CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
3 August 2007
Product News
New FeatureCAM 8 Release Includes Continuous Five-Axis Machining
The new version of Delcam's FeatureCAM feature-based CAM system includes support for continuous five-axis machining for the first time, more efficient turning through better and easier control of stock remaining, and an improved tool database with more options to link pre-defined feeds and speeds to individual tools. FeatureCAM 2008 also features numerous smaller enhancements 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 new five-axis machining options in FeatureCAM 2008 offer a variety of methods for controlling the tool axis. The user is able to set a specific lead and/or lean angle - the lead angle is measured in the cutting direction; the lean angle at right angles to the cutting direction. This can be done either to access areas unable to be reached with three-axis machining or to give better cutting conditions. Alternatively, the tool angle can be set in an orientation either to or from a point, or to or from a line.
Many three-axis toolpaths generated in FeatureCAM are able to be converted to a five-axis equivalent by using automatic collision avoidance to change the tool axis when collisions might occur. The software automatically tilts the cutter away from the obstacle by the specified tolerance and then return the cutting angle to the value set for the overall toolpath once the obstacle has been cleared. Various choices are available to control the direction in which the tool is tilted.
Other new options include five-axis trimming and swarf machining. These techniques can be used for the finishing of composite components and vacuum-formed parts, and for machining pockets in aerospace structures.
Five-axis drilling is also supported. This new functionality, coupled with the advanced feature recognition in FeatureCAM, makes it possible to create drilling programs in seconds for multiple hole types and sizes, oriented in a variety of directions.
The new functionality for turning allows a closed or open curve to be used to define the stock during toolpath calculation, for example when machining preforms like castings or parts that have already been rough machined. The stock curve clips the toolpaths to it, so no toolpaths are generated outside this boundary. This results in a dramatic reduction in cutting time and minimal air cutting.
The enhanced tool database, which will be shared with the forthcoming release of PowerMILL, is able to support much more information on recommended feeds and speeds taken from suppliers' tool catalogues. Data can be added for profiling and slotting with milling tools, and roughing and finishing with turning tools. Values can be given for different materials, such as aluminium and steel. If the stock material matches a material in the list, the feeds and speeds from the table will be used. Of course, users are able to edit the values at any time to optimise them for their particular machine tools.
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