What's New in BobCAM for SOLIDWORKS V9 SP4

Introduction

In this fourth update for BobCAM for SOLIDWORKS V9, we have several posting enhancements along with corrections for nearly every module.

 

The BobCAM for SOLIDWORKS V9 SP4 update is available in the following languages:

 

  • Czech

  • German

  • Spanish

  • French

  • Italian

  • Japanese

  • Korean

  • Portuguese

  • Turkish

Enhancements

  • Created additional posting variables, prefixes and API's to handle additional canned cycle formats for lathe threading: 

    • 1798. Prefix for thread chamfer number of leads (thread_chamfer_numofleads)? "E"

      • New posting variable: thread_chamfer_numofleads

      • VB API: GetDoubleOfPostVariable(“thread_chamfer_numofleads“)

      • Lua API: BcPost.GetValueOfPostVariable(“thread_chamfer_numofleads“)

    • 1799. Prefix for thread chamfer distance (thread_chamfer_distance)? "L"

      • New posting variable: thread_chamfer_distance

      • VB API: GetDoubleOfPostVariable(“thread_chamfer_distance“)

      • Lua API: BcPost.GetValueOfPostVariable(“thread_chamfer_distance“)

         

  • Created new post question to handle outputting Lathe Hole, and Lathe Tap Holes in different formats: 
    1307. Feedrate mode for Lathe hole operations other than Lathe Tap Operation (0=UPM 1=UPR)? 1

Corrections

User Interface

  • Corrected an issue with the settings display in SOLIDWORKS dark color.

BobART

  • Corrected an issue which caused an instance of the V-Carve toolpath linking back to the Machine Setup during an operation.

CAM

General

  • Corrected an issue which prevented Setup Sheets from being launched correctly when disabling Use Default Browser and selecting a browser other than Internet Explorer.

  • Corrected an issue which caused a pasted operation name to revert to default if the wizard was opened and closed using Finish/Compute.

  • Corrected an issue which could cause multiple warnings to appear when opening the Job From Template dialog if there were any machines associated to templates which were missing. This has been updated to show a single warning if the machine for the selected template is missing.

 

Mill

Mill Express

  • Corrected an issue which caused a crash when generating a setup sheet in some non-English OS languages.

  • Corrected an issue which caused points selected for Toolpath Pattern locations to return coordinates relative to the CAD origin instead of the Machine Setup.

  • Corrected an issue which caused Counterbore features with selected geometry to corrupt the CAM Job, resulting in the job being removed when the file was saved and reopened.

  • Corrected an issue which caused a default name of Feature Mill Hole to be used for a Mill Thread feature when geometry was selected for the feature on creation.

  • Corrected an issue which caused operation chain start points to revert when using Update All Geometries.

  • Corrected an issue which caused modified Chain Start locations of operations to revert to the Default Chain Start location of the feature.

  • Corrected an issue which prevented the custom speeds set in the Tool Library for several tools to be utilized by the operation.

  • Updated the picking options in the Toolpath Editor so the window picking and polygon picking is disabled for operations with 2500+ toolpath entities to avoid locking the software from excess memory usage.

  • Corrected an issue which caused System Tool to be selected for features Loaded/Pasted into the CAM Tree regardless of their original setting.

  • Corrected an issue which caused large arcs to appear in pocketing toolpath when using Multiple Depths and Corner Slowdown with certain geometries.

  • Corrected an issue with the Czech installation which caused a crash when adding a boring operation to a new strategy in the Knowledge Base Manager.

  • Corrected an issue which caused tools with custom geometry assigned to retain that geometry, even when its parameters had been manually updated, resulting in duplicate tools.

  • Corrected an issue which prevented the Flute Length and Protrusion Length from being set by custom geometry assigned to the tool as expected.

  • Corrected an issue which prevented the non-cutting part of a tool with custom geometry assigned from appearing in the Tool Crib, and Backplot.

  • Corrected an issue which prevented the Work Offset # in the Posting page from initializing properly if that page was skipped over in the initial creation of the feature.


Mill 3 Axis Standard

  • Corrected an issue which caused Fast Peck to be the default Plunge Entry option in the Z Level Finish operation.

 

Mill 3 Axis Pro

  • Corrected an issue which prevented the Advanced Posting page from appearing in the Steep Shallow operation.

 

Mill 3 Axis Premium

  • Corrected an issue which caused the CAM Tree to scroll up slightly when computing Multiaxis features which could force you to scroll back down slightly to get back to it.

 

Mill 4 Axis Pro

  • Corrected an issue which caused an incorrect setting in the background when using a Ramp lead with Links set to Direct and Retract.

 

Lathe

  • Corrected an issue which caused a rapid through part geometry when using On without Collision Detection for Compensation.

  • Corrected several issues involving On with Collision Detection for Compensation. These issues caused instances of incorrect rapids, additional passes, incorrect operation stock, and prevented arc moves from posting.

  • Corrected an issue which caused a roughing tool to trace the selected profile prior to completing the roughing cycle.

  • Corrected an issue which prevented the feature Constraints from utilizing the proper operation stock.

  • Corrected an issue which caused incorrect arc moves when using Reverse Sign for a tool.

  • Corrected an issue which caused certain tools to use the incorrect reference point, if those tools were added from the Tool Crib automatically, and not selected by the user.

  • Corrected an issue which caused variations in holder parameters between the tool in the operation and the tool in the Tool Crib, which could result in another tool being created during tool assignment.

 

Mill Turn

  • Corrected an issue which prevented Subspindle Z and Spindle Park Position values from updating when the unit of measure was updated.

  • Corrected an issue which caused tools to be deleted from the Tool Crib when dragged from a station to the Shelf in the Tool Crib, instead of unmounting with the context menu.

 

Wire EDM

  • Corrected an issue which prevented Stop Points from working when the Machine Setup was not set at the WCS.

  • Corrected an issue which caused the vertical toolpath lines of the coreless 2 Axis Rough Cut being drawn in the wrong location if the Machine Setup was not set at the WCS.

  • Corrected an issue which prevented the setting for Default Machining Order for the Wire EDM Job from being remembered, causing the default setting to be applied to new jobs.

 

Simulation

Simulation Standard

  • Corrected an issue which caused toolpath to be off center when using Left and Right Hand lathe tools in two separate features.

 

Posting

.BCPst

  • Updated the BC_Single_Line and BC_Two_Line installed posts to include the following missing post questions: 

    • 715. Feed Unit Per Minute Code? "G98"

    • 729. Feed Unit Per Revolution Code? "G99"

  • Corrected an issue which allowed for two tools with matching ID's to be used in a file which created posting issues. A check is now run on file read to correct this when detected.

  • Corrected an issue which prevented post by feature/operation from working when outputting in APT format.

  • Corrected an issue which prevented cutter compensation from being output in APT format.

  • Corrected an issue which caused incorrect tool vectors for the arcs of patterned operations on index systems in the APT format.

  • Corrected an issue which caused incorrect posting moves when using a custom MDI string with a space.

  • Corrected an issue which caused an incorrect rapid height to be output for 2 Axis Contour Ramping if the rapid height was more than the part depth.

  • Corrected an issue which prevented post question 6005. Zone 1 (T1 - W1) - Scale - X Axis? 2.0 from controlling whether canned cycle X axis was output as radius (1.0), or diameter (2.0).

  • Corrected an issue which prevented post block 198. End of Operation No Toolchange. from being called between an original operation and the first instance of its toolpath patterns.

  • Corrected an issue which caused the Z finish allowance for a Rough Turning Cycle to be output incorrected based on the sub-feature type, and region.