SOLIDWORKS CAM

Learn about SOLIDWORKS CAM add-in software

What is the SOLIDWORKS CAM Technology Database?

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You may have read a blog post or watched a webinar about SOLIDWORKS CAM and have heard the term “Technology Database” and how we say it’s like having a machining handbook in your back pocket. You may have also thought to yourself “Well that sounds awesome but what does it do?” or “but how does…

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Multi-Surface Features and 3 Axis Contouring with SOLIDWORKS CAM

SOLIDWORKS CAM Multi-surface Features

For milling complex multi-surface features, SOLIDWORKS CAM is equipped with three tool paths to quickly and easily program most challenges. Machine time can be a different story in these cases: Area Clearance: Area Clearance is the 3-axis roughing operation. This cycle removes the material between the stock or contain area and the selected feature at…

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Clearance, Rapid and Feed Planes for Speed and Safety with SOLIDWORKS CAM

SOLIDWORKS CAM Plane

Finding the right balance of speed and safety is critical for SOLIDWORKS CAM programmers. Clearance, Rapid and Feed Planes allow us to control how far away the tool will engage or clear the work. Keeping the tool down while cutting saves time. Retracting to a safe level may help with chip removal and minimize potential…

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Restricting Tool Movement with Contain Areas in SOLIDWORKS CAM

SOLIDWORKS CAM Contain Areas

Here is a simple example of how you can restrict tool movement using Contain Areas in SOLIDWORKS CAM. A huge time saver when programming parts with targeted cutting. Contain Areas can be defined by sketches, edges, and faces on the part for all 2.5 Axis Mill operations and 3 Axis Mill operations, except for 2.5…

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Avoid Troubled Areas with SOLIDWORKS CAM Standard

SOLIDWORKS CAM Avoid Areas

Regardless of what we machine clamping is a reality. SOLIDWORKS CAM Standard Avoid Areas is a great feature to prevent your tool from crashing into a fixture or clamping. Avoid Areas Feature Avoid areas can be sketches or faces. We will focus on sketches in this exercise. For this example, the part is fixtured for OP1….

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Setting Default Feature Strategies for AFR in SOLIDWORKS CAM

SOLIDWORKS CAM Feature Strategies

In SOLIDWORKS CAM 2019 and higher, you may select the strategies you prefer when using Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR). These strategies can be specified for any type of feature. Simply select the Feature and the Strategy to be used as default. Adjust as desired. Your Custom Strategies will be also available. The next time your…

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Creating Milling Features Interactively with SOLIDWORKS CAM

Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR) is a powerful time saver. However, you may find yourself in a situation where you may want more control over your program. In SOLIDWORKS CAM, you may define interactively the milling features you want to machine. Be sure to Define your Machine, Stock and Coordinate System before you proceed. In this…

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Extend Tool Life with High-Speed Roughing in SOLIDWORKS CAM Professional with VoluMill

SOLIDWORKS CAM Professional with VoluMill

SOLIDWORKS CAM VoluMill is ideal for complex 3D shapes as its algorithms result in more intelligent toolpaths to machine pockets, slots, and arbitrary shapes. VoluMill toolpaths, unlike a trochoidal toolpath, are designed so that the tool will never be buried, thus eliminating the need for the toolpath-lengthening circular motion; a VoluMill toolpath is therefore significantly…

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Auto Tabs are new in SOLIDWORKS CAM 2020

SOLIDWORKS CAM Tabs

In SOLIDWORKS CAM 2020 we are now able automatically create Tabs on Contour Operations. Whether you are trying to avoid fixtures/clamping or stopping flyers, this new feature is another huge time saver. This feature is very handy for owners of routers. When contouring parts, they can move when separated from the sheet. Auto Tabs allows…

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