Milling Software Advances

February 23, 2011

Mastercam’s X5 Mill software package offers expanded machining flexibility and an increased emphasis on speed and automation, the company says. The new dynamic milling techniques are intended to improve shop floor productivity.   

For example, Hybrid Finishing blends two efficient cutting techniques into a single toolpath. This new toolpath evaluates the model shape and switches between constant Z cutting and constant scallop machining. The result is a finer finish with less work.

Also, new surface toolpath capabilities create high-speed, 3-D surface toolpaths to remove large amounts of material quickly using a dynamic milling motion. Large, aggressive cuts are followed by fast, smaller up-cuts, safely delivering a fully roughed part faster than previously possible.

Multiaxis machining advancements in the new software improve toolpath speed with new machining techniques and a work flow-oriented interface. The basic type of work being performed can be chosen from illustrations, and then a clear, step-by-step process for defining how the part will be cut is delivered.

The software also includes a new highly specialized interface for smooth, gouge-free engine head porting.

For more information, visit www.mastercam.com.