CAM Software Boosts Milling Flexibility

CNC Software’s Mastercam X8 Mill offers expanded machining flexibility and an increased emphasis on speed and automation. The CAM system offers improvements to the company’s Dynamic Motion technology, 2D machining and multi-axis features, as well as additional enhancements.

Mastercam X8 adds new options to the Dynamic Motion engine for more control and better tool wear. The Dynamic Motion toolpath technology uses a set of rules to analyze tool engagement and the material removal, constantly changing the cut motion based on what the tool will encounter at the machine, optimizing the motion. According to the company, the feature reduces cycle times, wear and breakage of tools, and wear on machines.

The release also includes a new multi-axis roughing strategy that eases creation of pocketing tool paths to rough out pockets with curved floor surfaces. The strategy supports offset or Dynamic style strategies as well as multiple depth floors. Safety Zone improvements simplify defining and editing the safety zone. Tool inspection has been added to many multi-axis tool paths including “blade expert” and “port expert.” After an inspection parameter is entered, the tool retracts and triggers an inspection code at the next linking move.

Enhancements to Mastercam’s 2D high-speed tool paths (HST) include support for multi-core processing with multiple machining regions. First-pass feed reduction and first-pass offset is added to the “cut parameters” page for safer motion when the tool enters material from the outside. Region chaining has been simplified to machining region selection, enabling single or multiple regions.

Additional features include new air region chains, adjustable feed and speeds on the “multi-passes” page; corner rounding support in “ramp” and “oscillate” modes; support for Z stepdowns across multiple cuts with 3D high-speed tool paths; and “tilt away to avoid collision” options for 3D high-speed finishing tool paths.