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Coming Soon in SURFCAM V5.1
Surfware, Inc. announced on Monday August 2nd that the beta version release of its flagship CAM software, SURFCAM V5.1, has been completed
and is being made available to SURFCAM Beta Users and Resellers worldwide.
SURFCAM V5.1 is far more than a service pack for SURFCAM V5, which was released to the public February 15, 2010. In addition
to corrections, this point release contains many new features and functionality, as well as
add-on options to give customers the flexibility to use the tools they need. SURFCAM V5.1 also makes existing functionality in
SURFCAM more efficient, streamlined and simply faster. Following is a detailed look at some of these exciting changes in SURFCAM V5.1:
Machine Simulation Option
- The Machine Simulation Option can be added to any SURFCAM System
- Machine Simulation supports Milling, Turning and Mill/Turn
applications with full machine simulation, stock removal verification and tool path analysis.
Identify problem areas such as potential collisions, gouges or over travel and allow correction
in SURFCAM prior to NC Code generation. Machine Builder functionality with full machine kinematics
and comprehensive collision and axis limit checking
64 Bit Verification
SURFCAM V5.1 now has a New 64 bit Verification Feature
- Completely separate from SURFCAM Verify, the New 64 bit Verification launches in a seperate window inside SURFCAM
- Provides enhanced verification performance on 64 bit systems
- This feature is only accessible to users running a 64 bit install on a 64 bit system
3-Axis Multi-Cut Option
- The 3-Axis Multi-Cut Option can be added to any 3-Axis SURFCAM System
- 3-Axis Multi-Cut incorporates much of the 4 & 5-Axis functionality in a 3-Axis approach
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(6 Separate Cut Strategies)
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(Enhanced Leads and Links Control)
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(Multi-Surface Gouge Checking)
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(Multiple Roughing Strategies)
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STL Machining
The ability to open and machine STL files natively is now available in SURFCAM V5.1
- The following (5) 3-Axis tool path strategies can be applied to STL models
Z Finish · SteepShallow · 3D Offset · Pencil Cut · Rest Machining
4 and 5-Axis Menu Changes
- The "Classic" SURFCAM single surface machining operations have been added back into the main SURFCAM menu as
"Cut Classic" and "Swarf Classic." These "Classic" routines offer quick and basic multi-axis toolpath generation.
- The "New" 4 and 5-Axis CUT and SWARF menu items from SURFCAM V4SP1 and V5 are now located under the
"Multi-Surface Cut" and "Multi-Surface Swarf" menus. These "New" routines are multi-surface cutting strategies which allow
gouge checking of the tool and support check surface functionality.
Check Box Support in Operations Manager for Verification
Check box support which allows the user to enable/disable the Post Processing function for
selected operations has now been enhanced to also control the Verification of these operations as well
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Verification Results
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Post Processing Results
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Multiple Tool Support and TSRM in 3-Axis TRUEMill
- Multiple tools are now supported in 3-Axis TRUEMill
- Step Reduction functionality has been improved with "New" TSRM (TRUEMill Step Reduction Milling)
Span Length Filter
- A new Span Length Filter has been added to SURFCAM V5.1 to facilitate the ability to break both ARC
and LINE segments into smaller moves when post processing. This does not change the internal storage of the records. The
items are filtered when post processing only
- Line segments are broken into the determined span length in the user interface
- Arcs are broken into lengths determined by the chordal deviation
- This function was added to facilitate milling machines that require copious amounts
of data along these entities to facilitate high speed machining and/or Mill Turn machines without Y
Axes that use X-C (r-theta) calculations to drive the live tooling
INC2APT function and support
- For INC2APT changes and revisions featured in this revision, please refer to the separate INC2APT revision document
- Numerous enhancements have been made in SURFCAM V5.1 to simplify post writing and making the APTCL file easier to
read and process by eliminating unnecessary or redundant information
- System-Generated REMARK Records
- Trailing Zero Suppression
- Relaxed 72-Column Limitation
- Line Width Control
- Modal Tool Vector Definition
- Tool Definition
- CView Definition Revision
- Stock and Fixture Definitions
- Setup Section Notes
- Tool List
- Mill/Turn Machine Type Defined in Setup Section Dialog
- Plunge, High Feed and Cutting Feedrate
- Event Records - Remove XYZIJK Fields
"Save As" STL implementation in Verification
- The ability to save an in-process verification file has been added to verify
- STL files can now be saved in Verification and then added back into the job as STL stock for further in-process verification
Operations Manager Mode Enhancement
- Operations manager will now retain the last user selected mode
- The system will default to the highest level operation based on the
SIM when opened. Once the user selects a post menu, the system will not reset the user selection
- Example: If the user selects "Lathe," each time the Operations Manager is
opened, the system will show the "Lathe" post menu
Thicken Line Highlight
- The default "Selection Display Settings" cause geometry to appear BOLD when
selected. If you wish to disable this function, add the line: ThickenLineInHighlight=0 to the "default
display parameters" section of the SURFCAM.ini file
- If this key is not defined then default is the current behavior. This fix
only disables the line thickness. Wireframe will still change to yellow color when selected.
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(Default)
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(ThickenLineInHighlight=0)
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Native CAD Translators
The following Optional Native CAD Translator Updated Versions are available in SURFCAM V5.1:
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Catia V5 (.catpart, .catproduct) Version R6 – R20
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Inventor (.ipt) Version 6 - 2010
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ProEngineer (.prt, .prt.*) Version 16 - Wildfire 5
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Siemens-NX (.prt) Version 11 - 18, NX – NX7
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Updated APT Support for Stock Output
The user may now output the Stock Definition with posted G-Code. Stock
Definitions are required by certain machines in order to back plot G-Code at the control.
Additional Enhancements for V5.1:
- Improved memory management for 32 bit systems
- IGES translator has been improved with better entity support
- Enhanced SolidWorks Associativity with Assemblies
- CALLBACK function added for HSM to control MIN ARC when using ARCFIT
- Over 200 corrections in this release
Customer Testimonial - 
Dimensional Innovations, located in Overland Park, KS, has been using SURFCAM for over 12 years while servicing the theatre, museum, and sports
arena industry with custom decorative elements. "While the majority of the toolpaths that are generated are 2D pockets and contour cuts," explains
Ben Brown, Engineering Manager, "we also produce more complex 3D contours and toolpaths on complex surfaces." Brown and the rest of the team at
Dimensional Innovations have a total of 8 seats of SURFCAM V5, comprised of both 2-axis and 3-axis Systems.
"SURFCAM's primary advantage to us is in the 'functionality for the cost' of the software itself," says Brown. "SURFCAM enables us to do
everything we need to do without the exorbitant expense associated with most other bundled CAM software. Having the ability to purchase 2 and
3 Axis Systems, and then choose whether to add options like TRUEMill, has allowed Dimensional Innovations to adjust costs and remain flexible
to meet the demands of business in this economic climate."
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"The other major advantage is the versatility that SURFCAM offers to our business. We use a large variety of materials from aluminum
to acrylics, polycarbonates, expanded PVC, hardwoods, plywood, mdf, solid surface, polygal, and sign foams. SURFCAM allows us to quickly
adapt the toolpaths for these materials and tool sizes that we use on a regular basis. For example, in the above image, the plane was made
almost entirely of parts that were routed using SURFCAM. We routed the wings, the pontoons, the motor itself, and all of the parts for
the main fuselage all off of SURFCAM toolpaths. This kind of flexibility is the reason we continue to use SURFCAM in our business today."
Dimensional Innovations (http://www.dimin.com/)