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Features

  • Cutting Parameters AI (Preview Feature) - get started with our new Cutting Parameters AI explorer. 

    • You can now explore and optimize your cutting parameters with our all-new Cutting Parameters AI add-onfeature. 

    • This powerful feature enables the modification and exploration of optimal cutting operations.

    • Interact with the sliders or heatmaps to explore optimal tool life, chip loads, feed rate, spindle speeds and so much more.

    • Cutting Parameters has been a major focus for us; we’d love to hear your feedback!

    • To use Cutting Parameters AI, right-click on a toolpath after CAM Assist has run and access it through the option provided in the menu. 

  • SoftJaws Soft Jaws Designer (Preview Feature)

    • Accessible via the Fixture Management panel, SoftJaws the Soft Jaws Designer allows you to design customized fixtures efficiently. 

    • Open the SoftJaws Designer in Beta (windows only) from the fixture management panel. 

    • Select your part, jaws, spindle direction and opening direction as well as your z level(s) and CAM Assist will generate a custom fixture for your part. 

    •  The Soft Jaw designer is also smart enough to create clearance allowances for sharp corners, will avoid interlocking geometry, and will allow for your parts to slide effectively during use. 

    • Note - this feature is only available in the Windows version of CAM Assist as of this release

  • Avoidance Geometry

    • Now available in preview is the CAM Assist Avoidance Geometry Generator. 

    • This feature helps you create bodies that ensure machining operations are limited to specific areas. 

    • This feature is especially helpful in keeping toolpaths from drifting in between vise jaws or other areas where you don’t want the tool to go. 

    • Avoidance geometry is slightly different from fixture geometry. While fixture bodies must be avoided, Avoidance Geometry is considered to be part of the stock and may be gouged in certain situations.

    • Note - this feature is only available in the Windows version of CAM Assist as of this release

  • Cycle Times Estimator (Preview Feature)

    • The Cycle times Estimator uses your tool library and machine preferences to generate precise and editable cycle time estimates in bulk. 

    • Upload up to 10 parts in one go, select your machine, tool library, material and your common machining mode then let CAM Assist generate you your cycle time estimates for all. 

    • In the report tab, you will receive a breakdown report of your stock and part sizes/weights, faces machined, and more. 

    • Finally, export your report into a formatted CSV document ready to share with your team. 

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titleClick here to show/hide 2023 releases

v1.11.0

Release date: 20 December 2023

Features

  • Multiple Tool Orientations Selection with 3+2 Machining (see the General tab)

    • Following on from your feedback, we have evolved our 3+2 feature to give you more options for selecting the machining direction:

      • Aligned to the X, Y and Z axes

      • Select ‘by setup’

      • Full automatic selection by CAM Assist (beta customers only)

    • If you select the direction ‘by setup’, you can then also:

      • Decide if you want to use the same direction for roughing and finishing

      • Use the interface to select which directions you want to machine the part from (respecting the order of selection)

Please be advised that CAM Assist’s ‘SteepAndShallow’ option is in Beta with ‘Contour3D’ currently the default. In some instances SteepAndShallow may yield better toolpaths and/or machining time results. This can be selected in the 'Finishing' section of the 'Advanced' tab. Also, you can’t edit roughing or finishing modes in the ‘Advanced’ tab if you don’t have these modes selected.

  • New User Interface (see CAM Assist’s Layout)

    • We have slimmed down the menus on CAM Assist to deliver the most used features on the General tab. So as well as your tool library and material, you’ll now find your workholding security per setup, as well as our new 3+2 orientation selection options. 

    • All the other tabs have been combined into the ‘Advanced’ tab, with ‘Tool Use’ unchanged.

  • Hole Patching is enabled by default (see the Advanced tab)

    • You can toggle this setting in the ‘Roughing’ section of the ‘Advanced’ tab. Hole patching will prevent roughing passes from machining material away that would otherwise be handled by hole-making operations, like drilling.

  • Improved Error Handling

    • We now display error codes, enabling our support team to easily understand any issues, and further enhanced our messaging to assist users. 

  • New Demo Parts (see the CAM Assist Panel)

    • We have two additional demo parts for you to try CAM Assist on, including a 3+2 part. 

Improvements

  • Decreased the time for the CAM Assist menu to open

  • Use Fractional values for imperial tool libraries

  • Enable Users to press ‘Cancel’ during bulk roughing strategy production 

Fixes

  • Fixed some minor cases where CAM Assist doesn’t run after installation

  • Fixed a minor issue around V1.10 of CAM Assist appearing as an outdated version

  • Fixed further errors around unsupported hole types

Hotfix v1.11.1

  • Fixed an issue that caused Fusion to hang when the authentication page (shown during CAM Assist installation) is closed.

  • Improved the tooltip for Select roughing directions for the 3+2 machining mode ‘By Setup’.

v1.10.0

Release date: 10November 2023

We’re excited to bring you the latest enhancements to CAM Assist, driven by our users' feedback.

Features

  • 3+2 axis machining - get started with our newly introduced 3+2 Axis machining. The feature is in beta for Finishing and experimental for Roughing. Our current 3+2 is ideal to run on simple to moderate parts up to 12”x12” (300mm x 300mm).

    • 3+2 has been our most requested user feature: we’d love to hear your feedback!

    • To use the 3+2 axis machining, check its option in the General tab.

  • Tool management assistance - our Tool Onboarding Manager alerts you to tool compatibility issues and guides you through fixes.

  • Material-aware tool management - the ‘Materials’ tab in the Tool Onboarding Manager UI has been updated to be more intuitive.

  • User-friendly error guidance - Are you new to CAM Assist? Our tailored error messaging will help you navigate any initial challenges smoothly.

Improvements

  • Better error handling - we’ve upgraded our error management system to provide you with a more reliable and supportive user experience.

  • Streamlined payments - payment processing is temporarily shifted back to Stripe for a smoother transaction experience.

Fixes

  • Enhanced machining boundaries - we’ve made the machining boundary more robust, especially for Detailed Roughing.

  • Code optimization - improved handling of tools with ‘0’ flute length and diameter.

  • Collision and loading corrections - resolved issues with non-cutting cylinders and T-slot tool loading from Fusion.

  • Lexical and grammar corrections - we’ve polished our language for clarity.

  • Stability enhancements - fixed crashes related to invalid tool exceptions and Machining Extension running at startup in a certain configuration.

v1.9.0

Release date: 25October 2023

Features

  • We've improved drilling operations across imperial toolsets so drill selections no longer require an exact match.

Improvements

  • Improved edge orientation calculation to ensure Fusion places the tool on the correct side of the selected contour.

  • We've sped up CAM Assist opening times to get you programming faster.

  • The Machining Extension UI issue has now been fixed to ensure consistent response.

  • Get started with your own tools faster with Tool Onboarding V2 (via the Tool Usages tab), which is now the default following a reinstallation event.

  • Error detection improved to allow us to improve our services.

v1.8.0

Release date: 4October 2023

Features

  • Tool Onboarding - after successfully testing a preview version, we’ve introduced the Tools Usages tab, which provides an enhanced method for onboarding your tools, enabling you to integrate CAM Assist with your existing tool setup at the click of a button. For details of how to use Tools Usages, see Getting Started with CAM Assist.

  • Finishing Improvements - we’ve updated and improved our finishing strategies. This feature is now activated by default: we’d love to hear your feedback!

    • For parts with large flat corners and small radii we’ll finish with a large tool followed by a smaller one (for details, see Finishing Tab).

Improvements

  • CAM Assist now supports up to 49 flutes when face milling.

  • Improved warning and error handling if CAM Assist fails to convert a target setup.

Fixes

  • We've completed some improvements during thread processing and freeform selection during wall finishing.

  • Due to an integration issue with Fusion, the hole patching feature has been removed.

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