The Professional Machine Shop Solution
The CAM Plug-in for TurboCAD Pro is a professional solution for
2-1/2D computer aided machining (CAM).. The plug-in, in
combination with TurboCAD Pro, provides unparalleled flexibility
and productivity. Unlike typical solutions in which the design,
CAM, and post-processing are in two or even three distinct
phases; the CAM plug-in performs all phases with integrated,
non-linear associativity. That means you can make a last minute
design change and all machine setup, drill-paths, and
post-processing equivalent native g-code generation are updated
automatically to reflect those changes.
With many CAM products there are several
distinct activities:
- Import the drawing or design the
part, and clean up the drawing.
- Define the tool paths based on, for
example, a 1/4" drill bit.
- Export the design.
- Import the design into the
post-processor.
- Perform post-processing setup.
- Export g-codes.
Any change to the drawing, the paths, or the tool size, for
example, and many applications force you to go back to step 1.
Not the CAM Plug-in for TurboCAD Pro!
The CAM Plug-in for TurboCAD Pro performs steps 1-6 in an
associative manner so that a change to bit size, or a design
change to add a peck-drilled pocket can be performed at any time
and all other steps including the g-code are automatically
updated. Work on the project in the order that makes sense to
you. Design changes, revisions, secondary milling for precise
finishing can all be made quickly and efficiently.
Productivity is ennhanced further with design simulation and 3D
rendered views of the completed part. The plug-in offers
step-by-step simulation in 3D wireframe, hidden line, or
rendered mode. Models may be viewed in completed rendered mode
or exported as STL solid models. CNC programmers will see
significant time savings, and material savings by spotting and
correcting errors before the DNC downloads g-codes to the
controller.
Using the TurboCAD Pro constraints in the design means that an
entire part may be automatically modified by changing a single
variable dimension. With the single value being entered, all
corresponding drill paths and g-codes are updated. This is a
simple way to define entire part families.
Why Choose CAM Plug-in for TurboCAD?
- Superior productivity gains from an
integrated end-to-end solution — there is no external
post-processing required; the part tree format allows for
tight integration of changes with all steps in a non-linear
fashion.
- Extremely efficient tool management
— a highly sophisticated path-finding algorithm optimizes
tool paths as you work; this produces the best machining and
the most efficient use of the tool, while reducing both
design time and machining time.
- Broad drawing compatibility —
integrated with TurboCAD Pro which supports 26 file formats
for import, including DWG, DXF, IGES, and STL.
- Provide a complete view of the
resulting design — export a complete machcined model in STL
format or a high quality rendering.
- Improved quality and accuracy — up
to 10 digits of precision is supported and measurement can
be singularly or globally changed from imperial to metric,
easily exceeding the highest level of accuracy supported by
most controllers.