The initial version of Delcam for SolidWorks will include the company’s technology for drilling and two- through five-axis milling. Future releases will cover a range of machining operations, including turning, mill-turn, and wire EDM.
Delcam for SolidWorks will be fully integrated into the SolidWorks environment so that the program looks and behaves like SolidWorks. It will offer full associativity so that any changes in the CAD model will be reflected automatically in the toolpaths. The product will also review the choice of cutting tools and machining strategies, and change them if necessary.
All toolpaths generated with Delcam for SolidWorks can be checked by the integrated simulation module on the computer before being passed to the machine tool. The software comes with Delcam’s full range of post-processors to allow data transfer to all leading types of machining equipment.
The software combines the benefits associated with Delcam’s PowerMILL and FeatureCAM CAM systems. It is based on Delcam’s machining algorithms that are used by more than 30,000 customers around the world. The product will offer PowerMILL’s speed of toolpath calculation Delcam will demonstrate its integrated CAM system for SolidWorks at the SolidWorks World 2010 exhibition next month., plus all of advanced strategies for high-speed machining, including trochoidal roughing, spiral finishing, and Delcam’s patented Race-Line Machining technique.
Delcam for SolidWorks will include FeatureCAM’s Automatic Feature Recognition system which automatically extracts detailed feature information from the SolidWorks model. The system recognizes holes and pockets within the model, automatically group similar holes by size and type, and indentifies draft on pocket walls, and any fillets or chamfers within the pocket. Once the features are identified, Delcam for SolidWorks undertakes automatic selection of cutting tools, machining strategies, and feeds and speeds, to complete the programming operation.
Delcam
www.delcam.com
SolidWorks
www.solidworks.com
Filed Under: Software • CAM, Machine tools + subtractive manufacturing, ENGINEERING SOFTWARE