CAM-TOOL

I. Overview of Software

CAM-TOOL is a five-axis-control-machining-center compatible, high-end CAD/CAM system with a hybrid CAM engine (Polygon and Surface Calculation). This Hybrid capability enables the direct machining to be applied to materials with high degree of hardness. In addition, it allows high quality and highly efficient machining in other situations

• Increased Tool Life by 10-20% - More accurate NC code eliminates tool overloading which increases tool life. 
• Better Surface Finish - Produce mirror finishes from the CNC machine. Elimitating deviations in the NC code creates surface finishes only polishing was able to produce before.
• Reduce EDM Time - Machine more small details to reduce EDM
• Reduced Spotting Time by 25% - More accurately machined parts take less time to spot together.
• Cut Hard Steel with Ease - Use materials you didn't think were possible
• Micro Machining - Use the smallest tooling imaginable 

The Difference is in the Tool Path Calculation

Most CAM system calculate their tool path using what is referred to as a triangulation mesh. This means putting a virtual net over the model and using the intersecting points to calculate their tool path. This mesh creates inaccuracies in the NC code and in turn your part. With CAM-TOOL’s surface calculation, your NC code is directly offset from the surfaces to ensure smooth, accurate tool paths that are true to the model. This higher accuracy NC code increases tool life, surface finish and produces more accurate parts.

II. Overview Software functions

1. BASE & MODELING - for High-Speed Machining

Curvature Radius Shading Display of different radius of shape in different colors and values help to select the tool.
Angle Shading / Draft Info Display of different radius of shape in different colors and values help to select the tool.
Check Surface Verifies imported surface, and detects & revises defective surfaces automatically.
Fill Hole It’s possible possible to create surfaces easily to fill the hole made of multiple surfaces.
Create Electrode (Option) It extracts the electrode shape from the working model, and has a wide variety of functions like “Fill in blank”, “Fluctuation offset”, “Interference check”, “Process sheet” and more. EPX format also can be output using this feature.
Data Translate High quality translation for most famous native CAD systems. Reliable data translation from other CAD systems supports a smooth translation for modeling work.
Other Modeling Commands Grill Surface Taper Surface ( All Edge) N-Side Compensate Surface Blend Surface Fill Hole Fillet Surface Variable Fillet / 3-Tangent Fillet / SS Fillet / Corner Fillet / Chordal Fillet / Chamfer / Curvature-Tangent Line Continous / Ridgeline Fillet Edit Surface Trim / Expand / Divide All Analyze Surface Fillet Surface Radius Info / Draft Info / Adjacent Surface Info	Standard IGES Import / Export DXF Import / Export STEP Import / Export STL Import Option CATIA Import / Export CADCEUS Import NX Import UG Import / Export Pro-E Import / Export I-DEAS Import / Export SolidWorks Pulgin thinkdesign Import

2. 2.5D CAM & HOLE MILLING

Achieves efficient and safe machining

Operation integrated into 3D CAM achieves efficient and safe machining.

2.5D CAM It's possible to set multiple sections at the contour of wire frame and define a pocket and an island shape. Section and plane parts whitch are machined by 2-axis/2.5-axis in the surface model are detected and cutter paths are generated. 2.5D CAM Cutting Mode Contour Cutting Round of Cavity Round of Core Flat Cutting 2-Dimensional Cutting 2.5D Rough Cutting 2.5D Side Cutting 2.5D Plane Cutting 2.5D Re-machining

HOLE It's possible to set multiple sections at the contour of wire frame and define a pocket and an island shape. Section and plane parts whitch are machined by 2-axis/2.5-axis in the surface model are detected and cutter paths are generated. HOLE Cutting Mode Canned Cycle Drilling Chamfering G01 Drilling Circular Hole-wall Cutting Circular Hole-step Cutting Circular Hole Rough Cutting Circular Hole-bottom Finishing Helical Tapping

3. 3D CAM - 3D High-Speed Milling for Mold & Die Makers

Suppress tool load fluctuation with high-speed direct cutting on high hardness steel. Surface and Polygon calculation achieves highly precise and highly efficient machining.

Z-level Rough Cutting with Multiple Tools This is a rough cutting mode that performs Z-level offset cutting for a raw work material. Cutter paths are automatically created using multiple tools so that the part left unmachined in rough cutting is removed with a tool of small diameter. Ball end-mill, radius end-mill and flat-end mill tools can be used in combination.
Z-level Re-machining with Multiple Tools The remaining area is detected based on the cutter path information of the previous tool, and efficient re-machining with proper order & less retracting can be achieved.
Z-level Re-machining This is a function that performs Z-level offset cutting for the remainders detected by specifying the tool of the previous process. Ball end-mill, radius end-mill and flat end-mill can be used.
Curve Control Along Surface This mode cuts along 3 dimensional surfaces within the closed area enclosed by contours. U/V of surfaces don’t affect the cutter paths. Air-cut can be reduced especially for a large metal mold.
Corner Processing (Polygon) This mode outputs "Along surface offset path" and "Contour line offset path" in the remainder regions such as groove parts or ridgeline parts where the tool of the previous process could not access. The type of the output cutter paths differs depending on the angle of inclination in the remainder region. "Along surface offset path" is output in a gently sloping area and "Contour line offset path" is output in a steeply sloping area. Cutting Mode (Surface calculation) Z-level Rough Cutting Z-level High Efficiency Rough Cutting Z-level Finishing Z-level Scan Finishing Scanning-line Area Flat Part Circumference Horizontal Area Cutting Re-machining Surface Finishing Aiming Check CL + Check Curve Cutting Pencil Cutting Curve Control Along Surface
Z-level Scanning-line Rough Cutting This performs scanning-line bidirectional rough cutting at Z-level. Scanning-line bidirectional cutting reduces the connecting move, which makes it possible to shorten the cutting time. Moreover, both core and cavity shapes can be cut, and for a composite shape, the system automatically detects cutting areas and outputs cutter paths.
3D Offset Cutting This is a finishing mode that outputs offset cutter paths along surfaces with a constant step. This mode outputs cutter paths for the entire shape in the specified area with a constant step and leaves uniform stock
Z-level Finishing Performing Z-level cutting, which uses climb cutting, suitable for high-speed and high-precision machining, provides a high-quality surface finish required for mold manufacturing. It is also possible to cut near-horizontal areas by adding “Offset cutting”, or by using “Flat part circumference” or “Scanning-Line area” together. With a variety of useful parameters and functions like “Spiral cutting”, Z-level Finishing has been widely used from the semi-finishing process to the finishing process.
Z-level Finishing (Spiral Mode) Z-level Finishing have a new cutting method "Spiral". Tool path runs from top to bottom with spiral move without approach and escape. Since it reduces approaches and escapes dramatically, its cutter mark can be reduced. Tool path of offset cutting also runs with spiral move if possible. Cutting Mode ( Polygon calculation ) Z-level Re-machining Z-level Re-machining with Multiple Tools Z-level Rough Cutting with Multiple Tools Scanning-line Cutting Z-level Scanning-line Rough Cutting Corner Processing 3D Offset Cutting Z-level Finishing
Re-machining This is a function for re-processing the regions that were left uncut, using a smaller tool. Based on the radius of the previous tool, remainder regions are automatically detected and cutter paths are generated for those regions only. Cutting of remainder regions can be performed along ridgelines or perpendicularly to ridgelines, depending on the angle of the ridgeline.
Cutting Range (Specify Machining Surface) This is the method to decide the machining area by specifying a contact point between the shape and the tool. It’s possible to generate cutter paths on the only surfaces which user wants to machine.

4. SIMULTANEOUS 5-AXIS

Maximizes the performance of 5-Axis Machining center without any special skills for 5-Axis Machining.

Our Simultaneous 5-Axis Machining aims at realizing high-quality surface finish by controlling the rotation axes smoothly with minimum change of the tilt axes. In our Simultaneous 5Axis Machining, 3-axis cutter paths are converted into Simultaneous 5-axis cutter paths by a "5-axis conversion function". This is a mechanism of attaching tool vector data without changing the cutter locus. This method does not require any specific skill of Simultaneous 5-Axis Machining that has been considered a burden on operators, and it is possible to generate efficient cutter paths.

5-axis conversion function Creates 5-Axis Simultaneous tool paths, by adding the information about tool direction to 3-axis tool paths. In converting tool paths, "smoothing control" adjusts the tilt axis and rotation axis to make the Machine Tool move more smoothly. It is also possible to have the tool tilt gradually before the point where the tool direction changes rapidly. These functions provide high-quality finished surfaces.
Automatic Interference Avoidance Collision of Tool, Chuck and Holder with the shape can be avoided by controlling tilting axis automatically. Change tool direction gradually to avoid drastic change of tool direction. It minimizes the cutting mark.
Simultaneous 5-Axis Cutting Mode Swarf Cutting Z-level Undercut Finishing Undercut Curve Control Along Surface Undercut Re-machining Base Surface Rough Cutting Base Surface Side Finishing Base Surface Bottom Finishing
Base surface modes in simultaneous 5axis CAM in Version8.1 are new powerful cutting modes to create tool path on specified base surface. It achieves extreme quality surface finish by the surface calculation characterizing CAM-TOOL. It can eliminates retracts substantially, so it will also achieves to prevent the deterioration of surface finishing, and furthermore, it reduces cutting time!

5. 3+2 Axis High-Speed Milling Provides the precise 5-axis machining by the same operation as 3-axis

Multiple setups of jobs would be required when the machining couldn’t be finished from one direction. These multiple setups prevent the efficient and accurate cutting of the mold or component, because the work piece has to be manually re-positioned, re-indicated, and picked up again before machining can continue. 3+2 axis machining with “CAM-TOOL” eliminates the extra setups by machining from different directions, and improves both the efficiency and the accuracy.

Determination of Machining Direction Provides a variety of commands such as “Undercut Check”, “Extract FlatPart”, “Angle Shading”, for determining machining direction that is needed for 3+2 axis machining. Specifying work plane for determining machining direction, plus saving and returning to the work plane setting can be done with a simple operation.
Optimization from Multiple Directions Optimization for 3+2 machining can be performed effectively after CAM calculation. Optimizations such as “Simulation” thet includes displaying undercut areas and “Delete air-cut” by machining from multiple directions, make it possible to provide efficient and highly reliable machining data

6. Assistive functions for productivity and safety

Unparalleled reliable tool paths save labor work, and achieve unattended machining safely.

Tooling DataBase manages Tool, Holder and its cutting conditions. It can define Tool shank shapes flexibly, such as multi-tapered or radius shank, enabling more accurate interference-check.
Template / CAM EZ Launcher Template, the function to register machining-pattern, and CAM EZ Launcher, which simplify the CAM operation significantly, enable to standardize and reduce CAM processes.
Optimization / Cutting Animation Working with Tooling DB, more efficient and safer cutter paths can be created by “Interference-check”, “Delete air-cut”, “Variable feed-rate”, etc. The machining results also can be verified by interactive animation.
Check Overcut / Remains Compare the results between the simulated solid of the selected process and the product shape solid.
CL Editor With a User Friendly GUI, it’s possible to edit and check various types of CL.
Machine Simulation (Option) Possible to detect CL interference against the component parts of machine-tool, and verify stroke-range for each axis. Utilizing the same GUI as “Simultaneous 5-axis Editor” provides the consecutive and user-friendly environment for easy operation.

7.  Peripheral Solutions for Automation and Labor Efficiency

Process sheet Process sheet or tool list can be output when NC data is created.
OM Inspect ( Option ) This is the command for inspecting the machining precision directly on a machine. Accurate inspection is possible by using the same system for both creating machining data and setting points to inspect. Efficient inspection is possible, and outputting an inspection result into a file is also available.
Post processor Using the NC Machine Parameter File format,the major CNC controller are available. NC data can be output by simple settings. 5-axis positioning compliant: Tool Center Positioning Control / Tilted working plane command
VERICUT I/F (Option) Vericut interface provides seamless operability from CAM-TOOL to Vericut. It starts from Vericut Icon in CAM-TOOL then exports data of tooling (tool and holder), NC program name, tool number into Vercicut automatically. Especially, at the simultaneous 5-axis machining, it will realize safe and effective machining by checking all of interference of machine tool.