Release Notes
- Kevin Strider (Unlicensed)
- Geoffrey Brennan
- Thomas Nicholl
This page provides a record of all the features, improvements, and bug fixes contained within CAM Assist for Mastercam releases.
v.1.5
Release date: 29 October 2024
Improvements
Tapping of holes of matching diameter
Basic tapping is a new option under Toolpath types
If Hole making is active as a toolpath type, Basic tapping will apply a tapping toolpath to any drilled holes, matching the diameter of the hole with corresponding tap tools in the library
For full information on how this new feature works see Basic Tapping
Plunge Feed fixes for drilling and helical boring
Previously, the tool moved at feed rate from the clearance plane to the top of the hole (blue toolpath)
Now, the tool will move at linking speeds to the top of the hole (yellow toolpath)
Before
After
Hole Axis can now be selected to define tool orientation for 3+2 operations
Tool change time input has been moved to the Export tab in the Cycle Time Estimator
Bug fixes
Using multiple toolsets that contain the same tool no longer causes an error.
Enter key is now used to terminate selection (instead of Esc).
Tool libraries can be reloaded from the Tool Use tab.
v.1.4
Release date: 10 October 2024
Improvements
Soft Jaws Designer
The Soft Jaws Designer is a new feature in CAM Assist that helps automate fixture creation.
More information on this feature is available here.
When running with settings that will use CAM Assist Cutting Parameters, a slider will now be shown that allows pre-configuration of all output. Previously this adjustment could only be done for individual calculated toolpaths, but the new slider will be applied to all toolpaths generated.
Moving the slider to the left, towards ‘Tool life’ will produce more conservative results; moving to the right, towards ‘Productivity’ will produce more aggressive results.
Cycle Time estimate reports can now be generated for files run through CAM Assist.
This means that the Cycle Time report can be generated as part of normal CAM Assist runs, not only as a separate estimation run.
In the Cycle Time Estimates tab, there is now an indicator of existing cycle time estimate results. This helps to reinforce the use of this tab as a queue for cycle time results prior to export. The results in the view are also shown in order of generation descending from newest to oldest.
Setup time can now be added to a part in the Cycle Time Estimator Export page. This value can be used to account for handling time, loading time, turnover time and other tasks on the machine.
Scale factor for Cycle Time Estimator is used to compensate for discrepancies between the calculated cycle time, and the actual machining time. This is necessary due to acceleration and deceleration during actual machining, equipment efficiency, and other factors. For example if the initial cycle time estimate is 20 minutes, but the actual machining time is 30 minutes, setting the Scale Factor to 150% would be needed.
The Machine variables are now more consolidated, with the values available from the Mastercam machine definition no longer being shown.
Face milling now produces a single operation with a rough and finish pass instead of separate operations for roughing and finishing. The feeds and speeds for the rough and finish pass remain separate and can be configured to be the same or different as required.
Roughing toolpaths will have the micro lift option enabled, lifting the tool a small amount away from the part during linking moves.
Multiple tool libraries can now be used in the Cycle Time Estimator view
Subsequent to this release, there will be a notification in the add-on if an updated version is available.
Bug fixes
Unblocking of many tool libraries that would not open in CAM Assist
Quantity fields in Cycle Time Estimator Export view are more responsive
Various bug fixes and UI improvements
v.1.3.1
Release date: 13 September 2024
Soft Jaws Designer, preview state. A preview of the Soft Jaws Designer feature. Note - full functionality not assured for this release.
v1.3
Release date: 9 September 2024
Improvements
New support for Multiple Tool Libraries
Multiple tool libraries can now be selected on the General tab
Up to five (5) tool libraries can be selected
Note - a large amount of available tools may have performance effects on CAM Assist
New Material selection workflow
Materials are now selected in the Tool Use tab
Stock material and Stock material alloy now used to define material
Material selection now synchronized to the selections available in Cutting Parameters Explorer
This effectively triples the number of default materials that can be used with CAM Assist
Material selection now persistent
Note - For user-defined Presets, use Generic alloy
Control of toolpath generation
In the Advanced tab control of when toolpaths are generated now available
If Toolpath Generation is set to ‘Ask each time,' a confirmation message will ask the user if they want to generate at the conclusion of CAM Assist.
This feature allows users the opportunity to have control of the toolpaths generated by CAM Assist, without waiting for all of them to generate in Mastercam first
Tool Change Time in Cycle Time Estimation
Tool change times are now part of the Cycle Time Estimation results. These variables are entered into the Machine Configuration section of of the Cycle Time Estimator.
Note - this feature is only available for Mastercam 2025.
Cycle Time Estimations can be ‘stacked’
With each run of the Cycle Time Estimator, results will accumulate. This allows for an estimator to run multiple cycles of the tool, adding estimation sequences
In the Cycle Time Estimates tab of the Cycle Time Estimator, there is now a ‘Clear all’ button, this clears off results so that a new round of estimates can be generated.
Note - this feature is only available for Mastercam 2025.
Cutting Parameters now supports Helical Boring
Helical boring (hole making, finishing) operations are now supported in the Cutting Parameters Explorer.
In-app update notices
For subsequent updates to CAM Assist, user notifications will appear within the add-on interface.
Bug fixes
Better support for units (inch and mm)
Cutting Parameters Explorer now opens in units defined by file Configuration, not just millimetres
Files no longer change units when CAM Assist is opened. This was evident for some post-processors.
Rounding of imperial units is more appropriate in various parts of the UI
Improved cancellation responsiveness. When cancelling CAM Assist operations, the software is more responsive.
Various minor bug fixes and UI fixes
v1.2
Release date: 1 August 2024
Improvements
Renamed the ‘Network section’ to ‘Network setting’ (see the Advanced tab).
Added more detail to message in the network section to: ‘Please note the following settings only take effect on subsequent runs of CAM Assist. After editing these settings, cancel and reopen CAM Assist. The settings will persist for all future sessions’.
Improved the feedback to the user when encountering issues with network connection.
Improved the visualization of tool holders in the simulation to better match the Mastercam default simulation functionality.
Changed the way we handle the persistence of avoidance geometries:
CAM Assist now users Mastercam’s 3rd part data handler instead of the comment fields in the machine group.
This means that it now correctly renders in the user interface and does not overwrite user comments.
Removed the fail on errors functionality and set proceed on errors as the default setting.
Entry positions have been improved for wall operations.
Bug fixes
Performance for creating hole patches on roughing operations has been improved.
General performance around calculation times has been improved. Parts that took more than 5 minutes to calculate in the last release are on average more than 3 times faster in this release.
CAM Assist no longer freezes when user clicks “Test Network Settings” with no connection available. We now show the correct status message and there is no performance impact.
The color of the selected avoidance geometry is now restored once CAM Assist is opened and it will disappear when CAM Assist is closed.
v1.1
Release date: 22 July 2024
New features
Added the Cycle Times Estimator
Added the Cutting Parameters Explorer
Bug fixes
Fixed using incorrect height settings for hole making operations
Fixed using an incorrect machine file for the second demo part
v1.0
Release date: 8 July 2024
New features
This is the first release version of CAM Assist for Mastercam 2025
This release encompasses previous beta versions
Tool usages tab now explicitly mentions Tool assemblies and not Tools
Network status section in managed UI
Improved support for unit relevant persistent fields
Avoidance geometry selection is now persistent
Bug fixes
Improved error handling for non-fatal cases
Fixed bug with hole making target face selections
Fixed support for inch/mm for ‘Stock to leave’ parameters
Fixed retract heights for deburring and hole making operations
Fixed bug in Avoidance geometries that resulted in a crash when running in debug mode
Added missing unit conversion for Feed plane height parameter in 2D area mill operations
Added filter to prevent sending meshes as avoidance geometries as they are not supported
Pass avoidance geometries instead of obstructions as protected stock for deburring operations