Automation And Nesting Updates In Alphacam 2018 R1

The 2018 R1 release of Alphacam, from Vero Software, includes considerable enhancements to the automation and nesting functions.

There is now the ability in Automation Manager to have a connection between ‘parent-child’ parts, as job files can now be added to another job file as a sub-component. This enhances the management of parts that should be manufactured in groups.

The sub-components have similar properties to the main components, such as layer mapping, along with material and nesting properties. Alphacam Product Owner Felipe Ferrary says the sub-components will be loaded automatically with the main ‘parent’ component.

“When creating jobs, users can easily add files to a job, and as all sub-component parts will be loaded automatically it improves ease of use and productivity.”

Also in Automation Manager, drawings and fittings can now be added to specified datum points. When processing a job the fittings will automatically be inserted at a pre-defined position, and can also be used in parametric drawings. Alphacam also contains a small sample library of fitting types.

He says this new item of functionality allows parametric or constrained parts that require inserted fittings to be easily created.

And there is a new option in Automation Manager to avoid machine table collisions, with the ability to check Z levels on toolpaths. The new Tolerance Collision Check can be selected from the Machine Table Collision Method drop-down list, and a Z-level tolerance and material Z0 specified…for example, at the top or bottom of the part. Users will be warned if any toolpaths cutting deeper than the material thickness plus the tolerance are detected.

Another enhancement to the Automation Manager in Alphacam 2018 R1 is being able to preview job files and sub-components without having to process the job, speeding up productivity. And users can also access 13 additional nesting extension options.

Nesting itself has an important new feature allowing the nesting engine to automatically use the best available user-selected sheets. “Previously, the sheets would be used in the order picked, and therefore, the nest wasn’t always optimised for best sheet usage,” explains Felipe Ferrary. “But now, users can select multiple sheets, and the nesting function automatically picks the best combination, which can significantly reduce material usage.

Following customer requests, the TimeStudy function has now been reinstated as a 64-bit Addin, giving users their total machining time in a few seconds without any special settings or configuring reports. TimeStudy is a quick and easy way to report machining time, taking into account the units, Machine Tool Rapid Rate, Tool Change Time, Part Load/Unload Time and efficiency rate. It also displays the time specified to each operation, as well as the total machining time.

A new Geometry option creates the minimum 3D bounding rectangle to enclose solids and surfaces. The box can be aligned using feature extraction settings, and also defined by material. And additional stock can be specified in any of the bounding box faces. The new function means users can easily define the minimum amount of material needed to machine a solid or surface, and define the work volume required. 

The Cylindrical Parallel strategy for 3D machining has been improved to give easier control over the start/end Angles and CW/CCW direction. The start angle can be less or greater than the end angle, and the CW checkbox now dynamically updates the on-screen cutting area, providing graphical feedback on the area to be cut, and the tool’s starting position.

“This simplifies toolpath creation by letting the user specify any combination of angles, and gives an appropriate graphical feedback on the machining area.”

LATHES

Two items of enhanced functionality which are specifically for Alphacam’s Lathe module, are an update to machining dialogs, and new cycles added to C/L Drilling and Tapping.

On the machining dialogs update, turning dialogs now use the new machining dialogs style. Following the improvement in the milling C-Axis machining dialogs, the turning dialogs have all been updated and modernised, containing images and tooltips, which improve ease of use.

And with the C/L Drilling and Tapping, the commands have been combined and a new cycle added, for pecking, boring and chamfering. This brings the centre line drilling functionality close to matching the C-Y Axis drilling functions, and means all drilling options are available, which, before, could only be used in C-Axis and C/L drilling.