CAD/CAM Software Focused on Efficiency and Speed
October 1, 2017
CNC Software has released Mastercam 2018. It brings a new suite of programming tools focused on delivering speed, automation and efficiency for all machining jobs. Mastercam 2018 offers new 2-D/3-D milling features, Design improvements, turning and mill-turn enhancements and more.
Milling Advances
Stock awareness has been added to select 2-D toolpaths and allows tool motion on the top, bottom or both values of the stock. This provides a safer and more optimized tool motion. Users can also optimize finish passes based on rough stock, giving them more efficient and safer tool motion. The workflow for all 3-D high-speed toolpaths has been streamlined and gives users fine control over exactly where to cut. High-speed hybrid toolpaths now offer smoothing controls and deliver a finer finish, requiring less handwork.
Expanded Turning and Mill-Turn
If working with stringy materials such as aluminum or plastic, Mastercam's new Chip Break control prevents problems by allowing the user to set length and time conditions, retract and dwell options. Mill-Turn machine definitions now contain tailstock and quill components, tailored to the user's machine.
"Exclusive to Mastercam, a new set of turning strategies automate toolpath generation and support for Sandvik Coromant CoroTurn Prime inserts and PrimeTurning method. PrimeTurning provides enhanced metal removal rate, productivity gains of over 50% and increased tool life in a variety of materials," said a company spokesperson.
New CAD Tools for the Shop Floor
Shops can model their own designs, but they also get in models that need to be corrected or prepped for machining. Mastercam's CAD functions are designed for the machinist. Angle Sweep improves the creation of more complex wireframe functions and when creating or editing primitives, there are now on-screen sweep and rotate controls which can snap to the AutoCursor positions of existing entities. To make Roll and Unroll results easier to predict, Seam Control lets the user visually rotate a seam to see how geometry will respond, as well as snap to AutoCursor positions. Hole Axis makes it easier to work with a large number of holes, especially holes with matching diameters that are selected as a group.
Also available in the Mastercam 2018 release:
- My Mastercam gives the user access to user profile, Mastercam's social media outlets, reseller information, the Mastercam Forum and other helpful information
- Streamlined workflow with improved plane management, level and geometry control, toolpath analysis and more
- Model Prep and Solid Model enhancements such as Multiple Undo/Redo for up to 25 functions and Solid Sweep has more options and controls than before
- The Collision Control and the Multiaxis Link Safety Zone pages for multiaxis toolpaths have been redesigned
- Common direction has been added to the Tool Axis Control page for multiaxis toolpaths and keeps the tool at a uniform tilt angle to reduce tool and machine motion.
For more information contact:
Michelle Nemeth
CNC Software, Inc.
671 Old Post Road
Tolland, CT 06084
800-228-2877
info@mastercam.com
www.mastercam.com
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