SmartCAM Products

SmartCAM FreeForm Machining

Model complex 3D Surface Milling Toolpaths using SmartCAM FreeForm Machining™.

SmartCAM FreeForm Machining adds 3 Axis toolpath modeling to your SmartCAM milling application.

Generate complex 3 Axis toolpaths directly on solid and surface models.

Milling of 3D Surface Parts
Milling of 3D Surface Parts
Milling of 3D Surface Parts
Milling of 3D Surface Parts

The SmartCAM Milling product family offers solutions at 3 levels of functionality and cost.

Each level progressively provides increased functionality compared to the previous level: everything that can be achieved in the lower level SmartCAM Production Milling and SmartCAM Advanced Milling applications is available in SmartCAM FreeForm Machining, plus 3 Axis toolpath modeling capability for one‑off, production through to mold and die applications.


Pocket & Group Pocket

Model toolpath for removing material from inside a single wireframe closed pocket profile or a group of wireframe closed pocket profiles.

The available Toolpath Motion Types are Part Offset, Spiral, ZigZag, Linear and Morph.

A group of wireframe closed island profiles that are to be avoided can also be specified.

Open Profile Roughing

Model toolpath for roughing a wireframe open‑sided pocket.

Face

Model toolpath for a facing operation.

The area to be machined is defined by a wireframe closed profile representing the face boundary.

The available Toolpath Motion Types are Part Offset, Spiral, ZigZag, Linear and Morph.

A group of wireframe closed island profiles that are to be avoided can also be specified.

Profile

Model toolpath for single or multiple passes that machine a wireframe open or closed profile.

Region Roughing

Model toolpath to rough areas of material that are defined by a group of Region Elements.

Region elements are wireframe 2D boundaries created using SmartCAM Region Modeling tools.

Rest‑Machining Regions

Remove remaining material.

Each of the above toolpath processes can optionally generate Rest‑Mill Region elements which can then receive toolpath using the wireframe Region Roughing Process.

Plunge Roughing

Model toolpath for roughing within a closed wireframe boundary using feed moves in Z‑only.

Overlapping or non‑overlapping hole patterns can be created.

A group of wireframe closed island profiles that are to be avoided can also be specified.

Trochoidal Roughing

Model toolpath for trochoidal roughing using a circular, scrub‑like toolpath that follows a wireframe profile.

Hole Making

Model toolpath for hole making in all its forms.

SmartCAM Toolpath Modeling functionality for Hole Making operations is consistent in all of the Milling application products.

Hole Making toolpaths can be modeled using a number of methods that range from simple holes at a co‑ordinate point through to hole feature recognition and feature‑based toolpaths.

Hole Making toolpaths can also be modeled using milling tooling and operations, including Constant‑Spiral and Thread Milling cycles.

Solid Milling: Pocket

Model toolpath for removing material from inside closed pocket features directly on a solid or surface model.

The pocket feature can be blind or through, and may contain any number of islands and/or shelves. The pocket walls can be straight or drafted, and may contain corner radii and bottom fillets.

Straight and tapered flat, bull and ball endmills are supported.

Solid Milling: Profile

Model toolpath for semi‑finishing or finish machine profile features directly on a solid or surface model.

The profile features can be blind or through, and may contain any number of shelves. The profile walls can be straight or drafted, and may contain corner radii and bottom fillets.

Straight and tapered flat, bull and ball end mills are supported.

Solid Milling: Planar Roughing

Model toolpath for rough machining directly on a solid or surface model from a stock volume.

The target model may consist of any combination of core and cavity features, with open or closed, blind or through pockets, containing any number of shelves or islands.

The planar roughing process is suitable for roughing both simple prismatic parts and complex molds and dies.

Straight and tapered flat, bull and ball endmills are supported.

Adaptive Milling
Wireframe‑based Toolpath Processes

Model consistent‑engagement high speed rough milling toolpaths.


Pocket:

Remove material from inside one or more closed wireframe pocket profiles, with or without islands.


Face:

Remove material above one or more closed wireframe face profiles, with or without islands.


Open Profile:

Remove material from an open wireframe profile surrounded by a wireframe stock boundary.

Adaptive Milling: Wireframe Region Roughing

Model consistent‑engagement high speed rough milling toolpath to remove material from inside one or more predefined wireframe regions.

The group of regions to be receive toolpath can consist of any combination of part‑profile regions representing pockets, faces or open profiles with or without islands and voids. Stock boundaries can be open or closed.

Adaptive Milling: Solid Pocket

Model consistent engagement high speed rough milling toolpath to remove material from inside one or more closed pocket features directly on a solid or surface model.

The pocket feature can be blind or through, and may contain any number of islands and/or shelves. The pocket walls can be straight or drafted, and may contain corner radii and bottom fillets.

Straight and tapered flat, bull and ball endmills are supported.

Adaptive Milling: Solid Planar Roughing

Model consistent engagement high speed rough milling toolpath to directly rough machine a solid or surface model from a stock volume.

The target model may consist of any combination of core and cavity features, with open or closed, blind or through pockets, containing any number of shelves or islands.

The planar roughing process is suitable for roughing both simple prismatic parts and complex molds and dies.

Straight and tapered flat, bull and ball endmills are supported.

Hole Making

Model toolpath for Hole Making in all its forms.

SmartCAM Toolpath Modeling functionality for Hole Making operations is consistent in all of the Milling application products.

Hole Making toolpaths can be modeled using a number of methods that range from simple holes at a co‑ordinate point through to hole feature recognition and feature‑based toolpaths.

Hole Making toolpaths can also be Modeled using milling tooling and operations, including Constant‑Spiral and Thread Milling cycles.



Toolpath Modeling Processes available in SmartCAM FreeForm Machining over SmartCAM Advanced Milling include:

Surface Milling: Straight Toolpaths

Model linear toolpath at any angle across multiple surfaces.

Generates consistent step‑over, gouge‑free toolpath for all supported tools regardless of the part model topology.

Options for zig‑zag or one‑way toolpath with or without plunge moves are available. A containment boundary can be used to restrict the toolpath to within the boundary.

Surface Milling: Projected Toolpaths

Model 3D surface toolpath by projecting any line‑arc and polyline CAD or toolpath elements onto multiple surfaces.

Provides toolpath modeling flexibility for when other toolpath process output won’t cut it. The resulting toolpath is gouge‑free for all supported tools, regardless of the part model topology.

Surface Milling: Roughing

Generate roughing toolpaths on complex 3D surfaces with multi Z‑level depth of cut control.

Surface Roughing toolpaths can be modeled using Solid / Surface data or existing toolpath elements.

Options for zig‑zag or one‑way toolpath with or without plunge moves are available. A containment boundary can be used to restrict the toolpath to within the boundary.

Surface Milling: Flow Line

Model 3D surface toolpaths across a single surface.

The toolpath follows ‑ or flows along ‑ the user‑specified direction of the surface. Ball, Bull and Flat tooling is supported.

Surface Milling: Contour

Model precise gouge‑free toolpath that is a series of profile cuts at successive Z levels around the selected surfaces.

Toolpath is created for all possible profiles at each Z level depth of cut.

Options for zig‑zag or one‑way toolpath with plunge moves are available. The toolpath can be constrained to a Z‑level start and Z‑level end.

Contour toolpaths are useful for semi‑finish and finish machining curved vertical and near vertical walls, with or without islands and bosses, in mold cavity and core models. Ball, bull, flat and tapered cutter types are supported.

The Contour process can also be used to create planar profiles that are suitable for use in the Region Rough process.

Surface Milling: Pencil

Create semi‑finishing or finishing toolpath that follows the valleys formed by surface intersections or creases within the selected surfaces.

Toolpath is generated for all positions at which the specified tool makes dual contact with the selected surfaces.

Pencil milling supports ball, bull, flat, and tapered cutters. The resulting Pencil mill toolpath is gouge‑free for all supported tool types regardless of the part model topology.

Surface Milling: Project Pattern

Create and project a Radial, Spiral or Pocket pattern onto the set of selected surfaces.

Toolpath is created for all positions where the tool contacts the selected surfaces and is gouge‑free regardless of topology.

Project Pattern supports ball, bull, flat and tapered cutters.

What should you know about SmartCAM?
Toolpath & Geometry Modeling

Toolpath Modeling ~ If you can draw it you can cut it. If you create a CAM‑mode line, arc, or profile then CNC Code is immediately available. SmartCAM's extensive Toolpath Modeling functionality allows both CAD Layer construction and CAM Step toolpath geometry to be constructed and edited using the same set of SmartCAM tools.

CAD Layer geometry, including geometry imported from a CAD design, can be property‑changed to become Toolpath Elements. The reverse is also true, from Toolpath to Layers.

What is the significance of SmartCAM Toolpath Modeling to you?

SmartCAM Toolpath Modeling means that you are able to create Toolpath and CNC code to the exact and sometimes unique needs of your CNC manufacturing business.

SmartCAM can generate Process Containers. These take the results from SmartCAM's toolpath generation functions and place it in a regeneratable wrapper. Allowing you to quickly adjust the parameters for the previously generated toolpath and generate and replace the existing toolpath.

Toolpath Modeling is a part of what we like to refer to as The SmartCAM Difference. Watch our two minute video - which contains audio narration - to learn just a bit more about The SmartCAM Difference:

Toolpath Verification
Toolpath Verification
Every SmartCAM license at any product level includes Toolpath Verification.

Verification supports both toolpath motion simulation and full material removal. Rapid moves through remaining stock and rapid or feed moves that cause a collision condition between any part of the tool assembly and remaining stock or fixturing can be flagged and clearly marked on the verification model.

Standard and custom cutting tools and holders can be included in the verification.

The resulting stock model can be saved and used as the stock for subsequent component operations.

Using CAD Drawings and Solid Models in SmartCAM

All SmartCAM licenses can read and write wireframe, surface and solid CAD files using ACIS SAT, STEP, IGES, DXF or DWG file formats.

Additional native CAD file translators are available, at an additional cost, that read SOLIDWORKS® .SLDPRT, Autodesk® Inventor® .IPT files, Solid Edge® .PAR and .PSM part files and ProE®/CREO® .PRT and .XPR files.

All SmartCAM applications can use CAD wireframe, surface, and solid data as reference geometry, toolpath, toolpath boundaries, stock boundaries, and more.

Users of the higher‑level SmartCAM applications can model Toolpaths directly from the imported CAD surfaces and solids.

The SmartCAM Code Generator (aka Post Processor)
Why use a CAM system?

The single‑most important reason for investing in any CAM system is to enable you to quickly and easily generate high quality and reliable CNC Code for your CNC machining operations.

The SmartCAM Code Generator tools delivered with every single SmartCAM subscription are probably the most open and flexible in the CAM world. They are not inaccessible black boxes but are based upon open formatting, output control and logic functions that enable SmartCAM users to modify and fine‑tune outputs to their precise needs.

Code Generators are most often created using an existing SmartCAM library code generators as a template. Naturally - as with any software that is new to you - there is a learning curve before you can fully understand the tools and how to apply them. If you prefer to concentrate on producing parts then a chargeable code‑generation consultancy service is available.

The SmartCAM Customization ToolKit
Customize, Extend, Automate

SmartCAM is designed and created by engineers for engineers. We know a lot about CNC machines, CNC Machining and CNC Code. The tools in SmartCAM are comprehensive and flexible.

The SmartCAM community rates the fact that if you were to hit an apparent limitation then there is usually a technique that can be used in SmartCAM to deliver exactly what it is that is required. We know that SmartCAM users would not have it any other way.

The SmartCAM Customization Kit is another of our open set of tools, delivered with every SmartCAM subscription, that can be used to customize your use of SmartCAM.

A manufacturer of volume parts used in the hydraulic and pneumatic industries, for example, would benefit from parameterized family of part programming that could be created using the SmartCAM CTK. Customization can flawlessly produce Toolpath, CNC code and other outputs time and time again. In fact we know that customers who have created such customization seldom bother to check graphical Toolpaths or code. It works, every time.

A further example scenario for application of the SmartCAM CTK is in automating small‑ or large‑scale tasks that are specific to your CNC manufacturing procedures, machines and personnel when necessary. Your setup and work practices may, for example, require you to frequently apply tasks or sequences of tasks that are not in the box of any CAM system.

The SmartCAM Customization Toolkit
Want to know more about SmartCAM?

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