SmartCAM V16

SmartCAM V16.0 Released

SmartCAM V16.0 applications have been released. Customers with active software maintenance contracts (SMA) will receive email notifications with download links and instructions.

Version 16.0 delivers a variety of new enhancements and capabilities to the SmartCAM suite of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system software, including new toolpath generation routines for roughing and finishing prismatic and complex pocket and profile features directly from the solid model (for Advanced Milling™, Advanced Turning™ and FreeForm Machining™), a new integrated data translator that provides greater import and export options for both solid and wireframe models, two new optional native translators for SolidWorks® and Autodesk® Inventor®, increased verification control and many new visualization and usability features.

“SmartCAM Version 16 is another milestone release for us.” said Doug Oliver, Senior Product Manager at SmartCAMcnc. “Soon after we resumed development of SmartCAM, we added solid model support to all our products, which was a significant advantage for SmartCAM users. The addition of solids-based roughing and finishing for prismatic and complex parts is a significant advancement for SmartCAM, and one that we will build on with subsequent releases.”

"Additionally, Version 16 clearly delivers a broad range of enhancements, many of which came from customer-directed input, and the net effect is that SmartCAM V16 is significant improvement to the entire SmartCAM product line, one which helps our customers be more productive than ever before."

SmartCAM Version 16.0 Introduction

SmartCAM V16.0 builds on the "working with solid models" theme of the past many releases, and delivers a wide variety of visualization, verification and usability improvements that improve the day-to-day methods and strategies users enjoy.

Major Highlights of SmartCAM V16.0 include:

Machining Directly from a Solid Model - two toolpath generation processes, Solid Pocket Roughing and Solid Profile Finishing quickly and easily create toolpath directly from the surfaces of a solid, regardless of complexity. Available in FreeForm Machining, Advanced Milling and Advanced Turning.

New Integrated Data Translation - a new data translator that now allows both import and export of solid or wireframe models in the STEP format.

SolidWorks and Inventor Translators – native-file translators for Autodesk Inventor and SolidWorks are now optionally available.

Visualization and Verification Highlights include:

Persistent Tool Display while Verifying Toolpath – allows preservation of the tool display while dynamic viewing during toolpath verification.

Optional Display of Rapids during Toolpath Verification – allows easier viewing of cutter toolpath.

Reorient Stock Model during Material-removal Verification – reorient the model display to zoom, pan or rotate, and then continue the tool cutting/material removal animation.

Voids Supported in Stock and Fixture Models – voids can now be specified to allow cast-in features and near-net stocks to be easily modeled during material removal verification.

User Interface and Usability Highlights include:

Widescreen and Dual Monitor Configuration Optimization

Reduced Mouse Movement and Input – for faster, more accurate interaction with the CAD and toolpath models.

SmartCAM V16 Machining from Solids

Two new processes for automated toolpath generation directly from a solid model are introduced in SmartCAM Advanced Milling, SmartCAM Advanced Turning and SmartCAM FreeForm Machining.

The Solid Pocket Roughing and Solid Profile Finish processes found in V16.0 comprise the first of many machining from solids features that will be found in future SmartCAM versions.

Solid Pocket Process

The Solid Pocket process (found via the Solid Machining toolbox shown above) creates pocket roughing toolpath for through or blind closed pocket features. Advanced Milling and Advanced Turning support prismatic features with straight or drafted walls, with or without corner fillets, islands, and shelves.

FreeForm Machining supports any closed feature, even those comprised entirely of complex surfaces.

The Solid Pocket process makes it very simple to machine parts containing multiple depth levels, including nested pockets. The system automatically detects all critical horizontal faces and applies floor allowance to them, and if desired by the user, adds a depth pass for each critical level.

Solid Profile Process

The new Solid Profile process creates finish and multi-pass, semi-finishing toolpath from open or closed part profile features. Advanced Milling and Advanced Turning support prismatic features with straight or drafted walls, with or without edge chamfers or rounds, and floor fillets.

FreeForm Machining supports any profile feature, even those comprised entirely of complex surfaces.

The Solids Profile process supports multiple-region machining in a single process, with complete control over the region sequence and closed profile start/end positions

Silhouette profile passes can be created that skip over voids and cut below the model surfaces. Avoidance surfaces can be used to limit profile passes

The Solids Machining processes create toolpath using a true 3D tool offset for flat, bull, and ball endmills. Features that might otherwise have been cut using special tooling can now be cut using a standard tool.

Each machining process is captured in an associative process container that can be easily recalled, edited, and regenerated at any time. There is no longer a need to create numerous wireframe profiles from the solid, or to manage them within the SmartCAM process model. 3D part features can be cut using standard tools using multi-pass profiling strategies. The new Solid Machining processes simplify your SmartCAM model and save time and money.

SmartCAM V16 New Data Translator

A new integrated data translator will be replacing the former CAM Connection product. CAD files can now be opened using the File - Open and File – Merge commands, and exported using the File – Save As command.

STEP Format
Standard translation capabilities now include STEP format for wireframe, and surface/solid data

Native-file SolidWorks® and Autodesk® Inventor® Translators

Two optional data translation products are available for purchase. SmartCAM SolidWorks Connection™ is an integrated data translation tool imports geometry from SolidWorks native .SLDPRT files.

SmartCAM Inventor Connection™ imports geometry from Autodesk Inventor native .IPT files. These new translation modules provide accurate native data translation through the SmartCAM file open and merge menus.

Above: A SolidWorks .SLDPRT file opened directly in SmartCAM FreeForm Machining.

Below: An Autodesk Inventor .IPT file opened directly into SmartCAM Advanced Turning.

Text and Dimensioning

The drawing text and dimension annotation found in some CAD files are now imported.

SmartCAM V16 Verification and Usability Improvements

SmartCAM V16.0 includes several customer-requested enhancements that provide better and easier toolpath model verification.

ShowPath Improvements

ShowPath Draw Rapids Option
Show Path now includes a new "Draw Rapids" option that when enabled draws rapid lines in ShowPath (tool motion) verification. Often when the toolpath contains many rapids, turning off their display makes for easier viewing of the cutting toolpath.

ShowPath Speed Adjustment
A new setting is provided to allow the user to set the incremental speed settings in ShowPath that speed up and slow down the tool motion verification.

ShowPath, Graphics Performance Option for Remote Desktop
When running Remote Desktop (remote control of a computer across an internet or LAN connection) graphics performance can often suffer. The OpenGL double-buffering option often improves performance when ShowPath is run on the remote terminal.

ShowPath, Show Rapiding Tool
When running Show Path in Animate mode with wireframe tool display, the tool and holder will draw in the dotted line style when the tool is rapiding, providing additional visual information regarding the current tool motion.

ShowPath, Transparency on 3D Solid Tools
The tool transparency of 3D solid shaded tools in ShowPath (or Code) is now controlled with a new Display Modes option for percentage of opacity.

ShowCut Improvements

ShowCut, Change the View During Simulation

The Show Cut simulation can be paused, the view changed, and the simulation continued from the paused point.

ShowCut, Voids in Stock or Fixture
A new Void Layer input has been added to the Show Path dialog which works similarly to the Stock or Fixture Layers, except the extruded profiles create a "negative volume" used to cut the stock or fixture to create voids. This allows the easy creation of stock or fixture models with pockets and holes that would otherwise may be difficult to emulate with the standard Stock and Fixture creation process.

ShowCut, Default Stock, Fixture, Void Layers
The last specified Stock, Fixture and Void Layers within the current session are retained each time the Show Cut dialog box is opened allowing the stock and fixture to be quickly redisplayed with the Regen button.

ShowCut, Flat Spin in Combo View Mode
When adjusting the Show Cut view via the "View" button, Flat Spin has been added to the Combo (Rotate, Flat Spin, Pan and Zoom) mode, and is activated by "click and drag" of the right mouse button.

Display Tool Holder during ShowCut
A new "Show Holder" option on the ShowCut panel enables Show Cut to display the tool holder during the simulation.

Other Verification Improvements

Draw Tools support for Shaded 3D Tools Verification

A new Utility - Display Modes - Draw Tools option is available to display 3D Solid shaded tools.

Transparency Control for 3D Solid Tools Verification

A new Tool Transparency control for 3D Solid tools is available for 3D Solid tools shown with Draw Tools, Show Path, and Code.

Usability Improvements

Set Insert Position using Pop-up Menu

Three new options were added to the popular Element pop-up menu: Insert Before, Insert After, and Match Properties. These set the insert position before or after the element that was selected when the menu was opened. The Match Properties option shows the current status (on or off) and updates the Insert Bar properties.

Start-up Template File

You can assign any process model file to be used as a "Template", which will be read on start-up and when File-New is used to start a new process model.

The Template will pre-assign your new process model with the saved setting of the template, making it very easy to establish default group names, work planes, layers, operations, tooling, and geometry and more.

Other SmartCAM V16.0 Improvements

Here are many other enhancements have been made to SmartCAM v16.0. For a complete list of all the many enhancements and improvements made in version 16, please see your Help - What's New file, or contact SmartCAMcnc to talk with a customer representative. Click here for contact information.

ACIS Kernel Upgrade
SmartCAM v16.0 has been upgraded to the ACIS R19.0 solid modeling kernel. This upgrade ensures compatibility with solid models created by the current CAD systems.

Check for Updates
A handy "Check for Updates" feature is available form the SmartCAM v16.0 application Help menu. It will check for any new updates for your product, and if available will give you the opportunity to download the update. This feature requires an active Internet connection

Macro System Improvements
Several new and very helpful macros are found in SmartCAM v16.0, including:

DATE() which returns the current system date,

SYSTIME() which returns the current system time, and

TYP() which returns a new Type code for HOLE geometry. Instead of returning 1 (which is shared with Point) it now returns "54".

Code Generator, New Numerical Format Type
Another customer requested enhancement is the addition of a new format type for Code Generators. Formats, for example D3.4, are used to control the output of numbers to format them to match what your control is expecting. The format letter is "Z".

The "Z" or "Zero" format type suspends the output of extraneous leading or trailing zeros. It is very useful when your control has limited memory and every character counts.

Using the format Z3.4 you will get the following formatted numbers:

1.0 becomes 1

0.0 becomes 0

-0.0 becomes 0

0.123 becomes .123

1.1234 remains 1.1234

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