Delcam Launches FeatureCAM
2012 R2
 BIRMINGHAM,
UK, Jan 24, 2012 - Delcam has launched the 2012 R2 release of its FeatureCAM feature-based CAM
system, which includes important new strategies for roughing and turn-mill
operations, alongside a range of more general enhancements to allow faster
toolpath generation.FeatureCAM was the world’s first feature-based
programming software when it was launched in
1995. Constant development since then has
ensured that the system has retained its
leadership in programming speed and ease of use,
while an increased range of strategies has been
added to provide more efficient toolpaths giving
greater machine productivity.
The main addition to FeatureCAM 2012 R2 is a
series of new strategies for 2.5D roughing. These include a continuous spiral option to minimize wear on the cutter and machine tool,
high-speed roughing options, including
trochoidal machining and Delcam’s patented Race
Line Machining, and “tear-drop” moves to clear
corners more smoothly. In addition, more
styles of leads and links can now be used to
give greater overall efficiency for the toolpaths.
Stepovers for 2.5D mill roughing can now be
set as large as the tool diameter itself. Previously, stepovers were limited to 50% of
the tool diameter and, if this limit was
exceeded, the toolpath would leave stands. The new algorithm supports larger stepovers
by providing extra moves automatically to clean
up those stands.
Other milling improvements include an option
to add an extra profile pass exactly at the base
of flat pockets, the ability to use face-milling
tools with chamfered edges to machine chamfers
as well as faces and so minimize the number of
tools needed, a choice of right or left-handed
thread-milling tools resulting in either climb
or conventional machining of the thread, and the
ability to reduce calculation times by saving
boundaries as curves if they will be needed for
subsequent calculations.
Roughing has also been improved for users of
turning equipment that can operate with live
tooling. A new option allows cutting with
a live milling tool, while the workpiece is
rotating in the turning spindle. This
approach avoids the issues associated with
interrupted cutting and ensures regular chip
breakage, so removing any chance of wrap-around
by the swarf.
Turn-mill programming has been improved with
the addition of more flexible five-axis
positioning. For example, any amount of
negative b-axis movement available can be used,
so avoiding extending the y limit too far back
into the machine. Switching the
positioning angles in this way makes editing
easier to keep the machine within its travel
limits.
Another turn-mill improvement is support for
cylindrical interpolation, which allows
toolpaths to be created with NC code for a plane
and then wrapped around a cylinder. This
approach, which can also be used for four-axis
milling, allows cutter compensation to be
applied when calculating the toolpath and gives
smaller NC code files.
All FeatureCAM users will benefit from
improvements to the simulation module. In
particular, they will see much faster results
through the use of multiple cores for these
calculations. In addition, the ability has
been included to save a position during the
simulation, for example, while toolpaths are
being edited, and then to run the simulation
from that position rather than from the start.
Other general enhancements include direct
cutting and pasting of models between FeatureCAM
and Delcam’s PowerSHAPE design and data repair
software, and the ability to create machining
configurations on a network as well as on an
individual computer, so saving time and
encouraging consistent results from different
users.
For further information, visit
www.delcam.com.
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TenLinks CAM -
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