FeatureCAM, from Delcam, offers an automatic Feature Recognition tool that accelerates the design-to-machining process by intelligently and automatically extracting part information from the imported CAD file. This version of FeatureCAM supports continuous five-axis machining for the first time. Other enhancements include more efficient turning through better and easier control of remaining stock, an improved tool database with options to link pre-defined feeds and speeds to individual tools and speed-ups, plus new and updated post-processors, in particular for turn-mill equipment, including the Mazak Integrex, Daewoo Puma and Nakamura-Tome machines. The program works with Solidworks.

Along with FeatureCAM, the latest release of Delcam PowerMILL includes a wider range of five-axis strategies for roughing and finishing, including the ability to generate a five-axis toolpath from any three-axis toolpath, three-axis swarf machining and parametric surface finishing. The most significant of the new five-axis options is a tool-axis editing function that lets you select any region of a toolpath and redefine the tool-axis vectors within that region. This ability enables faster machining and avoids sudden machine tool movements that could result in a poor surface finish. Swarf machining has been improved by the addition of an option that forces the toolpaths to follow the surface internal lines where possible. Such an approach can give smoother motion of the machine tool and more precise control of the cutting conditions. In addition, the user interface has been streamlined so that both cutting tool simulation and machine tool verification can becontrolled from a single toolbar.

Delcam
www.delcam.com