Machine Simulator Options

Introduction

This topic will explain the Machine Simulator Options dialog, will explain where to access it, the options found in it, and will provide links to related topics.

The Machine Simulator Options Dialog

The Machine Simulator Options dialog box contains all of the preferences and settings that allow you to customize the simulation interface, keyboard shortcuts, and mouse assignments.

To access the Machine Simulator Options dialog box:

  1. After launching the simulation in BobCAD-CAM, in the upper-left corner of the simulation window, click the machine button, or the File tab. (The current BobCAD style determines which button is available.)

  2. Click Options.

     

Tip: You can also right-click anywhere in the ribbon bar at the top of the simulation interface to access a shortcut menu. When you click Customize the Ribbon or Customize Quick Access Toolbar, the Machine Simulator Options dialog box displays.

 

The dialog box opens with tabs on the left side of the dialog box that you can click to set the preferences and options as explained in the following sections of this document.

Content

Simulation Properties

Popup Notifications

You can select any of four options to determine what windows display during certain situations in the simulation.

 

  • Collision and Gouge
    You can select the check box to display a window each time that a collision or gouge happens during simulation.

  • Axis Limits Overrun
    You can select the check box to display a window each time that axis limits are exceeded in simulation.

  • Proximity Alert
    You can select the check box to display a window when the proximity alert is called during simulation.

  • Axis Value Mismatch
    You can select the check box to display a window when there is a mismatch of axis values.

  • Show notifications during Fast Forward
    You can select the check box to display notifications as they arrive when the simulation is being fast forwarded.

 

Miscellaneous

 

  • Show Edges/Outlines on Machine Components
    You can select this check box to display all machine components in the simulation window with bold edges. Type a value in the Line Thickness box to determine how thick the edges display.

 

Spindle Arrows Display

 

  • Show Rotation Direction Arrows for Tool Spindle
    You can select this check box to display arrows that represent the direction of rotation on the tool spindle of the virtual machine.

  • Show Rotation Direction Arrows for Stock/Workpiece
    You can select this check box to display arrows that represent the direction of rotation on the work holding spindle of the virtual machine.

 

Toolpath Backplot

The settings in this section control the display of the toolpath in the simulation window.

 

  • Toolpath Line Thickness
    Type a value in the Thickness box to determine the thickness of the toolpath display in the simulation window.

  • Toolpath Segment Length
    The segment length values here determine how many toolpath segments display when using the segment toolpath rendering options. Type a value in the Follow and Trace boxes to determine the number of segments used for these display options.

  • Tool Vector
    The display of tool vectors is turned on and off in the Toolpath Rendering group of the Simulation tab in the ribbon bar. You can set the length, and color of the tool axis vectors that display in the simulation window with these settings.

 

Length - The length settings will allow you to choose how the length is defined.

 

Based on Tool Radius - select this option to use the current tool radius value.

Value - select this option to type the exact value that you want to use in the Value box to determine the length of the tool vectors.

 

Color - The color settings will allow you to choose how the color of the tool vectors are defined.

 

Automatic - the color is set based on color for the Operation Number and is made to be 35% lighter.

Manual - select this option to select a specific color to use for the tool vectors.

 

  • Toolpath
    You can select the size, in pixels, in which the toolpath points display in the simulation window. (The display of toolpath points is turned on and off in the Toolpath Rendering group of the Simulation tab in the ribbon bar.) Type a value in the Size (pixels) box to determine the size of the toolpath points (1-5 is recommended but other settings can be used). To select the color in which the points display, click the current color next to Color. You can then select a custom color to use for vectors.

 

Points - The points settings will allow you to choose how the points are defined.

 

Size (pixels) - sets how many pixels are used to represent the toolpath points.

 

Color - The color settings will allow you to choose how the color of the toolpath points are defined.

 

Automatic - the color is set based on color for the Operation Number and is made to be 35% lighter.

Manual - select this option to select a specific color to use for the toolpath points.

Verification Properties

Miscellaneous

 

  • Enable Workpiece Collision Checking & Proximity Alert when Material Mode is enabled
    You can select the check box to enable the reporting of collisions and the proximity alert during simulation when using the Material Removal mode.

  • Show Edges/Outlines on Stock Material
    You can select the check box to display the edges of the stock material in the simulation window. When turning on this option, type a value in the Line Thickness box to determine the thickness of the edges on the stock material.

 

Verification Engine Settings

 

  • Make True Threads Cutting
    Enables / disables True Threads Cutting

 

Reset

You can click the Reset Page Settings button to reset all settings on the Verification Properties page back to their default values.

Graphics and Background

Screen Objects

 

  • Coordinate System
    You can select the check box to turn on the display of the coordinate system gnomon in the simulation window. You can also select the Position by clicking the down arrow and selecting the desired screen position for the gnomon.

    • Show Rotation Cube
      Select the check box to turn on the Rotation Cube. While on, the Rotation Cube will allow you to click on a face of the cube to shift to the Top, Bottom, Right, Left, Front, and Back views. Clicking on the corners of the Rotation Cube will allow you to shift into the various isometric views.

  • Machine Coordinate System
    You can select the check box to turn on the display of the machine coordinate system gnomon in the simulation window. This coordinate system is based on the machine definition which can differ from the standard coordinate system, and uses an internal detection algorithm for the main machine axis. You can also select the Position by clicking the down arrow and selecting the desired screen position for the gnomon.

  • Ruler
    You can select the check box to display the ruler in the simulation window that can be used to measure objects. You can also select the Position by clicking the down arrow and selecting the desired screen position for the ruler.

  • Measure Grid
    Enables / disables the measurement grid in the graphics area.

    • Auto Grid Spacing
      Sets the Grid Spacing automatically. With this option disabled, you can use the slider to set the grid spacing manually.

  • Show Machine Center Point
    You can select the check box to display the machine center point (tool center) in the simulation window.

  • Show Workpiece/Stock Center Point
    You can select the check box to display the workpiece/stock center point (CAD WCS) location in the simulation window.

  • Additional Info Based on Simulation Mode
    You can select the check box to display some additional information in the simulation window that changes based on the current mode. For example, in Time Based mode, the current time and total time for the job displays. You can select where this information displays in the simulation window by selecting the desired Position from the list. You can also click the current color next to Color, to define a custom color in which this information displays.

 

Background

You can select a solid color, gradient, or your own image file to determine the background color in the simulation window. Select Solid, Gradient, or From File to determine which scheme to use.

 

  • When selecting Solid, click the current color next to Color to assign a different color to the background.

  • When selecting Gradient, select the Start and End color by clicking the current color next to each label.

    • Select the Orientation to determine how the gradient is applied to the simulation window background.

  • When selecting From File, click the Select File button to display the Open dialog box. Navigate to the location in which the file is stored, select it, and click Open to use that file for the background. (You can select the following file types: .bmp, .dib, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .tif, .tiff, or .png.)

    • Select the Position to determine how the image file is applied to the simulation window, for example, fit it to the screen, tile, or fill.

 

Animation Speed

You can set the speed used for animations in the simulation window between Disabled, Medium, or Slow. This determines the speed of the animation that occurs, for example, when switching views. Setting the slider to disabled turns off the display of these animations.

 

Machine Simulator Style

The Machine Simulator Style allows you to change the appearance of the entire simulation window while it is open (closing the simulation returns it to the default setting). The BobCAD Style preference determines which Machine Simulator Style is selected when simulation is launched. You can select a different Color Scheme to determine this appearance and you can even select from the available colors that display for each different style.

 

Tips

 

  • Screentip Style
    You can select an option from the Screentip Style list to determine if and what the screen tips display when you move the mouse pointer to a button in the simulation window. Screen tips can be set to display with or without feature descriptions, and you can also turn off the display of screen tips altogether.

 

Reset

You can click the Reset Page Settings button to reset all settings on the Graphics and Background page back to their default values.

Customize

The Customize page allows you to determine exactly what buttons display in the simulation interface. The following image shows the ribbon bar of the simulation interface. Notice the tabs: Simulation, Verification, and View. The Simulation tab is currently selected, which contains six groups: Simulation, Control, Simulation Run Speed, Views, Visibility, and Toolpath Rendering. Understanding the difference between tabs and groups is important when customizing the simulation interface.

 

Tip: You can right-click in the ribbon bar or the quick access toolbar to access a shortcut menu to open the Customize page.

 

Add Commands to the Ribbon

The large box on the left side of the Customize window contains all available buttons in the simulation interface.

 

  1. Select an option from the Choose Commands From list to determine what commands display.

    This may be All Commands, Commands Not in the Ribbon, or the ribbon tabs: File, Simulation, Verification, and View (as well as any custom defined tabs).

  2. Click to select a command from the list that you want to add to the ribbon bar.

  3. Under Customize the Ribbon, you can select to show All Tabs or Tools Tabs to determine what tabs display in the box.

  4. Select a location to which you want to add the previously selected command (this must be one of the groups on the ribbon, such as Simulation, Control, or Visibility, not the tab itself).

    When you have made a selection to which the command can be added, the Add>> button become available.

  5. Click the Add>> button to add the command to the selected location in the ribbon bar.

 

Removing Commands from the Ribbon

 

  1. Under Customize the Ribbon, select an option to filter the commands that display in the box: All Tabs or Tools Tabs.

  2. Select a Tab that you want to remove from the ribbon bar, such as Views, Visibility, or Toolpath Rendering (note that individual commands cannot be removed from the default tabs).

    You can tell if an item can be removed from the ribbon if the <<Remove button becomes available when you click it. If the <<Remove button is unavailable, then the selected item cannot be removed.

  3. Click the <<Remove button to remove the selected tab from the ribbon bar.

 

Creating Custom Tabs or Groups

The Tabs on the ribbon bar are the dividers used to store commands (buttons) on the ribbon bar. The currently selected tab determines what buttons display in the ribbon bar. The tabs are divided into groups, which further organize the commands into similar categories of buttons. You can create your own tabs or groups on the ribbon bar using the following steps.

 

  1. Select a location to which you want to add a new group or tab in the Customize the Ribbon box.

    New Tabs can be added before or after existing tabs. New Groups can be created on any tab. (The simulation window contains four tabs by default: File, Simulation, Verification, View.)

  2. Click the New Tab or New Group button to add it to the selected location.

     

Tip: You can click the up and down arrows that display to the right of the Customize the Ribbon box to move the currently selected item up or down in the list, which changes its location on the ribbon bar.

 

  1. You can either right-click the new group or tab to rename it, or click to select the new group or new tab and click the Rename button.

     

    Tip: You can either use the buttons that display or you can right-click an item in the Customize the Ribbon box to access a shortcut menu with the same options.

     

  2. Type the desired name for the group, and click OK to update the name.

  3. Add all Tabs that you want to create, and add as many Groups to the Tabs as needed using the previous steps.

  4. Add commands to the new groups as explained in the Add Commands to the Ribbon steps of this document.

 

Adding Keyboard Shortcuts

 

  1. Next to Keyboard Shortcuts, click the Customize button.

    The Customize Keyboard dialog box displays.

  2. Click to select an item in the Commands box.

    The current keyboard shortcut assignment displays under Current Keys.

  3. Under Press New Shortcut Key, click in the box, and then type the keyboard shortcut that you want to use.

  4. Click the Assign button.

    Note that you can also use the Remove button to remove the current keyboard shortcut from the selected command.

  5. Repeat this process for all keyboard shortcuts that you want to create or modify.

     

Tip: You can click the Reset All button to reset all keyboard shortcuts to the default settings.

 

Adding Mouse Assignments

 

  1. Next to Mouse Shortcuts, click the Customize button.

    The Customize Mouse dialog box displays.

  2. Click to select an item in the Commands box.

    The current mouse assignment displays under Current Keys.

  3. Under Choose the New Key, click to select the mouse action (and modifier if desired) that you want to use.

  4. Click the Assign button.

    Note that you can also use the Remove button to remove the current mouse assignment from the selected command.

  5. Repeat this process for all mouse assignments that you want to create or modify.

     

Tip: You can click the Reset All button to reset all keyboard shortcuts to the default settings.

Quick Access Toolbar

The following image shows the Quick Access Toolbar that displays at the top of the simulation interface. You can customize the buttons that display in the toolbar as explained next.

 

 

Adding Commands to the Quick Access Toolbar

The large box on the left side of the Quick Access Toolbar window contains all available buttons in the simulation interface.

 

  1. Select an option from the Choose Commands From list to determine what commands display.

    This may be All Commands, Commands Not in the Ribbon, or the ribbon tabs: File, Simulation, Verification, and View (as well as any custom defined tabs).

  2. Click to select a command from the list that you want to add to the Quick Access Toolbar.

  3. Click the Add>> button to add the command to the Quick Access Toolbar.

  4. You can then click the up and down arrows to move the new command up or down.

    This determines the location of the command in the Quick Access Toolbar.

  5. Repeat this process for all commands that you want to add to the Quick Access Toolbar.

 

Removing Commands from the Quick Access Toolbar

 

  1. Under Customize Quick Access Toolbar, click to select a command that you want to remove.

  2. Click the <<Remove button to remove the selected command from the Quick Access Toolbar.

 

Reset to Default Settings

To return the Quick Access Toolbar to the default settings, click the Reset button under Customizations.

Capture

Capture provides all the options for capturing and saving an image or video in the simulation window.

 

Image Capture

 

  •  Capture to File - Saves the image as a file in the specified location.

  •  Capture to Clipboard - Saves the image to the clipboard to be pasted by the user.

  • Image Size - Choose between Original, Medium and Maximum.

  • Maintain Image Aspect Ratio

    -  While selected this sets the image size to be ruled by the size of the window it is in.

     - Clearing this check box will set the Medium and Maximum sizes specific to the monitor resolution.

 

Video Capture

 

  •  Use internal compressor - Uses an integrated compressor to compress the file size of the video.

    • Quality - adjusts the quality of the saved video. Lower quality will create a smaller file.

  •  Use external compressor - Select the compressor of your choice to compress the video file.

  • Recording Frame Rate - Sets the frame rate for the recording.

General

 

  • Output Location -  sets the location of the saved files.

 

Reset

 

  • Reset Page Settings - resets page back to default settings.