What's new in the Milling technology in the version 16 of Fikus Visualcam

Here is the list of the major developments in the technology of Milling in Fikus Visualcam 16.

All the improvements in Simulation and Tool Table apply to the Milling technology as well.

Machining with conical and "T" tools

From this version Fikus allows the use of conical and "T" tools in 2D cycles (the calculation is done with the tool's bigger diameter) and 3D cycles only with conical tools (calculation being made with the tool tip).

3D Profiles with variable down step

For 3D profiles, a new option has been added enabling the calculation of a variable step in Z and obtaining a better finishing of parts with shaped walls.

Machining STL models in 3D

In this version you can select an STL object (3D file format consisting of triangles and obtained from a CAD software or a 3D scanning machine) and machine it using the surface copy or roughing cycles. The STL object is selected with the same surface selection function.

Surface machining with bidirectional / unidirectional option

It is now possible to choose unidirectional or bidirectional in the "Surface Copy" process (active only when the option "Follow isoparametric curves from guide surface" is active)

New options for the bounding contour in surface machining

We can now choose whether we want to keep the tool just over, or within or outside the bounding contour.

Restructuring of the surface selection

Now when we select the surfaces, we don't have to select the bounding contour and the island at the ame time, as was done in version 15. In version 16, we select only the surfaces and we can select, as a normal contour, the bounding contours and the islands. When machining the surfaces, we can then choose what 2D contours we want to use. This restructuring has the advantage that if we have to make several machining processes on the same surfaces, we do not have to select surfaces and contours every time.

On the other hand, we can select on the "Slotting" process any contour and if we also select a surface group, then the contour will be projected.

3D Slotting

When we select a contour, we can now choose if we want to project it into 2D (default) or if we want to keep it as a 3D contour. If we apply a slotting process to this group, we can make a slot in 3D.

Automatically capture the level and height of a punch or cavity if we select the upper and lower contours

As we could already do with the drills, if we start from a 3D drawing in which we have drawn the upper and lower boundaries of a punch or cavity, we can select both contours and Fikus automatically detects if it is the same shape (only select once) and sets the level and height of the cavity or 2D punch.

Slot by midline

To machine a slot, it was necessary until now to draw the centerline of the slot, select it and then enter the width numerically. In version 16, it is also possible, if you start from a 2D or 3D drawing, to select the two curves and Fikus automatically finds the slot center curve and defines the width.

Check punchs in drilling processes

In the drill cycles, it is now possible to select groups of "check punches". In movements between the drills, Fikus will avoid colliding with the punches by changing the fast motion height between holes.

Punch roughing without finishing

The final contouring pass in punch roughing has been suppressed.

New options in the roughing cycle

Contouring the islands YES / NO:

Contouring the pockets YES / NO:

Stock side oversize:

Option to machine punches and cavities from separate or joint heights

Added an option to allow processing all the pockets together (this is the default and recommended option) or process them independently. The first option takes into account interactions between groups and thus prevents collisions. The last option has the advantage that the height and rapid motions are calculated independently for each group, which can save machine time but with the risk that Fikus ignores the other groups so we have to be very careful when using this option and check the results.

Option to calculate the initial drill in the slotting process

In the slot cycle, the button to create the entry drill is also enabled.

General improvements and possibility to use pocketing and contouring in the Drill Wizard

The Drill Wizard has been improved and now it is also possible to use a pocketing or a contouring to machine the holes.

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