Model Checking, Healing and Reporting Options for Open and Merge - V19.0

New options on the File Open and Merge dialog boxes provide convenient access to the model checking, healing, and reporting functionality previously located in the Surface Modes dialog box. The following options are now available.

• Show Model Checking Report - When enabled, SmartCAM runs a model check on the file being opened. The results from the model check are written to the SmartCAM diagnostics window. When the import is complete, the diagnostics window will automatically be opened.


• Attempt Model Healing - When this option is enabled, SmartCAM attempts to diagnose and heal incoming surface geometry, from the selected CAD model. The healing performed from File Open or Merge is unit-less, and is applied to the individual surface geometry elements as they are imported.


• Check Level - This option sets the level of geometry checking to use, options available are: Low, Medium, High. Both the Model Checking and Model Healing use this option to control the level of model checking to apply to the imported geometry.

A new Surface Edit - Validate panel allows diagnostics to be performed on surface/solid geometry, and generate a report of any issues. The report is displayed in the SmartCAM Diagnostics window. Validate can also optionally attempt to repair any problems found.

This functionality is a repackaged and updated version of the Group Check functionality that was previously on the Surface Modes dialog.

Elements, Workplanes, and Sub Routines can now be assigned more descriptive names up to 32 characters in length.

The use of tool tips, which display when the cursor is placed over an item and paused, has been expanded to the following areas:

• Named Elements - if an element is named, a tool tip will display in the Elements list view showing the element name (up to the supported 32 characters) and type.


• Subroutines - a tool tip will display in the Elements list view showing the subcall's element name (if any) followed by the sub type (sub or drill) and then the sub name.


• Subroutines List View - a tool tip will display in the Subroutines list view showing the full name of the subroutine (up to the supported 32 characters).


• Names List View - a tool tip will display in the element Names list view showing the full name (up to the supported 32 characters).


• Text Inputs - a tool tip will display for Text input fields on panels and dialogs showing the value of the input field. If the input field is based on a calculated expression, then the expression is shown.


• Group Palette - a tool tip displays the help line that was previously displayed on the read-out status line.


• Edit Filter Include Icons - a tool tip displays the help line that was previously displayed on the read-out status line.


• Most Recently Used File Lists - a tool tip displays showing the full path and file name for the File and Macro menu most recently used file lists.


• Workplanes - The tool tip in the Workplanes list view will shows the new, longer workplane and tool plane names (up to the supported 32 characters).

The availability of Undo has been extended into more product areas, making it easier to restore the model to a previous state.

• Undo Property Change - Changes made by Property Change, can be immediately reverted by using Undo.


• Explode - Changes made by using Explode to convert elements into lines and arcs, can be immediately reverted by using Undo.

Several new and enhanced Macros have been delivered with the new version:

• LAST_STEP() - Returns the highest Step number in the current process model. The Step does not need to be used, it only needs to exist.


• LAST_TOOL()/LAST_TUR_TOOL() - Returns the highest Tool number in the current process model. The Tool does not need to be used, it only needs to exist.


• STEP_INCR() - Returns the Step number increment, the amount SmartCAM will add to the highest existing Step number when creating a new step. If the highest Step number (LAST_STEP()) and the increment (STEP_INCR()) are added, this would be the Step number SmartCAM would use for the next added Step.


• TOOL_INCR() - Returns the Tool number increment, the amount SmartCAM will add to the highest existing Tool number when creating a new tool. If the highest Tool number (LAST_TOOL()) and the increment (TOOL_INCR()) are added, this would be the Tool number SmartCAM would use for the next added Tool.


• TOOL_EXIST()/TUR_TOOL_EXIST() - Returns whether a specific Tool number exists. Returns 1 if the Tool number exists, and 0 if it does not.


• TOOL_USED()/TUR_TOOL_USED() - Returns whether a Tool number is assigned to any step geometry. Returns 1 if the Tool number is used, and 0 if it is not.


• SYSREDRAW[] - Macro command to refresh the SmartCAM window; including the graphics view, control panels, dialogs, and menus. This command is useful when you are using a Visual CTK panel and the macro that is launched updates the panel contents - this redraw will refresh the panel and show the new input field values.


• TYP() - The TYP() macro function has been updated to distinguish between Holes and Hole Features.


• PLANE_GRP[] - Related to the new Select by Plane functionality on the Group toolbar. Selects all geometry on the selected workplane and adds them to the active group.


• HIDE_PLANE[]/SHOW_PLANE[] - Related to the new Show/Hide Plane functionality on the Workplane right-mouse button menu. Hides or Shows all geometry associated with the selected workplane.

Parameters specified as an expression, for example "Width of Cut = .5*jos(tl_dia)" when creating a Pocket process container toolpath, are now stored with the container element. This feature allows parameters to appropriately update when a process is recalled, for example in the above use case if the tool diameter has changed since the process was created, the Width of Cut will be recalculated based on the new tool diameter.