User experience and productivity The system wide changes to the NX userinterface offer key benefits for the NX CAMExpress user. The redesigned menus and inputdialogs clearly communicate required input andcommand steps and this is consistent with theother elements of the NX product line. There-use of common elements to enhanceoperational consistency and discoverability isparticularly important in CAM. For example, innon cutting moves the user interaction hasbeen rationalized across all CAM functions.

The enhanced use of role-specific userinterfaces is also very important in the CAMarea. This enables companies to presentcommands appropriate to the user’s functionand level of expertise, enabling first-dayproductivity for novice users and flexibility to adapt to more functionality as their needs andproficiency grow. In NX CAM Express the system is delivered with the optional Express and ExpertRoles as out of the box roles. The Express role sets the user interface into a level that is ideal for thenew user. It also activates a series of pre-defined templates that configure the system for one of anumber of key machining functions such as turning, mold and die machining or mill-turn machining. Acomplementary set of built in tutorials linked to the Express role guide the new user though a pre-set learning experience inside the live software.

What’s new in NX CAM Express Version 5

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BenefitsStreamline operation cuts smoothlyand leaves a beautiful finish

Easier than ever to learn and use

Available machine tool kits make forfast implementation

Faster cutting with shorter tools indeep cavities

More realistic machine simulation

Areas of enhancements•User experience – ease of use anduser productivity

•Free Flow Machining™ – a newtechnology for tool path creation

•Machine tool support kits – out ofthe box content for advanced postprocessors and machine toolsimulation sets

SummaryNX™ CAM Express software is the full function, CAD neutral numerical control (NC) programming application in the UGS VelocitySeries portfolio. Version 5 contains the latest improvements that help manufacturers increase the value of their machine tools by tailoringthe programming system to the needs of the shop, the machine tool and the NC programmer.

Free Flow Machining With Version 5 UGS introduces Free Flow Machining to provide acompletely new approach to the creation of tool paths, enabling theNC programmer to develop an ideal, efficient cutting strategy quicklyand easily.

The new Free Flow Machining™ technology is used to drive machiningstrategies that follow the natural characteristics of the overall shape orarea to be machined. It allows programmers to create smooth, continuous flowing tool paths with farfewer engages and retracts, with highly consistent tool loading, delivering increased tool life andexcellent surface finish. The Free Flow Machining technology is used as the basis for the new Streamlinefinishing strategy released in NX CAM Express 5.

Traditional methods typically utilize cutting strategies that address a part with rigidly defined cuttingpatterns that are fitted to the area or volume to be machined. These strategies can force tool paths tobe created that do not follow the natural shape of the part. Often special finishing operations are thenneeded to clean up such as in corners or along fillets. This takes more time and the end result may be aless than perfect finish on the part. In other cases the alternative area milling strategies can be thrownoff by the inappropriate or inconsistent surface mathematics of the underlying part model, especiallywhere the area to be machined has been modeled using multiple surfaces. In these cases the onlyoption might be to construct new model surfaces just in an attempt to drive the tool path correctly.

The constraints imposed by the mathematical definition of the underlying surfaces are overcome byFree Flow Machining technology. When used to power machine strategies such as the new Streamlinetool path in NX CAM Express 5, Free Flow Machining™ technology enables NC programmers toovercome the limitations of traditional machining methods. Free Flow Machining identifies key flowcurves that define the area with an automatic assessment of surface boundaries and edges acrossmultiple surfaces. The user can interact with the technology to select as many additional curves asrequired to perfectly direct the machining flow relative to key part features or shapes.

The Streamline Machining Strategy. Applicable to both fixed and variable axis machining, the Streamlinemachining strategy, released in NX CAM Express 5, is a finishing tool path that adopts the Free FlowMachining™ technology. In many cases the user merely selects the area to be machined and the systemautomatically calculates the ideal flow lines and delivers a smooth,flowing tool path across the entire area. The flow curves may befined tuned by the user to provide an added degree of precisionand flexibility The Streamline strategy interpolates automaticallybetween the flow curves and will morph smoothly from thestart geometry to the finish geometry.

The result: tool paths that the machinist always wanted, fastermachining times, very much better surface finish and ease of usefor the NC programmer.

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Dual contact boundary condition. Built into the Streamlinemachining strategy is an automatic “dual contact” boundarycondition. In conditions where the area to be machined meetsa wall the system will adjust the tool path so the last passtouches both wall and floor – the extreme “dual contactposition”. The extremely valuable capability can eliminate theneed for a subsequent flow cut or pencil mill style operation to clean up the material that would be leftby traditional systems that would abandon their fixed machining patterns once this gets to within adistance from the wall that is less than one step over.

Machine tool support kits With NX CAM Express 5 the approach of offering proven machine tool kits, which provide a ready-to-use post processor, a 3D machine tool model and a “G-code simulation driver” for a specific make andmodel range of machine tool, is extended with production kits for an initial set of machines. Thecurrently supported machines include examples manufactured by Mazak, Mori Seiki and DMG. The kitsaddress both inch and metric configurations.

In addition to these Machine Tool Support Kits that are typically targeted at the more advancedmachine tools, UGS continues to offer customers direct access to its Post Processor DownloadLibrary, hosted by UGS’s Global Technical Access Center (GTAC) and accessible on-line from withinNX CAM Express. More posts have been added to the Post Download Library for this release.

Additional developmentsZ-level finishing with tool axis tilt. NX CAM Express5 introduces tool axis tilt to its Z-level finishingtool path. Tilt can be specified as simple “awayfrom part” or specifically constrained by a point orcurve. Tilting the tool allows shorter tools toreach the bottom of the cavity. Because toolflexibility increases with the square of length, toolaxis tilt can result in large feedrate increases. Reducing a tool’slength by 20 percent can increase its rigidity, and correspondinglyits feed rate, by 50 percent.

Optimized Z-level cut depths. NX CAM Express 5 continues tomake cut level specification more automatic and more optimizedfor high speed machining. Part curvature determines whethersmaller cut steps are required to obtain the specified finish.Compared to reducing the overall step size, this approach canreduce cut time by 50 percent.

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3D machining environment. NX CAM Express 5 further emphasizes the 3D nature of the programmingenvironment, featuring better support for slant beds and B-head+C-chuck mill-turn configurations. This3D programming environment provides for better tool control, collision checking and visualization ofthe program performance on these complex, multi-function machines.

Multi-function machine simulation. NX CAM Express 5 continues to provide the best synchronization andsimulation of these important machine types. Improvements in Post Builder, Synchronization Editor anddriver technology keep NX CAM Express in a leadership position.

Generic motion controller (GMC). NX CAM Express 5introduces a completely flexible motion definition thatcan be used to define motion for a wide range of non-cutting operations. This includes transition motions fromone operation to the next, moving around a complexpart in 5-axis. The GMC can be used to program themotion for an on machine probe. NX CAM Expresssimulates the motion incrementally as the path is defined,providing immediate feedback and validation. Using toolslike this prevents hand-editing and other improvisedapproaches that can lead to costly errors.

Machining feature navigator. NX CAM Express 5introduces the Machining Feature Navigator as the central management for all identified machiningfeatures. This new organizational tool makes it even easier to identify and track the progress of eachfeature. Customizable views of the features and their parameters make it faster than ever to apply thebest processes to the feature set.

Feature based machining. NX CAM Express 5 introduces, as a preview, the ability to define holemakingprocesses using Excel. This method further simplifies the description, management and implementationof rules for feature machining. Applying feature-based technology can save as much as 90 percent ofprogramming times for the features implemented. Easier implementation brings this advantage to morefeatures more quickly.

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ContactNX CAM ExpressAmericas 800 807 2200Europe +44 (0) 1202 243455 Asia-Pacific +852 2230 3308www.ugs.com/nxcamexpress

UGS, Transforming the process of innovation, Femap, Geolus, I-deas, JT, NX, Parasolid, Solid Edge, Teamcenter, Tecnomatix and Velocity Series are trademarks orregistered marks of UGS Corp. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. All other logos, trademarks, registered trademarks or servicemarks belong to their respective holders. ©2007 UGS Corp. All rights reserved. 5/07