Cambridge-based NCG CAM Solutions Ltd recently released NCG CAM v12; this includes a number of new features, including the ability to machine selected surfaces, the ability to generate ruled surfaces, thread milling, a tool-size guide, core horizontal-area passes, multi-axis stock models and a Vericut tool list creator, as well as many enhancements.
The ability to machine selected surfaces allows the user to select the individual surfaces to machine and then set the ‘machine selected surfaces’ option, to machine to the surfaces’ edge, without the need to create a boundary first. Meanwhile, the ability for users to now generate a ruled surface from a set of curves complements the existing planar patch feature. In combination with the ‘extract converted curves’ function in v11, the user can, for example, extend part surfaces so that machining carries on beyond their edges.
Users can now create thread-milling cycles using a canned cycle menu, and the ‘dialogue’ has been changed slightly from the previous version, while the tool size guide has been added to allow users to define a circle or disc that represents the cutter diameter and can then be moved over the part with the cursor. This facility determines accessibility for a given cutter, without having to create the passes or do a lot of measuring.
Meanwhile, users can now machine horizontal areas by plunging off the job and then milling in from the side, using the new core horizontal-area passes. In certain materials, such as Inconel — and many other steels that have been heat-treated — machining in from the side will give far better tool life.
The ability to create stock models from multiple-axis tool-paths allows user to visualise the stock resulting from a combination of 3, 3+2 and/or five-axis tool-paths. The same stock model can also be used as a basis for rest-roughing after a number of machining operations with different tool axes, or a means of editing other tool-paths. The Vericut tool list creator has been added to the NCG CAM post-processor so that Vericut users can check NC tape files for collisions between the machine and workpiece when the tool axis is tilted.
A demonstration version of the software is available for download
(www.ncgcam.com/demorequest.html).