Templates

While not new per-se, one of the most interesting options within SolidCAM is the ability to store templates. When involved in machining you typically develop a set of routines and operations that you know your machine plant can handle and create specific forms of geometry very quickly, whether it is fully optimised feeds and speeds, how a cutter type is used or how it is applied to the metal. So, it makes sense to reuse that knowledge.

Templates provide you with the perfect mechanism for this. You create your operation (or series thereof), refine it over time using both physical test, in use practices and simulation, before saving it as a template. These are then stored and shared, so that a user can load it back up, adapt the parameters to suit the particular job and implement it as a production job. For many, the knowledge bleed as experienced staff retire or move on means that capturing this type of specialised knowledge is key to ensuring your business remains as effective as possible.

What’s interesting is the concept of linking this technology with the new Feature Recognition tools introduced over the last few releases. Taking the example of pocket machining, you can now define a basic boundary then have the system find all of the closed boundaries of pockets within that face or geometry set. These can then be filtered and machined in a single step, including varying depth pockets. You have full control over how each pocket is machined, which differs from other feature recognition tools, which will find a set of pockets and machine them in the same way. SolidCAM’s approach offers the user much more flexibility.

Another great example is the work done to improve hole drilling, something that many users face on a day-to-day basis and it’s typically a royal pain in the arse if done manually. The same approach is applied, whereby you select a face or set of faces, the system finds the holes within that boundary, filters them for size, depth levels and creates a machining process (in terms of movement). You select the tools required (for spotting and drilling) and the technology (in terms of drill cycle which can be customised), then select the hole diameter and apply a filter to find all matching holes, and then finally set the levels. With varying depths (drill tip, full width) you can specify lower (minus) value for drill depth to pass through cleanly.

Taking this further, the v12 release introduces improved Hole Recognition technology which works with tapped holes. It reads and analyses the model, finds all cylinders and groups them and turns these features into Machinable Features (such as drilled hole with a thread or countersunk). For those working with multi-axis set-ups it will work to keep it machinable with the machine tool in use. The system runs off a technology database which checks the model against cylinder diameters and depths and uses the most appropriate operation list (peck then drill etc).

What’s interesting is that it works with native SolidWorks data (by stripping out the SolidWorks holes features) or imported data. In this case you simply need to colour the faces (as a filter) and have the system find them. This continues the theme of capturing knowledge and best practices about your machining processes and reusing them wherever possible.

In conclusion

SolidCAM is a fantastic bit of kit and one that’s growing with each release. The sale of the system will depend entirely on who is going to use it. If it’s the design office, and they already have SolidWorks in house, then it makes perfect sense to take the fully integrated system that works in the exact same way, reducing training to a minimum.

There is enough knowledge already built into the system to ensure that best practices are there at a core level, but in addition, the ability to reuse data and capture knowledge and know-how, is a key focus. The introduction of improved feature recognition for both pocket machining and hole drilling, means that you can really save time on these types of basic, low level jobs, and reserve your skill and effort for the tricky tasks that always crop up.

I can only encourage the use of templates by all users, as this allows you to take your knowledge and best practices and store them in a format that is easily deployable to whoever is using the system. For the machinist, looking to operate the CAM system, the benefits of growing with SolidWorks as a core modelling tool are that you have one of the leading systems for 3D design and manipulation of 3D data, backed up with a vast range of CAM-related technology that covers you to from basic 3-axis jobs, right through to Simultaneous 5-axis and multi-spindle Mill/Turn.

In the end, the process of outputting NC code should not be a bottleneck; what matters is cutting steel and the time you take to get to that point needs to be as compressed as possible. With the data handling power inherent in SolidWorks, combined with the CAM focussed tools of SolidCAM, you have a winning combination.

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