CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
December 2005
Events News
Mastercam X Delivers New Ease, Speed and Power to Racing Industry: Mastercam X injects power into multi-axis toolpaths
The newly released Mastercam X CAD/CAM software will be showcased at the Manufacturing for Performance show in booth # 1313 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN on January 24-25. Dramatically streamlined and featuring powerful, new features, Mastercam X has been designed to reduce programmer interaction and increase machining flexibility.
Mastercam X delivers a new, streamlined customizable interface. Specially designed to minimize user interaction while maximizing programming options, the new interface is completely customizable and can be set to each person's specific preferences. Mastercam's new "smart" ribbon bar further boosts efficiency and maximizes workspace by appearing only when needed, and displaying tools specific to the job at hand.
Mastercam X includes capabilities for enhanced multi-axis cutting, helping insure safer and more accurate 5-axis machining. "Multi-axis users can now program with even more confidence," says CNC Software President Mark Summers. "These tools add extra strength to our powerful set of multi-axis options." Some new features include:
Shank and Holder Collision Detection-
By simply defining a tool with its shank and holder, Mastercam can check that the tooling setup does not strike areas that would violate the part. This powerful feature will automatically detect and remove any motion in 5-axis multi-surface, 5-axis flowline, swarf, and 5-axis curve toolpaths that would violate the part's check surfaces.
Approach/Retract Checking
As the tool moves toward and away from a part, Mastercam checks to make sure it is not violating the part.
Mastercam's multi-axis machining includes a suite of additional tools such as undercut programming, setting negative stock for flat end mills, and improved translators.
"Mastercam X marks an exciting new chapter for our software," says Summers. "We've put a lot of hard work into developing new techniques that will dramatically improve the three most important areas for an NC programmer - ease and flexibility in programming any toolpath, the toolpath calculation speed, and superior toolpath output."
Mastercam X features a suite of new programming tools, including the powerful new Pencil Offset Finishing toolpath. This new surface machining technique extends the crisp "cleanup" of a pencil trace toolpath across an entire part by automatically sectioning the part into logical machining areas.
Mastercam X also introduces Machine and Control Definition. These are virtual descriptions of the actual machine tool and control you will use to cut a part, allowing Mastercam to automatically customize its interface based on your CNC machine. This means that Mastercam X is aware of what the machine can and cannot do, helping ensure a correctly programmed part.
Developed by CNC Software, Inc., Mastercam is Windows®-based CAD/CAM software for 2- through 5-axis milling and turning; 2- and 4-axis wire EDM; 2D and 3D design, surface, and solid modeling; artistic relief cutting, and 2D and 3D routing. CNC Software is a privately owned corporation founded in 1984. The U.S.-based company provides Mastercam CAD/CAM solutions to more than 85,000 installations in 75 countries in industries including mold-making, prototyping, automotive, medical, aerospace, and consumer products. Mastercam runs under Windows 2000, and Windows XP and is compatible with all other CAD/CAM systems. For more information about CNC Software, Inc. and its Mastercam family of products, contact CNC Software, Inc., M-F, 8 AM-6 PM EST at (800) 228-2877 or (860) 875-5006, 671 Old Post Road, Tolland, CT 06084. Or visit http://www.mastercam.com .
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