The new Fikus ST 23 CAD/CAM software from Metalcam is a step forward in the automation of production processes in the shop floor, the company reported.
In this new version, the improvements of Fikus ST 23 are focused on optimizing the technological wizards, allowing users to program any machining process efficiently and almost automatically. Now, with more options and functions, even more agility in the programming of machining operations is provided.
The other major innovation is the Automatic Feature Recognition, which, among other improvements, incorporates intelligent machining-a step towards fully automatic milling.
Graphics have also been improved to increase the agility of Fikus to handle large files of complex parts. Now, Fikus ST 23 uses advanced rendering technology, such as that used in video games, providing much more agility in moving, rotating or selecting parts. Fikus is now 4x faster at displaying files in shaded mode.
Fikus ST 23 introduces intelligent machining within Milling Automatic Feature Recognition, which is a step forward into fully automatic machining. With smart machining, in addition to recognizing and machining elements, the functionality to create complete machining processes, including the choice of the appropriate tool, is added. Depending on the geometry, Fikus ST 23 intelligent machining will create necessary processes such as roughing, drilling, grooving or finishing.
The Automatic Recognition of Areas to be Machined in wire EDM has received multiple improvements, such as minimum and maximum diameters to be detected, or specifying a maximum pocket size below which a destructive entry point should be created.
Fikus ST 23 includes improvements aimed at increasing the agility of use and reducing programming time. The new adaptive menu now adapts intelligently to any screen size by maximizing the most important functions that are always easily accessible, and the new dynamic view cube allows changing the part orientation by simply clicking on the cube face or arrow, which improves the agility of handling 3D geometries.
An important improvement in the Wizards is the new template filter that will show only those templates applicable to the current job, thus speeding up the selection process.
The Geo-Phases function to program jobs without supervision is now more agile with the option to deactivate the calculations until the end of the process. Also noteworthy is the new 4X pocketing process that generates a 2X+4X pocketing. Fikus maximizes the cuts in two axes, leaving only those cuts that are essential in 4 axes.
The roughing wizard features improvements, such as a visual submenu with predefined processes that allows for quick and intuitive programming of roughing operations. Corner management in 4X Wire EDM has also been improved.
Many of the improvements introduced in this version have to do with the quality of finishes, especially in 3D milling, with toolpaths that are denser and more progressive for high-speed machining with higher quality. The Helical Finish has also been improved, offering smoother machining in all applications.
For shorter programming times, the new table imports the manufacturer's tools into the tool library and the Rough Stock function adds additional rough cuts in the same procedure on closed and open contours.
The Fikus graphics engine has been thoroughly updated in this version with the latest in graphics processing, similar to those used in video games. These improvements are especially relevant in the case of large files with thousands of surfaces. New graphics processor converts surfaces into triangles, enabling faster, higher-quality 3D model rendering.
For more information contact:
Metalcam
www.metalcam.com