Simulator

The Simulator provides a simulation of the cutter and machining process, by calculating cutter motions upon the stock.

The Simulate & Verify dialog is displayed:

Note: A Stock must be defined in order to use the Simulator.

Check Use run-time mode if you want the cl/nc file to be read while the simulation is running. This is useful when running large toolpaths.

To run the Simulator:

1. Set the following parameters:

1. Stock Type

• Current: the "closest" stock procedure is used. See the example below. You must specify an output file name; the default name is cimstock.stl, and can be changed.

• External file: choose an external *.stl file to be used as stock. See Stock Files for more information.

• No Stock: the simulation will be done according to the cutter motions only.

2. Output Post Type: Select between CL and Fanuc post files to be used as input for the simulation.

3. A check option enables you to simulate only procedures that do not update the remaining stock.

4. Check Export data without running to create only the files needed to run the Simulator. This is useful is you are running the Simulator on a different computer.

5. If the Use holder parameters box is checked, the cutter holders will be included in the simulation. This will slow the display of the simulation. See Cutter Holders for more information.

2. Press OK .

Note: On-line help for the Simulator can be accessed when the Simulator is open.

Example of current stock

Consider the following set of toolpaths:

The procedure selected for simulation is Procedure_5 in toolpath 2. The first (closest) stock that will be checked for use is Stock C. If this stock is inappropriate (i.e. wrong orientation), the next stock to be checked is Stock B. If this stock also fails, the next choice is Stock A, located in toolpath 1.

The stock is automatically calculated from the beginning of the first procedure selected for simulation.

Simulation of 4 / 5 Axis procedures

The remaining stock sent to the Simulator does not show material removed by procedures using another orientation and by 5x continuous procedures.