Advanced Modules
Constrained Parametric Sketching (CPS)
Alphamachinist Pro modules incorporate an updated D-Cubed Design Constraint Manager, which allows full control of sketching to be exercised when elements within the sketch are modified. Element lengths and distances can be driven by parameters and the sketch re-solved instantly. This is an excellent, high productivity tool for manufacturers producing families of parts with small dimensional changes.
Machining Styles
Machining Styles is a methodology that enables company-specific or regularly employed machining strategies to be stored independently of a drawing. The required machining style is easily retrieved from the user library and applied to geometries in any drawing. In Alphacam V6, different machining options can be stored within a style and then assigned to work only on geometry in a specific user layer name, if required.
Example: A machining style could include all the tapping drills, taps, countersinks and counter bores held in the machine, with machining operations assigned only to specific layer names. When the machining style is applied to a drawing, Alphacam will identify all relevant holes and automatically produce the required machining code in seconds.
Benefits:
- Repeatable machining practices
- Dramatically reduced programming time
- Faster prove out timeEasy creation of family of parts
'Apply Constraints' Functionality
The range of constraints that can be applied in Alphacam V6 has been extended to include:
- Geometries and constructions in any plane orientation
- A work plane’s position and angles
- Geometry Z level attributes
Benefits:
- Simpler creation of families of parts
- Increased productivity
- Increased flexibility
- Reduced design time
- Updated General Features
Key updated features include:
- Updated work-plane selection – normal to current isometric view.
- Updated work-plane selection – best fit through points. Evaluates points along splines, geometry or surfaces and decides the best fit. Ideal for creating a plane for best access to an index position for 3D machining.
- Extend Polyline added to Edit 3D Polyline. Supports multiple selection and many methods, including automatic extension of multiple polylines to nearest surface. An excellent command for the 5-axis laser driller.
- Residual Finishing option for subsequent tools for rough/finish pass. The second tool will only machine the areas left by the larger radius tool. An overlap distance can be set to ensure better transitions.
- Auto Z Hole Drilling. Geometries created by feature extraction will have automatically assigned Z level attributes and hole type information. Users can also assign Z levels to their own or any geometry. These control the depths for drilling.
- Residual Finish Auto Z machining. The auto Z finish pass, with the added benefit of residual area detection.
- Sub-Routine option enabled for single cuts. User can opt for sub-routine code loops even when there is only one cut. This gives more flexibility to code editing at the machine controller.
- Surface Machining Enhancements. Improved Z contour re-roughing, with second tool recognising residualareas from first tool. STL stock model can be used in conjunction with Z roughing to minimise fresh air cuts. Updated finishing strategy that combines both horizontal and flat offset strategies to give optimum finish on the selected areas.
- Continuous drawing option added to 2D digitising. As well as click per point, you can click and hold to trace around the part, creating points at a user configured distance.
- Tool Preview added when selecting a lathe.
Benefits:
- Improved quality
- Increased flexibility
- Improved productivity
- Improved efficiency
- Reduced wastage
28/11/2007
