Mar 23, 2015 -- NCG CAM Solutions Ltd, UK officially released NCG CAM v14 on 23rd March 2015. This major release includes a number of new features including UV surface machining, the ability to cover pockets, tools to align 3+2 axis, ability to quickly change the background colour, enhancements to translucency, 5-axis along curve machining, tool axis alignment curves for 5-axis along curve strategy as well as many enhancements including improved automation of the drilling in macros, the ability to copy and paste all of the strategy parameters and the ability to do rest finishing using a toroidal reference cutter.
A demonstration version of NCG CAM v14 is now available to download: http://www.ncgcam.com/demorequest.html.
In NCG CAM v14, UV surface machining is a new feature. This new feature will allow the user to select either a single surface, or a series of appropriate adjacent surfaces, and then to generate machining passes using the selected surfaces and the underlying UV direction parameterisation. This can be done by either a given number of passes, or a step-over distance.
This is not totally automated at this stage and requires the user to investigate the UV surface parameters with a view to swapping them to align them to a common machining direction. The UV directions are indicated by arrows.
New functionality to cover pockets is now available to allow the user to create planar patches from curves, machining passes, or remaining passes.
Creating planar patches from the highest inaccessible passes in a Roughing Toolpath will cover and protect pockets of remaining stock, preventing smaller cutters falling into un-machined regions.
New tools are now available to help the user to align 3+2 Axis boundary planes.
Boundary alignment is a particular problem when there is not a planar surface with a suitable normal to orientate from.
The user is now able to quickly change the 'Background Colour' by either using the Drop-down Menu, or clicking the ‘Right’ button on the mouse. Previously 6 mouse clicks were needed to change it, via the Tools Options page.
With the surfaces displayed in Shaded mode, it is now possible to change the translucency of all surfaces in a single operation. One use for this is to enable the user to see the holes inside the part when drilling.
A new feature has been added to the 5-axis module, 5-axis along curve machining. This will allow the cutter to follow a given curve, and the tool axis will remain normal to the underlying surfaces. One example of the use of this feature is to cut windows or trim profiles and edges into components made of composite materials.
Tool axis alignment curves for 5-Axis along curve strategy is a new feature that will allow the cutter to follow a Curve, then a second folder containing additional direction vectors will determine the tool axis. When machining, the tool axis will gradually tilt through these vectors, as it follows the curve.
Many other enhancements have also been added in NCG CAM v14, including improved automation to the drilling macros to make it possible to setup Macros to define drilling canned cycles and make them 'Data Independent' in the same way that milling operations can be setup as Boundary independent by selecting new Boundaries. Also the ability to Copy all the strategy parameters from the dialog page to the copy buffer, which will allow the user to be able to paste the copied parameters into a similar dialog in another NCG CAM session, reducing programming time and errors.
In NCG CAM v13 it was possible to machine material that has not been removed by a previous cutter, for example, from the internal corners of the job using Rest Finishing passes. However, the previous, or reference cutter, must be a ball nose type. This enhancement in NCG CAM v14 now allows the reference cutter to be of a toroidal specification.
About NCG CAM Standalone 3D HSM CAM Software
NCG CAM is stand-alone CAM system offering an easy to use HSM CAM solutionthat integrates with existing CAD and CAM systems.
NCG CAM boasts many innovative features. It is suitable for all types of forms, creating an optimised, smooth cutter motion ideal for 3D HSM, which will help to extend tool life, minimise wear on the machine tool and producing parts with an excellent surface finish.
NCG CAM has a very user-friendly interface, with a typical learning curve of just 1 day is required to machine a live job. It is perfect for the high-speed machining of moulds, dies, prototypes and precision surface machining.
Features:
- Very user friendly interface – making it suitable for even occasional users
- NCG CAM offers many advanced 3D machining routines, rest roughing & 3 + 2 capabilities for all tool-paths, a simultaneous 5-axis add-on module is available
- Fast and efficient roughing strategies, including core roughing and adaptive clearance
- Comprehensive drilling routines – includes automatic hole detection and / or user defined holes
- All machining routines are fully gouge protected for both the cutter and the tool holder
- Rest area option for finishing strategies to minimise any air cutting
- Available as both 32-bit & 64-bit versions (both are multi-threaded)
Key Benefits:
– Stand-alone CAM software that is compatible with ANY other CAD package
– Extremely easy to use with just 1 day's training required to machine a live job
– Ideal for shop-floor programming
– Gouge protection for cutters and holders
– All post-processors are written in-house
– Powerful 3D machining
– Tool-paths optimised for HSM
- Increased efficiency
- Reduced wear on machine
- Extended tooling life
– Saves time and money!
A demonstration version of the NCG CAM software, is available to download - http://www.ncgcam.com/demorequest.html . The demonstration version of NCG CAM has unlimited usage and while there are restrictions to the machining output, it can also be used in its basic form as a FREE .iges viewer.
About NCG CAM Solutions Ltd
Established in Cambridge, UK, NCG CAM Solutions Ltd provides CAM software solutions, offering all the tools needed to manufacture prototypes, models, moulds, dies, patterns and finished products. Our specialist area is 3D HSM CAM with our product NCG CAM.
All our staff have a wealth of CAM experience, having worked in the CADCAM and engineering industry for many years. In particular, every member of our support team has worked on the shop-floor using CAM software on live jobs, enabling us to provide an excellent back up and support service for the software.
Established in June 2009, NCG CAM Solutions Ltd has a rapidly growing global reseller base, with resellers for NCG CAM in UK, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Norway, Turkey, India, Ukraine, Russia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and across USA.
To contact a reseller or to download the demonstration version of NCG CAM, visit www.ncgcam.com . Alternatively contact Estelle Dunsmuir for more information – Email Contact or call +44 (0) 1223 236408 / +44 (0)1353 699840.