The latest release of AlphaCAM (2020.0) from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence’s Production Software business (www.Hexagon MI.com), includes enhancements to the ‘Post processor’ engine, which delivers what is described as ‘best in class’ technology.

Brand manager Hector Henry said: “We can confidently back up that claim, as the enhancements mean the post-processor
engine directly configures and deploys a simulation session, resulting in more-realistic motion, as well as the ability to support cycles such as M6 — and additional hardware that has previously been under-utilised or ignored.”

The ‘Automation suite’ has been enhanced, improving productivity when creating and deploying job configurations; and new ‘Setup Wizards’ have been designed to make “short work of daily production tasks”.

With regardto solids machining — specifically, machining solid faces directly — Mr Henry says AlphaCAM sets a new standard by allowing direct interaction with them.

“Previously, we enhanced our solids interaction by allowing users to ‘saw’ a solid face directly.

The Rough/Finish command (profiling) now allows the user to directly select and machine a solid face; and if a machine supports tool compensation on custom orientations (planes), this option provides the ability to create precision parts with minimal effort via the use of G41/G42.”

Advanced five-axis functions now include the ability to integrate the ‘Tool-path Optimiser’ into a core cycle that can then be stored in a machining style and used with ‘Automation’; and the advanced five-axis capability has been updated to include barrel mills and double-profile tools.

Improvements in Swarf machining, multi-axis roughing and tool-path smoothing are also included.

Meanwhile, the ‘Geometry Offset’ command now delivers an intuitive and simple way of changing tool-paths, for everything from simple tasks such as passing associative/dynamic profile machining data to complex ones — including re-assigning a boundary to a 3-D surfacing method.