Elevate CNC Machining with SolidCAM's Advanced CAM Software

2.5D Milling with SolidCAM

– SolidCAM’s 2.5D Milling module offers a user-friendly interface integrated with SOLIDWORKS and Inventor.
– It provides powerful and efficient 2.5D CNC milling toolpaths.
– Easily define CNC machining operations, work on parts and assemblies, and visualize fixtures and components.

Interactive and Automated 2.5D Milling

– SolidCAM offers both interactive and automated 2.5D milling operations on SOLIDWORKS models.
– It caters to both novice and advanced users, providing control over geometry selection and CNC programming strategies.
– Automated features include Pocket and Drill Recognition for efficient machining.

Advanced 2.5D Milling Operations

– SolidCAM goes beyond standard 2.5D milling with features like chain modification options, automatic rest material machining, chamfer machining, thread milling, variable pocket and profile levels, engraving, contour 3D operation, and side slot machining with undercut.

Drill Recognition

– SolidCAM’s Drill Recognition automatically identifies and groups holes from solid models.
– It offers options to modify resulting geometry and can machine groups of holes on different levels and depths.

Pocket Recognition

– Enhancing pocketing operations, SolidCAM’s Pocket Recognition automatically identifies all pockets on CAD models.
– It provides versatile pocketing strategies, variable levels, and depths recognized from model faces.

Multi-Depth Drilling

– For full control in drilling operations, SolidCAM’s Multi-Depth Drilling lets you customize drilling at each step and depth.
– Ideal for deep drilling and cross-hole drilling applications.

SolidCAM’s 2.5D milling and drilling capabilities, combined with intelligent recognition features, empower users to streamline CNC machining processes for greater efficiency and precision.

Pocket Recognition for Efficient Machining

– SolidCAM’s automatic pocket recognition identifies all 2D pockets, whether open, closed, blind, or through.
– It combines pockets by depth and Z-level, machining them in one operation, providing full fixture protection.
– Variable upper levels and depths recognized from model faces offer flexibility.
– User control over tools, technology, and cutting strategies ensures precise machining.
– Features include automatic fillet machining, rest material recognition, and suitability for multi-pocketed parts.

Chamfering and Deburring Made Easy

– SolidCAM automatically detects sharp edges for chamfering, allowing users to set depth, tool diameter, and safety offset.
– The chamfer recognition avoids vertical walls and minimizes collisions, ensuring safe machining.

Advanced Drill Recognition

– SolidCAM automatically identifies all drills on the solid model, simplifying CNC operations.
– Powerful filter tools enable drill selection based on diameter, Z-level, or drill depth.
– Spot drills are generated based on drill tool diameter.

SolidCAM Hole Wizard for Complex Holes

– SolidCAM’s Hole Wizard streamlines programming for complex holes with drag-and-drop machine processes.
– It recognizes all holes in CAD features, including patterns, and provides access to geometry and dimensional parameters.
– The wizard offers flexibility through conditional equations and can program various hole types with a single click.

Drag & Drop Operations for Efficiency

– SolidCAM allows users to drag and drop complete machining processes from a library or user-defined operations.
– It automates the generation of all necessary operations for efficient CNC machining.

SolidCAM’s automatic feature recognition and machining capabilities simplify CNC programming, enhance efficiency, and reduce the risk of errors. These features cater to various machining needs, ensuring precision and ease of use.

High-Speed Surface Machining (HSS) with SolidCAM

– SolidCAM’s HSS module is designed for high-speed surface machining, including localized areas and undercuts.
– It offers easy surface selection without boundary definition and supports standard and shaped tools.

Efficient Surface Machining Strategies

– SolidCAM HSS provides efficient, smooth, and gouge-free toolpaths for selected surfaces.
– Special toolpath linking options ensure smooth lead-ins and lead-outs, and user-controlled linking moves avoid holes and slots without surface modification.

3D Machining Capabilities

– HSS goes beyond 2.5D machining, offering 3D machining capabilities on prismatic and 3D parts.
– It excels in creating flowing toolpaths on complex 3D shapes, such as fillets, without the need for constraint boundaries.

Improved Surface Quality

– SolidCAM HSS enhances surface quality, making it a valuable add-on for machining various parts in machine shops.

Advanced Gouge Control

– Complete gouge control is available for holders, arbors, and tools in HSS.
– Users can select adjoining check surfaces to avoid and choose from various retract strategies.

Advanced Linking

– HSS offers total freedom to control tool entry and exit motions without surface modifications.
– Toolpaths can be extended or trimmed, gaps and holes can be bypassed, and multiple lead-in/lead-out options are available.

Handling Undercuts

– Tackle undercuts and challenging geometries with tapered, lollipop, or T-slot tools in HSS for precise machining.

SolidCAM’s HSS module provides powerful high-speed surface machining capabilities, enabling smoother and more efficient machining of complex parts while maintaining surface quality.

Indexial 4/5-Axis Milling with SolidCAM

– SolidCAM streamlines 4- and 5-axis CNC machining, increasing production and reducing setup times.
– It excels in indexial 4/5-axis machining, enhancing workflow efficiency and part manufacturing capabilities.

Simplified Coordinate System Definition

– SolidCAM simplifies multi-sided machining with one-click orientations for indexed setups.
– Users can define coordinate systems on the fly by selecting a face, eliminating the need for complex geometry transformations.
– SolidVerify simulation ensures accurate toolpath visualization, including tool holders and fixtures.

Efficient G-Code Generation for Multi-Axis Machines

– SolidCAM offers efficient G-code generation options for multi-axis machines.
– Its post processor handles rotations and work offset shifting, reducing the need for manual adjustments at the machine.
– SolidCAM supports controllers with advanced plane and coordinate rotation functions, ensuring compatibility with various machine setups.

Fast and Seamless Indexial Milling Programming

– SolidCAM simplifies indexial milling, making it as straightforward as single-sided milling.
– No special functions or software tricks are required; it seamlessly handles multi-sided part machining.

SolidCAM’s solutions streamline multi-axis machining, simplifying complex processes and enhancing productivity for machine shops.

HSR & HSM | 3D High-Speed Machining

– SolidCAM’s High-Speed Machining (HSM) offers unique strategies for 3D high-speed toolpaths.
– It ensures smooth cutting moves and retracts, maintaining continuous machine tool motion, essential for higher feed rates and efficiency.
– Ideal for complex 3D parts, aerospace components, molds, tools, and dies.

HSR – High-Speed Roughing

– SolidCAM HSR provides powerful high-speed roughing strategies, including contour, hatch, hybrid rib-roughing, and rest roughing.

HSM – High-Speed Finishing

– SolidCAM’s HSM module minimizes high Z-level retracts by angling and smoothing retracts with arcs.
– Achieve efficient and smooth toolpaths, leading to improved surface quality, extended tool life, and reduced machining time.

Elevate 3D Machining

– SolidCAM’s HSM module is a robust solution for advanced High-Speed Machining needs.
– It enhances productivity for both newer and older CNC machines, reducing air cutting and ensuring continuous tool motion.
– Control cutting moves precisely using various options, including silhouette boundaries and Z-level limits.

High-Speed Machining is essential for meeting modern machining demands, such as shorter lead times, cost reduction, and improved quality. SolidCAM’s HSM takes 3D Machining performance to new heights, maximizing your current machine capabilities.

Explore the power of HSM for 3D Machining with your existing machines.

Turbo 3D HSR and HSM (THSR and THSM)

– SolidCAM’s Turbo 3D HSR and HSM modules offer powerful High-Speed Roughing (HSR) and High-Speed Machining (HSM) capabilities.
– They provide much faster calculations than regular HSR/HSM modules, with lightning-fast 3-axis calculation engine and 64-bit architecture.
– THSR strategies remove excess material quickly while ensuring collision-free toolpath contours.

THSM for Exceptional Surface Quality

– THSM strategies generate high-quality HSM toolpaths, delivering exceptional surface quality.
– Rapid toolpath generation and flexibility in point spacing enable quick programming.
– Automatic Leads & Links simplify the programming process.

Auto 3+2 High-Speed Roughing

– Hybrid High-Speed Roughing with 5X-transitions between THSR Jobs.
– Auto 3+2 module efficiently machines undercut areas from a single direction, reducing the number of operations.

Geodesic Machining for Complex 3D Shapes

– SolidCAM’s Geodesic Machining handles complex 3D shapes with constant stepover and undercut areas.
– It generates toolpaths with measurable constant stepover, even on steep and shallow walls.
– Works effectively in undercut situations, reducing entry and exit moves.

Experience faster, more efficient, and collision-free high-speed machining with SolidCAM’s THSR, THSM, Auto 3+2, and Geodesic Machining modules, enhancing surface quality and productivity.

Mold Machining Challenges and Solutions

– Competitive moldmaking industry faces challenges like surface finish, accuracy, and short delivery times.
– SolidCAM offers excellent tool path quality, unmatched surface finish, and automatic updates for mold changes.
– Error-free G-Code and CAM solutions ensure first part success.

iMachining 3D for Mold Roughing and Finishing

– iMachining 3D generates complete CNC programs for roughing, rest roughing, and semi-finishing 3D parts in a single operation.
– It optimizes tool paths to avoid collisions, offers automatic cutting condition adjustments, and delivers remarkable time savings.

HSM – High-Speed Machining for Mold 3D Finishing

– SolidCAM’s HSM module provides efficient and smooth 3D finishing tool paths for molds.
– It maximizes tool-material contact, minimizes air cutting, and reduces machining time by optimizing non-machining moves.

Simultaneous 5-Axis Module for Mold Machining

– SolidCAM’s Simultaneous 5-Axis module offers advanced control and collision checking for mold machining.
– It includes multi-axis drilling strategies and the ability to follow 3D curves for chamfering and complex contour machining.
– Convert HSM to Sim 5-Axis allows the conversion of 3D HSM tool paths to full 5-axis simultaneous tool paths for better surface quality.

SolidCAM’s comprehensive solutions address the unique challenges of moldmaking, delivering precision, efficiency, and time savings to the industry.

Simultaneous 5-Axis Milling Benefits

– SolidCAM offers industry-proven 5-axis machining with a user-friendly interface, collision checking, and advanced tool path control.
– Features a wide variety of cutting strategies, including flow line cutting and multi-surface finish machining.
– Provides control over tool tilting, lead/lag angles, and collision avoidance strategies.
– Offers realistic 3D machine simulation for comprehensive collision checking.

Advanced Approach and Tool Axis Control

– Each 5-axis machining strategy includes sophisticated options for approach and link control, as well as tool axis control.
– Ensures gouge-protected link and approach moves with customizable lead/lag and side tilt angles.

Collision Avoidance and Machine Simulation

– SolidCAM supports collision avoidance for both the tool and holder, offering various strategies to prevent collisions.
– The machine simulation provides visual gouge checking for accurate verification.

Simultaneous 5X Edge Breaking

– Edge Breaking operation eliminates burrs on part edges, enhancing safety and functionality.
– Generates automatic tool paths based on part geometry, with features like automatic feature detection, linking, lead-in, and collision avoidance.

Simultaneous 5X Edge Trimming

– Efficiently trims thin materials to achieve the final part shape.
– Provides options for tool axis orientation, axial shift, and corner handling to create a smooth tool path.
– Can be automated or user-defined for flexibility.

Special 5-Axis Strategies & Features

– SWARF Machining tilts the tool for lateral surface cutting, improving surface quality and reducing machining time.
– Contour 5-Axis Machining generates toolpaths for deburring and trimming by tilting the tool along a 3D profile drive curve.
– Multi-Blade Machining efficiently handles complex shapes like impellers and bladed disks.
– Multi-Axis Drilling offers automatic hole recognition and drilling cycles in any direction.
– Port Machining enables duct and inlet/outlet machining with tapered tools.
– Convert HSM to Sim. 5-Axis converts HSM 3D toolpaths to collision-protected 5-axis toolpaths for stability and rigidity.

SolidCAM’s Simultaneous 5-Axis Milling provides advanced control, efficiency, and precision for a wide range of machining needs.

Solid Probe for CNC Setup and Quality Control

– Solid Probe simplifies CNC part setup and allows on-machine quality control.
– Easily program Probe cycles for home definition and on-machine verification.
– Operations are based on 2.5D milling geometry, providing control over tolerances and sorting options.

Key Features of Solid Probe

– Streamlined home definition with 16 different cycles for easy setup.
– On-machine verification for measuring machined surfaces without transferring to a CMM machine.
– Tool Presetter support for checking milling and turning tools, ensuring safe machining.

Synchronization of Machining and Probe Operations

– Both machining and probe operations can use the same CAD geometries.
– Changes to the solid model automatically synchronize both types of operations.

Machining and Inspection on CNC Machine

– Solid Probe cycles allow measuring machined surfaces directly on the CNC machine.
– Eliminates the need to transfer parts to a CMM machine for inspection.

Home Definition with Solid Probe

– Solid Probe offers 16 different cycles for easy home position definition, replacing manual setup procedures.

Tool Presetter Support

– Solid Probe supports Tool Presetter to check milling and turning tools during machining and tool change events.
– Provides tool breakage detection for safe operations.

Visualization of Probe Movements

– Full visualization of Probe movements through SolidCAM Machine Simulation ensures the safety of your Probe tool.
Solid Probe enhances CNC part setup and quality control, making it easier and more efficient to achieve accurate machining results right on the CNC machine.

Advanced Mill-Turn for Maximum Productivity

– Mill-Turn CNC centers optimize milling and turning operations for maximum workpiece productivity.
– Manual CNC programming at the machine controller is unproductive, error-prone, and costly, SolidCAM makes programming complicated parts on these advanced CNC’s an easy process.

Versatile Mill-Turn Support

– SolidCAM supports various CNC machine tools and Mill-Turn centers with no limits on axes or channels.
– Compatibility with common Mill-Turn CNC machines ensures flexibility.

Seamless Integration for Ease

– Integrated into SOLIDWORKS or Autodesk Inventor CAD, SolidCAM simplifies milling and turning operations.
– Unique iMachining technology, exclusive to SolidCAM, enhances milling processes.

ToolKit for Comprehensive Tool Management

– The CAM industry’s best tool manager streamlines tool and cutting condition management.
– Support for diverse tool holders, including Face, Axial, Angular, and Multi-Cutter types.
– Direct CAD data import from tool manufacturers for convenience.

Machine Control Operation (MCO)

– MCOs define non-tool-path actions (e.g., turret movements, coolant control) for Mill-Turn machines.
– Pre-prepared standard MCO cycles in post-processors save part programming time.
– Programming options include tool changes, machine component movements, and more.

Machine Simulation for Error Prevention

– SolidCAM’s Machine Simulation visually verifies tool-paths, detecting collisions.
– Full collision detection among machine components, workpieces, tools, and holders.

Channel Synchronization for Efficiency

– The Channel Synchronization Manager guides operation order, identifies clashes, and optimizes machining.
– Supports unlimited channels and diverse machine functions for maximum productivity.

Clash Avoidance Feature

– Channel Synchronization detects clashes and prevents G-code generation or simulation.
– Clearly marks operations requiring action with arrows and helpful comments.
– Considers machine kinematics, axes sharing, and synchronization rules.

Superimposition Modes

– SolidCAM offers three superimposition modes, enabling axes to follow others.
– Automatically detects this mode for applicable Mill-Turn machines.

Rotary Axes and Drive Unit Sharing

– Enhance machining speed and stability by sharing axes and drive units.
– Synchronize turning and milling operations on different turrets or rotary axes under specific conditions.

SolidCAM’s Advanced Mill-Turn solutions provide comprehensive support for Mill-Turn CNC machines, streamlining operations and enhancing productivity.

Swiss-Type Solution for Precision Machining

Swiss-type CNC turning centers have become indispensable for manufacturing small, intricate, and high-precision parts efficiently. However, programming these complex machines directly at the controller can be time-consuming and error-prone. SolidCAM’s Swiss-Type Solutions offer a streamlined approach to offline part programming, optimization, tool-path simulation, and verification, all within your SOLIDWORKS or Autodesk Inventor environment. With the ability to program setup, milling, and turning operations on main and back spindles, along with seamless synchronization using the Channel Synchronization Manager, SolidCAM ensures precision and productivity. Its extensive range of Turning and C-, Y-, and B-axis Milling operations, including the patented iMachining technology, supports optimal machining for every part. SolidCAM customizes certified post-processors to match the machine and controller brands, eliminating limitations on the number of axes or channels.

Swiss-Type CNCs for Diverse Projects

SolidCAM is compatible with a wide range of Swiss-Type CNC machines from recent projects, including Citizen D25-M8, STAR SB20R-Type G, Hanwha XD3811-H-Y2, and many more. Whether you’re working with multi-turret configurations or sub-spindles, SolidCAM adapts to various machine tools, ensuring versatility for your machining needs.

Limitless Tool Management

SolidCAM’s ToolKit stands as the best tool manager in the CAM industry, simplifying tool assembly and management. It offers a user-friendly interface and a virtual machine environment (Machine Preview) to guarantee swift tool configuration changes without setup errors. The ToolKit supports various tool components, including custom-shaped inserts, allowing you to directly import CAD data from the tool manufacturer’s catalog.

Precision in Milling and Turning

SolidCAM provides comprehensive control over X-axis output in both positive and negative directions, preventing collisions with neighboring tools and machine components. It supports Polar Coordinate Interpolations cycles and special features like Thread Whirling, Custom Thread Shapes, and the use of special holders for precise Swiss-Type machining.

Machine Control Operations (MCOs)

SolidCAM simplifies machine actions with MCOs that are not tool-path oriented. These operations include bar safety retraction, tool changes, part pick-up, bar feeder programming, coolant control, and more. Swiss-Type post-processors come with pre-configured standard MCO cycles, minimizing the time spent on part programming and ensuring efficient machine actions.

Machine Simulation for Error Prevention

SolidCAM’s Machine Simulation allows you to visualize and simulate the machining process comprehensively. It detects collisions between machine components, workpieces, fixtures, tools, and holders, ensuring error-free machining.

Synchronization for Maximum Productivity

SolidCAM’s Channel Synchronization Manager streamlines the order of operations, identifies clashes, and helps you avoid them. It’s ideal for synchronizing and optimizing machining processes for maximum production output. SolidCAM supports an unlimited number of channels, axes exchanges, machining patterns, and cutting modes.

Clash Avoidance Feature

The Channel Synchronization includes a clash avoidance feature that prevents G-code generation or simulation when clashes are detected. It marks operations that require action and guides users with arrows and helpful comments. The system considers machine kinematics, axis sharing, and synchronization wait-marks rules to ensure smooth operations.

Superimposition and Rotary Axes

SolidCAM supports three superimposition modes, enabling slave axes to follow master axes. For applicable Swiss-Type machines, SolidCAM automatically detects this mode, enhancing machining precision.

Drive Unit Sharing for Efficiency

Drive Unit Sharing reduces machining time and stabilizes part machining. It allows you to synchronize turning operations on different turrets simultaneously, and under specific conditions, even turning at the same spindle. This feature also supports the synchronization of milling operations on different turrets using the same rotary axis, further optimizing efficiency.