position. When a negative value is entered, the start point is moved downwards from the default position.

    Drill depth (d)

    This section enables you to define the value of the drilling depth and apply it to selected drills.

    Deltadepth(dd)

    This section enables you to set the offset for the cutting depth and apply it to selected drills.

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    Depthtype

    This section enables you to define the Depth type for selected drills.

    You can define the diameter on the conical part of the drilling tool that will reach the specified drilling depth during the machining. You can also deepen a drilled hole in order to obtain a given diameter at the specified drill depth.

    The following options are available:

    Cutter tip

    The tool tip reaches the defined drilling depth.

    Full diameter

    The tool reaches the defined drilling depth with the full diameter.

    Diameter value

    The tool reaches the defined depth with the drill cone diameter specified by the Diameter value parameter.

    The Apply button, in each of the sections described above, enables you to apply the defined parameter to the selected list item (a group or a drill).

    The All check box enables you to apply the updated values to all the items in the list.

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    8.7.5 Technology page

    This page enables you to define the technological data for the Multi-Axis Drilling operation.

    Sequence of drill positions

    This section enables you to define the order of the drilling sequence. The Sort sequence by list provides you with the following modes of drilling positions sorting:

    Default

    Sorting is not performed. The drills are machined in the initial order provided by the Multi-Axis Drilling geometry.

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    Distance

    Drills are sorted by the shortest distance. When this option is used, SolidCAM minimizes the length of the necessary tool movement. Machining of the first drill is performed at the first point defined in the drilling geometry. Then the nearest drilling instance is chosen, i.e. the one that is located at the shortest distance from the previous drilling position.

    Line

    This option enables you to define the direction of machining of the sequenced drilling positions by line.

    For more information about the line definition, refer to the SolidCAM Milling User Guide book.

    Advanced

    This option enables you to sort the drilling positions for machining of linear, circular and cylindrical drilling patterns.

    The button displays the Advanced Sorting dialog box.

    The Linear tab contains the sorting methods appropriate for machining of linear drilling patterns.

    The Circular tab contains the sorting methods appropriate for machining of circular drilling patterns.

    The Cylindrical tab contains the sorting methods appropriate for machining of cylindrical drilling patterns (see topic 8.8).

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    Drill cycle

    This section enables you to defin