Innovative Software Functions that Improve 5-Axis Machining Strategies

VISI CAD/CAM 5-axis machining software by Vero Software (Gloucester, UK) now offers a dedicated reverse engineering module within the software’s modeling and machining environment, allowing a points cloud to be loaded and the relative mesh created by setting different options for refining and smoothing. This reverse engineering module is completely integrated within VISI, which means a point cloud can be loaded from a Romer Absolute Arm or an external file to generate the desired, optimized mesh with special tools. This mesh can then be the starting point for creating relative surfaces through the modeling function, or used as it is for machining purposes. The latest version of VISI contains nearly 250 items of new and enhanced functionality, including updates to the direct modeling capabilities, which provide additional editing for both solids and surfaces.

The new Edit Face means solid bodies can be edited simply by moving or pulling the selected faces, and concentric faces can be automatically selected and edited accordingly. For example, the size of a pocket with holes – or the size of a solid body – can be changed with this new tool quickly and easily. Enhancements to both Surface Extension and Fill Holes means the designer can work directly on a solid body’s faces and not just on the surfaces, which provides considerable time savings on the solid model’s design and editing phase. Another new CAM function is Toolpath Mirroring that copies the current project, mirroring all of its toolpath operations. This can be achieved on any 2-axis, 3-axis, 3+2-axis, and 4/5-axis toolpaths generated by VISI. It retains the original cutting directions for all the operations, and is a major time saver for preparing toolpaths on mirrored geometry, which is widely used in the automotive market.

Edgecam 2018 R2 software from Vero contains 54 items of new or enhanced functionality that improve productivity by using a range of cutting technologies and machining strategies that include significant changes to the Pre-Drill Approach Roughing cycle, creating features from wireframe entities, 3D milling cycles in mill-turn Rotary mode, 28 new technology databases in the Wire EDM module, and Tombstone. The new ‘Add Tombstone’ function ensures users never overwrite their master tombstone assembly file (referred to as ‘Seed file’). The originating file is always protected, guaranteeing that vital information is never overwritten. The number of components that can be inserted onto the Tombstone is now limitless, reflecting best industry practice. Once inserted, these toolpaths are not only automatically merged, but the enhanced ‘Closest Next’ ordering further economizes the CAM toolpaths.

Edgecam Designer’s 2D Drawing Module creates views and sections of the 3D model in the Designer file. Features include dynamic view creation, shaded and wireframe views, fixed and variable sections, detailed views, and outbreaks. The 2D drawing and its associative dimensions can be updated when changes are made to the 3D model.

The latest release of WorkNC high performance CAD/CAM software for machining complex geometries from Vero is the next step on their quality journey. An important update to the CAD operation is the 2D drawing function in WorkNC Designer that improves communication with the shop floor by extracting 2D, sections, and detail views from 3D models while documenting the part or assembly on a sheet. The new Wall Machining Strategy is a toolpath for vertical walls in large dies that provides a cleaner, safer toolpath by using the 2D curves at the top and bottom limits of those faces. The user benefits from a quicker way of calculating and producing the toolpath. Pocket Machining with Waveform is a new pattern on the consolidated 2D Pocket Machining, complementing the existing 3D Waveform roughing strategy. It means curves can be selected instead of surfaces, speeding up the calculation time.

An offset can now be defined when selecting an STL model to be cut from stock, which leads to safer, more precise stock analysis, especially when the part has had thermal treatment and the size may have changed.

Vero Software | Hexagon, 1370 Montpellier Court, Gloucester Business Park, Gloucester GL3 4AH, United Kingdom, +44 (0) 1242 542040, [email protected], www.verosoftware.com.