• Material Removal Simulation
  The standard material removal software bundled with our CAM software is entirely suitable for most 2ax, 3ax, and 4ax indexing applications. However, for true 5ax work, the knowledge of where the machine components are moving becomes more critical due to several factors:

• Workpiece cost is generally higher and CNC machines tend to be more expensive.

• Standard material removal routines don't really know where the machine slides are.

• Tool positions in the NC file don't match numbers on the CAM system screen making it difficult for CNC operators to predict collisions between tool, fixture, and workpiece.

• Machine Simulation
  5ax machine simulation requires a setup activity similar in magnitude to setting up a 5ax postprocessor to guarantee integrity of NC files. This activity includes modeling of each moving machine component in a separate file, setup of the relationships between these components, and modeling of tool holders and cutting tools. Many newer generation CAM systems claim "5ax Machine Simulation", and while this is a big improvement, these solutions are normally using standard mathematics in the CAM system and not actually reading the NC file that is going to run on the CNC machine.
   

• Full G-Code Simulation

The only way to 100% guarantee the integrity of 5ax CNC program data is to provide a solution that reads the post-processed NC file, issuing commands to move the machine components. This is normally called "full G-code simulation" and requires setup of a reverse postprocessor that interprets commands on the NC file in addition to the machine modeling activities mentioned above. CAMcad does not have immediate plans to offer full 5ax G-code simulation software, but has made a business decision to work with CGTech (the vendor of VERICUT®) for several good reasons:

• VERICUT is the world-wide industry leader in full G-code machine simulation.

• CGTech has the staff to provide professional implementation services.

• The VERICUT technology has no limits, i.e. CGTech can 100% simulate any CNC process.

• VERICUT works with any computer-generated or manually-generated CAM data.

• We (CAMcad) have a good working relationship with CG Tech's regional sales force.

• OptiPath Toolpath Optimization
  OptiPath software from CGTech is unique. Starting with a STL representation of the raw material, tooling descriptions, and machine constraints, OptiPath reads the NC file to determine on a block-by-block basis how much material the cutter is facing. Using user-defined acceleration and deceleration parameters that are material and cutting tool specific, OptiPath edits the final NC file adding intermediate NC blocks containing adjusted feed rates.

So, if you are really after total optimization of the cutting process you need look no further.
For more information about OptiPath, call our Sales Department or contact Todd Readel, the SouthEast Regional Sales Representative.