SolidCAM 2010 Whats New

General
Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
General

Support of 64-bit computing

To take full advantage of the increased RAM capabilities of 64-bit systems, SolidCAM 2010 supports 64-bit computing, so that 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.

SolidCAM controls in SolidWorks environment

SolidCAM tab in SolidWorks Command Manager SolidCAM toolbars in SolidWorks environment

Managing SolidCAM settings

SolidCAM 2010 offers the 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.

Managing warning messages and prompts

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

CAM-Part synchronization settings

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

Deleting Coordinate Systems in SolidCAM Manager

In SolidCAM 2010, deletion of multiple Coordinate Systems needs only one confirmation message.

Simultaneous display of tool path for multiple operations

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.

Browsing to last opened location

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the functionality that stores the last used location, when the browser dialog box is used.

Removing unused CAM-Part data

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

Simulation and GCode generation for not calculated operations

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

Template improvements
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 contained in the process template.

Template improvements
SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the possibility to filter the defined templates, by selecting items in the table as filtering criteria.

Template improvements
SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the possibility to rename the defined templates.

Geometry
Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
Geometry

Geometry
Loop geometry selection Chains filtering by Z-levels Browsing geometries Defining the direction of geometry chains Definition and synchronization of geometry for Drill Recognition operations

Loop geometry selection

Marking external loops as open pocket edges 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.

Loop geometry selection

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

Chains filtering by Z-levels

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

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

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.

Definition and synchronization of geometry for Drill Recognition operations

Automatic and manual geometry definition 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.

Definition and synchronization of geometry for Drill Recognition operations

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.

Definition and synchronization of geometry for Drill Recognition operations

Removing recognized holes from the list SolidCAM 2010 enables you to remove a single hole or a group of holes (Shape/Group) from the geometry.

Tools
Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
Tools

Tools
Cutting Length improvements H Length improvements Spin and Feed definition improvements Visual tool check in Part Tool Table

Cutting Length improvements

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with improvements in the length definition functionality. Whenever a new tool, of the type below, is created in a SolidCAM operation, its Cutting Length is automatically assigned the value of the machining depth in this operation.
End Mill; Bull Nose Mill; Ball Nose Mill; Taper Mill; Drill; Tap tool; Reamer.

H Length improvements

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with a number of improvements in the process of H Length parameter definition.

Spin and feed definition improvements

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with 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.

Visual tool check in Part Tool Table

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

2.5D Milling
Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
2.5D Milling

2.5D Milling
Drill Recognition improvements

Drill Recognition improvements

Minimize hole cycle
(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 (DR-DRILL-R7-T3 - DRILL-HR) X509.85 Y459.85 Z10. (-------------------------) G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33 X35.85 Y35.85 Z10. G80 G98 G81 Z-96. R2. F33 X509.85 X35.85 Y459.85 X509.85 G80

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.

Drill Recognition improvements

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.

High-Speed Surface machining (HSS)

Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
HSS

High Speed Surface Machining (HSS)

Stock definition improvements

Stock definition improvements

In SolidCAM 2010, in order to clarify and facilitate the definition of these groups of parameters separately, the Roughing page interface has been changed.

Stock definition improvements

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with the Ignore segments shorter than option that enables you to exclude the segments that are shorter than the specified tool path length.

High Speed Machining (HSM)

Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
HSM

High Speed Machining (HSM)

HSM Rough machining module Constant Z and 3D Corner offset combined strategy

HSM Rough machining module

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

Constant Z and 3D Corner offset combined strategy

SolidCAM 2010 offers the combination of the Constant Z strategy supplemented with the secondary 3D Corner offset strategy.

Multi core calculation in HSM

SolidCAM 2010 SP1 64bit vs. SolidCAM 2009 SP5 32bit.
Test done on Windows 7 64bit , Intel Centrino 8 Core processor (Dell M6500) vs. Intel Centrino Dual Core processor (Dell M6300) .

Test results:
Calculation time for HSM operation: average 20% shorter in SC2010

Sim. 5-Axis machining

Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
Sim. 5-Axis machining

Start point definition improvements

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

Tool path linking definition improvements

Separate Approach/Retract and Linking definition In SolidCAM 2010, 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.

Tool path linking definition improvements

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.

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

In SolidCAM 2010, the possibility to generate 4-Axis output has been added into the Output format combobox of the Toolpath parameters page of the operation dialog box, for the following sub-operations:

Cavity machining Turbine Blade machining Engraving Electrode machining

Axial offset technology for Sim. 5-Axis Engraving

SolidCAM 2010 enables you to offset the Sim. 5-Axis Engraving 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.

Motion limits control improvements

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

Multi-Axis Drilling operation

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

Sorting of cylindrical drilling patterns

In SolidCAM 2010, the new Cylindrical sorting option is provided to be used within the Multi-Axis Drilling. This option enables you to sort the drill position located on the revolution faces.

HSM to Sim. 5-Axis tool path conversion

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with a new Converting HSM to Sim. 5-Axis operation, intended to perform conversion of HSM and 3D Milling tool paths into Sim. 5-axis tool paths.

Sim 5x Speed improvements 64 bit

SolidCAM 2010 SP1 64bit vs. SolidCAM 2009 SP5 32bit.
Test done on Windows 7 64bit , Intel Centrino Dual Core processor.

Test results:

5x geometries definition (surfaces and edges): average 48% faster in SC2010

Geometry pre-processing before calculation (Calculate description): average 23% faster in

SC2010
Calculation time for a single operation: average 37% shorter in SC2010 Calculation time for multiple operations: between 15% to 50% shorter (depending on a

number of operations) in SC2010

Overall the SC2010 SP1 64bit is on average 35% faster than SC2009 SP5 32bit in Sim 5x

Turning
Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
Turning

Selecting geometry on envelope

In SolidCAM 2010, the mechanism of the turning geometry definition on solid has been facilitated. The new interface offers you two modes of geometry definition: Automatic selection and Manual selection. Automatic selection

Selecting geometry on envelope

Manual selection - Close gaps

Selecting geometry on envelope

Manual selection - Extensions

Mill-Turn
Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
Mill-Turn

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 CNCmachine.

Turning tool holder definition and visualization

Turning tool holding system in Machine simulation

SolidCAM 2010 enables the display of the turning tool holding system in the Machine simulation mode.

Turning tool holding system in Machine simulation

Holder definition for machines with rotary turret In SolidCAM 2010, the rotary turret feature is supported in turning tool holding system.

Simulation
Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
Simulation

Simulation
Simulation interface improvements External Simulator in SolidCAM Region of interest

Simulation interface improvements

External Simulator in SolidCAM

SolidCAM 2010 provides you with a new External Simulator for simulation of operations in a separate window, in parallel to continued working in SolidCAM.

Post Processors
Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
PostProcessors

PostProcessors
Kinematics definition Sets of angles for axes positioning Coordinates sets New Mill-Turn options

SolidCAM2010: New Style GPP Development: pos_to_machine = Y

Internal kinematic calculation for 5x positioning relatively to a center of rotation (Mach.Home Pos should be in Centr of axes Rot). (mpos) Internal kinematic calculation for 5x positioning relatively to Part Coord.Sys. with Euler angles. (lpos) Checking of machine limits for outputted G_code

SolidCAM2010: New Style GPP Development: pos_to_machine = Y

Angle pair control for each operation . Default angle pair control (tilt_axis_max,min_limit) . Different auxiliary sets of coordinates like opos , xopos, xmpos, hpos Special compensation for back spindle face milling (side_o) Special arc direction for back spindle face milling (arc_odirection)

SolidCAM Utilities
Whats New in SolidCAM2010:
SolidCAM Utilities

SolidCAM Utilities
Set to tolerance Change/Remove colors Create holes along vector Create holes normal to face Convert solid to surface Create iso lines of ruled surface

Set to tolerance
Convert the model dimensions to the minimum, middle or maximum of tolerance range.

Change / Remove Colors

Simple way to change the model color. Possibility to remove automatically colors from the model faces.

Create holes along vector

Possibility to automatically generate holes in the model along selected vectors.

Create holes normally to surface

Possibility to automatically generate holes from the sketch points normally to the selected surface.

Convert solid to surface

Extract a single face from solid and convert it to surface. Possibility to dissolve solid body to surfaces.

Create iso lines of ruled surface

Create straight iso lines for the ruled surface formed by selected edges or sketch entities

SolidCAM 2010 Whats New