Mastercam 2017 offers a wide variety of improvements, making it more intuitive to use and making you more productive. Click here to download it, or read on for some reasons why you’ll want to.
1. A New and Improved Interface
The most noticeable change made to Mastercam is the entirely revamped interface, largely defined by a new, modern ribbon-based menu that’s especially intuitive for those with Microsoft Office experience. Similar functions are grouped together, such as the editing and creating tools, and are displayed in order from simple to more complex. While such a dramatic change may seem daunting, it took beta users an average of just two days to adapt to the updated interface, and an overwhelming amount of feedback pointed to it making them more efficient.
2. Dynamic Mill Line of Sight
When working with Dynamic Mill toolpaths, micro lifts now employ a line of sight approach, allowing the tool to go through unobstructed areas more efficiently by traveling shorter, less complex routes. This creates smaller NC files and ultimately improves cycle times.
3. Tool Projection
You can now display your tool assembly in the graphics window and make edits to it, allowing you to see what the tool assembly will look like against the part you are machining. This option allows you to position it anywhere in the graphics window and edit the assembly to a specified length.
4. Maximum Stock Engagement
Particularly useful for semi-finishing, this new option allows you to select a previously made stock model and set the maximum depth so that you can limit how deeply the cutter engages uncut material.
5. Optimized Raster Motion
The Perpendicular Fill option on the Cut Parameters page for HST Raster allows you to limit raster passes relative to a cutoff distance of 1.4 times the stepover, and then fills in the limited area with perpendicular raster motion to create a clean result.
To learn more about what’s new in Mastercam 2017, click here, or learn more about the specific Mastercam solutions we offer here.
