VisualCAM 2024 for SolidWorks Standard

What's Included

VisualCAM for SOLIDWORKS includes a Milling and a Turning module.

MILL Marrying the power and functionality of SOLIDWORKS Design’s parametric design capabilities with the robust and powerful milling capabilities of MecSoft’s standalone CAM software, VisualCAM for SOLIDWORKS delivers outstanding ease of use, associativity to design, power, speed and affordability. There isn’t a better CAD/CAM software package on the market for the price than the combination of SOLIDWORKS Design and VisualCAM. The MILL module of this product has an extremely powerful feature set that allows the user to generate 2 1/2, 3, 4, 5 axis tool paths for CNC machining your SOLIDWORKS Design 3D models. It comes with hundreds of free posts as well as the ability to generate your own if needed.

TURN The VisualCAM-TURN module in VisualCAM-TURN for SOLIDWORKS is used to program 2-axis CNC turning centers or lathes. Includes powerful 2 Axis turning machining methods to handle complex programming tasks. Just as in VisualMILL, the easy interface, allows a user to machine a part in very short time. One of the best value packed lathe products available today.

What's new

• VisualCAM has been certified to run on Windows 11.
• A new version of the windowing system for VisualCAM has been integrated into the 2022 product.
• New simulation libraries from Machineworks have been incorporated into all machining modules. These libraries have improved performance
• significantly as well as fixed many reported issues.

MILL Module - Usability Enhancements

• The Load settings from File dialog was completely removed. Settings now are always loaded from the file. Only when creating a new file are settings
• loaded from the Windows registry.
• G-code output is now integrated into all Mill machining operations. G-code is now automatically generated once the toolpath is regenerated. A G-code icon is now part of the Machining Operations folder. Double clicking on this icon will launch the G-code editor wherein the generated Gcode can be viewed and or edited.
• Set Post Options was split up into two dialogs. In addition to this, the selected post-processor is no longer loaded from the disc. It is saved with the
  part file and is available when the part file is loaded. The affected dialogs are shown below.
• A Delete Dirty Mops command has been introduced in the Machining Operations right mouse button menu at the Machining Job
  and Setup Icons. Each are shown below.
• A Simulate to End button has been added in the Machining Operations
  right mouse button menu.
• Suppressed operation behavior can now be customized in the
  Machining preferences dialog.
• Icons and buttons for supporting high resolution (4k) monitors and custom scale factor displays was implemented

MILL Module - Tooling Enhancements

• The ability to create tool holders and use them for display and simulation has been added. Multiple holder segments can be created. Once tool holders are created, they can be associated with a tool and used in all milling operations.

MILL Module - 2-Axis Enhancements

• A new Disc Cutter/Saw machining operation has been introduced. Users can define a saw cutter tool to make rip cuts in blocks and other geometry. 
• Start points can now be defined in the 2½ Axis Facing operations
• Users can now select the mid-Point of longest side as the start point for Chamfering & Filleting operations.
• The Knife machining toolpath method has been enhanced to handle Uni-directional or Bidirectional Knife tools. In versions prior to 2022, the toolpaths generated work only if the knife is bi-directional. Users can set the number of flutes to 1 or 2 in the knife definition to specify whether a Knife Tool is unidirectional (1) or bidirectional (2). In addition to this, a vibration speed variable has been introduced for oscillating knives.

MILL Module - 3-Axis Enhancements

• Containment regions were implemented in Adaptive Roughing operations. An example of rectangular curve containment in an adaptive roughing toolpath is shown on the right.
• Surface Extent conditions were also implemented in Adaptive Roughing operations. An example of a sculpted surface pocket using surface containment and TO condition control is shown here. 
• Helical Engagements are now implemented for Adaptive Roughing.
• Stepped tooling, where the shank diameter can be larger than the tool diameter, was implemented for all 3 Axis machining methods. An example of stepped tooling being used in a Between 2 Curves 3 axis finishing operation is shown on the right.

TURN Module Enhancements

• A global tolerance setting in the Machining Preferences dialog was implemented. Changing this tolerance should affect the quality of the
  Part being generated.
• Parting off toolpath now honors the program point defined in the parting off tool.

Features

MILLING

• 2 1/2 Axis: Pocketing, Profiling, Facing, Engraving, V-Carving, V-Carve Roughing, 2-1/2 Axis Feature Detection, 2-1/2 Axis Feature Machining, 2-1/2 Axis Roughing, High Speed Pocketing, Chamfering, Hole Profiling, Hole Pocketing, T-Slot Milling, Slot Milling, Thread Milling, Drag Knife Cutting, Re-Machining
• 3 Axis: Horizontal Roughing, Parallel Finishing, 3 Axis Feature Detection, 3 Axis Feature Machining, Horizontal Finishing, Radial Machining, Spiral Machining

TURNING

• 2 Axis: Roughing, Finishing, Groove Roughing, Groove Finishing, Threading, Follow Curve Finishing, Parting Off, Groove Finishing
• Axial Hole Making: Drilling, Tapping, Boring, Reverse Boring

COMMON TO MILL AND TURN

• Cutting Simulation: Toolpath Animation, Cut Material Simulation, Advanced Cut Material Simulation, Visual Holder Collision Detection
• Post Processor Generation: Customizable Post Generator, Simulate Cycles, Arc Output, Helix Output, Spiral Output
• Miscellaneous: HTML Shop Documentation

OTHER FEATURES

• Runs inside SOLIDWORKS 2015-2021