ncg cam release notes version 14€¦ · nc graphics bgm.-neumeyr-str. 7 85391 allershausen fon:...

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Bgm.-Neumeyr-Str. 7 85391 Allershausen Fon: +49 8166 9982840 Fax: +49 8166 9982842 e-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.ncgraphics.de

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Release notes for NCG CAM version 15.0.07

With v15.0 NCG CAM has gained some useful tools and new features. The modeless dialogs will make NCG CAM more flexible to the user, and allow Z levels to be picked interactively from the model, this saves typing and the chance of a typo, 32.23 is so like 32.32 when you are typing and rushing. More options for the toolsheet images, enhancements to the UV passes. There is now access to 5 axis roughing, and improvements to 5 axis morph passes. Please note that NCG CAM v15.0 will not install on Window XP, or on a 32 bit operating system. Windows 7, 64 bit, Windows 8 / 8.1 64 bit and Windows 10 64 bit are all supported operating systems. 5299 : Tool Database : Loaded tool databases with missing catalogues are now usable, instead of being locked (which was done in ticket 5152). But there will still be something in the tool database pointing to another tool database that does not exist Also, a tool database can no longer be deleted using the options menu if any other libraries depend upon it. 5301 : Shaft Profile Analysis: Fixed problems with analysis for tapered cutters. 5316 : Shaft Profile: It is now possible to increase the flute length of tapered cutters 5328 : Machine simulation : A Patch to fix (MW SUP-18782) a problem where an error message could be thrown occasionally in the Machine Simulator has been applied. Updated the German and Turkish translations.

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Important update! You really should install it as soon as possible. 5219 : 5 Axis : Updated the 5 axis libraries to fix Multi-Axis Roughing that could cause the it to hang. 5239 : 5 Axis: If you selected "Trim colliding contours and relink" from the "Remaining collisions" dialog box on the "Gouge check" tab in the advanced 5 Axis dialog NCGCAM would crash, this has now been fixed. 5243 : Fixed an exception that could be thrown when detecting theoretical rest areas that was introduced in v15.0.05. 5245 : Post processors: Heidenhain: Added the option to output a line of text before the Bore milling and Thread milling cycles. "Text output before bore milling cycle", "Text output before thread milling cycle". By default these are 'empty' so existing posts are not affected.

5251 : Fixed a problem where loading Parasolid and Solidworks files failed in v15.0.05because that PC was missing the Visual C++ 2015 redistributable. We now included these with the installation. 5253 : Improved the default settings for the Inspect Results dialog and remove mention of DEPO 5268 : Updated the translation dll’s for the 5 AxisLibraries. 5270 : Points: Fix a problem introduced inv15.0.05 stopping midpoint on grids or circles of points. 5272 : User Interface: Fixed a potential hang in v15.0.05 when showing properties for boundary passes.

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1192 : Surface Analysis: You can now specify the colours that represent out of range values for the surface analysis functions (ie Curvatures, Compare Surfaces, and Draft Angles). Go to the Tools > Options > System Colours and the buttons are in the Analysis group.

3707 : Improvements to the surface comparison: When positioning the cursor over the point on the surface, a negative value of surface offset will be displayed if the point is inside the surface. This could make the surface comparison feature more usable when making electrodes.

3752 : User interface: Improved guides for extend / trim curves. We now draw an arrow (in the same direction as the curve) to show the new end of an extended curve. If the curve is trimmed away we show a red blob on the shortened side.

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4219 : User interface: Drilling cycle warning message boxes now indicate the severity of the warning by having a headline "Warning" in black, or "Danger" in red above the message.

4656 : Points: Midpoint now works on a surfaces plan, or a sub-selection of surfaces. The returned point is positioned in the centre of the XYZ region defined by the surfaces. 4893 : Points: A new option "Convert to Points" has been added to the Points menu. When a single detect holes plan or drilling data plan is highlighted, this option can be used to extract the hole centres as a point tessellation plan.

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4958 : Linking: Transform Reverse Linking with boundary passes now reverses and relinks. 4979 : Split ToolPath: A performance problem associated with recalculating shaft profile data while running split toolpath (or sister tooling) has been fixed. 4996 : UV Machining: Improve pass spacing at joints between surfaces when machining fillet where the passes are perpendicular to the fillet. 5024 : Provided Reset to System Defaults under the mouse right context menus for pages on the tools options dialog. Each menu has "This Page" and "All Pages" options.

5029 : User Interface: Fixed a problem selecting surfaces in the User Interface from a transformed surfaces plan. 5035 : User Interface: Provided a warning dialog rather than exception when attempting to write a file with strange characters in the project prefix. 5037 : Shaft Profile: The Shaft Profile Analysis dialog now allows compatible tools to be load from the Most recently used cutter list, the tool used will now also be added to the MRU cutter list.

5040 : The default value for bParallelEnabled is now false in the post processors. Performance of post processing on i7s is improved by around a factor of 2 by setting this value true, but on Xeons the performance is worsened by about 2.5 by setting it true. Since the performance of post processing on Xeons is about 2 times worse than on equivalent i7s, the loss is worse than the gain.

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5041 : Shaft Profile: It is now possible to output the Shaft Profile results to a Java Script file (*.json). 5043 : User interface: The transforming of surfaces with a repeat count was not adding the combined surface folder to the tree view, this has now been fixed. 5044 : Five-Axis: There are occasions when using under-cut style cutters (LolliPop, T-Slot and Dovetail) that collisions were being flagged incorrectly, this was due to the tool being projected to infinity, this has now been switched off for under-cut style cutters (5 axis console > Gouge check > Advanced).

For LolliPop, T-Slot and Dovetail, this option wants to be unticked, and is now by default for these cutters. 5047 : Adaptive Clearance: The validation of the Stock Clearance parameter was incorrect allowing invalid input to the plan, causing a failure, this has now been fixed. 5048 : Post processor: Heidenhain: Added the option to verify the tool length (options already existed for the cutter diameter and corner radius). The new parameters are: Verification includes tool length (set false by default so exiting post processor are not affected). Tool Length Q Function for the Q-value that takes the tool length. Tool Length Q Suffix, which is used to call the relevant sub program on the machine. There is also a Max toolholder diameter parameter, diameters above this are ignored.

5049 : Machining: The use of a zero length flute for machining causes the simulation application to hang. We shouldn't really allow zero flute lengths so it is now not permitted.

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5050 : Linking: A problem with the linking of rest roughing passes which was causing it to take excessively long in some special cases has been fixed. 5054 : User interface: If you pasted text into the Project Settings or Cutting Parameters ‘Comment’ fields, there were occasions when this text would be ignored, this has now been fixed. 5056 : User interface: If you transformed more than one folder at a time and they were of different types (i.e one surface and one curve folder) the resulting folders although had the correct names were not the correct type inside the database. This has now been fixed, it also fixes ticket 5057. 5060 : Editing a toolpath to stock model: A problem has been fixed where a program crash occurred when editing passes to a stock model that was created from a set of triangulated surface. 5062 : Helical Passes: Modified the default setup of boundaries to limit the chance of producing passes outside of the drive boundary. 5070 : Inspection: We now support output for the Heidenhain 640 control in addition to the already supported Heidenhain 530 control. The default control is the 530

5079 : Machine Along Curve: A problem when machining curves containing horizontal arcs in 3+2 has been fixed. This also fixes ticket 4982 5084 : Updated the CatiaV5 reader to V2017.2. This provides support for CatiaV5 R2017 (R27).

5086 : User Interface: The Custom View dialog is now resizable, to allow for changes in windows display options, so fields do not get truncated. 5090 : Post processor: ISO post: Added the option to allow a tool to be probed at the end of a toolpath only. In the post processor options for the tool probing, the option "Only probe the end of toolpath" has been

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added, the default is false so not to affect existing post processors.

5091 : Updated GPOST to V6.7 P17 5093 : User Interface: The user now just gets a warning in the log window when a drilling macro fails to find the required drilling data, rather than a popup dialog. Large generic macros were creating an unreasonable number of popups. Added a paragraph about drilling macros to the Macros page in the documentation. 5094 : Shaft Profile: Improvements have been made to the handling of thicknesses. The shaft profile data is now built without adjustment for thickness. Also fixes an update problem with rerunning shaft profile with a tool selected from the database has been modified. 5095 : Inspection: It is now possible to define a holder (probe body) clearance distance when creating Inspection vectors.

5096 : Linking: Core roughing passes. Fixed behavioural inconsistency between edited and unedited passes. 5112 : Five-Axis: If you use a Five-Axis plan to create a 3-Axis toolpath with an Under-Cut style cutters (Lollipop, Dove or T-Slot) the primary gouge protection strategy will now default to 'Leave out gouging points' instead of 'Retract along tool axis'. As the cutter could be in an undercut position, retracting along the tool axis could be dangerous. 5118 : Macros: When running a macro with 'Display All Dialogs' we now honour the 'Allow Empty Toolpaths' setting when displaying the Post Processor dialog to stop any unwanted message dialogs appearing. 5120 : Corrected a problem where if outputting the NC file in microns, a comment that should show the decimal value, was also in microns. Also fixed an instance where microns were incorrect. 5124 : Fixed a case where re-running dependent plans (in this case on a cutting parameters plan) that could cause the database to lock up. 5125 : Post Processor: ISO post: The incorrect machining tolerance was being used by the post-processors and toolsheet macros for Five-Axis plans for the linearisation of arcs, this has now been fixed.

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5135 : Adaptive Clearance: A new option has been added to the Adaptive Clearance strategy to enable Vertical arc linking moves.

5136 : Updated the translation dll’s for the ModuleWorks 2017-04 Libraries – fixes ticket 5151 also. 5137 : User Interface: The creation of Pre/Post bin files for Five-Axis plans was not always working correctly, this has now been fixed. 5147 : Rest finishing: A possible gouge that could occur in steep sections of toolpath has been fixed. 5152 : Tool Database: Tool Databases the reference a cutter / holder in a deleted tool database are now highlighted in red in the options dialogue, with an indication to the missing tool database name. These tool databases cannot be used until the missing catalogue is included in the list. 5159 : Menu item "Draft Angles" can be selected on context menu for triangulated surfaces. 5162 : Surface Analysis: You can now alter the upper and lower limits to any numeric values in analysis dialog without receiving any error messages. 5166 : Import: Updated the Parasolid reader to v30.0

5167 : User Interface: The File > Macro > Save As... dialog has been tidied up. This also fixes ticket 4986 5171 : Trapped exception that could be thrown when creating a stock model from a set of plans one of which had failed. 5174 : User Interface: When tutorial and reference manuals are accessed from the Help menu they will now remain in view if the user clicks on another NCGCAM window, rather than being obscured by it 5175 : Shaft Profile: Fixed a problem causing Required Cylindrical and Required Body Lengths to be incorrect. 5178 : Tool Database: It was possible to create multiple tool database entries pointing to the same tool library output file. This is now checked for and disallowed. 5179 : Surface Analysis: An error message box will appear when you change the upper or lower limits to invalid numbers in the surface analysis dialog for curvature, draft angles and surface comparison.

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5180 : Export to Excel: The exporting of data to excel spreadsheets is now forced to have the English style (dot) decimal delimiter. 5181 : Tool Database: It was a problem that if you added an existing tool database to your loaded list, but changed the description name from the original, then you would lose your holders from any tools. This has now been fixed. 5182 : User Interface: Shaft Profile Analysis: We no longer force gouging sections of the profile to be drawn in solid colour. Instead we use the user defined translucency on the Tools > Options > System Colours page. The Default colour Shaft profile(Gouges) has been made more opaque.

5183 : Shaft Profile: The Shaft Profile can be enabled from the machining passes plans again. 5187 : User Interface: There were occasions when the focus was not being set correctly after dialogs have been deleted, this has now been fixed. 5189 : Surface Analysis: The lower limit for a surface comparison is initialised with the smallest negative thickness in the stock model used in the comparison, or 0 otherwise. 5191 : User Interface: A new option has been added to the dialog context menu to copy the parameters from the tool pages to the clipboard for pasting. 5193 : Macros: The User variable comments were not being set correctly when running a macro using variables, this has now been fixed. 5195 : Adaptive Clearance: If a boundary was included in the plan, and the boundary was a meta plan, then the rotations would not be used for the toolpath calculations. This problem has now been fixed. 5209 : User Interface: Fixed a problem where resizing Cutter Page reset Body Length and Shank Definition parameters 5210 : User Interface: A check box was out of line on the Tools > Options > General page, this has now been fixed. 5211 : Shaft Profile Analysis: We can't allow shaft profile analysis of roughing style passes to change the cutter as the shaft profile calculation is not stock safe.

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5214 : Shaft Profile Analysis: A validation check has been added to make sure the flute length cannot be reduced (even for zero taper angles) 5223 : User Interface : It was possible when copying parameters with the context menu within a Five-Axis plan dialog for NCGCAM to crash, this has now been fixed. 5236 : Updated the Japanese TMJ translation files Updated the Japanese TMJ translation

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Important update! You really should install it as soon as possible. 3820 : When updating geometry, or if Associativity is enabled, the data in all graphics windows is now updated if the underlying part is changed. Previously only the data in the first graphics window was updated. Also fixes ticket 4692. 4010 : User Interface: Five-Axis plans - The User Advanced Parameters page is now not available with the right mouse context menu when the Advanced ModuleWorks dialogs are in use as the modified parameters would be ignored by the ModuleWorks dialog. 4453 : The End User Licence Agreement (EULA) is now shown before the program starts (after the initial install) with the OK button greyed. The user needs to accept the EULA before OK is available. If the user cancels the EULA box then the program does not start. Once the user selects OK, then the program starts and the box does not show again. The EULA is still available from the About dialog, but without the accept/do not accept buttons. This feature has been added to allow for silent installs (run the installer with the /verysilent option). 4523 : Fixed a problem where deleting a large number of items caused the program to become unresponsive. 4732 : The user variable comments are now written out with a macro when it is saved. When the macro is then run, the comments are written into the project settings, overwriting any existing comments that are already there. Note: The comments are written to the macro but not the values. Any values in the database are not overwritten when the macro is run.

Starting the macro pause, it is then possible to go to the User variable, set the relevant values for each variable being used. The comments help you know what that variable is used for. Then the macro can be allowed to run. 4790 : Hole detection: Fixed case where a composite hole was broken up into sections where it passed through an intersecting hole. 4850 : User interface: The icons on the plan input page are now updated to be in step with the selected plan.

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4891 : Updated the libraries for Catia to V2017.1. 4892 : User Interface: The mouse right context sensitive menu for Adaptive Clearance and Helical Passes has been improved to allow selection of Surfaces, Points and a Boundary. 4907 : Five-Axis: There were occasions when a Ruled surface created in NCGCAM would not machine correctly with Five-Axis plans, this has now been fixed. 4908 : User interface: Creating a cycle with drilling data that have different rotations will now give a warning dialog to explain the problem and the plan will not run.

4909 : Rest finishing: An algorithmic weakness that could lead to gouges has been fixed. 4912 : User interface: Updated Copyright details to 2017 4913 : User interface: Cutter Animation - It was not possible to use the Split Toolpath option for Shaft Profile Analysis plans when being animated, this has now been fixed. 4914 : User interface: The layout of the Prismatic Stock Model dialog has been improved, making it consistent with other dialogs. 4917 : User interface: The layout of the points editor dialog has been improved to remove some white space. 4919 : User interface: The datum point selected was not always being set correctly for Five-Axis and Adaptive Clearance toolpaths, this has now been fixed. 4920 : Replaced remaining references to DEPOCAM with NCG CAM. These were in the Windows document registration and also the Portuguese and Brazilian translations. 4924 : User interface : There were occasions when doing a properties on a Five-Axis General plan would cause a crash, this has now been fixed. 4930 : Boundary independent and surface independent macros were not working after the introduction of "Use Input Geometry". This is now fixed. 4932 : Shaft Profile Analysis: Fixed a problem with required body length calculation. The result could be wrong when the flute length was changed. 4933 : Shaft Profile: When running Transform Reverse Linking on Shaft Profile analysis plans, we now perform all recalculations in a separate thread to prevent the software becoming unresponsive. 4934 : Shaft Profile: Fixed a problem where selecting transform reverse linking when pause was active in the Process manager was causing NCGCAM to lock. As an improvement, we now show the transformation dialogue once at the start before beginning any calculations. Note the application may still be busy for some time if lengthy recalculations are required.

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4935 : Fixed a problem where registering the Solidworks document manager DLL failed. The required Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 redistributable are now included with the installation. 4936 : Added options to the Heidenhain post processor to allow: spot drilling, deep drilling, reaming, and boring to be emulated, so point to point motions are output in place of the CYCL DEF * In the canned cycles sections, the options are: Emulate spot drilling cycle, Emulate deep drilling cycle, Emulate reaming cycle, and Emulate boring cycle. They all default to 'false' so as not to affect exiting post processors.

4938 : Toolsheet: It was not possible to create a toolsheet when a Five-Axis toolpath was included, this has now been fixed. 4939 : Shaft Profile Analysis: Allow changing of flute length in the Shaft Profile dialog if taper angle is zero. 4941 : User interface: The Constant Stepover from Passes plan now has the "Preserve root folders" option on the dialog, with the default set as un-ticked.

4945 : Adaptive Clearance: It is now possible to add or remove the points plan in the plan inputs page. 4946 : No longer pop a warning dialog when an empty cycle is generated when running a drilling macro. The plan fails anyway, so the user should be aware, as it will be shown red in the contents tree. This also this avoids a potential hang.

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4947 : Translating using the 27 point grid, now defaults to use 'Fix value' if accessed through showing properties of a set of surfaces. If it is accessed through Edit > Transform, then it defaults to 'Fix value' is off. 4954 : The grammar in the System Requirements section of the EULA agreement has been improved. 4956 : Shaft Profile Analysis: We now do not update the XY and Z thicknesses when loading a cutter from tool database, where the thickness in the tool database is different to the thickness defined for the original passes. 4959 : Tool Database: For an existing dca file, if we cannot find the tool database defined in the project settings, then we select either the system catalogue or failing that the first in the list. This indirectly stops a problem where filters could not be applied to the cutter lists. 4963 : Cutter animation: Fixed a problem which caused the shaft profile data to be animated at the wrong height if the flute length had been changed in the shaft profile analysis plan. Note: For existing dca files, the shaft profile data must be recreated by rerunning the linking plan to see the fix. 4967 : Fixed a problem causing the standard tool databases not to be created as part of the installation. 4968 : User Interface: The layout of the Project Setting > User Variables page has been improved, the comment column will now expand and contract to fit the available space in the dialog, also the comment text is now positioned to the left of the column. 4971 : As the shaft profile now has the cutter details remembered, there is no need for the “TapeComment REQUIRED LENGTH£ in the ncl file that ppGpost uses. 4975 : User Interface: It was not possible to use the Workplane > Translate grid radio buttons when doing a properties of a Triangulated Curves or Points folder, this has now been fixed. 4978 : User Interface: The ‘Save As’ dialog for macros had some text overflowing in one of the pull-down options, this has now been fixed.

4980 : Toolsheets: It was not possible to create a toolsheet from a nested spilt toolpath plan, this has now been fixed. 4981 : Post Processor: The use of a Proxy PostProcessor was not working for single toolpaths, this has now been fixed. 4987 : Documentation: Correct Licence Manager Help (English only) to say Network dongles are available for the following number of licences : 10, 50 and 250. 4989 : Machine Simulation: The keymap file was not being picked up by the simulation program correctly this has now been fixed.

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Translations: Updated the French, German, Japanese TMJ, and Portuguese translations, Translations: Corrected the dialog layouts for the Polish, Hungarian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Thai, Turkish, Japanese translations.

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1191 : User Interface: The Analysis dialogs, Curvature, Draft and Surface Comparison now have a ? (help) option.

2119 and 4812 : New feature: Post Processor: An option has been added to allow multiple selected toolpaths to be post-processed into separate files. This just required the ‘Post to individual files’ option to be ticked (it is unticked by default). If using the ‘Post to individual files’ option, it is then possible to group or join adjacent toolpaths that use the same tool number in consecutive toolpaths.

If using this feature, and the specified NC file is “job_2461_nc5”, the suffix _01, _02, _03… will be added to the file name, giving: job_2461_nc5_01.nc, job_2461_nc5_02.nc, job_2461_nc5_03.nc, 4285 : User Interface: The Ruler display on the Tool Page was not handling Shaft Profile data correctly, this has now been fixed. 4295 : Added new option "Use input geometry" to the "Save as Macro" dialog as an alternative to "Surface independent". Selecting this option adds the ability to generate planar patches and fillets in surface independent macros.

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3106 : Drilling data now uses the actual rotation input to a detect holes plan if this is set. This allows a boundary with A 0 B 0 C 180 to force a half turn when used as input to detected holes. This can be helpful on some 5 axis machines, when it is preferable to rotate C180 than reach all the way across the part. 4387 : Shaft Profile Analysis: Modifications made to the tool in the shaft profile analysis dialog are now saved in the database in a new plan. Hence performing a ‘properties’ on the Shaft profile plan will not show the tool holder and cutter shank details. Subsequent operations will use the updated tool (from the shaft profile dialog). Improvements have been made to the Required Body Length and Required Cylindrical Length Calculations. The display of shaft profile data during animation has been improved too.

Above, Properties on a shaft profile shows the holder and cutter shank that was defined.

The toolsheet will display the cutter shank and holder details from the shaft profile.

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Also fixes :– 1067 Post Processor: Shaft profile / body length. 1824 Shaft Profile: Passes have cutter and holder. 2457 Shaft Profile: Tool database: Allow non tapered cutters with of longer flute lengths to be picked. 2562 Toolsheet: Add required cylindrical length to tool sheet. 3733 Shaft profile: Redisplay holder once a holder has been fitted. 3963 Toolsheet: The Shaft profile tool holder now displayed on the tool sheet. 3962 Toolsheet: Required body length is now shown. 4689 Cutter Animation: View shaft profile holder option. 4745 Shaft Profile: Issues with required lengths have been fixed. 4807 Documentation: Changes to reflect saveable shaft profile analysis plans. 4809 Shaft Profile: Animation Improvements. 4811 Shaft Profile: Wording in dialog. 4501 : Fixed a crash that could happen when loading a database from a future version. 4635 : User Interface: The XY & Z thickness parameters are now available on the Five-Axis Passes page.

4535 : Drilling: There were some examples where gouges were incorrectly being detected when Bore Milling, this has now been fixed.

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4636 : Drilling macros will now run even when there is no drilling data to match all the data in the macro. A warning box is shown for each drilling data that is not found, and for each empty cycle that is produced as a result. The empty cycles will show as failed and should be removed by the user. However, the rest of the macro will run to completion and will not abort just because some drilling data is missing. 4709 : To allow the NC file to be output in microns, some additional options have been added to the ISO post processor: 'Crop trailing zeros: comments' default = false, 'Retain decimal separator: comments' default: mm = false / inches = true, 'Decimal separator: comments' default = . (dot), 'Output XYZ moves as microns' default = false. The default settings should leave existing posts as they are.

4716 : Performance: There were occasions when post processing over a network would be very slow, this has now been fixed. 4735 : Orphaned boundary plans are no longer cancelled. A dummy boundary plan is created when running a macro and if this was not used it was cancelled, which could cause confusion if the macro was started paused. 4748 : Cutter animation: When animating the Shaft Profile we now only draw one ring per ‘Slice height’, defined in the Shaft Profile settings. 4750 : Fixed a problem causing constant stepover passes to fail when generated from along curve passes. 4755 : Post processor: the ISO and Heidenhain: Added a string for the motions limits comment, “Motion limits header” the default is still “Motion Limits”, but can be changed if needed. Also added “Motion limits footer” which is blank by default, to be in keeping with some other options like the tool list.

This means those comments can be translated to the local language.

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4763 : User Interface: It was possible to create a ToolHolder or Body definition which had a flat disc on the top, which is not valid, this has now been trapped and the plan will not run. 4764 : User Interface: The icon for Adaptive Clearance has been modified to indicate it is a linked toolpath.

4765 : Five Axis: The Start Hint for Five Axis plans is now on the Linking page instead of the Passes page for consistency with all other plans, there is now also an option to disable the start hint.

4767 : Import: Reading with Granite can fail if we first look at the Help > About NCGCAM > Translators page, this has now been fixed. 4772 : Import: Updated the Catia reader libraries to V2016.4. 4773 : Import: Updated to Parasolid v29.1

4780 : User Interface: Fixed a problem which meant that the guide curve for machine along curve passes was drawn wrong when machining in 3+2. 4782 : Adaptive Clearance: It is now possible to include a Points Folder when creating the toolpath to define pre-drilled points for plunging. 4783 : Adaptive Clearance: A Rapid retract option has been added to the Linking page.

It is checked by default, so to retract in rapid, it is possible to retract at the federate, which is what was the original action in v15.0.02 4784 : User Interface: It is now possible to use the Ctrl+Shift+X/Y/Z keys to set the view from the rotations of a DrillingDataTopFolder., like it is possible with a 3+2 toolpath or 3+2 boundary.

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4786 : SolidWorks assemblies which contain no geometry no longer fail when loading, but instead give a warning. 4788 : Rest finishing: A fix has been made to prevent a gouge that could occur for on-surface spiral connections of shallow passes. 4795 : User Interface: Fixed a problem when running Geometry > Analyse on fillet surfaces. 4796 : User Interface: The “X” button has been added to the Toolpath analysis & File > Properties dialogs. 4802 : Post processors: Heidenhain: Added the options – “Output the boring spindle orientate angle” by default this is set ‘False’, Boring spindle orientation angle prefix, which is Q336 by default. Angle for boring spindle orientation, which is the angle for the spindle to orientate too, the default is 0. These are only available when boring with spindle orientation.

4804 : Five-Axis Roughing: It is now possible to constrain a Five-Axis Roughing toolpath within a 3D constraint curve by including the selection of a Curves Folder. 4808 : User Interface: The Toolpath Analysis dialog pages for the frequency graphs were not always displaying the correct data, this has now been fixed. 4818 : User Interface: Corrected the appearance of the first two user definable colours in the Tools > Options > Entity Colours dialog page.

4827 : Provided support for SolidWorks 2017 part files

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4830 : Post Processor: If you do a properties on a post processor plan and then modify the cutting parameters plan via the toolpath page, it was not using the new cutting parameters when post processing, this has now been fixed. 4846 : If the user changes the location of the program data folder then the Most recently used (MRU) cutter file is now moved to that new location, and its location is updated in the registry. 4847 : User Interface: The option to “Preserve Root folders” has been moved from the Modifier dialog onto the Plan dialogs where relevant. The Shift key can still be used to set the default when activating the dialog.

Setting the cutting parameters Post processing If this option is enabled, the root folders will remain at the top level of the contents tree, but in most cases, it is not necessary to do so. 4853 : User Interface: When the inputs were changed in a dialog using the plan input page the plan label was not always being updated correctly this has now been fixed. 4854 : New feature: User Interface: An option has been added to the toolpath verification page when post processing to allow the estimated machining time to be obtained for all toolpaths, for a set of selected toolpaths, or for a specific tool number. The default is “All” so the estimated time is for all tools, as it was before.

Mini guide. With All selected, the estimated time is for all the toolpaths.

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Clicking on the tool number list, it is the possible to select an individual tool number. The list will only show tools used in the toolpaths being post processes. The estimated time shown now is for all toolpaths that use that tool number.

By selecting “Selected” from the list, it is then possible to select groups of toolpaths, and the estimated time show is for the selected toolpaths.

This can be very useful when you have a lot of toolpaths using the same tool number, it makes it easy to check the cutting time for a particular tool or selected toolpaths, then if it is too long, some toolpaths can be changed to a different tool number. 4855 : Post Processor: Heidenhain: If using a Q-value for the spindle speed, it was possible for the first operation to not have the correct value (speed) - this has been fixed. 4856 : User Interface: There were occasions where trying to combine two boundary folders with the same rotations would not be permitted, this has now been fixed. 4862 : Detect Holes: There were occasions when composite holes were detected and generated outside of the holes depth, this has now been fixed. 4865 : User Interface: Transformed Shaft Profile Analysis Plans are now named after the input toolpath ie 'Transformed Raster Toolpath 1 [20x3.5, 0]' not 'Transformed Shaft Profile Analysis 1 [20x3.5, 0]'. 4866 : Rest finishing: A problem has been fixed where a significant gap in the rest passes could appear in the vicinity of a multi-way corner where steep passes met shallow passes. v15.0.02 Rest finishing passes, shallow area connections.

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v15.0.03 Rest finishing passes, shallow area connections.

4867 : User Interface: When the Program Data Folder is changed in Tools > Options > General we need to update the machsim.ini file to use the new path for current.keymap. A warning is now issued for Five-Axis users that it needs updating. Using Windows Explorer, browse to your Program Data Folder (as set in Tools > Options > General) Go to the MachineToolDefinitions folder. Locate the file: machsim.ini Open that in a text editor such as: notepad Find the line that starts: defkeyfilename= By default it will continue with: %ProgramData%\NCGCAM Solutions\Machinetooldefinitions\current.keymap Chance that to be the same location as defined in Tools > Options > General for the Program Data Folder Save the file. It is important not to change anything else. If you are unsure, speak to your reseller. 4868 : Import: Updated Granite to v10.0 F000. This provides support for Creo 4.0.

4870 : Machining: The use of selected surfaces for Radial/Spiral & Perpendicular Raster passes was broken, this has now been fixed. 4876 : Fixed exception thrown when drawing and undrawing an animated toolpath. 4877 : User Interface: When Post processing a large number of toolpaths there were occasions when there was quite a delay before the dialog was displayed, this has been improved and is at least twice as fast now. 4878 : Rest finishing: The quality of rest finishing passes joining for shallow sections has been improved. 4880 : Improved the cleaning up of temporary files. 4883 : User Interface: The Cutter Animation, Process Manager, Tool Guide, Machining Simulation & Analysis dialogs are now consistent with other dialogs in there format regarding the X close button in the top right corner, a ? (Help) button has also been added.

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4885 : User Interface: The wording on Linking pages of dialogs for Start Hint has been made consistent and in-line with the home point across all dialogs.

Start hint appearance for a 3 axis toolpath. Start hint appearance for a 5 axis toolpath. 4888 : Post processor: Heidenhain: It was possible for a "~" (tilde) to be output on the last Q-value for a bore milling cycle, when the last Q-value does not need it. This has been fixed. 4890 : Drilling : The rotations are now checked when using multiple drilling data plans when creating a cycle, and a warning that the first rotation will be used is given if they are different. If the tool axes are different, then the cycle plan will fail as before. Documentation: Updated, including the tutorial and the What's New for 15.0.03 Updated the Turkish translation.

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With NCG CAM v15.0.01 having been out for more than a couple of months, there are some little enhancements and a couple of problems that were uncovered have been fixed. 523 and 4641: User Interface: Added a feature to rotate the graphics view around a specified point by double clicking the middle mouse button, moving the mouse with the second click. A dot will be displayed on the screen to represent the point the rotation is being performed around. 966 : Five-Axis: The option to define a home-point on the link page for Five-Axis plans has been added.

The home point can be used for the start or end other the toolpath, or both. 2084 : Multi-axis stock models: Tapered Endmill cutters are now supported. 3460 : User Interface: The "Reset to original" option on the cutter/holder design page was not working, this has now been fixed. 3514 : User Interface: Allow Reverse Face Orientation for UV Direction surfaces. New Meta plan option "Substitution" has been created. 3896 : Multi-axis stock models: Calculations having many fixed axis input toolpaths could be very slow. Performance has been improved for jobs where the fixed axis toolpaths have one or more common axes. 4007 : Linking: Waterline Passes: Add the concept of “Min distance between adjacent passes” (new User Interface option) to allow users to force adjacent upstands to be machined one at a time, rather than alternating between upstands. Warning: Used incorrectly this feature may have unwanted consequence’s.

When there is a gap between a group of upstands that is only a little wider than the cutter diameter. By default, they will be linked in a by Z level like manner (even though by Z level has not been enabled). This is because NCG CAM does not know if there is or isn’t solid material there, so this is the safest approach, but it does add a lot or rapid moves.

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This shows a new parameter, the ‘Min distance between adjacent passes’, the default is the same as the cutter diameter. That gives the same result as was seen in previous versions, and gives the linking shown in the previous image.

The ‘Min distance between adjacent passes’ can now be reduced to get a different linking order that will be more efficient in some cases. Basically this is telling NCGCAM there is not less than a 3mm gap between the passes.

There is a minimum value for this parameter (10% of the cutters diameter) to ensure some safety to the linking order and to prevent cutting on both sides of the cutter.

Now each upstand will be machined to depth before moving to the next. Warning: Used incorrectly, this feature may have unwanted consequence’s.

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4078 : Machining: The Adaptive Clearance Toolpath plan has been updated to use completely new libraries. We will still include the old libraries for the time being so that existing dca's and macros can still run. The new libraries did require some changes to the user interface, but they are still very similar.

Cutting wise the cutter will retract clear of the surface slight for none cutting areas of the ‘loop’. 4083 : Macros: We now handle point tessellations (but not editable points) in the macros. 4389 : Tool database: Added button "Export MRU To Text..." to the Tools > Options --> Tool Database page. This exports the most recently used cutters list to a tool database text (csv) format file.

4466 : For AC and BC rotations, a C rotation of 180 is now chosen in preference to -180. It is the same positon, but the positive value looks more logical. 4483 : Database archive (dca) file permissions: NCGCAM databases that were saved to a named folder, sometimes do not have the same access rights (permissions) as the original database. This problem has been fixed. 4503 : User Interface: The cutter animation dialog was not always accepting the Ctrl+P (pause) and P (step, once pause in evoked) options to pause and resume the animation. This has now been fixed. 4509 : When saving a database for the first time, or doing a "Save As", the default directory to save in is now set to be the same as the project directory.

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4519 : User Interface: Linking: The ‘Home Points’ and ‘Start Hint’ can now be selected from the User Interface with a mouse hit. Click in the ‘Start hint’ field (X or Y), then click on the screen and the mouse / cursor position will be transferred to the ‘Start hint’. It the same principle for the ‘Home point’. 4526 : Multi-axis stock models: Incorrect stock models could be generated for tapered ball cutters. This problem has now been fixed. 4529 : User Interface: The minimum screen height required for the Tools > Options dialog pages has been altered to allow for low resolution displays / small screen laptops. 4530 : User Interface: A new option has been added to the Tool > General page, so you can now set the default behaviour when reading an IGES file so it will always read it with the Granite interface, this enables the use of Five-Axis commands in this file.

This could be quite useful if you frequently use the simultaneous 5 axis module, and used IGES files for the parts being machined with simultaneous 5 axis. 4543 : Linking: Horizontal Area Passes: There is no longer a difference in behaviour depending on whether there are one or two small passes in a pocket. 4545 : Five-Axis: The default 'Use tilt through' option in Five-Axis MW interface has been changed to 'Always closest two lines', this is used when using the tilt through lines option in the Five-Axis machining. 4546 : User Interface: Removed the '?' from the colour dialog accessed from the various custom colour buttons as this led nowhere. 4549 : Updated support for CatiaV5 R2016 (R26).

4559 : User Interface: New function "Internally Trim Surfaces". Creates a new trim surface for each internal trimming boundary of a surface. It works much like “Externally Trim Surfaces” and at first glance will look the same. If you have a surface with 2 holes, and use Externally Trim surfaces that, it will be a single surface with the holes missing. Take the same surface, and use Internally Trim Surfaces, that will result in 3 surfaces. The original surface with 2 holes, plus 2 surfaces to cap the holes.

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4565 : Post processor: ISO: Added the option to output the parts XYZ limits as a comment in the NC file. In the Miscellaneous section there is the option: "Output part limits" This is false by default so not to affect exiting post processors. There is also a "Part limits heading" which is a comment that can be output before the parts limits (by default this will output: Parts XYZ limits), and a "Part limits footer" which can be used to output a comment after the parts limits.

4574 : User Interface: Five-Axis Roughing Linking : The Ramp parameters are now defined as a true distance instead of a percentage of the tool diameter, in keeping with existing dialogs.

4581 : User Interface: Plan Inputs: Allow link clamp surface to be switched between tessellations and stock models on the plan inputs page.

4584 : Multi-axis stock models: Tapered toroidal, Lollipop, T-slot, and Dovetail cutters are now supported. Also fixes tickets: 2083, 2821 and 4465. 4586 : Raster passes: Improved the surface smoothing when no toolholder has been defined.

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4591 : User Interface: The Point Editor dialog now has a toolbar of buttons as opposed to separate buttons. 4595 : User Interface: Points Editor - It is now possible to move points up and down the list using new toolbar buttons.

4598 : User Interface: Fixed a problem with the sizing of the input page boxes, where the evaluation column overflowed on selection.

4600 : User Interface: Tessellation Analysis dialogue now works modelessly so tessellations plans can be compared. 4604 : User Interface: When using the Point editor if you edit a point position, the reset option would not return the points to their original values, this has now been fixed. 4606 : User Interface: Fixed a problem which prevented the drilling gouge warning dialogue from being displayed when using rerun dependent plans. 4616 : Curves: We now preserve a stored rotation associated when doing a transformation, providing the transformation does not require the curve to be linearised. 4623 : Multi-axis stock models: In flat regions of the stock model, fewer triangles are generated. This results in a 30% reduction on average 4627 : Machining Simulation: The machine definition files were not being copied to the ProgramData area prior to running the simulator this has now been fixed. 4629 : Machine Simulation: The correct keymap file was not being used for simulation this has now been fixed.

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4631 : Post processor: Heidenhain: Added options to support a new tool probing cycle. Added the following options: Use a fixed spindle speed when probing: False by default, but if set true, the fixed spindle speed will be used while measuring the tool length. Fixed spindle speed for probing: This is the spindle RPM that is use if "Use a fixed spindle speed when probing" is set: true. Use a different probing cycle at toolpath end: Set false by default, but if set true a different cycle can be used at the end of the toolpath, and which will use the following post processor options / entries: Probing cycle at end of toolpath: The cycle to use. Probing at toolpath end: Measuring direction: The Q-number and value. Probing at toolpath end: Radial offset: The Q-number and value. Probing at toolpath end: Length compensation: The Q-number and value.

4632 : Tool Database: There was problem with the tool database when no default catalogue is selected, it could cause unpredictable results when loading and then reloading an item from the tool database, this has now been fixed. 4646 : User Interface: The column spacing on the Point Editor dialog has been fixed to remove unused white space on the right. 4648 : The copying of the MRU file from an old version to the new location was not working properly. This has been fixed. 4649 : User Interface: When a point was created with the MidPoint plan the tessellation created had no label (which is actually the X,Y,Z coordinates for the point), this has now been fixed. 4650 : Five-Axis & Adaptive Roughing: The default tolerance is now altered when a thickness is applied, this is now consistent with Area Clearance. 4651 : Ensured that the path to the temporary files folder is always terminated by a '\', even if this is not displayed in the options dialog. 4652 : UV Passes: Fixed problems on surfaces with very small UV parameter ranges.

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4653 : We now locate the machine tool definitions for the running program and all installed versions and copy any files found there that are not already in program data, giving preference to later releases. 4654 : Toolsheets: Creating a toolsheet from a Five-Axis toolpath was not working when a GPOST post processor is used, this has now been fixed. 4657 : VRML: Failed to do a Write with Prismatic Stock Models, this has now been fixed. Also there was no support for Five-Axis toolpaths this has been added. 4663 : User Interface: If you were running a simulation and you closed the window frame of the part for which the simulation was running, then NCGCAM would crash when the simulator was halted. This has now been fixed. 4664 : Multi-axis stock models: The performance of multi-axis stock model calculations has been improved in the order of 4%. 4666 : Rest finishing: A fix has been made to eliminate gouges that could sometimes occur on bosses enclosed within other stock material, but that stock has a gap in it. 4667 : User Interface: There is now a cancel button on the Project Settings dialog when editing during a session.

4668 : User Interface: The Cutter Animation dialog now has the active toolpath name in the dialogs title bar.

4669 : Post Processor: If a Five-Axis toolpath plan has been created with the 3-Axis option enabled it is now possible to post process the toolpath with the standard macro post processors.

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4671 : User Interface: The Dialog to create a boundary from text is now modeless. 4672 : Failed plans now keep their marking / high-lighting when the database is saved and then loaded again later on. 4682 : User Interface: Cutter Animation was allowing the Split toolpath option to be available for Drilling Cycle Toolpaths when it should not have been, this has now been fixed. 4683 : Boundary Editing: There were occasions when trying to edit a boundary it would disappear from the screen and you could not edit it, this has now been fixed. 4684 : Rest finishing: A problem where using off-surface spiral connections could lead to a gouge has been fixed. 4694 : Toolsheets: The toolsheet for a Five-Axis Roughing toolpath was not correct as it had 0.0 for the Step Down which is wrong, this has now been fixed. 4696 : Stock Models: When creating a stock model from Split Toolpaths or Sister Tooling gave an incorrect warning message regarding unlinked passes, this has now been fixed. 4701 : Post processor: ISO: Added an option to the allow the passes tolerance and the thickness (stock) of those passes, this is mainly for a Roders machine. If the thickness for XY is different to the Z thickness, use the smaller of the two, if the XY or Z thickness are negative, 0 will be used for the stock. Added the following parameters to the ISO post processor: Output the Tolerance and Stock: Set false by default, if set true the following parameters will be output, in a single block, with the Tolerance and Stock values. Prefix for the passes Tolerance: The prefix for the tolerance value. Suffix for the passes Tolerance: The suffix to the tolerance value. Prefix for the passes Stock: The prefix for the stock value. Suffix for the passes Stock: The suffix to the stock value.

They are output at the start of each toolpath. 4702 : Machine Simulation: There were occasions when the triangulated surface being displayed in the simulation were the wrong ones, this has now been fixed. 4703 : User Interface: If the Cutter Animation is paused using the Ctrl+P option the Split Toolpath toolbar button was not being enabled, this has now been fixed. Also fixes ticket 4503 Part 2.

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4705 : Machine Simulation: The EnableCCWithWorkpieceWhenVerifierEnabled=1 parameter has been added to the default machsim.ini file. This only affects you if you have five axis and machine simulation, and have installed v14.0.01 You will need to update the machsim.ini file manually, just in case you have modified it, we do not overwrite it. By default the machsim.ini will be in: C:\ProgramData\NCGCAM Solutions\MachineToolDefinitions Open that file in a text editor like: Notepad Find: EnableCCWithWorkpieceWhenVerifierEnabled You will see it says: = 0 Change the 0 to be 1 Save the file If you use the five axis and machine simulation, and are unsure about this edit, please contact your reseller before editing the file. 4711 : User Interface: The Tool holder was being animated in the wrong colour when in Wire Frame mode, this has now been fixed. 4712 : Linking: Fixed a problem which caused rest roughing passes to link out of order. 4719 : Drilling: We now check hole centre for gouging when Bore or Internal Thread Milling. 4721 : Tool Database: There were occasions when empty tool holders and duplicate cutters and tool holders could be output to the exported tool database text file, this has now been fixed. 4724 : User Interface: The cutter animation dialog was ignoring number-keypad hits in the feedrate box, this has now been fixed. 4730 : Fixed exception that could occur when editing to tool holder. 4731 : User Interface: The Parallel Pencil Passes & Corner Offset plans were not removing the intermediate Pencil Passes plan from the root tree view, this has now been fixed. 4739 : User Interface: File Open: Changed the option 'Ignore Component Information' to 'Load Component Information' in the File Open dialog. The default is now to ignore the component information allowing for faster loading time of Catia and STEP files. Updated the documentation to match the new settings.

4743 : UV Passes: Fixed a problem which could cause UV passes to get caught in an endless loop 4753 : Machining simulation: A problem has been fixed where the default simulation post-processor did not match the post-processor of a post-processed toolpath input. Also fixes ticket 4611. 4757 : Machine Simulation: There was a problem when creating a machine simulation presentation on Windows 10 PC, this has now been fixed. 4758 : Machine Simulation: There were examples when using a stepped cutter that the simulation would fail, this has now been fixed.

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4759 : Five-Axis : T-Slot cutter were not having the thickness applied correctly to the flute length this has now been fixed.

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Release notes for NCG CAM version 15.0.00 and 15.0.01

1234 : New feature: User Interface: While creating the passes it is now possible to use a left mouse hit on a surface to set the Z Min/Max limits in a passes dialog. Also fixes ticket 3388 Mini guide to set the passes Z min or max from the surfaces with a mouse hit.

That orange coloured surface is at Z-20 When creating the passes, the idea is to set the Min Z based on that surface.

Select the surfaces and constraining boundary, then the passes required. Define the cutter / holder and go to the passes page. The current Z min will be the bottom of the part, -96.0 in this example.

Click in the Z min field. Now click (mouse left) on the surface to recover the Z value from. So in this example, Z-96 has been updated to the surface, Z-20 The same can be done for the Z max if / when needed.

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1029 : New feature: Five Axis: Allow the selection of a Stock model for Five Axis machining plans to enable rest machining. Mini guide for 5 axis rest machining. For this example, the pocket is undercut on 2 sides. For the five axis toolpath, a morphed toolpath will be used, although other five axis toolpaths can be edited back to a stock model also.

The part has been roughed out and finished for the accessible side walls in ‘normal’ 3 axis. Then a stock model was created.

All the pockets side wall were separated as a set of ‘Drive surfaces’, curves extracted and joined for the top and bottom of the side wall. A set of ‘Check surfaces’ were also created.

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Select the Drive surfaces, the curves to morph between, and the Check surfaces, but also then select the stock model. Pick: Five axis morphed toolpath. For this example, it proved beneficial to go into the ModuleWorks user interface, so to access the equivalent of the overthickness.

On the ‘Roughing’ tab, click on the “Stock def parameters” tab. Click on “Shrink”, and then set 0.3 This is then like having an overthickness of -0.3 in NCGCAM.

By default, linking moves would be performed with a splined curve, but I wanted to retract from the part and rapid across. On the ‘Link’ tab, for “Gaps along cut” and “Links between slice”, the ‘Larges moves’ was set to “Retract to clearance area”.

The five axis toolpath only exists in the undercut area.

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1273 : New feature: Added an ‘Auto-Save option’ in Tools > Options --> General

With a user controlled wait time of between 15 and 120 minutes, when turned on, an auto save database is created at the specified time interval in the same location as the backup macro. Any existing database with the same name will be renamed so that it is preserved. Also added is the ability to clean these files up, by clicking on the Clean up button. The auto save database will contain all completed plans. Any incomplete plans will have their parameters saved so that when the database is loaded these plans will be run automatically. 2628 : Major enhancement: We have changed the toolbars to allow alignment along either edge of the application window, this helps maximize viewing space on rectangular displays. The default position is still across the top of the window. In addition, we no longer allow toolbars to be collapsed, they are always shown at their normal size. Please note, that the position of toolbars saved in the registry is not compatible with previous versions. You will need to readjust your toolbar layout as a one off step after installation if required. Also fixes ticket 3605.

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2686 : New feature: We have converted most 'CreatePlan' dialogs to run modeless, allowing interaction with the rest of the application while the dialog is displayed. It also means you could have dialogs side by side to compare the parameters.

The default is for window that do not have the focus, are translucent, but that can be switched off in Tool > Options --> General

2906 : User Interface : The table layout on the toolpath page for post processing is now remembered for future sessions.

3069 : Rest finishing : The smoothing of passes in steep areas, disabled in version 13.0.02, has been reinstated. Other smoothing improvements (mainly ticket 3067) appear to have resolved this.

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3120 : Major enhancement: The machine simulation, machine model files are now placed in a folder below the program data area so that they can be removed without permission problems. See ticket 3122 also.

3122 : Program data is now created and stored in the correct designated area. By default this is C:\ProgramData\NCGCAM Solutions, although the user has global control of this via the PROGRMDATA environment variable. Temporary files are now located in C:\ProgramData\NCGCAM Solutions\Temp, and the ability to change the location of the temporary files folder has been replaced by the location of the ProgramData (see4425). Files that used to go into the temporary files folder but in fact need to survive after the run of the program - backup macros, report files, log files, the default location of the most recently used cutter list - are now located in C:\ProgramData\NCGCAM Solutions\NCGCAM. If the user backs up this data, then this folder should be added to their backup list. Updated the documentation. 3310 : User Interface : Plan Inputs Page: Made the 'Evaluation' column wider by default.

If you used this feature before, you would have found yourself often having to make that column wider to read the plan name. 3362 : Detect Holes: Fix rare mis-orientation of axis that could occur when detect holes.

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3498 : New feature: Allow custom background colours to be selected through the mouse right context menu: Background Colour --> User Mini guide. The colours need to have been defined in the custom colour pallet first.

Mouse right in the graphics area, then picking Background Colour --> User --> Then you can pick from the list of currently defined custom colours.

3711 : The Feedrate percentage text box in the Cutter Animation Dialog is now editable.

Click in the Feedrate % field and enter the federate percentage that is wanted, then click on the background of the graphics window.

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3775 : New feature: Initial version of Five-Axis Roughing, this could be very useful for some parts if you have simultaneous 5 axis. As with other 5 axis toolpaths, if using IGES files, they would need to be loaded through Granite Mini guide: Five axis roughing The 5 axis roughing requires 3 surface folders as inputs. The part, which must include side walls, a floor and a ceiling. The floor is a simple surface just below the part

These are the part surfaces to be 5 axis roughed, on the left, and the floor and ceiling surfaces on the right. The floor must be a single surface and follow the general bottom of the machined area, and be at the same level

Select the part, floor and then the ceiling from the contras tree. The order is important. Then pick “Five axis roughing” from the mouse right menu. The cutter / holder setup is as all other toolpaths. Cutting patterns allow offsets (stepdowns) from the ceiling or the floor, or it is possible to morph between the two.

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Here you can see the passes morphing between the flat ‘ceiling’ and concave ‘floor’. When morphing between ceiling and floor, then stepdown is the smaller stepdown, because of the morphing, it can grow.

This is the same part and parameters abort from the offsets are from the ceiling. The ‘Intermediate steps’ are very similar to adaptive stepdown seen for area clearance and waterline passes.

While that shows the steps needed to use the five axis roughing, it is not really the best type / shape part for the five axis roughing, that could be done easier and quicker with the standard roughing. The five axis roughing is intended more for parts like this:

Example of 5 axis roughing.

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3888 : Toolsheets : Bitmap Writer: It is now possible to create a translucent image using the BitmapWriterPlan.

4006 : Along Curve Passes: There was a problem trying to offset the cutter to the left or right of the curve which contain linearised arcs by the arc radius, this has now been fixed. 4012 : Linking: Waterline Passes: Fixed a problem where the ramp extension was not always respected. 4029 : UV Machining: Added a new option "Match end points". This is only active when producing the same number of passes on each surface. Surfaces must be set up correctly, and selected in the order of machining. The new option will try to manipulate surface parameter curves so the end points meet smoothly, producing passes which flow over multiple surfaces in cases where the underlying parameterisations don't quite match up. Also fixes ticket 3530 Mini guide: UV Passes It is the light green surfaces that are to be machined.

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Pick the surfaces, and then set the directions. For this example it will be quicker to leave the cut direction and order direction inverted, then use the UV swap when creating the passes.

It is important to pick the surfaces in a continuous flow.

When creating the passes, enable the options: “Same number of passes each surface” “Match end points”

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This should in many cases result in fewer retracts / linking moves.

4031 : Fixed a problem when using the Tab key to move through system colours in Tools > Options --> System Colours page. 4032 : User Interface : The Save Image option in Tool, Cutter & Holder pages has been improved to give a sensible default filename to save too. The default name will be as per the Tool name. 4038 : Major enhancement: Along Curves Passes : Allow separate extension/trimming of the start and end of passes. NOTE: Documentation change.

Positive values will extend, negative values will trim back / shorten the pass. 4058 : Five-Axis : The ModuleWorks Libraries have been updated to version MW2015-12. 4079 : Drilling : When deep drilling intermediate pecks were retracting from the hole at cutting feedrate instead of rapid, this has now been fixed to retract at rapid for the animation and if emulating the cycle when post processing. 4098 : Post processor : NCView tool listing: Added support for T-slot cutters. 4118 : Toolsheets : The Bitmaps are now only created if they are required by the selected toolsheet style. So unwanted / unused images are not left cluttering up your job folders.

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4147 : Linking : Enable horizontal lead arcs for Area Clearance Passes. Horizontal Arcs are on by default.

4155 : UV Passes : We now try to preserve the order of selection when a sub-selection of surfaces is used, this can help maintain the linking order when machining across the surfaces, (in most cases with UV passes, machine along the surfaces). 4197 : User Interface : Added a tab to view the EULA in "Help > About NCG CAM..." and is accessible in all languages.

4201 : Linking : We will now use rapid moves to connect non nesting passes when linking with basic horizontal leads. 4211 : User Interface : Points are now correctly updated graphically after modification using the point editor. 4222 : Hole detection : Fix incorrect detection of inaccessible cylindrical holes when filtering by diameter or depth.

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4233 : Post Processor : ISO, It is now possible to use tapping with peck (tapping with chip break), if your machine control supports this cycle. When defining the tapping cycle, the 'Chip break' needs to be ticked, then the 'Peck depth' set. In the post processor options there is a 'Tapping peck depth prefix' for the peck depth. 4234 : User Interface : Changed colours for the Roll Boundary icon to make it consistent with other boundary toolbar icons. Also used a dark green to highlight preserved boundary areas for other operations.

Old boundary toolbar icons

New boundary toolbar icons

4243 : Enhancement: Five-Axis : It is now possible to include a Points folder (containing exactly 2 points) to limit the passes created to be between these points. 4249 : Stock Models : It is now possible to create a stock model from a triangulated surfaces folder, this is mainly for the five axis module and five axis rest roughing. Select the triangulated surfaces, then pick “Stock model” from the toolbar, mouse right menu, or the Toolpath dropdown menu. 4279 : We now detect Catia V5 from unsupported versions (V5R1-6) and fail to load them. The Catia V5 version number is also now written into the file properties. 4296 : Enhancement: New dialog option to filter holes by type when creating drilling data from detected holes.

4299 : UV Machining : Fixed a problem meaning passes on a surface at the bottom of a pocket could gouge the side walls by machining tolerance 4300 : Updated to Parasolid v28.1

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4313 : We no longer support 32 bit builds / operating systems. 4317 : UV Machining : Fixed a problem caused by face orientation on mirrored vertical surfaces. 4319 : Tool Database : The DEPO tool databases have been updated, they are also now in the NCGCAM text format instead of the DEPO format. The ability to import from DEPO Data has been removed. 4322 : Added an option to Tools > Options --> General to toggle translucency of inactive modeless dialogs.

While unchecked in that image, the translucency is enabled by default. 4328 : User Interface : Hide the 5-axis toolbar from the machining toolbar and only show if licensed. 4334 : Five-Axis : The 3-Axis option was missing from the passes page for Along Curve machining, this has now been added. 4339 : Machining: The Adaptive Clearance plan could be very slow if the Shaft Profile option was enabled, this has now been fixed. 4342 : User Interface : It was possible to combine boundary folders with different rotations, this was wrong, it has now been blocked. 4354 : Geometry : The creation of planar patches from passes was not respecting the rotation, this has now been fixed. 4358 : Five-Axis : It is now possible to define Tilt Lines when doing Five-Axis Morph machining. This can be done for the 5 axis along curve and 5 axis swarf toolpaths already, it works in much the way same here. Mini guide: Five axis morphed toolpath with tool axis tilt / alignment curves. Create the Drive and Check surfaces as you would normally require, also the curves to morph to / between.

Next you need the tilt / tool axis alignment curves, it is possible that some were in the file you loaded, but doubtful. These curves can be created by creating a points folder, then adding points by clicking on

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suitable points around the curve (the top curve was used for this example), then adding additional points that curves can be made between. Select the relevant 2 points, mouse right > create curve. Those curves will need to be combined into a single folder.

Select the Drive surface, curves to morph to / between, Check surfaces and the Tilt / tool axis alignment curves folder. Mouse right > Five axis morph passes.

4361 : Tool Database : Holders with no definition were causing NCGCAM to crash, this has now been fixed. 4364 : Enhancement: Toolsheets : Added 3 and 4 view layout options to the bitmap writer dialog.

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4365 : Helical Passes : Fixed a problem leading to breaks in the helical pass, and unnecessary retracts. 4366 : Post Processors : There was a problem, where some controls were interpreting a very short helix move as a full circle, this has now been trapped and a short line move output instead. 4368 : Linking : Fixed a plan Parameter Validation failure occurring when very small cutters (drills) are used in conjunction with very large triangulation (machining) tolerances. 4370 : User Interface : Updated the Bounding Box dialog to include labels for Min & Max, so to fit in with the Centre and Length headings.

4371 : Removed the wording “Control” and “Shift” from the control options dialog, and improved the text in the help page explaining the way control options works. 4372 : Post processor : Siemens: The coolant would not be output, if the 'Output homepoint point' was set false. This has now been fixed. 4373 : Tool Database : The list column sizes is now remembered between sessions. 4374 : Tool Database : There was a problem importing tools with no holder definition giving a misleading "Missing catalogue" name for the holder in the list of tools, this has now been fixed. 4375 : User Interface : The Reset Dialog options on Tools > Options was not setting the Cutter Animation & Process Manager dialogs back to their defaults, this has now been fixed.

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4377 : Post processor : GPost APT: The ncl file used by GPost now has a 'Remark', 'start of toolpath' or 'end of toolpath'. It is basically a comment or maker that can be detected and used as a trigger inside the GPost post processor. 4385 : Drilling macros will now just run on selected drilling folders. If no folders are selected then they will work as before. This feature requires new syntax, so there is no change to the way existing macros will work. 4392 : Documentation : The toolbar summaries for machining have been updated. When picking Help > Reference topics > Summary Tables > Toolbar Summaries.

4395 : Post Processor : Heidenhain: Added options to allow the peck depth when drilling, and the cut depth for bore milling to use a Q-value. In the post options, there are now the following options: Use a Q-value for the drilling peck depth: Set false by default so not to affect existing posts, and would need to be set true for the drilling peck depth to use a Q-value Drilling peck depth Q-value: This is the Q-value that will be used for the drilling peck depth, Q6 by default. Output the drilling peck Q-value in the NC file: Only active, if "Use a Q-value for the drilling peck depth" is set true, it will write FN0: Q6 (if Drilling peck depth Q-value = Q6) to the NC file prior to the drilling cycle. This is set true by default. Use a Q-value for the bore milling peck depth: Set false by default so not to affect existing posts, and would need to be set true for the bore milling peck depth per revolution to use a Q-value. Bore milling peck depth Q-value: This is the Q-value that will be used for the bore milling peck depth per revolution, Q7 by default. Output the bore milling peck Q-value in the NC file: Only active, if "Use a Q-value for the bore milling peck depth" is set true, it will write FN0: Q7 (if Bore milling peck depth Q-value = Q7) to the NC file prior to the bore milling cycle. This is set true by default.

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4396 : Post Processors: ISO, Heidenhain, and Siemens: Added the ability to check and if needed adjust the spindle speed, if the programmed spindle speed exceeds the machines maximum spindle speed. In the 'Spindle settings' options there are some new options: Check spindle speed is less than the machines max: By default this is false, so the spindle RPM is not checked, so existing post are no affected. Max spindle speed for the machine: This is where the maximum spindle RPM can be set. Display pop-up message for high spindle speed: Optionally, a pop up window can be displayed and the spindle speed entered manually (it will default to the "Max spindle speed for the machine". Performance over spindles RPM check: Set this false when using the Spindle RPM check. While this can give an easy way to reduce the RPM if a typo was made when setting the spindle speed originally, or the part has to be moved from one machine to another, the feedrates will be as originally programmed. That is important most of the time, but could be critical for a tapping cycle, so will output a 'stop' in the NC file for such a toolpath. If the Spindle RPM checks are made, there will be messages output to the log window and (if output comments is enabled) to the NC file.

4404 : User Interface : There were occasions when cutting & pasting parameters with the Modified or All option from one plan to another was failing, this has now been fixed. 4405 : Toolsheet : The Cutter diameter for Bore Milling was not always correct if it had a stepped shank, this has been fixed. 4415 : UV Passes: Improved cases where there were small gaps in passes between surfaces due to underlying geometry.

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4417 : Enhancement: Toolsheets : An example image of the toolsheet style has been added to the dialog, to give a guide (not a preview) to the output format.

4422 : Enhancement: Toolsheet : It is now possible to control the image parameters from the toolsheet dialog. Also fixes ticket 4013

4423 : Post processor : Machine simulation: Changed the way in which the tool holder is written out, so to avoid it being truncated at the 128th character (the max line length in GPost).

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4425 : Provided the option to set the location for storing program data files. This replaces the old option to specify the location of temporary files.

4429 : UV Passes : Fixed gaps in passes on sloped surfaces. 4430 : UV Machining : Correct a problem which can lead to transverse UV passes being machined out of order around a chain of surfaces. 4433 : Post Processor : Heidenhain: Some of the early Heidenhain 426-A controls will not support a dwell in the CYCL DEF 200 parameters. This has now been made an option in the post processor settings, there is the option: “Output dwell with CYCL DEF 200” in the posts options, by default this is set 'true', if you have a Heidenhain 428-A, “Output dwell with CYCL DEF 200“ will most likely need to set it as 'false'.

4439 : Shaft Profile : We now correctly detect gouges when a holder was defined on the input machining passes. Note: Please test example where shank thickness/definition is changed as this also looks suspect. 4448 : Drilling : The Depth Adjustment distance for drilling cycles has been updated to a more relevant value. 4451 : UV Passes : Fixed a problem causing machining order to switch across a surface 4452 : Linking : Waterline Passes: Force connecting moves between basic horizontal lead arcs to retract if length is too long. 4462 : User Interface : Corrected the dimensions of the Tools > Options --> General dialog page. 4467 : Five-Axis : There was a problem causing Machine Along Curve using the ModuleWorks dialog Tool Axis Control page to crash, if you use "Tilt with fixed angle to axis" and hit OK, this has now been fixed. 4470 : Five-Axis : There was a problem causing 3to5 conversion using the ModuleWorks dialog Link page to crash, if you changed Automatic to Manual and hit OK, this has now been fixed.

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4471 : Five-Axis : The message for Re-Triangulation failures now includes the surface name to enable the problem to be resolved better. Messages like: warning: Surface 32774 contains a collapsed boundary. warning: Surface 32606 contains a collapsed boundary. error: Retriangulation failure of surface 32425 in five-axis machining Will be output to the database log window, then you can locate the actual problem surface, making it easier to fix on a CAD system. V15.0.01 4424 : Toolsheet: A new option has been added to the toolsheet images to allow the addition of some basic dimensions on the multiple orthogonal views.

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4461 : Five-Axis: The ModuleWorks libraries have been updated to MW2016-04. 4472 : Boundaries: Fixed a problem where graphics were not realigning correctly when creating a freehand boundary in a 100% new database when the view is aligned with the X or Y axis. 4482 : User Interface: Allow Toolpath Analysis dialogue to work modelessly so toolpaths can be compared. 4480 : Linking: Fix problem where rapid moves were not clear of stock in some cases. 4488 : The EULA has been updated to reflect our new address. Our new address is: NCG CAM Solutions Ltd 7 Trust Court Chivers Way Vision Park Histon Cambridgeshire CB24 9PW The phone number remains as before: 01223 236408 4489 : User Interface: Cutter animation, when you edit the feedrate percentage and hit CR/Enter the new feedrate was not applied, this has now been fixed. 4492 : User Interface: There were occasions when the focus for NCGCAM was lost when a plan dialog is run, this has now been fixed. 4497 : Updated to Parasolid v29.0

4498 : Five-Axis: It is now possible to give an overthickness to the stock model for rest machining with Five-Axis strategies.

4504 : Five-axis roughing: A problem has been fixed where five-axis roughing toolpaths did not respect the requested 'Climb' or 'Conventional' machining direction.

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4505 : Tool Database: There were occasions when the selection of a tool from the tool database, would crash this has now been fixed. Also fixes ticket 4558 (crash when running macro), ticket 4551, and ticket 4553. 4507 : User Interface: It is now possible to pick a Z Height for a planar patch from a screen hit on a surface, just like the Z limits for passes as explained with ticket 1234. 4512 : Toolsheets: An option has been added to the creation of toolsheets to allow a border around the images.

4513 : UV Passes: Fixed a problem occurring when a parameter line crosses the seam on a looped surface after using the "Match end points" option. 4514 : User Interface : When using the “Drill from a plane” option, it is now possible to pick the ‘Start drilling at’ Z height from a screen hit on a surface. Also when creating Sliced curves between Z heights can be defined from a screen hit on a surface. 4515 : UV Machining: New "match endpoints" option was not working properly when "Swap UV option was selected on the passes page, this has now been fixed. 4517 : User Interface: Linking: We now allow Z Clearance and Safe Z to be picked with screen hit. This can be useful in some cases for 3+2 machining, but often only as a guide, you then need to edit the value to ensure clearance between the part and cutter. 4518 : User Interface: The height of a planarised curve can now be picked from the screen. Much like the Z limits for passes as explained with ticket 1234. 4520 : Linking: UV Machining Passes: Improved the on surface spline moves. 4525 : UV Machining: Match end points: We now handle looped cases where parameter lines do not match between the first and last surfaces. 4527 : Fixed problem where the GPOST post-processor could fail due to the choice of post processor folder.

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4528 : Added post-install option to the full installer - "Move Most Recently Used Tools List from old Temp location to new Data location". To ensure this new install option is available, the full installer no longer forces a reboot.

4540 : The warning: The version of the Catia v5 file is not supported : <number> now appears in a popup dialog.

4544 : User Interface: There was a problem where the edited plan label in a dialog was not being used when the plan is created, and using the Enter key (Using the mouse on the OK button worked as expected) this has now been fixed. 4547 : UV Passes: Changed default Machining tolerance to twice surface tolerance and changed validation to make sure machining tolerance is strictly greater than surface triangulation tolerance. 4570 : User Interface: Five-Axis Roughing: The min ramp diameter option on the linking page is now ticked by default, to be in keeping with ‘normal’ roughing and waterline type passes. 4577 : User Interface: The Five-Axis Roughing toolbar button was not being updated correctly with respect to an available license, this has now been fixed. SOLIDWORKS is a trademark of Dassault Systems. Catia is a trademark of Dassault Systems. Parasolid is a trademark of Siemens GPost is a trademark of Austin NC. Granite, Pro/E, Creo are trademarks of Parametric Technologies Corporation. Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 & Windows 10 are trademarks of Microsoft.

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