New CAD/CAM software release streamlines the manufacturing process

Mastercam 2021 increases machining productivity and reduces overall production costs with faster and more flexible multi-axis improvements; enhancements in turning and turning-related applications; advances in speed; safety; and more.

According to Mastercam president and CEO Meghan West: “These advancements have been made in direct response to the needs of the global manufacturing community. Mastercam is developed by listening to our users and creating solutions for their problems. We adapt to changing needs to ensure that the customer experience is the best it can be as we continue to innovate for improved automation, efficiency, connectivity, and precision. From job set-up through job completion, you can depend on our technology to empower productivity.”

Faster, more flexible multi-axis programming: as more shops continue to rely on streamlined multi-axis cutting for single-setup precision, Mastercam 2021 adds new techniques and strategies. Expanded Multi-axis Pocketing combines efficient pocket cutting with a focus on finishing with Accelerated Finish tools, automatically maintaining the correct tool contact within defined parameters.

Mastercam now gives the user the ability to analyse and modify the UV direction on surface models, expanding the power and flexibility of multi-axis flowline milling toolpaths. The new 3+2 Automatic Roughing toolpath automatically makes multiplane 3-axis roughing toolpaths by evaluating the model and stock, creating a cut, calculating what remains, and repeating the process until roughing is complete.

Advances in turning and turning-related applications: Mastercam 2021 expands the support for modelling chucks and chuck jaws; users can now define them by selecting a solid model. Mastercam Mill-Turn supports collet chucks as individual component types which greatly expands the range of machines that can be directly supported.

Mill-Turn Simulation has been added to the Mastercam Simulator interface so you can experience Mill-Turn simulation with the same interface tools as Mastercam Simulator. And the software’s Swiss machining solutions combine Mastercam Mill and Mastercam Lathe with specialised post-processors. This adds machine-specific controls inside the Mastercam interface, delivering accurate G-code for a wide variety of Swiss machines.

NC programming speed, safety, and precision: A new toolpath in Mastercam 2021, Advanced Drill, is a customisable multi-segment drill cycle that is useful for spot drilling, deep hole drilling, and back spot facing and each segment of the drill cycle can be defined and customised.

And, when using tools with a tip angle, the new Chamfer Drill toolpath chamfers holes after calculating the correct depth based on the desired width or depth, and lets users select holes of different diameters or sizes, or that lie in different planes, and machine them in a single operation with a single tool.

When creating a bounding box in Mastercam 2021, the new Wrap option creates the smallest bounding box possible. The new Check Tool Reach function facilitates checking of tool and holder against the selected model geometry to view where the tool can and cannot reach.

4D Engineering www.mastercam.co.uk