Software Version Provides More Realistic Turning Simulation

The 2014 version of Delcam for SolidWorks includes new options for turning, four-axis rotary machining and turn-mill operations, as well as toolpath editing capabilities and added strategies for two-axis finishing. 

Turning simulation is now more realistic with the ability to program and simulate the movements of the steady-rest and the tailstock, the company says. Collision detection for both types of accessories is performed automatically during both cutting and transfer operations. Users also have the ability to add fillets to any sharp corners for automatic deburring without editing the geometry. The user specifies the radius to be applied, and all the sharp corners will be filleted automatically.

Support for machines with four-axis rotary tables has been improved, enabling two- or three-axis operations to be wrapped around the rotary axis. The same option also supports wrapped features for turn-mill operations, using the feature-from-feature concept to take the wrapped feature directly from the SolidWorks model.

Toolpath editing has been added for all strategies, enabling segments within the tool path to be deleted, divided into smaller segments or connected. Extra strategies and options have also been added for two-axis finishing, including dedicated strategies for finishing the bottoms of pockets and continuous spiral machining, either from outside to inside or inside to outside. Additional features include the ability to clip both roughing and finishing passes to stock models, and a new option to identify check surfaces to be avoided.