Birmingham-based Delcam has launched the 2015 R3 release of its feature-based CAM software FeatureCAM, which can be used on all types of machine tool, including complex mill-turn equipment, five-axis machining centres and wire-cut EDM machines.

The most significant new option is the ability to duplicate the physical constraints of a machine in FeatureCAM’s simulations. Machine tool limits can be added to the models to be used in the simulation for three-, four- and five-axis milling machines, for turning equipment, and for mill-turn machines — including those with multiple turrets and/or multiple spindles.

This allows the programmer to check that the chosen machine is capable of completing the proposed program (the simulation will pause whenever the program attempts to move the machine beyond the specified limits).

In many cases, simply changing the position of the part on the machine bed will allow the operation to
be completed.

Another improvement allows more-accurate representations of tool shanks and holders to be created, thereby
allowing three- and five-axis collision checking to be undertaken more reliably.

With regard to five-axis machining, two specific enhancements have been made. Firstly, the ability to set the
C-axis orientation about the Z axis helps to avoid machine collisions while making the program more efficient by avoiding over-travel.

Secondly, support for five-axis operations when using 2-D spiral working gives better control of the tool axis. This can ensure a uniform depth of cut and cross-section when engraving
onto complex surfaces.

Full details of the new release, including video demonstrations, can be found at the FeatureCAM Learning Zone (www.delcam.tv/fc2015/lz).