Enhanced Verification

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SURFCAM Velocity II offers better representation of tooling during verification, a new pixel-based verification mode, and better control to allow single steps forward and backward through the verification process. The major enhancement is the support of custom tool shapes.

Support for custom tools

Apply custom tools and holders to Verification for mill and lathe operations. For wire EDM, apply custom wire guides. Information about cutting and non-cutting areas of custom tools can be defined. This information is then passed directly to verification.

Create custom milling tools and holders

Custom milling tools and holders

Custom form tools for CNC routers and other applications

To create custom tools:

  1. Draw 2D profile geometry of the tool. To specify cutting and non-cutting edges, place the geometry for the non-cutting edge in a separate layer of a higher number. In a separate session, draw 2D geometry of the holder profile. See the information about profile restrictions.
  2. Save each profile as a SURFCAM tool file (.SCCTL).
  3. In a milling operation, click the Select Tool button under the Tool Information tab.
  4. Click the Add mill tool to library button ( ).
  5. Type the Tool Description.
  6. Click the Drawing Files button. For the Tool and Holder fields, browse for the .SCCTL files saved in step 2, above.
  7. Select the tool from the Available Tools list, which displays what you typed for Tool Description. Click OK and complete the milling operation.

Profile restrictions

Draw an open profile such that the tool axis is the Y axis and the tool center is the origin.

To permit Verification of the custom tool in Pixel-Based or True-Solids Verification, or using Turbo, draw the profile so that it is never-decreasing in Y. Standard Verification does not have this restriction.

Permitted for Pixel-Based or True-Solids Verification:

Not permitted for Pixel-Based or True-Solids Verification:

Never-decreasing in X and Y

Never-decreasing in X and Y

Not never-decreasing in X

Not never-decreasing in Y

 

Additionally, any portion of the tool that is not never-decreasing in X will not display when using Turbo.

Create custom lathe tools and holders

  1. Create a 2D closed profile of the tool insert. In a separate session, create or import surfaces for the tool holder.
  2. Follow the same steps as for “Milling tools and holders”.

Create wire EDM guides

Draw a 2D profile of the top wire guide. The bottom guide will mirror the top guide.

Lathe stock orientation

The stock orientation no longer switches to lathe coordinates for lathe or mill/turn operations during verification. This was undesirable when the Operations Manager contained milling operations together with lathe or mill/turn operations.

Therefore, for lathe operations, now define the stock with respect to World Coordinates or CView Coordinates, just as you would define the stock definition for mill operations.

To fix the stock orientation for lathe or mill/turn files from previous versions, switch the axis of the cylinder from Z axis to X axis.

To switch the axis:

  1. In the Operations Manager, right-click on the Setup or Project and click Edit Setup Information.
  2. Click the Stock tab.
  3. Select the X Axis radio button.
  4. Change the Z values...

    . . . to X values.

Single step back and forward keyboard shortcuts

You can now pause verification and take single steps forward and backward using the right and left arrow keys on the keyboard. Press an arrow key once to take a single step or hold down the arrow key for continuous steps.

Pixel-Based Verification Mode

Velocity II has added pixel-based mode to its verification options. Pixel-based mode uses less system resources by providing reduced functionality and is therefore faster, especially on large, multi-axis tool paths.

Use pixel-based mode for cases where the complexity of the part causes the other Verification options to run too slowly.

  1. From the menus, click Tools > Options.
  2. In the left pane, click Verification.
  3. Choose the Pixel-Based Verification option.

When the Pixel-Based Verification option is chosen, you lose the following functions during verification. This is done to maximize verification speed.

Redesigned Verification Icon

The Verification icon is now more clearly distinguished from the Operation Manager icon. This should result in fewer accidental launches.

New Verification Icon

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