SmartCAMcnc describes enhances included in SmartCAM 19.5

Among core turning improvements in SmartCAMcnc's SmartCAM 19.5 are updated threading and groove roughing capabilities, and a parting process. The Threading Cycle now provides easy access to all threading parameters, and includes thread options such as Infeed/Outfeed Angles, Start/End Extensions and Spring Passes. Additionally, Thread Blunting is now supported using an ID/OD groove tool in the threading cycle. The Groove Roughing process has been enhanced to include options to Cleanup Cusps, Finish-to-Size and Reverse Progression of cuts. The addition of clean-up and finishing passes allows the user to create the complete groove using a single process. Additionally, the geometry groove element can now be defined on a layer as a Groove Feature and used as input to any of the roughing processes, including Groove Rough, thereby providing a wide variety of machining strategy options. The addition of a Parting Process allows cut-off operations to be defined without additional geometry construction. Radius or chamfer corner breaks can be applied to the edges either side of the cut-off, and the process offers options for depth-pecking and controlling a part-catcher. Several significant milling improvements are found in version 19.5 milling applications as well as the mill-turn capabilities of SmartCAM Advanced Turning. The Part Offset path type introduced in the version 19.0 Region Rough process has been integrated into the other roughing processes such as Pocket, Face, Solid Pocket, and Planar roughing, and it now supports the Stay Down option previously introduced for Spiral path type in version 19. Additionally, Process container toolpath can now be directly converted to 4th-axis toolpath using the Transform-Wrap command, without the need to first unpack the container, saving time when making changes to the process toolpath. All SmartCAM V19.5 products benefit from a wide variety of core improvements and additional features. A new Options dialogue box provides convenient and easy access to the user configuration and preference settings. The options are grouped into categories such as General Options, System Performance, Presentation, Colour, and Data Translation The SmartCAM user interface has been updated to provide improved usability and a 'cleaner' appearance. Pull-right menus provide direct access to frequently used commands, and additional mouse pop-up menus allow toolbars to be easily configured and repositioned. ShowPath verification performance has been improved to be faster when displaying nibbled or filled toolpath, and to react to mid-verification speed changes. A number of customer-requested core usability improvements can be found in all SmartCAM V19.0 applications, such as: CAD Data Default Destination Workplane which allows default destination workplane for imported CAD data to be configured by the user; Merge CAD Data to Active Workplane, allowing CAD data to be optionally merged to active workplane; Geometry Text Spacing Parameter, enabling additional spacing between letters to be specified; and new macro commands to allow all defined Steps, Tools, and Layers to be easily identified.