What's New For Mastercam
Mill & Router Features In X3
Xform Improvements
Feature Based Drilling
Mastercam X3 introduces Feature Based Machine Drilling (FBD). Almost every shop deals with solid models, and Mastercam delivers a powerful way to automatically mill and drill these parts. Valuable for experienced power users and easy enough for new users, FBD evaluates a part’s features and automatically designs an effective drilling strategy.
With just a few simple clicks, Mastercam FBD will:
Detect solid machining features for the chosen FBD operation type, based on your selection criteria.
FBM Drill is a robust feature based machining strategy. Within a single FBM Drill operation, you
perform the following basic functions 1) Detect holes in a solid based on specified criteria. 2)Review the detected features list and edit or delete features. 3) Preview toolpath operations and make additional changes before they are generated automatically. 4) Generate a complete series of drill operations for the selected features.
Hole detection can include blind, through, co-axial, and split holes. FBM Drill also reads hole data from solids created with the SolidWorks
®
Hole Wizard®
Grouping operations :You can choose by tool
or by plane.
Use other FBM Drill options to define deep drilling, spot drilling, and pre-drilling
operation parameters.
You control the tool selection by using tools already in the MCX file,
choosing a tool library, and allowing Mastercam to create tools, when necessary.
The time savings when using Mastercam FBD are dramatic, but it isn't just in the click-and-go function. All toolpaths are fully associative and editable after creation. This gives you the broad flexibility to make changes at any time, and ensures that your parts will be cut exactly as you want them.
FBM Drill Requirements
Mastercam Solids, and Mastercam Mill Level 1 or Mastercam Router and higher
Mill or Router machine definition (select from the Machine Type menu)
At least one solid part model in the current .MCX file with one or more holes
Xform Improvements
Mastercam’s Xform functionality has been streamlined to make part creation and setup faster and
easier.
Xform Move to Origin
This new function helps with automating part setup by moving all visible geometry to the current
Work Coordinate System (WCS) origin. Once the function is started, you are prompted for an
AutoCursor position. Once the position is selected, all of the geometry moves to the origin relative
to that position.
Xform Drag
The Xform Drag function in Mastercam X3 has been improved to reduce mouse clicks. You can now
select the Multiple button on the Xform Drag ribbon bar to place multiple copies of the geometry
without having to press [Enter] after each location to fix the live entities.
Xform Move for Solids
Mastercam X3 improves the logic for when a solid is moved and the underlying geometry is not
included in the selection. Mastercam can move the associated wireframe geometry, even if it is on a
level not being displayed, or make a copy of the geometry. This helps you to manage the wireframe
data required for solids.
DNC-Max is designed to be the complete DNC solution for all
your CNC equipment. In addition to standard Fanuc/Haas
style controls DNC-Max includes the most comprehensive
support for Heidenhain, Mazak, Fagor, etc. Hardware Compatibility
DNC-Max works with the industry standard RS-232
serial communications hardware, including
Wireless serial device servers, traditional card based
hardware, and existing legacy hardware. CNC File Compatibility
Whether you set up your first system or you replace an
existing system, the DNC application you choose must be
compatible with your data. DNC-Max eliminates the need to
update all your existing NC programs. Ease of Use and Administration
File transfers, port monitoring and system administration are
performed in a clean, intuitive client/server interface. This is
part of the system's intelligent, solution driven design The DNC-Max Server
The DNC-Max server is the DNC engine responsible for all
communications related activities. Users can choose to run
the DNC-Max Server as a service or as an application. This is
the core component of DNC-Max. The DNC-Max Client
The DNC-Max client is the application used for local or
remote file transfer, port monitoring and port management.
The DNC-Max Client can access one or more DNC-Max Servers
across a LAN, WAN or even the Internet.
With the release of Mastercam X3, some of the settings that previously had to be set for Mastercam to run in Vista are no longer required. In this example when you ran X2 MR2 in Vista, you had to disable the "Desktop Composition" See below for a description.
Note this only effects Windows Vista Users, Windows XP is still recommended by SFA for stability reasons.
For an optimal experience using Mastercam in Vista SP1 check these settings
Mastercam X3 will now run without having to disable Vista’s Aero features and will take advantage of the Vista’s graphic abilities.
Mastercam Intermediate Mill -
December 8th & 9th, 2008 @ SFA Sterling MA - 3D Geometry creation, advanced pocketing, Workplanes, fixture offsets and 4-axis indexing
Mastercam Advanced Mill -
December 15th - 17th, 2008 @ SFA Sterling, MA - Surface creation, 3D Toolpaths, surface manipulation, Multisurf Toolpaths, and verification
Upcoming Tech Days in December:
December 4th @ Windsor Locks, CT - Session one 9am-12noon & Session two 1pm - 4pm December 10th @ SFA - Sterling, MA -
Session one 9am-12noon & Session two 1pm - 4pm
