V9.

1 V-up Information
Released May 2013

Product planning dept.

Contents

BASE
Group function(Surface)
3D Mouse support (3DCONNEXION)
CAM
“-V” status improved
Work range - Previous stock
Set all tool path boundary (Create pages automatically)
Auto clearance for Connecting move in Optimization
XY plane Auto clearance in Optimization
Extension of NC machine parameter file (Extension, etc)
Output Protrusion length in NC program
CL Editor: Tangent Extension
CL Editor: Modify connecting move horizontally
Tooling DB (Tool set THD)
Tooling DB (Output effective length to set up sheet)
Tooling DB (Indexable tool catalog)

V9.1 2
Contents

3D-1
Face not to machine
Different stock surface

3D-2
Z-level Rough Cutting with Multiple Tools - Tooling interference avoidance
Z-level Rough Cutting with Multiple Tools: Wall cutting pattern
Corner Processing (Polygon)：Process remains
Scanning-line Cutting: Exclude horizontal area

2.5S
2.5 Chamfering

V9.1 3
Contents

5X
5axis drilling (G01 Drilling-5X)
Coordinate transformation for 4axis machining

Create Electrode Option

Move Electrode

MEASUREMENT
OM Inspect improvement

Vericut output
Vericut output

Others

V9.1 4
Group function(Surface) BASE
Problem
•Color and layer were the only way to categorize surfaces.
•It makes human error easily when we need to change shape setting in multiple profiles.

Solution
•Surfaces can now be registered as group. It is possible to specify the surfaces with group.
•CAM setting now have group setting. Each profile refers group name automatically.
Group management Group setting in CAM profile

Surface to machine (Polygon)

Surface to Surface to machine

machine
Refers Group
surface Surface to machine
automatically
Tool path
boundary
Tool path boundary

Effects Range surface

•Makes it easy to select surfaces in modeling.

•Reduces mistake to select shapes in profile setting.
•Automates shape setting by group setting in template.

V9.1 5
 Group function(Surface) Technical
BASE
Interface
•“Surface to machine” now have “Group setting”.
•Set shape when importing can be applied to the template with the group name.

< Control panel > < Load template >

Group setting Template

・Multiple groups can ・User don’t have to
be set set shape because
each profile
remembers group
name.
Load template

Shape setting
completed
●Restriction
Specify layer is not available when using group setting.
Calculation errors when same surface is selected as different shape setting
Ex) “Surface to machine” and “Drive surface”
Calculation errors when shape setting with single surface (Tool path boundary, Range surface, etc) is including
multiple surfaces.

V9.1 6
Group function(Surface) Technical
BASE
Interface

＜Group management＞ ＜Environment setting＞

“Create” “Delete” “Show” “Hide” ”Select” “Info” “Group S” Tab

■Create/Delete Group ■Information Users can register own

・New, Rename, Delete ・Entities in Group default groups.
※Blue group name is ・Specified profile list
default group set in
environment setting

■Show/Hide
・Hidden layer doesn’t
show.
■Select
・Hidden layer and hidden
group cannot be selected.

■Shape setting
・Set, Clear Part, Clear All

●Restriction
Only surfaces can be specified. 1 surface cannot be specified to multiple groups.
Undo is not supported. Undo after Delete is planned.
The model file can be changed just opening it, because groups are created with environment setting.

V9.1 7
Group function(Surface) Technical
BASE
Interface

< Commands which don’t copy group info >

■Copy, New
・Commands with copy or new don’t copy group info.

■Cut & Paste

・Cut & Paste commands doesn’t copy group info.

< Commands which copy group info >

■Move
・Layer move, Parallel, Rotate and Mirror move

■Divide, Divide all

■Combine one surface, Combine flat surface

■Fill in blank in Electrode OPT

■Fluctuation offset

V9.1 8
3D Mouse support (3DCONNEXION) BASE
Problem
•Space ball and 3D mouse are not supported.

Solution
•Make 3D device by 3DCONNEXION available for CAM-TOOL.

< 3D Mouse >

This is a human interface device to handle 3D Model like by hand.

< Feature of 3D Mouse>

・Roll/Zoom/Pan of 3D model can be executed simultaneously.
・Two hand operation makes faster to operate.
・Same operation can be used even using multiple CAD system.

Effects
•Make it easier and faster to operate models.

V9.1 9
“-V” status improvement CAM
Problem
Optimization status can be cleared when a Optimization status in all processes after
process calculated again from “-V” status. the calculated process are cleared.

-V

Solution
Optimization status in all processes after the
calculated process keeps status, because “-
V” calculation doesn’t change tool path.

Only the “-V” process can be calculated in

Optimization.

Effects
Eliminate calculation time because of the “-V” calculation.

V9.1 10
Work range - Previous stock CAM
Problem
The combination of “Divide by
protrusion length” and Specify Need to start 2nd process after
stock file in “Z-level Rough Cutting 1st process finished.

with Multiple Tools” could achieve

to generate efficient roughing tool
paths from V8.1. However, it was
not possible to start calculation
unless the previous calculation
finished.

Solution
Z-level Rough Cutting with Multiple Tools can specify “Previous stock” as work range. And
it waits the optimization of previous process to calculate entire process without
considering internal data.

Effects
By the combination of tooling interference avoidance in V9.1, users can make efficient
roughing tool path, especially in large mold and die makers.

V9.1 11
Work range - Previous stock CAM
Wait previous optimization

Z-level Rough Cutting with Multiple Tools now have “Previous

stock” as work range.
The process waits the previous optimization process ends.
When a file is specified and the file doesn’t exist, the
calculation end as an error.

Process Cutting mode Cutting range Calculation status Optimization status

1 Z-level Rough with
multiple tools
2 Z-level Rough with
multiple tools
3 Z-level Re-machining
4 Z-level Finishing
Pick surface 1 2
Previous stock 3 4
- 5 6
- 7 8

V9.1 12
Set all tool path boundary (Create pages) CAM
Problem
If user specified multiple tool path boundaries, they had to create a page and
specify tool path boundary in each page.

Solution Cutting modes

Tool path Z-level Rough Cutting, Z-level High-Efficiency
Multiple tool path boundary can be boundary Rough Cutting, Z-level Finishing, Re-machining,
specified in one time. /Cutting area Undercut Z-level Finishing, Undercut Re-
surface machining
Tool path Low lying processing, Horizontal area cutting,
boundary Pencil cutting
Cutting Z-level Re-machining, Corner Processing
range/Pick (Polygon)
Effects surface
Range surface Scanning line area
Operations can be reduced.

V9.1 13
Set all tool path boundary (Create pages) CAM
Set multiple surfaces

It creates a page in each tool path boundary.

・Existing pages except active page can be deleted.
(Active page can be first page)
・Active page setting (Calculation condition, Surface to
machine, Cutting area surface) can be copied to all
pages.

Page order can be picked order.

If specified by fencing in, page order can be specified by entity
number.

When set multiple surfaces is used in cutting area surface, Active page setting
(Calculation condition, Surface to machine, Tool path boundary) can be copied to
all pages.

V9.1 14
Connecting move in Auto clearance CAM
Problem
Connecting move can interfere with shank or holder because it is added with normal
calculation process. If tool paths have interference, connecting move in auto clearance
wasn’t available to avoid interference in the most of cutting modes.

Solution
Connecting move in auto clearance can be
available in more cutting modes.

Effects
It reduces operation time caused by shank
and holder interference in connecting
move.

V9.1 15
Connecting move in Auto clearance CAM
Cutting modes

・These cutting modes are available in V9.1.

Available in V9.1 Not available in V9.1

3D-1 Z-level Rough Cutting, Z-level High- Scanning line area, Low Lying Processing,
efficiency Rough Cutting, Z-level Finishing, Horizontal Area Cutting, Surface Finishing,
Z-level Low Angle Finishing, Re-machining, Aiming Check, CL+Check, Curve Cutting
Pencil Cutting, Curve Control Along Surface
3D-2 Z-level Rough Cutting with Multiple Tools, Z-
level Re-machining with Multiple Tools,
Z-level Scanning-line Rough Cutting, Corner
Processing (Polygon),
Z-level Re-machining, Z-level Finishing
(Polygon),
3D Offset Cutting, Scanning-line Cutting
2.5S 2.5D Rough Cutting, 2.5D Side Cutting, 2.5D Chamfering
2.5D Plane Cutting, 2.5D Re-machining

V9.1 16
XY plane Auto clearance in Optimization CAM
Problem
Auto clearance was only in Z direction. It wasn’t
able to apply when the tool initial position should
be lower than the work material.

Solution
Make tool paths retract X and Y direction
with Auto clearance.

Effects
It allows to create tool paths easily in Z
stroke in each machine.

V9.1 17
XY plane Auto clearance in Optimization CAM
Retract in XY direction
・Retract connecting move and rapid positioning which the
tooling interferes in XY direction.
・Retract can be moved in one axis of X or Y.
・The patter are below.
①X→Y
②Y→X
③X→Y→X
④Y→X→Y
・If it is impossible to retract with these pattern, it retracts
along Z direction.
It is possible to retract manually in CL Editor.

V9.1 18
XY plane Auto clearance in Optimization CAM
Case study
・Rough

・Finish

It prevents from going up in Z direction especially in tall shape.

V9.1 19
Improvement of NC Machine file CAM
Problem
Each controller like FANUC, OSP, and HeidenHein,
etc needs different file extension of NC data. If user
have multiple machines, they need to change file
extension in each machine, but it was decided
commonly in environment setting.
And “Not output tool number NC” in Start
postprocessor also depends on each machine.

Solution
NC Machine file (mpf file) now have extension and
tool output setting.

Effects
Prevents mistake and reduce operation.

V9.1 20
NC output of Protrusion length CAM
Problem
Tooling length (=Holder length + Protrusion length) is needed in NC program for tool
length compensation. However, CAM-TOOL couldn’t output as variable.

Solution
mpf file has variables of protrusion length of
Tool, Chuck and Holder.

$HOL:[The sum of protrusion length of Holder 1

and LowerL of Holder2-6]
$CHL: The sum of protrusion length of
Chuck1-4
$CTL：Protrusion length of tool

Effects
Utilizes function of controller for tool length
compensation and checking tooling set up.

V9.1 21
CL Editor: Tangent Extension CAM
Problem
Scanning line area could make cutter mark at the turning area. To avoid those cutter mark,
user had to create dummy surface with flange surface command.

Solution
CL Editor now have capability to extend tool path in tangent direction.

Effects
Eliminate cutter mark (Approach/Escape, Connecting move, etc)
Reduce modeling operation for CAM

V9.1 22
CL Editor: Tangent Extension CAM
CL Editor: Tangent Extension

Cutting path Extended path Arc approach

This function can be integrated into “Modify Approach” as “Tangent Extension.”

Extended path can be added to open path.
It checks interference with loaded model in CL Editor. If it has interference, it
doesn’t extend.

It can be extended without dummy surface.

V9.1 23
CL Editor: Modify connecting move horizontally CAM
Problem
When machining deep shape with gate type machine, tool initial position and clearance Z
can be lower than the top of the shape.
Using CL Editor in such a case, tool path moves out of stroke or interferes with shape.

Solution
Make it retract Rapid positioning
and connecting move in XY plane
direction by CL Editor.

Effects

Make it possible to machine without

special technique.
Machines efficiently and safely.

V9.1 24
CL Editor: Modify connecting move horizontally CAM
CL Editor: Modify connecting move horizontally

pi
c

Z loc
Y
X loc1 2

Pic connecting moves to modify,

then specify points to move
(Yellow circle).
It moves in XY direction with the
higher Z level in specified points.

Z
Y
X

V9.1 25
CL Editor: Modify connecting move horizontally CAM
Operation

Select Specify the points Confirm

where to move.

V9.1 26
Tooling DB(Tool set THD) CAM
Problem
•THD setting was only in cutters, but Tool set didn’t have THD.

＜Tool set＞
Solution ＜Cutter＞
•Tool set now have THD.

T:3
＜Tool set＞
T:１

T:2

Effects

•Makes it easier to implement tooling data base.

V9.1 27
Tooling DB(Output effective length) CAM
Problem
•Single taper shank is possible to output effective length with Taper lower length, but
multi-tapered shank couldn’t be output effective length to set up sheet.

Solution < Display effective length >

•Effective length can be output Multi-tapered Effective length

shank type.
・”Single” – Taper
< Effective length in Tooling DB > lower length

・”Multi-tapered”
- Flagged Height in
Tooling DB

< Machining data format > < Set up sheet >

Effect
•It is possible to check cutter information in set up
sheet.
●Restriction
Existing multi-tapered cutter doesn’t have the information. (Need to reload from Tooling DB)

V9.1 28
Tooling DB(Indexable tool catalog) CAM
Problem
•Indexable tool can be defined with “Width of tooth” and ”Inside D depth”, but Tooling
catalog weren’t supported.

Solution
•Make it possible to have indexable tools into the Catalog data.

◆Planning to expand value range

Effects Old) 0≦Inside D depth≦Edge R
New) 0≦Inside D depth≦Flute Length
•Indexable tool can be added from catalog.
Old)Edge R*2≦Width of tooth<D/2
Mitsubishi Material Tool will be available soon. New)Edge R≦Width of tooth<D/2)
(Width of tooth=Edge R*2 is Round tip)

V9.1 29
New shape setting 3D-1
Problem
①Specifying cutting area wasn’t easy
To control cutting area, trimmed surfaces are necessary
for tool path boundary, cutting range surface or Range
surface.
Surface to
machine
②Offsetting surfaces was really annoying
In some mold and die, there’s specific needs to make Tool path
boundary
overcut or remaining. In such a case, user had to offset (Trimmed)
surfaces but it was time-consuming and made human
error.

Offset surface for overcut

Solution
①Face not to machine
②Different stock surface
Cutting mode: Z-level Finishing, Scanning-line Area, Low Lying Processing
Effects
Operation time could be reduced absolutely.

V9.1 30
New shape setting 3D-1
Face not to machine - Operation (Z-level Finishing)
Choose “Face not to machine” in “Extension surface”.

Surface to machine (Cyan)

Face not to machine

(Silver)

Tool path boundary

（Not trimmed）

V9.1 31
New shape setting 3D-1
Face not to machine - Operation (Z-level Finishing)
Choose “Different stock surface” in “Extension surface”.

Surface to machine (Cyan)

Stock=0

Different stock surface (Silver)

Stock＝-1.0(Overcut)

V9.1 32
New shape setting 3D-1
Face not to machine - Application-1 (Z-level Finishing)

Z-level Finishing ■Current operation

Surface to machine ・Create trimmed tool path boundary for
(Cyan) the cutting area
・To prevent edges from dulling, create
tangent surfaces to the surface to
machine.

■Effect of face not to machine

・Users don’t have to create trimmed
tool path boundary and tangent
surface.
As a result, cutting length and time can
be reduced
・It is possible to create efficient tool
非加工面
paths using ”Concave-convex area
Face not to machine fixed” together like the left image.
(Silver)

V9.1 33
New shape setting 3D-1
Face not to machine - Application-2 (Z-level Finishing)

■Current operation
・When finishing partly like the left shape, it
can make cutter mark if tool paths run a
surface which has already finished. To prevent
it, create offset surface and trim with tool
path boundary.

■Effect of face not to machine

・It is possible to specify retract value. It is
possible to prevent tool path from contacting
the surface without creating offset surface
and trimmed tool path boundary.

Surface to machine
(Cyan)
Face not to machine
(Silver)
+ Retract value

V9.1 34
 New shape setting 3D-1
Face not to machine - Application-3(Scanning-line Area/Low
Lying Processing)

Side wall ■Current operation

・Division angle can divide tool paths like the left
image. Scanning tool path is running the side wall.
To eliminate it, creating trimmed Range surface is
necessary.

■Effect of face not to machine

・It is possible to divide the tool paths with the
specified surfaces.

Face not to machine Top

(Silver)

Bottom

Surface to machine
(Cyan)

V9.1 35
Tooling interference avoidance 3D-2
Problem
Divide by protrusion length from V8.1 wasn’t easy.

Solution
Z-level Rough Cutting with Multiple
Tools can avoid interferences of
tooling with tooling interference
avoidance option. The only thing
users have to do is set up tooling Tool set

and just turn on the option. Normal tool path

Effects

Creates efficient and safe tool path

easily.

Tooling interference avoidance

V9.1 36
Wall cutting pattern 3D-2
Problem
Z-level Rough Cutting with multiple tools could have lots of retract when machining core
shape.

Solution
Create tool path as cavity shape internally even it is core shape. The tool path can be
closed loop so it reduces retract.

Effects
Reduce cutting length, connecting move, rapid positioning, cutting time.

V9.1 37
Wall cutting pattern 3D-2
Wall cutting pattern

Normal Wall cutting pattern

･Normal(Unit: m) ･Wall cutting pattern(Unit: m)

Cutting length：236 Cutting length: 224
Connecting move : 191.4 Connecting move: 3.5
Rapid positioning: 8 Rapid positioning: 1.8
Estimated time: 3:21:08 Estimated time: 2:06:39

V9.1 38
Wall cutting pattern 3D-2
Wall cutting pattern

Wall cutting
pattern: ON

Wall cutting
pattern: OFF

V9.1 39
Corner Processing (Polygon)：Process remains 3D-2
Problem
Corner Processing (Polygon) creates tool paths along surfaces but it can makes remains
at the corner of the tool paths.

Solution
Create tool paths to machine the remains.

Effects Process remain

OFF
Reduces remaining at the corner of the paths.

Process remain
ON

V9.1 40
Corner Processing (Polygon)：Process remains 3D-2
Corner Processing (Polygon)：Process remains

Process Remains: OFF

Process Remains: ON Tool path of process remains

V9.1 41
Scanning-line Cutting：Exclude horizontal area 3D-2
Problem
There was no option to eliminate tool paths on horizontal area.

Solution
Scanning-line Cutting now have “Exclude horizontal area”.

Effects
Reduces cutting time by using flat end mill at horizontal area.

V9.1 42
Scanning-line Cutting：Exclude horizontal area 3D-2
Scanning-line Cutting：Exclude horizontal area

Exclude horizontal area: OFF

Exclude horizontal area: ON

V9.1 43
2.5D Chamfering 2.5S
Problem
To machine chamfer, user had to use 2D function with adjusting the height and offset,
but it was time consuming and made human error.

Solution
Develop a new cutting mode for
chamfering.

Effects
User doesn’t have to create comp curve
just for chamfering.
It is easy to apply template.

V9.1 44
5axis Drilling 5X
Problem
When multiple holes had different direction, the processes should be separated with each
direction.

Solution
Develop a new cutting mode that load
holes in different direction.

Effects
Reduces operation time.
Eliminate processes.

V9.1 45
5axis Drilling 5X
G01 Drilling-5X
・Internal parameters is same as G01 Drilling. It is possible to machine like Canned
Cycle Drilling.
・Interference check, cutting animation and Machine Simulation are supported.

・Modify connecting move is also supported to move efficiently.

V9.1 46
5axis Drilling 5X
Operation

Create hole entity

Create hole entities with “Hole Entity(Create All)”
Then invert direction with Hole Entity(Invert
Direction) if it has wrong direction.

Create profile
Create G01 Drilling-5X from new or
template. Hole entities can be specified
with fencing in and fence in

Calculate→Interference check
Modify connecting move and Machine
Simulation in Simultaneous 5Axis Editor as
required.

V9.1 47
4axis coordinate transformation (Post) 5X
Problem
CAM-TOOL could output simultaneous 5axis tool paths only for a machine having
TCPC(Tool center point control). However, the most of 4axis machines doesn’t have TCPC.

Solution
Develop 4axis post having coordinate
transformation. It allow to machine
simultaneous 4axis program without TCPC.

Effects
It is possible to use 4axis simultaneous
machining without tool center point
control.

V9.1 48
Move Electrode Electrode OP
Problem
In many cases, one electrode can be used for multiple part on EDM. And the electrode
can be rotated with C axis often.

Solution
Creates multiple reference position in
electrode log file. It is possible to specify C
axis, and output to EPX format.

Effects
Reduces operation absolutely. Makes it
easy to manage electrodes.

V9.1 49
Move Electrode Electrode OP
Move electrode
Specifies position and C angle with preview in the model file view.

・Preview in the model file view.

・C axis rotation is supported.
・Position can be specified by inputting coordinates and picking on a model.
・Specifies a order of machining. Sorts with the coordinates of XYZC.
・EPX output is supported.

V9.1 50
Move Electrode Electrode OP
Log file
Example of 4 positions are specified.
ModelFileName=<< Full path of model file >>
EDMName=TEST001
Layer=10
CurrentWorkOrigin=0.000000,0.000000,0.000000
CurrentWorkXPos=1.000000,0.000000,0.000000
CurrentWorkYPos=0.000000,1.000000,0.000000
MillingWorkPlaneName=TEST001
MillingOriginPos=BOTTOM_CENTER
MillingWorkOrigin=-30.000000,-30.000000,-21.000000
MillingWorkXPos=-29.000000,-30.000000,-21.000000
MillingWorkYPos=-30.000000,-31.000000,-21.000000
EDMOriginPos=EDIT
EDMOrigin=-30.000000,-30.000000,47.000000
EDMPositionCount=4 ：Number of position
EDMPosition=-30.000000,-30.000000,47.000000 ：1st position
EDMPosition2=30.000000,30.000000,47.000000 ：2nd position
EDMPosition3=-30.000000,30.000000,47.000000 ：3rd position
EDMPosition4=30.000000,-30.000000,47.000000 ：4th position
EDMPositionAng=0.000000 ：1st C angle
EDMPositionAng2=180.000000 ：2nd C angle
EDMPositionAng3=90.000000 ：3rd C angle
EDMPositionAng4=-90.000000 ：4th C angle
WorkShape=Rectangle
WorkXLength=23.000000
WorkYLength=23.000000
WorkHeight=68.000000
WorkComment=
BaseHeight=40.000000
ProjectionArea=301.906076
Unit=mm
ProcessConditionFlag=0

V9.1 51
OM Inspect Improvement OM Inspect
Problem
Calculation origin in OM Inspect was fixed as the world coordinate system. If the work
coordinate system is different with world coordinate system, the model should be rotated.

Solution
OM Inspect model can specify a calculation origin
with work coordinate system.
And the surfaces to inspect can be specified as
surface to machine and specified as measurement
point with point entities.

Effects
Users don’t have to rotate a model just for OM
Inspect.
Operation can be improved because surfaces and
points can be saved in the profile.

V9.1 52
OM Inspect Improvement2 OM Inspect
Problem
A measuring direction can be specified by Z+ direction, so it wasn’t possible to check
undercut surface.

Solution
A measuring direction can be specified by the position of a point. If the point is on
surface, front side of the surface can be a measuring direction.

Direction can be specified by a

position of a point.

Effects
Users can measure even a surface has undercut,
and don’t have to specify arrow when a surface is
vertical.

V9.1 53
Output Workshape to Vericut Vericut
Problem
Vericut output wasn’t able to output workshape, so user had to set it manually. If user
wants to use Vericut only for finishing, it needs to output optimized stock.

Solution
Stock file (gso, gs5) in CAM-TOOL
can be output as Vericut workfile
(vct).

Effects
Users can check only a process
which they want in Vericut.

.vct file

V9.1 54
Other improvement
・Optimization depth check has been improved.
Old depth check in optimization, it errors even though there’s no problem at vertical wall.

This is because a tool path can

have an undercut less than 0.001.

V9.1 would have an allowance for this problem, and it can be improved if the error
is less than the allowance.
(Default allowance is 0.001mm. It can be controlled in registry.)

V9.1 55