CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
November 2004
Product News
Mastercam Injects New Power into Multiaxis Toolpaths at PRI 2004
CNC Software, Inc. spotlights the latest Mastercam multiaxis techniques at the PRI Show December 9-11 in booth # 3537 at the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN. CNC Software will also unveil the new Mastercam Art product, which is perfect for racing customizers.
Mastercam now includes new capabilities for multiaxis users, helping insure safer and more accurate 5-axis machining. "Multiaxis users can now program with even more confidence," says CNC Software President Mark Summers. "These new tools add extra strength to our powerful set of multiaxis options for applications such as cylinder head ports."
Mastercam's multiaxis shank and holder collision detection checks that the tooling setup does not strike areas that would violate the part. This new feature will automatically detect and remove any motion in 5-axis multisurface, 5-axis flowline, swarf, and 5-axis curve toolpaths that would harm the part's check surfaces.
Mastercam's multiaxis machining also includes a suite of additional advances including new undercut programming and negative stock for flat end mills, allowing greater machining flexibility.
Also debuting at PRI is Mastercam Art, which lets users create sophisticated 3D sculpted images from simple 2D artwork. What would have taken a custom auto shop, specialty aftermarket designer, or other artisan weeks to do can now be done in minutes.
Mastercam Art eliminates many of the previous problems of creating machinable artwork. Starting from input that can range from a fully developed CAD model, to artwork scanned from a napkin, users quickly "sculpt" a model on screen until it looks the way they want it. A suite of software tools allows quick and easy edits, including reversion to a previous design. The result is a complex and detailed image that only took minutes to produce, saving time and money.
An add-on to Mastercam Mill or Router, Mastercam Art delivers a set of fast and easy-to-use toolpaths that have been developed specifically for cutting artistic, finely detailed surfaces.
A few key features of Mastercam Art are:
• Relief Manager-the history tree gives you access to your model step by step.
• Classic Design Library-provides you with over 5000 pieces of art, ready to
• import into Mastercam.
• Rast2Surf-converts a bitmap or photo into an embossed surface.
Developed by CNC Software, Inc., Mastercam is Windows-based CAD/CAM software for 2- through 5-axis milling and turning; 2- and 4-axis wire EDM; 2D and 3D design, surface, and solid modeling; and 2D and 3D routing. The U.S.-based company provides Mastercam CAD/CAM solutions to more than 80,000 installations in 75 countries in industries including mold-making, prototyping, automotive, aerospace, and consumer products.
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