SmartCAM Products

SmartCAM Production Turning

SmartCAM Production Turning™ software is a wireframe‑based Toolpath Modeling solution for 2‑Axis Lathe Roughing, Semi‑Finishing, Finishing, Grooving, On‑Centerline Hole Making and Threading.

SmartCAM Production Turning users are able to create toolpaths using imported CAD solid models with Create From Solid functionality, including boundary extraction and slicing the model.

Essentially, that Toolpaths are not generated directly from solid models. Points, Lines, Arcs, Curves and other elements are used to represent Fixturing, Annotation, Toolpath containment boundaries and regions, or directly as Toolpaths.

In SmartCAM, CAD Layer Point, Line, Arc and Curve geometry is treated the same as Toolpath Point, Line, Arc and Curve geometry. Geometry for CAD Layer and Toolpath purposes can be imported from CAD data or can be constructed using the geometry tools within SmartCAM.

SmartCAM Production Turning users are also able to extract wireframe boundaries from CAD solid models for CAD Layer and Toolpath geometry Modeling purposes.

CAM Engineers producing programs for 2-Axis Lathes need to create CNC code for:

OD, ID and Face Turn & Back‑Turn Roughing / Semi-Finishing / Finishing operations from Billet or Defined stock
On‑Centerline Hole Making
OD, ID, Face and Tapered Threading
OD, ID and Face Groove Roughing & Finishing
Part-Off

Toolpath Modeling Processes available in SmartCAM Production Turning to meet and exceed those needs include:

Roughing Processes

A set of Roughing, Semi‑Finishing and Finishing toolpath processes

Features common to most Toolpath Processes include:

The Target Part Profile to be machined can comprise of a single element through to a full profile
Rough Turn from Billet or a Stock Profile Boundary
Pass Depth ( Pass Width when Groove Roughing ) and Z & X finishing allowance user settings
Infeed ( Leading ) and Outfeed ( Trailing ) approach angles are user-controllable
Uni‑directional ( constant feed direction ) or bi‑directional ( back-and forth feed move action ) where relevant
A Theoretical Part Profile can optionally be generated for use as stock input in subsequent toolpath processes
Controller Canned Turning Cycles can optionally be output in CNC code for most roughing processes

Linear Roughing

Model toolpath for Rough Turn using Linear Passes

OD and ID Turn & Back‑Turn, Face & Back‑Face

Roughing at any user‑specified Pass Angle

Contour Roughing

Model toolpath for Rough Turning using a sequence of offset passes

Useful when Rough Turning from Casting, Forging or pre-machined stock

Groove Roughing

Model toolpath for Rough Turning Groove features

OD, ID and Face Grooving for Straight, Taper-sided and Contour Groove Features

Profile

Model toolpath for Profiling

Toolpath for Turn, Face, Back‑Turn & Back‑Face finishing & semi‑finishing operations

Optional Lead‑In and Lead‑Out settings

With or without Cutter Compensation

Parting

Model toolpath for Parting‑Off Operations

User settings for Peck and Lift‑Off. Option for Part Catcher code

Chamfer or Radius Corner‑Break options for either or both Part and Stock

Threading

Model toolpath for Threading / Screwcutting operations

Straight or Tapered OD and ID Threading. Supports Multiple Start threads.

Angle or straight plunge

Thread start blunting using groove tooling, common in Oil & Gas applications

Thread data 'Lookup Table' capability

Hole Making

Model toolpath for hole making processes

On‑centerline Centring, Spot Drilling, Drilling, Peck Drilling, Reaming, Boring

Tapping, Counterboring, Countersinking and Spot Facing Hole Operations

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

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.

Want to know more about SmartCAM?

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