2013 R1 is a release combining new strategies with an improved user interface across many aspects of the software. The strategies will make creating tool paths effortless and the improvements to the user interface will get your result much faster than before. Edgecam Wire Erosion Edgecam’s new Wire Erosion product is based on the industry leading Vero PEPS Wire product and offers an intuitive environment for the comprehensive programming of all Wire EDM machine tools. Including a comprehensive library of proven post-processors and knowledge-based cutting schemes as standard. Users can select from one of the pre-defined machining strategies such as 'Unattended night runs' and 'Attended day runs' or, alternatively, define their own. Features inlude : Pre-configured code generators, optionally configurable. Knowledge-based cutting schemes. Roughing and finishing cuts easily applied to multiple punches / dies. Reverse cutting with offsets and cutting technology changes. Multiple strategies for corner types; including square ISO and conic. Toolpath display indicators showing thread wire, cut wire and program stop positions. No-core pocket destruction of round and irregular shapes. No-core pocket destruction considers pre-hole diameter to eliminate air cuts and reduce cycle time. New Rough Profile Cycle This is a new cycle that replaces the Rough Profile cycle. It is available with all Turning and Production Licenses. The Rough Profiling cycle removes material in a series of cuts parallel to the input profile and is typically used for roughing free form profiles from free form stock billets. It is also useful for cutting materials where it is beneficial to minimise re-entrant cutting as it keeps the tool in contact with the material for longer. Benefits of the new cycle include: Cycle is optionally stock aware to eliminate air cuts and reduce cycle time. Intelligent stock entry and exit. Support for controller tool offset i.e. G41/G42. Possibility to enter a constant cut depth or different cut depths for X and Z. Specify ZX or Constant Offset finishing allowance. Possibility to enter different offsets for each face element. Option to stop after a specified no. of cuts, return to a safe swarf clearance position, stop the machine, clear the swarf then carry on. The old Rough Profile cycle has been removed from the default user interface but can be retrieved using Customise -> Commands -> Turn Cycles. Roughing - Waveform Improvements Waveform roughing has been improved to include the following enhancements : The Waveform strategy now has the ability to set the Approach Type; Helix and Pre-drill are possible. It works in the same way as the other strategies. A 10% bigger drill tool is expected for the pre-drill option. Waveform pattern has been improved to avoid unnecessary cutting interruptions when opening the initial 'virtual pocket'. The transition between this area and actual toolpath is much smoother. Percentage Plunge Feed added to Approach Options The Plunge feedrate for approach moves can now be specified as a percentage of the Plunge feedrate on the General tab. This option is available for all Roughing strategy types. Clean Up Final Pass added to Control Options Some machines tools, due to the "Look Ahead" calculation and the high feeds, may leave pegs in the material showing unmachined areas. These pegs would be removed if the feeds were reduced, meaning that the toolpath is correct but, due to the "Look Ahead" calculation, the machine tool is avoiding those areas. Clean Up Final Pass has been added to the Control options which will add a pass at the end of the area to ensure that all material has been removed. Moving the Sub-spindle - Option to Return Home without the part The sub spindle can be docked to support the part for a machining process after which it may be sent back to its home position without the part. Previously, the stock was always returned home with the sub spindle - this is now optional. There is an additional code constructor: Sub Spindle Retract Empty. This is used to format the NC code for the Return Home Without Part option. Turning Tool dialog - Machining of Internal Holes & Reverse Radial Tools Machining of internal rotary holes has been improved to provide better access and handle situations which were previously not possible. Two situations have been improved: Correctly handle internal holes when using a Radial tool. Typical work for very large parts where the whole turret can sometimes go inside the component to do machining. Load a Reverse Radial tool. which on an Index type turret will allow for two situations (driven by machine parameter). Either load the tool at the front of the turret (with special holder / mounting mechanism) or load the tool at the back of the turret. Five Axis Milling dialog - Direct Picking on Model Previously, the Five Axis cycle had to use geometry created from the solid, for example, Edge Loops and Face Features. The cycle can now pick edges and faces directly from the model without having to create Edge Loops or Face Features. Improved Collision Avoidance (3 to 5-Axis and Five Axis Cycles) In Edgecam 2013 R1, a new Remove Remaining Collisions option has been introduced. This option, when checked, will remove any collisions remaining after the main checks have been completed by retracting the tool away from the surface. New Advanced Five Axis Options In Edgecam 2013 R1, new Chaining Tolerance and Slow and Safe Path Creation options have been introduced on the General tab: Chaining Tolerance is an internal value, greater than zero, used for the toolpath generation. The Chaining Tolerance might have an effect for a flat or slightly curved face where, since less tool path points are generated, the toolpath has less information. In this situation the chaining tolerance makes the toolpath accurate. However, if a smaller tolerance is selected, more computing time is required. When Slow and Safe Path Creation is checked, the Chaining Tolerance will be set to an interval not longer than the maximum stepover distance. As with the Chaining Tolerance, activating this parameter requires more computing time. 5 axis cycle - separate process and 64-bit support In Edgecam 2013 R1, a 5 Axis cycle will always be moved into a separate process, regardless of whether Set Safe Start Point (SSSP) has been set. A 64-bit version of the application has also been created (EdgeSrv5Axis64.exe). This will improve situations where the cycle previously ran out of memory during calculation. Profiling - Break Corner options for Profiling Cycle The Profiling cycle has been updated to include options to break sharp corners with either a radius or chamfer. This will reduce secondary de-burring operations.