Mastercam 2018 Public Beta is now open to all currently maintained Mastercam customers. Shops all over the world, from small job shops to Fortune 100, get a chance to test-drive Mastercam 2018 before it is released and provide valuable feedback to help shape the final product. Participants in the Public Beta get an early look at dozens of powerful new tools for simple to complex jobs.

Here are a few things you’ll see in Mastercam 2018 Beta:

• New 2D/3D milling features improve toolpath efficiency and control with variable stock to leave, feed rate control, undercut support, and stock awareness enhancements.
• Design Improvements simplify CAD for CAM and deliver greater practical design tools for shop-floor programmers. Mastercam 2018 provides improved model creation tools, streamlined editing of models and assemblies, expanded Undo support, and more.
• Expanded Multiaxis makes it even easier to program complex parts, and improves workflow and usability while adding new projection strategies, improved tool axis control, and safety zone features.
• Lathe focuses on efficiency with new toolpath and chip control features, as well as adding tool inspection and part transfer stock model enhancements.
• Mill-Turn inherits all improvements to Mastercam Lathe, in addition to improved center and tailstock support, greater flexibility, and automation for part transfers.
• Machine Cloud and CoroPlus support improves tool management, creation, and use of tool assemblies and parameters.
• Streamlined workflow with improved plane management, selection, toolpath analysis, graphic enhancements and much more.
• …and many other productivity improvements across the entire product.

Mastercam is known for precision NC programming, but it also delivers a suite of shop-tested design tools aimed at getting parts on and off the machine as quickly as possible. Powerful modeling tools include not only 3D surfacing and solids, but hole-filling, direct editing without a solids history, geometry repair, and much more.

Mastercam Design streamlines and simplifies modeling and editing geometry. It also supports advanced geometry creation, including solid modeling, hybrid machining, NURBS curves and surfaces, 2D and 3D associative dimensioning, surface extension, blending, trimming, splitting, variable filleting, solid modeling, and hybrid modeling to complete your jobs quicker and more efficiently.

A few new enhancements to Mastercam 2017 Design are:

Optimize
Repairs imported solids (whole bodies or individual faces) by improving the accuracy of edges and be identifying and optimizing blends, allowing other Model Prep functions to work better. Toolpaths on the repaired solid maintain associativity to faces.

Solid Disassemble
A Model Prep function that takes a solid assembly and lays each body out in a single plane. It works on models with and without history, imported from other systems, or created from within Mastercam. The user interface has been improved to better support your machining practices, allowing you to place each solid body on its own level at the toolpath origin, saving you time and extra steps.

Preprocess Solid
The Surface From Solids function now includes a Preprocess solid option that can help clean up errors in imported solids by assisting in the conversion of solid faces into surfaces. Mastercam makes a copy of the body, prepares it, and then creates surfaces from this body. After the conversion, Mastercam deletes the preprocessed body, leaving the original intact.

Other Mastercam 2017 Design Improvements:

• The X, Y, and Z options in the Plane Selection dialog box have been enhanced to increase functionality, accuracy, and efficiency by eliminating extra steps and guess work.
• Repair Small Faces analyzes solid bodies (with no history) and reports if it finds small entities such as spikes, sliver faces, edge pinches, or gashes.
• Solid Impression can speed up the creation of an electrode tool without having to create extra operations.
• Transform Dynamic now supports AutoCursor snapping to horizontal, vertical, and tangent positions when rotating geometry.
• You can now dynamically manipulate geometry with Mastercam’s new trio of single-axis arrow controls.
• And so much more.

Pune, India, Jan 16, 2017: – Machining Software Pvt. Ltd. is pleased to announce Beta release of OnCreate3D, world’s first full cloud CAM centric app. OnCreate3D helps you create NC Files in 3 easy steps. Import CAD file, Create Toolpaths and Download NC File.

OnCreate3D is the first full cloud 3D CAM app. It runs in a web browser and on any mobile device. Simply import a CAD File and choose a project type such as Mill, Lathe or SheetMetal. Many file formats such as STL / IGES / STEP are supported.

Create Operations to cut the part. Mill 3D supports Pocket,  Contour, Parallel, Radial, Pencil and many more operations. Mill 2D supports Pocket, Contour, Rest Area operations. Lathe supports Turning, Facing, Grooving and many more operations. Mill 2D & Lathe will be introduced soon. You can simulate the operations to check for gouges, spikes, undercutting etc.

Create NC File for all operations by providing basic information about the controller options. That’s it. You are ready to take NC File to your controller.

Please visit www.OnCreate3D.com to know more about the app. Sign-up to create your account on our portal and start using it for FREE. You can collaborate with others by sharing your parts and Toolpaths. They can just download NC Files you have already created. Simply invite them to OnCreate3D and share your permissions.

About Machining Software Pvt. Ltd:

Machining Software Pvt. Ltd. Is based in Pune, India, It is self funded Startup that strives to live by its motto Dream, Deploy and Enjoy. Dream Simple, Elegant and Affordable products for customers, Deploy it with latest technologies and Enjoy satisfaction, profits out of it along with customers.

OnCreate3D team consists of CAD/CAM industry experts with experience of over 25 years in CAD modeling and CAM processing algorithms, Quality and User experience experts and Web Technology experts. Team members constantly work on making OnCreate3D more and more user friendly and productive.

The latest edition of Alphacam, from Vero Software – the world’s number one CAM developer – is rich with new features ranging across the modules, making it easier to use and improve productivity.

Amongst the new and enhanced functionality:

• User interface improvements
• New 3D Machining command
• Updates to Machining cycles
• Sawing enhancements
• Simulation updates
• Automation Manager improvements
• New CAD files and versions

The overall user experience has been augmented in a number of ways, including restyled dialogs to provide a more intuitive layout, with images and tooltips included to help the user.  An example is the new 3D Machining dialog which provides the interface to multiple machining strategies in a consistent manner. Strategies available in the 3D Machining command are: Along Intersection; Constant Cusp; Cylindrical Parallel; Cylindrical Profiling; Drive Curves; and Z Contour Roughing.

The Work Plane Properties option in the Project Manager displays a window with a grid containing details of the work planes in the active drawing, such as the name and offset number, which can also be edited in the grid. Additionally, it is now possible to rename the move clamp/fixture operation in the Quick Edit window.

A new option in Drawing Notes means the Add-ins dialog will only be displayed if the opened drawing file already contains notes.

In Machining, the Cylindrical Parallel strategy now gives the option of setting the width of cut as a distance, and when editing settings, the Drawing Area will update with a preview of the tool and holder, if applicable. The machining area is indicated by a transparent shaded region around the part that is automatically updated when settings are changed in the dialog, allowing the user to visualise the effect that a change has on the operation.

Alphacam Router now includes improved foul avoidance for sawing. Previously when using a saw to cut parts, the risk of fouling other parts was increased due to the size of the blade. Alphacam 2017 R1 sawing operations now checks for fouling against all geometries selected for the same operation, resulting in toolpaths being trimmed, if necessary. This means that parts can be laid out on a sheet and all sawn as the same operation, using the automatic fouling check. The operator can use the new path extensions tool with options for extending saw paths by either, Distance, to Boundary or Pick Point, with reversing options.

For Simulator, the new release sees XY configurations supported on both the head and table.

The transfer of 5-axis toolpaths between Alphacam and the simulator has been optimised, meaning that complex operations containing toolpaths comprising thousands of individual elements are much faster. Furthermore, if program stops are included in the operation, they will now be recognised. All these improvements make the user experience more realistic and speed up the simulation process.

Automation Manager sees several new options that provide flexibility and performance improvements, these include:

• Feature Extraction – From Faces: An option that enables the user to extract the solid body outline of the part.
• For non-nested job files the ‘From Job’ option is now available in the Machining Order drop-down menu in the Processing Tab. This is now set as the default selection for non-nested job files.
• Alphacam 2017 R1 gives the ability to copy and paste styles in the layer mapping setup tree by right-clicking and selecting Copy or Paste on the menu. Settings are retained when copying, which enhances efficiency by removing the need to re-apply settings each time a style is applied to a layer. It is also possible to copy and paste a complete setup, if required.

General Enhancements
Work Volume support has been added for the Parametric Sketcher – useful with many post processors that require the work volume dimensions for the NC controller.
User configurable Default Layer Setting – useful when creating designs with set layer configurations.

Improved Solid Model Assembly Splitting Support for SolidWorks and Solid Edge assemblies.

The Area Estimate routine has been improved to take account of drilled holes.

Alphacam’s Network License Profiles allow users to save their own selection of system and module licenses as a single profile, making it quick and easy to select pre-defined license options. For example, all network licensing users can create their own set of License Profiles and copy them to a shared folder on a nominated network PC, ensuring that all users can access the same ones. A particular profile can be specified when Profiles are being configured, or an option can be checked to select one from the list displayed when the licensed application is run.

Mastercam 2017 for SOLIDWORKS is a CAM application that is fully integrated into SOLIDWORKS. Users can program parts directly in SOLIDWORKS using Mastercam’s industry-leading toolpaths and machining strategies. In addition to all the improvements to Mastercam Mill and Lathe, Mastercam 2017 for SOLIDWORKS features the Analyze Toolpath, improved Tplanes, and so much more.

Analyze Toolpath
To make your job easier, Analyze Toolpath is used to display toolpath information such as coordinates, direction, operation number, and more when you hover over any part of the tool motion. Green and red arrows display at the start and end points of the entire path. When hovering over an element that is not an endpoint, a tooltip will display information that is specific to the entity.

Tplanes
To simplify your work, Tplanes are now associated to the SOLIDWORKS geometry that was used to create them. When a modification to the SOLIDWORKS geometry affects multiple planes, Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS displays a message asking you to confirm your changes.

CAD Functions
The Mastercam 2017 tab now includes a CAD Functions menu which contains the Create Boundary and Create Letters functions. These will create SOLIDWORKS geometry. The Roll-Unroll function is used to wrap geometry about an axis, or to unwrap rolled entities to make them lie flat. Mastercam creates a sketch from the resulting geometry.

Also available in the Mastercam 2017 for SOLIDWORKS release is:

• To view real-time operation data about selected toolpaths, you can choose the Display toolpath statistics option.

• Category-specific icons are now included on the SOLIDWORKS ribbon bar. All drop-downs now have an icon that matches the first of the functions to make it easier to find what you are looking for.

• Those who purchase or update to Mastercam Mill 2017 or Mastercam Lathe 2017 will also be able to use the corresponding version of Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS.

• New Chip Break is available in Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS Lathe and is valuable when working with stringy materials, and allows you to set length and time conditions, retract, and dwell options.

• Code Expert enhancements including fonts and colors in NC Configuration and character coding.

• Mastercam Simulator Auto Start which allows Mastercam Simulator to immediately begin to play once a sufficient amount of data has been transferred.

• Custom Tool Display allows users to define a tool using parametric properties along with a custom profile that can be imported from a CAD file.

OPEN MIND Technologies AG, a leading manufacturer of CAD/CAM solutions now introduces hyperMILL 2016.2 with a host of optimisations in 2D, 3D, 5-axis and HPC machining that will boost performance and ease of use. Highlights of the new version include 5-axis tangent machining from the hyperMILL MAXX Machining performance package and also the 5-axis optimised rest material roughing module that ensures extremely short calculation and processing times. In addition, hyperCAD-S the CAD for CAM system has also been significantly improved.

The hyperMILL MAXX Machining performance package has once again been expanded to incorporate 5-axis tangent machining of any arbitrary faces with conical barrel cutters. Delivering results with speed, the use of conical barrel cutters enable performance increases of up to 90 percent compared to conventional production methods. The special feature of the OPEN MIND development is application of cutting tools that have radii of up to 1000mm. This unique tool feature allows the tool to conduct greater step-over distances that reduce tool paths whilst improving the theoretical roughness. The result is extremely fast production times with optimum surface quality. In addition to this module, the hyperMILL MAXX Machining package includes powerful solutions for roughing and drilling. 

Tool Saving 5-axis Strategies
New strategies for 5-axis machining can undoubtedly speed up production and save tool life and machine service life. The conical interpolation results with the “Fast movement optimised” tool positions on conical way around the pole. So simultaneous 5-axis movement is generated with less acceleration of machine axes.

The 5-axis Optimized Rest Roughing creates high-speed cutting (HSC) optimised tool paths for the rest machining – from a previous roughing. The definition of the tilt angles for the B- and C-axes is very simple. The user can choose whether to automatically create the tilt angle in the ‘3D mode’ within a specified angular range or generate it from the plane normals. All connecting paths between the tilt angles are optimised and fully checked for collisions. This indexed machining strategy offers many advantages. Firstly, shorter tools improve stability and performance. In particular, deep cavities and hard-to-reach areas can be processed economically with this cycle.

More performance for 3D machining
OPEN MIND has given hyperMILL 2016.2 numerous extensions for 3D operations. One new feature is the impressive 3D plane level machining. Toolpaths for finishing levels can be quickly and easily generated. Three new functions are available for 3D optimised rest material roughing: the ‘avoid areas’ option can exclude specific areas from processing, the ‘undercut optimisation’ feature avoids unnecessary redundant movements in undercut areas when performing multi-axis machining on stock; and the ‘plane level detection’ is used when plane level needs to be machined using a different stepdown, an intermediate step is added automatically.

CAD for CAM
In hyperCAD-S, plane curves or texts can now be created without distorting the geometry angle on a cylindrical surface or rotational faces. The direction, scaling and mirroring can also be modified.

With the function ‘Compare and merge’ users can compare various versions of CAD models and select the geometry elements to insert them into an existing document. All not-modified geometries remain in hyperMILL. So, only the updated fields have to be reprogrammed. For the user, the work will be accelerated considerably.

CAMWorks 3D CAM software technology, Tolerance Based Machining uses tolerances, hole callouts, surface finishes and other annotations to automatically generate CNC programs for SOLIDWORKS 3D parts.

Geometric Limited, a global leader in 3D CNC machining software, today announced the availability of a revolutionary new technology that uses SOLIDWORKS 3D DimXpert and Model Based Definition (MBD) 3D dimensions and annotations to automate the programming process for CNC machined components.

Aligning with industry initiatives such as Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 for advanced manufacturing, CAMWorks has been uniquely structured to realize the benefits of automated CNC program generation based on tolerance, surface finish, and other annotations in SOLIDWORKS 3D parts. This functionality is possible due to CAMWorks’ ability to extract manufacturing features like pockets, bosses, holes, etc…, and automatically create toolpaths based on an internal knowledge base of user definable tools, feeds, speeds, and strategies.

Jim Foster (VP Channel Marketing and Sales –  Geometric) says, “The opportunity to reduce the need for 2D drawings while helping to automate CNC machining to this level is truly exciting. Toolpath programming processes that typically take hours can now be accomplished in minutes. CAMWorks with Tolerance Based Machining will save 70% to 90% over the typical times involved when using traditional CNC software to prepare parts and assemblies for machining.  For many of our product manufacturing customers, the competitive advantage this technology offers is significant.”

Tell us more about PolyWorks Conference India.
We organize this event every year to inform our customers about the latest developments in 3D metrology and about our company.

We also conduct case study sessions at these events where user of PolyWorks can talk about their experience with potential users. This way, customers get to know about the benefits from a user’s perspective.

This event is all about sharing all the latest information related to 3D metrology and our flagship product PolyWorks.

You launched PolyWorks 2016 at the event. Please tell us how is it different from the previous version?
It’s a historic release for us. We had a vision and the slogan of PolyWorks stands by it – “The universal 3D metrology software platform”. Up to 2016 our product was truly universal for portable metrology but we wanted it to be 100% universal, now the new PolyWorks 2016 has made it possible. It has been able to integrate CNC-CMMs with portable metrology. Now, PolyWorks is truly universal in terms of portable metrology and CNC-CMMs both. All 3D metrology measuring equipment now works with PolyWorks. What makes it even more special is that portable metrology and CNC-CMMs are operated exactly in the same manner.

Tell us something about InnovMetric…
InnovMetric is the leading provider of universal 3D metrology software solutions. We are headquartered in Canada and have subsidiaries and joint ventures around the world. We have over 250+ employees around the world. We have about 150 employees in Canada and about 75 of them are developers, 25 of them are application specialists and just 50 for sales, marketing and administration. This is a proof of how focused we are towards technology.

How has your journey in India been?
We believe in the philosophy that in order to serve our customer best, we have to be local. Ten years ago the company started establishing subsidiaries with an aim to be able to provide technical support locally to our customers who were purchasing from Canada. By establishing subsidiaries our primary goal was to provide technical support to our existing customers locally. We provided technical support in local language according to the local time, thus developing the market.

Also, we were well aware of India’s growth in terms of the manufacturing sector so we wanted to be here and provide our technical capability. Around 85% of our customers come from automotive and aerospace industry, we address primarily OEMs and tier I suppliers.

Why it is not called InnovMetric India?
If you see, people know PolyWorks more than InnovMetric Software; the product has carved a place for itself in the market. So we decided to name the Indian subsidiary PolyWorks India.

Which is your most popular product? Is it inspection software or reverse engineering software?
Our most popular software is inspection software, PolyWorks|Inspector. This software can be used for any type of mechanical part manufacturing. PolyWorks|Modeler, our Reverse Engineering software is our second most popular product.  In the Indian market we initially witnessed a huge demand for Reverse Engineering but later it shifted to inspection.

What are the key benefits of 3D metrology technology?
The most obvious benefit is that you can see results right away and get a better understanding of your manufacturing process. It allows you to see errors and problems much faster and take better decisions about how to correct the issues. So it’s not only helping to identify the problem areas but also helping to find ways to solve them.

Besides aerospace and automotive what are the other industries that you serve?
We serve customers from consumer goods, energy and power generation. Most of our customers are from aerospace and automotive but we are quite active in the above mentioned sectors as well.

How is the response from India about 3D metrology?
I think a lot of Indian companies are looking for solution that can help them speed up their manufacturing process and reduce the cost of the product. In India labour is also not very expensive, so the main issue here is quality. The goal for Indian companies is to extract the data from 3D metrology technology, which is something they cannot have right now with manpower. Although the technology might seem a little expensive in the beginning, it will be useful in the long run in terms of reducing the cost and enhancing the quality.

Do you provide any training to engineering students?
We do provide training to college students and our customers. We also invite them and inform them about the latest developments in the technology. Also, once the customer buys our product we provide training to them on their shop floor.

What are your future plans for India?
We will encourage adoption of the technology and our PolyWorks products. In India the 3D metrology or high end inspection market is still untapped; people are not as exposed to this technology as much as they are exposed to CNC milling, CNC grinding and other machining technologies. We want to spread awareness about the 3D metrology products and its importance.

GDS Präzisionszerspanungs GmbH is a professional supplier of products related to grinding. GDS designs and manufactures work holding, clamping devices, grinding wheel adapters and accessories suitable for tool grinding machines. Spindle sleeves and tapered sleeves for external cylindrical grinding, grinding arbors and accessories for internal grinding. Furthermore, GDS manufactures components that are required for balancing and dressing grinding wheels, as well as other necessary components for the grinding process equipment.

The company GDS
GDS Präzisionszerspanungs GmbH, based in Ofterdingen near Stuttgart, Germany, started its business 20 years ago as a part supplier to different sectors, including the Medical and Machine Tool industries, mostly comprised of grinding machine companies. Their key differentiator was making the impossible, possible, by manufacturing complex, very precise rotational parts.

GDS produced what others could not, specifically when it came
to the micro precision of parts. Today, their specialty remains in supplying wheel adapters for the grinding machine tool industry.

In 2009 during the industrial crisis GDS recognized an opportunity to refocus the company and launch their own product line of grinding wheel adapters.

At that time Dietmar Duerr, CEO of GDS also recognized that
he had to review the way the company was operating to be able to master this challenge. Starting a new dedicated business meant reorganizing and optimizing all of GDS’s processes from design to manufacturing.

More importantly it meant getting the GDS employees on board with all the necessary changes needed to develop this new business venture. “We looked in-depth at all the steps in our manufacturing processes, even inviting GDS employees to get involved and contribute to those changes we needed to make to successfully manufacture our new product line. We listened to our employee’s needs, and as a result provided them with the necessary tools to make all the changes needed.

“The usage of ESPRIT in Production allowed us to reduce the cost pressure and keep the price of our components stable at the same level.”

Today GDS employees continue to be happy and feel like a part of the GDS family. Our production capacity has also increased a
lot compared to 3 years ago, which has allowed the company to accept new contracts, and be more flexible than ever before” Mr. Duerr confirms.

ESPRIT in action
As a part of the necessary changes GDS optimized its processes to support production, and introduced a new CAD software Solidworks, and a new CAM solution, ESPRIT CAM software to machine the parts. These changes were key to
the success of GDS’s grinding wheel adapter business, helping the company enormously grow than in the past 4 years, plus increased their overall product quality by 25%.

GDS chose ESPRIT CAM
based on the unrivaled ease of importing all feature information from a SolidWorks CAD file into ESPRIT to machine the parts. “Using ESPRIT, we almost doubled the number of jobs
in production over a certain
time” says Alexander Seyboldt, Manufacturing Manager at GDS. “Having the option to save defined processes for one part
to a disk, and reuse them by dragging and dropping them
into the next part, helped reduce programing time by 50%. The integrated simulation in ESPRIT, including complete tools and fixtures, secured our process and helped ensure high production quality’’ he adds. The Report generated out of ESPRIT helped the person at the machine
feel comfortable that all the information needed for running production of the part was included.

“The usage of ESPRIT in the Production allowed us to reduce the cost pressure and keep the price of our components stable at the same level.” resumes Dietmar Dürr.

“By using the KBM functionality in ESPRIT efficiency was increased by 30% when programing new parts” confirms Mr. Seyboldt.

Using ESPRIT CAM software allowed GDS to effectively produce more, pursue new customers or projects, and most importantly for GDS Management, made employees even more happy to work for GDS – which GDS knows is one of the most fundamental components to their success.

Tolland, CT – Rooted in their mission to inspire the next generation of makers and fill the advanced manufacturing skills gap, the partnership between Mastercam and Edge Factor has been collaborative and longstanding. Mastercam, a widely-used CAM software company, and media production company Edge Factor, are proud to announce the continuation of their strategic partnership for 2016. Recognizing the need to fill the manufacturing pipeline, Mastercam is supporting the Edge Factor team as they focus on producing high impact media and interactive resources for educators and business leaders to inspire the next generation of makers, available through eduFACTOR memberships (edufactor.org).

Looking back at 2015
In 2015, Mastercam and Edge Factor partnered on major initiatives including Rock MFG Day Kit event resources used by 734 organizations to host MFG Day events, a LaunchPoint TV episode that features the career pathway of one of Mastercam’s young female machinists, and the upcoming Edge Factor documentary “Masters of Resonance” that tells the stories of makers and musicians such as John Good from DW Drums, Bob Taylor from Taylor Guitars, and Neil Peart, the drummer from Rush. They also worked together on several eduFACTOR resources such as the “Geek Out” technology video series and hands-on CNC machining and 3D printing projects. Building on the success of last year, Mastercam and Edge Factor are excited to move forward and partner together in 2016.

2016 Initiatives
This year, the latest Edge Factor film “Masters of Resonance” is in postproduction and the crew will be producing three new films featuring students working on parts for NASA and the ISS, life changing inventions with MIT, and sustainably powered vehicles. Mastercam and Edge Factor are partnering to create many eduFACTOR resources including 15 “Geek Out” technology videos, the 2016 version of the Rock MFG Day Kit, 3D printing and CNC machining projects, and tools based on the new films. “Mastercam holds over 20% of the Educational Market, and we are committed to the future of our industry,” said Meghan West, President of CNC Software Inc. “The need for manufacturing jobs over the next few years will be high, and partnering with Edge Factor allows us to help tell stories and create resources that inspire the next generation of our industry.”

As the network of schools and companies that use Edge Factor resources grows, there is a constant flow of new content that span industries and careers to meet the needs of industry and education face, as they seek to inspire audiences and raise up the next generation of manufacturers. “To accomplish the things we do, it takes a team. When we stop and think of partnership with Mastercam, we don’t just think of them as a big software company. We think of the amazing team of people and the Mastercam family that we have had the privilege of working closely with for the last several years,” said Jeremy Bout, Producer/Host of Edge Factor.