What Is SOLIDWORKS CAM Standard and How Does It Help in Manufacturing Automation?

SOLIDWORKS CAM STANDARD

CAM

Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) is the use of software and computercontrolled machinery to automate a manufacturing process.

Based on that definition, you need three components for a CAM system to function:

Software that tells a machine how to make a product by generating tool paths. Machinery that can turn raw material into a finished product.

Post Processing that converts tool paths into a language machines can understand.

SOLIDWORKS CAM

SOLIDWORKS CAM is an add-on to all versions of SOLIDWORKS CAD that lets you prepare your designs for manufacturability earlier in the development cycle. Manufacturing tasks that had to wait until a design was complete can now be performed concurrently with the design process.

CAM Standard

2.5 axis milling on parts only

One body in Muti-bodied part

CAM Professional

2.5 axis turning

Assembly machining

3+2 milling

High Speed Machining

Supported File Formats

CAM Data can be generated for:

Parasolid (*.x_t)

IGES document (*.igs; *.iges)

STEP document (*.step; *.stp)

STL document (*.stl)

VDAFS (*.vda)

Process Overview

Characteristic of SOLIDWORKS CAM:

• SOLIDWORKS CAM is fully integrated into SOLIDWORKS and works within the SOLIDWORKS environment.

• Use the same user interface (Windows) for design and CAM.

• SOLIDWORKS CAM converts the "design view" of parts in SOLIDWORKS to a "manufacturing view".

• The SOLIDWORKS CAM Feature and Operation trees show the manufacturing view for the same part.

• Use the same part file for storing the design and the machining information (machinable features, operations and toolpaths).

• Generate toolpaths that are associative with SOLIDWORKS. This means that if the design model is changed, the toolpaths are changed automatically with minimal user intervention.

User Interface:

Uses same interface for design & CAM.

Adds the following to SOLIDWORKS UI.

• CAM Feature Tree

• CAM Operation Tree

• CAM Tools Tree

• CAM Command Manager Tab

Steps used to generate Mill toolpath and NC code:

• Define the Machine

• Define the Stock

• Define the Co-ordinate system

• Extract machinable features

• Generate the Operation Plan

• Adjust operation parameters

• Generate toolpaths

• Simulate Toolpath

• Post process toolpaths

• Technology Database

Define the Machine

Accessed by double-clicking machine or Define Machine in Command Manager.

Machine dialog box contains,

• Machine - lists available machines.

• Tool Crib - lists various tools as tool cribs.

• Post Processor - outputs NC codes as CL files.

• Posting - Controller Parameters for NC Machines.

• Setup - Indexing and Fixture setup.

• Rotary Axis - defines 4th axis rotary angle.

• Tilt Axis - defines 5th axis tilt angle.

Data are fetched from TechDB.

Define the Stock

Accessed by double-clicking Stock or Stock Manager in Command Manager.

Stock can be defined by,

• Bounding Box

• Extruded Sketch

• STL file

• Part file

Define the Co-ordinate system:

Accessed by double-clicking Coordinate System or Coordinate System in Command Manager.

Can be defined as,

User Defined

SOLIDWORKS Coordinate System

Origin can be defined by

Entity

Part bounding box vertex

Stock bounding box vertex

Feature Recognition

Defines features as areas to be machined.

Can be defined by,

• 1.Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR) - Extract Machinable Feature

• 2.Local Feature Recognition (LFR)

• 3.Interactive Feature Recognition (IFR) - 2.5 Axis Feature

Supported Feature types are pockets, bosses, holes and faces. Feature tree shows extracted features.

Operation tree shows machining operations and toolpaths generated.

Extract machinable features:

Accessed by clicking Extract Machinable Features in command manager Defines most common machinable features.

Features are listed in Mill part setup.

Options for AFR is available in SOLIDWORKS CAM Options.

Automatic Feature Recognition(AFR):

It analyzes the solid model and identifies two-dimensional prismatic and tapered wall machinable features.

These machinable features are recognized based on the part's geometry (the shape of a feature) and topology (how the features are related to one another).

The functionality of AFR is provided in the SOLIDWORKS CAM User Interface in the form of the Extract Machinable Features (EMF) command.

For mill features, the default sequence of the recognized machinable features listed under the Mill Part Setup(s) in the SOLIDWORKS CAM Feature tree after execution of the EMF command is as follows:

• Face Feature

• Part Perimeter Feature

• Open Pocket Feature

Non-hole features in increasing Z level depth (pockets, slots, boss, open profile, curve features, engrave features, wrapped features, etc.) Hole features in increasing Z level depth

Interactive Feature Recognition (IFR):

There are some typical feature types that are not currently recognized by AFR. So we move to Interactive Feature Recognition(IFR).

Right click the Mill part setup-> select desired feature

2.5 Axis Feature (IFR)

Found in in-context menu of Mill part setup in CAM Feature tree

• features are pocket, slot, boss or hole.

• defines part's outer and inner shape as islands.

• profile is defined by faces and edges.

• end condition must be defined as per part.

Part Perimeter Feature (IFR)

Found in in context menu of Mill part setup in CAM Feature tree.

Removes material around part perimeter. Feature types are,

• Open Pocket (removes all the excess stock)

• Boss (carve out specified boss only)

Pattern Features:

Creates multiple similar features for machining Pattern types are,

• Linear Pattern

• Circular Pattern

• Sketch Driven Pattern

Toolpath are copied from original feature. Reduces calculation time.

Hole Machining Features:

Hole Machining Operations command:

• Centre Drill

• Drill

• Countersink

• Bore

• Ream

• Tap

• Rough Mill

• Contour Mill

• Thread Mill

Generate the Operation Plan

Operations are generated based on recognized feature conditions.

Operations are generated by,

• Generate Operation Plan (Automatic)

• 2.5 Axis Mill Operation (Interactive)

Listed in SOLIDWORKS CAM Operation tree TechDB provides Operation sequence and parameter Data.

Similar operations can be linked or grouped.

2.5 Axis Mill Operation (Interactive)

Creates operations interactively for complex feature conditions

Operations are generated by,

• specifying operation type - Operation tab

• Specifying Tool type - Tool tab

• Specifying machining area - Features tab

Operation plans can be saved to TechDB

Generate toolpath:

Toolpath were generated based on the operation plan generated on the previous stage.

The operation tool path has shows on the part that is which operation on it were shows on the top of the part.

The clamp areas were needs to avoid has the operation plan to modify.

Simulate Toolpath

Accessed by clicking Simulate Toolpath in command manager

Simulates tool movement for machining. Can be done in,

• Tool mode

• Turbo mode (for 3 axis machining)

Tool and stock displays can be modified.

Tool and stock collision can be detected.

Post process

Accessed by clicking Post Process in command manager.

Post processing is the final step in generating the NC program file.

This step translates generalized tool path and operation information into either NC code for a specific machine tool controller or outputs an APT CL file that can be used by an external post processing program.

When you post process all operations, SOLIDWORKS CAM creates code for each toolpath in the part in the order the toolpath operation appears in the SOLIDWORKS CAM Operation tree.

SOLIDWORKS CAM NC Editor:

The editor-of-choice for professional CNC programmers who demand a fullfeatured and reliable, cost-effective professional editing and communication tool. DNC capabilities for reliable RS-232 and FTP communications with a variety of CNC controls.

With the DNC option you can send and receive CNC programs to multiple machines simultaneously from inside SOLIDWORKS CAM NC Editor.

Technology Database

The Technology Database (TechDB for short), a proprietary database, is the intelligence behind the machining automation in SOLIDWORKS CAM.

The knowledge-based machining (KBM) technology, tooling details, cutting conditions and operation defaults saved in the Technology Database are used to generate machining operations and toolpaths automatically.

For multi-user license of SOLIDWORKS CAM, share the Technology Database source file over the network so that all users can access a common TechDB source file.

User Defined Tool/Holder:

Used to create special shaped tools

• Tools are part model with single revolved base feature.

• Preview appears for valid geometry only.

• Browse and save tool.

• Save tool to TechDB as user defined tool in mill tooling.

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