CAMBRIO announced the release of GibbsCAM 2022, incorporating CAD enhancements for solid and surface modelling – including the ability to extrude multiple bodies with taper – and for creating surfaces as a stitched body directly from closed 2D geometry. In addition, GibbsCAM 2022 users can automatically create trimmed planar surfaces in any orientation at geometry depth instead of the CS plane.
Further developments include new alignment capabilities that allow straight edges of solid bodies to be easily aligned with the working coordinate system in preparation for machining; and a new, sectional view slicing plane that can be moved dynamically in any direction to view and select features easily within the interior of a solid body.
"The latest developments see further emphasis on end-user productivity in all areas of the product,” GibbsCAM vice president Nick Spurrett stated. “GibbsCAM continues to lead the industry in the programming of advanced machining centers and we wanted to focus on absolute product quality and core functionality, while retaining GibbsCAM’s ease of use. Our aim is to always deliver on our promise of Powerfully Simple, Simply Powerful".
Among the multiple CAM additions in GibbsCAM 2022 are a number of usability enhancements, such as automated multi-shape predrilling, and extended control for start / end points of profiling toolpaths. It is now possible to omit radius moves on outside corners of turning operations, which makes it easier for lathe operators to adjust critical diameters and reduce output size of G-code files.
VoluMill has been improved and delivers significant time savings of up to 60% on calculating rest milling operations on complex geometry. In addition, you can now also control the preferred starting zone for symmetrical cuts to aid chip evacuation and reduce rapid movements for deeper pockets.
Five-axis enhancements include a new rotary machining strategy to cut parts with cylindrical or conical floors such as feed screws or augers. Advanced control of the tool includes off-centerline roughing, and front or back engagement of the tool point with automatic corner offset.
New five-axis deburring enhancements include the ability to generate multiple cuts to approximate a chamfer or fillet on an edge beyond traditional edge breaks. It is also possible to use cylindrical or conical tools for chamfering by selecting a specific contact point to keep a straight tool section. Toolpath quality is also improved for five-axis geodesic operations in areas where multiple surface normal instances control the toolpath.
Other five-axis updates include automatic tilting for collision avoidance for arc leads, the ability to select automatic tilt limits or set a fixed tilt angle relative to a selected surface normal.
In a collision-rich environment such as mill/turn or tombstone machining, simulation is important. GibbsCAM 2022 introduces a number of time-saving enhancements, including the ability to hide multipart cutting in all simulation modes in order to reduce the verification time based on the number of components being machined. The use of 3D material-only stock generation on multi-spindle machines can increase the simulation time of MTM configurations by up to 25 times. Additionally, an all-new feature allows the user to start simulation part way through a multi-flow MTM or Swiss program.
Lastly, machine support has been improved to include the ability to support multiple kinematic configurations of a CNC machine within a single post package. This provides extended flexibility to support machines that can be configured in multiple ways, such as a three-axis machine with or without a removable rotary table. This technology can also be extended to more complex Swiss configurations, to support different parts or tooling arrangements – one part, one post, one MDD, one machine simulation model. Learn more at www.gibbscam.com
