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EZCAM Help |
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EZCAM Help |
The sections below are intended to provide an overview of the most important improvements integrated in our latest release of the MILL and TURN modules.
Please take some time to browse the list. We also categorized the new features to make it easier for existing users to search for specific options. You may use the links to get detailed information about the topics.
EZ-MILL Pro v16 (released
05/2008)
New 3D Surface Machining Work Step
Wizard Beside many cycle related
improvements, this new 3D
Surface Machining Wizard now serves as the foundation for all 3D surface
machining by combining all options under a new and simple-to-use dialog
interface. It
provides an easy to understand choice of methods and toolpath types which
allow even inexperienced users to generate their first 3D toolpaths with
a couple of clicks.
Finishing: New 3D Equidistant Step
Over Finishing Strategy A powerful
new surface finishing strategy called 3D
Equidistant is now available. This toolpath type machines the surfaces
using a series of on-surface offset passes similar to a pocketing style
toolpath that propagate from the selected surface edges.
Constant
Z: Updated Toolpath Engine The Constant Z toolpath
generation routines have been completely replaced with new technology.
The new Constant Z provides reliable gap-free toolpath in both roughing
and finishing applications.
Constant
Z and Equidistant Finishing: New Step Over Options The
Constant Z and Equidistant Finishing work steps created by the 3D Machining
Wizard provide several Step
Over options for linking between closed toolpath passes within a region.
New
Vertical Ramp In/Out A new vertical
arc ramp style is available with the Equidistant Finishing strategy.
Instead of a direct linear Z axis plunge move, this new option places
an tangential arc plunge move to the start and/or end of the toolpath.
Automatic Silhouette Restriction Boundary
The Pocketing, Zig-Zag, and Contouring
cycles now use an automatically
calculated silhouette curve restriction boundary when no Path Curve
is provided and Cut surfaces are specified.
Finishing Work Step Surface Angle Slope Restriction Finishing work steps created by the new 3D Machining Wizard support a new Surface Angle slope restriction option. By specifying an angle range, machining can be limited to a specific area best suited for a particular strategy.
Curve Creation: New Silhouette Boundary Curve
A new Silhouette Boundary
curve method has been added to the Curves menu. This
command creates a 2-D silhouette curve from a selected set of surfaces.
Surface Creation: Create Plane from Arc, Circle or Closed Curve This command has been enhanced to support creating a plane from a single planar closed curve. An optional thickness parameter can be defined before selecting the desired geometry or curve entity.
Depth Defaults to Path Z Level A new automatic Depth behavior has been added to the Contouring, Pocketing, and Zig-Zag Cycles. When Z Depth is specified as 0.0 the work step will compute the toolpath using the Z level of the specified Path Curve, or Z Surface, which-ever is lower. This feature eliminates the need to manually calculate a Depth based on the Z Surface and feature elevation. Curves created from surface boundaries can be used directly with assurance that the toolpath will be calculated using the correct depth.
Library Custom Tool Graphics Tools defined in a tool library can now have a custom tool graphic image associated with them. The profile of any library tool can be defined using a Curve with an ID the same as the Tool ID, and saved in a geometry file (.geo) named the same as the tool library in the same location as the library file. Tool profile curves must be defined starting at the tool tip center and oriented along the Y-axis. During 3D Preview verification, the custom tool shape will be displayed and used for material removal simulation. This feature allows tools such as chamfer mills and insert cutters to be modeled accurately during 3D solid simulation.
Custom Tool Holder Graphics A new Tool Holder pick list on the work step Tool Info tab allows custom tool holder graphics to be associated with a work step cutting tool. The tool holder profiles are defined using a Curve with an ID that describes the holder type, and are stored in a geometry file named toolholderinch.geo (inch) or toolholdermetric.geo (metric) in the EZCAM16 folder. Tool holder profile curves must be defined starting at the holder tip center and oriented along the Y-axis. During 3D Preview verification, the custom tool holder will be displayed and used for collision checking.
Library Tool Speeds and Feeds The
Tool Library now allows RPM and Feed parameters to be assigned to tools.
When loading a tool from the library into the work step, the speed and
feed parameters specified in the library are also loaded. If the RPM or
Feed parameters are set to zero in the library, then only the tool definition
is loaded, and the work step speeds and feeds remain unchanged. This feature
saves time and improves efficiency by eliminating repetitive parameter
input and ensuring proven speeds and feeds are used.
Updated
Thread Milling Assistant The Thread
Milling Assistant has been updated to in-crease productivity and simplify
its use. New fields to insert Feed and Speed values as well as a list
box to define how cutter compensation is handled have been added. Additional
settings for Cut Step and Stock Allowance now allow the definition of
multiple passes.
Contouring:
Start From Point The 2D Contouring
cycle now allows a start point to be specified by including a Rapid link
at the start of the Path Curve. When a start point is provided the tool
plunges at the start point, then feeds to the beginning of the profile,
or the Ramp entry if specified. This feature allows you to easily specify
a safe entry position and avoid plunging into stock.
Pocketing
& Zig-Zag: Step Over Percentage Input It
is now possible to enter a machining cycle Step Over as a percent of Tool
Diameter, for example 50%, instead of a distance. This new capability
ensures the Step Over is suitable even when the Tool size is changed.
By storing
the Step Over as a percentage using the Save as Default option, work steps
created in a new session will always default to an appropriate Step Over
setting.
New
Z Finish Allowance Parameter The
work step Z Data parameter set now includes a new Allowance field in the
Contouring, Pocketing, and Zig-Zag Cycles. When
a Z Allowance is specified the total Depth is reduced by the allowance
amount. This
feature eliminates the need to manually calculate the adjusted Depth,
and is particularly useful when Depth is specified as 0.0 in order to
default the Depth to the Path Curve level.
New
Lollipop Milling Tool Definition The
Lollipop tool is defined by a ball Diameter and tool Length. The shank
diameter is defaulted to one-fourth the ball diameter. When using a Lollipop
tool in a surface machining work step, the tool is treated as a ball tool,
and will not machine into undercut areas if gouge check is turned on.
However
3D Preview will use the actual Lollypop tool definition for realistic
material removal simulation.
First Feed Available in Pocketing The work step First Feed parameter is now available for use in the Pocketing and Constant Z (Pocketing) cycles. The first toolpath pass is assigned the specified First Feed value. This feature allows tool load to be reduced during the initial slotting cut to minimize tool wear and reduce risk of breakage.
New Sub-Spindle Coordinate System The new, automatically created, Sub-Spindle coordinate system makes it much easier to define machining operations on the backside of the part. Simply use the Stock Curve creation option, which is also new and below mentioned, to move the Sub-Spindle coordinate system to the desired location on the backside of the part, where the distance to the World coordinate system normally represents the final length. When defining a new machining operation for the backside, simply select the Sub-Spindle coordinate system as the machining coordinate system for the current work step. Please note that existing post processor might need to be updated in order to support front and backside operation on machines with double spindles.
New Stock Creation Option A new stock curve creation command is now available under the help menu. When selected, it opens up a dialog that offers various options to define cylindrical, conical or custom (via coordinate table) stock profiles. Once closed, the system automatically creates a curve named stockcrv that is later used by 3D simulation to create a rotational solid body from the defined profile. In addition, it allows to move the new sub-spindle coordinate system to the backside of the part.
Quick Verification and Posting of Stored Toolpath
EZ-CAM now stores previously computed toolpath data in the part program
file (.3dp). When a previous job is loaded, tool-path verification, display,
and posting will be in most cases almost instantaneous. Whether suspending
job creation from one day to the next, or retrieving a repeat job in the
future, there is no longer the need to re-compute toolpath if nothing
has changed. This feature will save countless hours throughout the course
of your daily programming.
3D Preview Simulation: Automatic Target Model
Creation When using the Stock & Optimization Setup - Create
Uncut Solids option, the system requires a single faceted surface with
an ID of targetsrf, which represents the final CAD model. Previously
this faceted surface had to be created manually by making a copy of all
the model surfaces and then using the Surfaces Combine Surfaces command
to create the single surface. Now when using the Create Uncut Solids option,
if a targetsrf model has not been created by the user the system will
create one automatically from the surfaces specified in the machining
work steps, provided they collectively form a closed, non-self-intersecting
body. This feature saves time by eliminating the many steps previously
required to create the comparison CAD model.
3D Preview Simulation: Model Comparison Tolerance
Display When using the Stock & Optimization Setup - Create
Uncut Solids option to compare the as-cut verification model to the original
CAD model, cuts are now displayed using a color code where red represents
remaining uncut stock, green in tolerance part surfaces, and yellow over
cut part surfaces. After verification is completed the tolerance highlight
is computed and displayed. If the verification model is reoriented or
the screen redrawn the verification tolerance display can be recalled
using the Machining menu Recall Part command. This feature provides direct
visual confirmation that all material has been removed within tolerance,
and calls attention to any problem areas that may require further machining
or a different strategy.
3D Preview Simulation: Dynamic Viewing
The 3D Preview function has been updated and now allows access to all
viewing commands during cut verification, including dynamic viewing (Rotation,
Zoom-In/Out, Pan). This improvement allows the model to be reoriented
at any time, making it possible to keep the tool visible no matter where
it might be cutting.
3D Preview Simulation: Simulation Speed 0 =
Single Step The 3D Preview function has been enhanced to allow
the cut verification to be changed on the fly from continuous to single
step motion. When
adjusting verification speed using the keyboard and a numeric speed setting,
a speed of 0 will switch the verification into single step mode, allowing
the tool to be advanced one move at a time using the Enter key. When the
speed is set back to a value 1 through 9 the verification will continue
at the specified rate.
File Open Image Preview The File Open dialog box has been enhanced to include a file image preview window. Files saved from EZ-CAM v16 and later will display a corresponding image when selected in the file list. This feature saves time by allowing you to quickly graphically browse your EZ-CAM files to locate a specific file for which you no longer recall the name.
Copy/Paste Work Steps Between Sessions The Copy and Paste Work Step functions in the Spreadsheet have been enhanced to allow work steps to be copied from one EZ-CAM session to another. This provides a convenient method to selectively reuse proven work step data when creating new jobs. A master part program file (.3dp) containing standardized machining work steps can be loaded into one session while another session is used to create a new job by selectively copying work steps from the master session into the new job. This feature can greatly improve productivity by eliminating repetitive work step creation, and ensure accuracy by reusing proven methods and parameters.
New Select Curves Command A new Machining
Select Curves command allows multiple curves to be graphically selected
and added to the current work step Curves Table. This
improvement eliminates the difficulty of adding curves to the work step
Curves Table when curves have not been assigned descriptive IDs. A corresponding
icon is also available to be added to any of the toolbars for quick access
of this function.
Invert Surface Selection A new surface selection
method has been implemented for the Select Cut Surfaces command.
When picking
work step cut surfaces it is now possible to invert the current surface
selection set by clicking the mouse in the graphics window, away from
model surfaces. All
surfaces that are selected become deselected, and all that are de-selected
become selected. This feature is convenient for clearing selections when
all surfaces are selected.
Check Surface Selection Surfaces that
are in the Cut Surface selection set are now automatically excluded from
check surface selection. When
the Select Check Surfaces command is active, any surfaces that are already
in the Cut Surface set are blanked from display. This improvement eliminates
confusion and ensures the same surface is not a member in both sets, which
can cause toolpath calculation problems.
Current Work Step Toolpath Display Option
The View Setup dialog box now includes a Show Toolpath pick list in
place of the previous Blank Verify check box. The new pick list supports
the previous behaviors with a choice of All, which displays the toolpaths
for all work steps, and Blank Verify, which blanks all work steps after
verification. A new Current W.S. choice blanks all work steps except the
current. This option allows the current work step toolpath to be dynamically
viewed without being erased, and each time a new work step is selected
the corresponding toolpath is automatically displayed with Redraw.
Current Path and Curve Highlight When
the Path button is selected the current work step path curve and any specified
check curves are now highlighted in red. Similarly, when the Curves button
is select the current curve is also highlighted in red. This improvement
provides graphic confirmation that the correct curves are specified.
Show Spreadsheet Default Height - The
Show Spreadsheet command now automatically calculates the default spreadsheet
height based on the number of work steps in the current program. This
improvement ensures as many work steps are visible as possible without
the need to manually adjust the list.
Now Windows Vista Compatible Graphics
display issues related to Windows Vista can now be resolved by choosing
the new Soft Render option in the Special INI Settings dialog box available
under the Help menu.
New Worksheet Document A new Create
Worksheet Document command in the Automation menu can be used to create
a setup sheet for the current job containing a tool and work step list.
The work
step data is exported to Microsoft Word and a macro is used to create
the document and format the data into tables. This feature allows shop
floor documentation to be generated automatically with one simple command.
New Function Key Command Customization
It is now possible to tie automation application commands to any of
the standard keyboard function keys. Multiple commands can be specified
in sequence using a semicolon as a delimiter. The function key mapping
is established in the EZCAM.INI file located in the WINDOWS folder. Following
is an example of how the standard views and Redraw commands can be assigned.
[ML3D]
F1=ViewXY
F2=ViewXZ
F3=ViewYZ
F4=ViewIsometric
F5=ViewDraw
New Optimize Curve Automation A new Optimize Curve command in the Automation menu can be used to simplify curves by fitting tangent arcs to polyline segments within a specified Chord and Angle Tolerance. For each curve that is fit, a new curve is created with the same ID and the suffix optim. This feature can greatly reduce output and improve surface finish when directly machining curves.
Check Point Z Level Copied to Clipboard
When the system is in idle mode and a point is picked, the Z value of
the point is now copied to the system clipboard so it can be pasted into
any EZ-CAM input field. This
feature eliminates the need to note values to be used as input, and is
particularly useful for setting work step Z data. A model Z elevation
can be checked then pasted into fields such as Z Surface, Rapid, or Clear.
Check Distance/Angle/Radius Copied to Clipboard
The View Check Distance, Angle, and Radius commands now copy the
measured values to the system clipboard so they can be pasted into any
EZ-CAM input field. This feature eliminates the need to note measured
values to be used as input.
Discrimination Filters Default The
group selection discrimination options now retain their previously used
settings. This improvement eliminates the need to reset the options each
time when performing repetitive group operations.
Rhino v.4 Support Data import interface
has been updated to support latest Rhino re-lease version 4. This also
includes Rhino Layer and Color Support Data imported into EZ-CAM from
Rhino via File Open or the Edit Paste from Rhino command now retains
the Rhino layer and color assignments.
AutoCAD DXF/DWG Color Support Data
imported in to EZ-CAM from DXF/DWG files now retains the original colors
assigned in the authoring CAD system.
Recent File List Improvements The
most recently used file list in the File menu now supports ten file entries.
When a
file is selected from the list a new EZ-CAM session is automatically started
and the selected file loaded. This
improvement eliminates the need to restart a new session before selecting
a file from the list, and prevents accidental file merging.
