Introduction...3. Security Key Expiry Dates Updating against Code Wizard Templates ToolStore Database Upgrade...5

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1 Contents Introduction...3 Important Information Security Key Expiry Dates... 4 Updating against Code Wizard Templates... 4 ToolStore Database Upgrade...5 ToolStore Databases on Servers...5 Cycles and Operations New Rough Turn Cycle Axis Machining Enhancements...7 Cusp Height in Five Axis Cycle... 7 Preferred Rotary Solution in Five Axis Cycle... 7 Granite Support... 7 Profiling Cycle Helical Output Improved...8 Hole Operations Enhancements...9 Setting Clearance Above Model... 9 Safe Distance Applied to Through Holes... 9 New Threading Operation Edgecam Solid Machinist New Feature Finder Enhanced Turn Features Automatically Align Solid Body for Turning Enhanced Sub-spindle Transfer Group Holes Command Radial Hole RotaryAngle Property Enhanced Feature Browser What's New Version

2 Strategy Manager Enhancements Machine Attributes Strategy Manager Template Attributes Additional Enhancements New Probing Module Automatically Re-align System CPLs CRC on Helical Move Support Easier Chuck Jaw Setting Enhanced Chuck Graphics Edgecam Part Modeler Enhancements Custom Properties for Hole Features Quick CPL Selection New Face Thread Features Version 12.5 What's New

3 Introduction This booklet provides an overview of the key features in Edgecam Version For more details, please refer to the online version (Start menu Programs Edgecam What's New). Errors and omissions excepted. What's New Version

4 Important Information Security Key Expiry Dates To run Edgecam and Edgecam Part Modeler 12.5, the expiry date in the security key must be February 2008 or later. Updating against Code Wizard Templates To take advantage of changes and fixes in the Code Wizard template files: 1. Update your Code Generator Documents (.CGD files) against their latest template by re-opening the document in the Code Wizard and confirming the prompt to update it. (You might want to use the renaming options in the Template Update dialog to preserve your original CGDs during the proving stage.) 2. Then you need to re-compile the code generators. 3. Now regenerate and test any machining that uses the updated code generators. It is important to check that the update has not introduced any unwanted changes. It is advisable to do this routinely for each new version of Edgecam. To access the latest milling features, including parametric machine graphics, Five Axis cycle, 4/5 axis operations, indexing and spindle control, create a new code generator from one of the new adaptive milling templates, copying across your settings and code constructor contents from your existing CGD. (You cannot update against a template that the CGD was not based on. Note that the structure of the NC Style and Code Generators will have changed slightly, and the availability of tokens may be different.) To add graphics to CGDs from the earlier non-adaptive templates you need to create an appropriate Machine Tree setup in Code Wizard, using the Machine Elements toolbar, and build the graphics into this. Note you can only add custom graphics, not parametric graphics. 4 Version 12.5 What's New

5 ToolStore Database Upgrade ToolStore databases need upgrading to be used with Edgecam You are prompted to upgrade a database on first using it (so you will be prompted to upgrade the currently active database on first opening Edgecam 12.5 after installation). You can opt to upgrade to a new database (name), or keep the original database name, with an automatically created backup file (.TDB). You use the Upgrade Database option in ToolStore Administrator. 'Old' versions needing an update are indicated with an exclamation mark!. ToolStore Databases on Servers You can now host the SQL format ToolStore databases on a server. For system requirements, please refer to the relevant page on the Microsoft website, You use the SQL Server Install option on the Edgecam DVD. Full details are provided in the Installation Guide. What's New Version

6 New Rough Turn Cycle Edgecam 12.5 introduces a New Rough Turn cycle (the old cycle is still in place, for backwards compatibility). Key benefits of this cycle include: More options, such as a finish pass cusp removal Variable cut depth to cater for ceramic inserts and/or hard materials Improved reliability for Dynamic Billeting 6 Version 12.5 What's New

7 5-Axis Machining Enhancements Cusp Height in Five Axis Cycle In the Five Axis cycle you can now set a Cusp Height as an alternative to setting a Cut Distance. This parameter is found on the General tab. Preferred Rotary Solution in Five Axis Cycle There are sometimes two rotary axis positioning solutions for machining a part. With the new Preferred Rotary Solution option in the Five Axis cycle you can control which of these is used. For example, one solution may provide a better position for the linear axis while the other offers a better view from the operator s perspective. The default setting (Automatic) will in general produce least rotary axis movement. Granite Support The Five Axis cycle and operations now support Granite-based solid models. What's New Version

8 Profiling Cycle Helical Output Improved The Profiling cycle helical arc output capability has been improved. When profiling vertical walls (such as a wireframe profile with no Contouring parameters set), you can now opt for Centre Line or Geometry compensation, with Helical set (Depth tab). Previously, the Compensation setting would have been fixed at None with Helical set. The helical arcs can now be output as single multi-turn arcs (previously they would have been broken down into several arc sectors.) To take advantage of this functionality you need to update your code generator. Check the new Code Wizard options when creating the code generator: 8 Version 12.5 What's New

9 Hole Operations Enhancements Setting Clearance Above Model The Hole for Milling and Hole for Turning operations offer a new Associated to option. This allows you to set a clearance above the highest point of the solid model. (Previously, the clearance was always set above the feature.) The default setting is Model. Safe Distance Applied to Through Holes Corrections have been made to the Hole for Milling and Hole for Turning operations so that they plunge deeper past the end of through holes. Previously, the tool full diameter would have coincided with the end of the hole, whereas now it clears by the Safe Distance value. (Operations menu Preferences General tab Safe Distance - typically 1mm). What's New Version

10 New Threading Operation Edgecam 12.5 offers a new Threading operation in the turn environment. Building on the dialog format introduced for other operations in previous releases, this uses a unique graphical user interface, specifically designed to improve usability. When the operation dialog is opened, a video illustrating the cycle is shown. On selecting a modifier an image or video will explain the meaning of this parameter. Embedded help provides instant access to further information without the need to open an additional window. 10 Version 12.5 What's New

11 New Feature Finder Use the new Feature Finder command to find all your required Mill and Turn features more quickly and easily. (The 'old' Feature Finder command has been removed from the standard user interface and placed in the Superseded Commands category). Key points of the new command dialog: The new General tab acts as a higher level control panel, where you specify the CPLs, and which type of feature to find (Mill and/or Turn). Quickly select whole groups of CPLs in one action, such as Standard CPLs (Top, Front and so on) and From CAD (see page 23). Digitise Faces option for specifying faces in which to find features (generates a new CPL corresponding to the face). The Mill tab contains Mill feature specific settings such as Feature Caps. It also offers independent checkboxes for finding Vertical and/or Radial holes, for example. The Turn tab offers Turn feature specific settings, including new options relating to the new Turn features (see page 12), allowing you to specify the extent of the features, for example. What's New Version

12 Enhanced Turn Features Turn features have been enhanced so they are easier and more intuitive to machine, and to offer more automatic machining possibilities, using strategies. The range of turn features has been increased and now includes Bore features, for example. Bore Front Turn Back Turn The new command also offers increased control of turn feature characteristics, through feature finding options. You can control how far turn features extend over faces for example. 12 Version 12.5 What's New

13 Automatically Align Solid Body for Turning On opening a solid body into the Turn environment, you can now opt for the body to be automatically aligned for turning. The cylindrical faces are aligned with the Z axis, with the largest diameter nearest the chuck, for example. If the alignment is not as required, you can still manually change this using the Align Body for Turning command, or by re-positioning and rotating the part. Note that you need to have the ZX environment as the default, as determined by the specified defaults file. What's New Version

14 Enhanced Sub-spindle Transfer The transfer of features to the sub-spindle has been enhanced. Only the 'back' versions of the Turn features (such as Back Face) are transferred. Mill features are transferred according to their Z position. You specify a Separation Z position and features to the left of this are transferred, while features to the right remain on the sub-spindle. If a feature (including group features) straddles the line, it is copied to the sub-spindle and you should delete the unwanted copy. Alternatively, check Use end of Front Turn Feature if you want the 'Separation Z position' to be at the Z end of the Front Turn feature. 14 Version 12.5 What's New

15 Group Holes Command Use the new Solids menu Group Holes command to collect Hole features into 'identical property' groups. Here the Hole features have been placed in two groups, each group having a different Angle property (90 and 45 ). This functionality is similar to checking 'Group Similar Holes' in the Feature Finder dialog, but you can select which holes to group (you could first use Edit menu Explode to split the originally found group - this is also new functionality). Radial Hole RotaryAngle Property Radial Hole features now have a RotaryAngle property, which is the angle of rotation of the hole round its 'Axis' (property). For example for a radial hole around Z (Axis property is Z), the RotaryAngle would be a 'C angle', and 0 would correspond to the X axis. For a grouped feature of radial holes, there is an Elements array, containing an Element for each member hole, containing the RotaryAngle property. What's New Version

16 Enhanced Feature Browser The Features window has been enhanced for quicker and easier working with your features. The old Tree View is still available, but this is now joined by the new List View, shown below. Key functionality: Machining instructions listed for the features (highlight the toolpaths from here). Assign the strategies you want to machine the features with, to be applied at any time. Or opt for strategies to be automatically assigned, based on information coded into the strategies themselves (see the button below). Apply all the assigned strategies in one action (see the button below). Drag the feature rows up and down to any order you like. Or automatically sort the rows based on the column contents. 16 Version 12.5 What's New

17 Strategy Manager Enhancements Edgecam 12.5 offers a wide variety of enhancements to Strategy Manager. The list below highlights some of the key improvements. For a detailed list, please refer to the online version of What s New. Strategies can now be used in the Turn and Mill/Turn environments. Strategies can be 'assigned' to features, to be applied in a later step - see page 16. Strategies can be conditionally assigned to features, based on an assessment of the features' attributes. Add Condition expressions to the strategy's Start node. New Feature Attributes, for example RotaryAngle (see page 15). Machine Attributes Strategy Manager Machine Attributes are attributes that you have created in Strategy Manager, for storing values unique to particular machine tools. Once created, the same set of Machine Attributes is read in whenever you start creating a code generator. You set a value appropriate to the machine, and this is then stored in the compiled code generator. The value is then available to strategies whenever that code generator is selected in the Edgecam part. What's New Version

18 Strategy Manager Template Attributes Alongside standard attributes (such as Feature.Depth), you can now create your own Template Attributes, to use in any way you like. These attributes: Behave like the other attributes in their group (so 'User' group template attributes can be used to store your own values, for example). Automatically appear in any new strategy you create, saving you time. To create Template Attributes, use the File menu Edit Attribute Template command in Strategy Manager. 18 Version 12.5 What's New

19 New Probing Module Edgecam Probing is an intuitive yet powerful tool for automatically generating and simulating spindle probing tool paths direct from geometry within Edgecam 12.5 in order to update work piece location offsets. To access this functionality you need the new Edgecam Probing licence. Please refer to the online help for detailed information on software and tool prerequisites. The new Probing toolbar offers four cycles: Probe Feed Probe Web/Pocket Probe Bore/Boss Probe Surface What's New Version

20 Automatically Re-align System CPLs When an Index move requires a CPL re-alignment, this can now happen for system CPLs (such as Top, Front and so on). An example is shown below. The Index move was to the 'Right' system CPL, and this was automatically rotated 180 around Z, to create the new Right.user CPL. Previously, the index move would not have been allowed until you had created a copy of the Right CPL to index to. 20 Version 12.5 What's New

21 CRC on Helical Move Support Machine tools that can apply CRC on helical moves can now be supported by checking the new CRC Helical Support option in Code Wizard. Please note that this is checked by default, so for newly updated.cgds you must ensure that this is appropriate for the machine (otherwise uncheck the option). This means, for example, that in the Profiling cycle you can 'Apply Safe Distance' to Lead moves, while still being able to make a Compensation setting (previously this was unavailable). What's New Version

22 Easier Chuck Jaw Setting Accurately simulate the chuck grip on the part using the new Chuck Setup tab in the Machining Sequence dialog. This makes it easier to set the Jaw Diameter property of the chuck graphic. You specify which part of the jaws will be gripping, then set the diameter for this. You can use <Digitise> to pick a diameter directly from the model. In the illustration below one of the chuck 'steps' is being used to grip an internal diameter. Enhanced Chuck Graphics New Code Wizard settings give more flexibility in defining chuck graphics. 22 Version 12.5 What's New

23 Edgecam Part Modeler Enhancements Custom Properties for Hole Features In Part Modeler you can now add your own custom properties to Hole features. These custom properties: Can be inherited by Hole features found in Edgecam. Then the inherited property can be read by specially written strategies, to influence the generated machining. Need to be initially created as Template Attributes in Strategy Manager (see page 18). Quick CPL Selection In Edgecam you can now quickly select all the 'From CAD' CPLs from Part Modeler in one action (see page 11). You first need to set a property of the CPL in Part Modeler, as shown below. What's New Version

24 New Face Thread Features In Part Modeler, you can now add threaded sections to cylindrical faces. These Face Thread features can be added to cylindrical bosses (external thread) and cylindrical cut procedures (internal thread), for example. The threading information can be inherited by found features in Edgecam - you check Threads in the Turn tab of the new Feature Finder dialog (see page 11). (Turn (ZX) environment only). 24 Version 12.5 What's New