ExpertCAM™ Overview



Production NC programming has typically been a slow, expensive, error-prone process. ExpertCAM™ changes all that. With ExpertCAM, your NC programmers beat the backlog and create accurate, efficient part programs more quickly than ever before, with at large and small manufacturing firms alike successfully increasing NC programmer productivity with ExpertCAM.

ExpertCAM’s powerful visualization tools allow users to review and optimize machining operations before a part program is released. ExpertCAM makes short order of your machining operations — for milling, turning, flame cutting and punching — in one effective application package.

ExpertCAM accepts part geometry from popular CAD applications and links directly to ExpertCAD™ and ToolDesigner™, accelerating engineering changes and design data preparation for machining. Users can automatically reference tools and fixtures from electronic databases or generate their own tooling while working with ExpertCAM. They can also display true 2D and 3D representations of the tool and tool path in relation to part geometry and fixtures. All of which saves time, increases accuracy, and eliminates tool collisions.

ExpertCAM supports 2.5 axis contouring and 5-axis positioning for milling applications, along with 2- and 4-axis lathe programming. Comprehensive post-processor generators are included for both mill and lathe along with SofTech's complete library of pre-written posts. So you have one cost-effective system that supports all your machining requirements. ExpertCAM comes bundled with a license for ExpertCAD to make short work of part data preparation for machining. In short, ExpertCAM is truly a complete, comprehensive CAD/CAM system.


ExpertCAM™ Components

ExpertCAM™ Solutions TOP

ExpertCAM is a complete CAD/CAM solution that includes:

• ExperCAM - full featured NC programming.
• ExpertCAD - full featured 2D design software to prepare CAD design data for machning.
• ExpertPost - choose from a comprehensive library of post processors or develop your own custom post processors.
• AutoCAD Interface - import and export AutoCAD DXF and DWG files.

ExpertCAM™ Licensing TOP

Licensing options for ExpertCAM includes node-locked and floating licenses. The Windows® edition uses the industry-leading FlexLM™ floating license solution from Macrovision® to simplify deployment and management of software licenses. Node-locked licenses for Windows utilize a USB compatible hardware key.

ExpertCAM™ System Requirements TOP

ExpertCAM run on Windows® 2000, Windows® XP, Windows® XP Professional x64 and Windows® Vista computers, as well as popular UNIX workstations including Sun SPARC/Solaris 7 and higher and HP PA-RISC/HP-UX 11.

Recommended Upgrades

• A large monitor — 21" — is preferred to maximize the graphics area of the application.

ExpertCAD™ PC Requirements TOP

• CPU: Intel Pentium 4 or AMD equivalent processor
• RAM: 512 Mb.
• Video Card: 64 Mb. nVidia™ based

Machining Capabilities
ExpertCAM has a wide variety of machining capabilities designed to solve your most difficult manufacturing applications or problems. Features include:

• 2.5 axis for contouring with 5-axis positioning for milling
• 2- and 4-axis lathe programming with ID/OD turning, grooving, threading, and turret visualization
• Extensive user-defined tooling database for holder, fixture, and insert definition as well as cutting tool feeds and speeds
• Canned cycles
• Entry and exit controls
• Undo and redo functions
• Tool path/geometry associations
• Boundary profiling
• Milling with islands
• Automatic pocketing and roughing
• Drilling, taping, boring
• Multiple tool path visualization options, including color fill
• Machine tool head and holder simulation to eliminate collisions
• NC parametrics

Machine Tool Support
SofTech has long been recognized for the completeness of its customized post-processor output, allowing users to go directly from computer graphic representations to the machine tool — without errors or time-consuming editing. The ability to create these complete post-processors is now available with ExpertCAM's post-processor generator, offering features such as:

• Fully user-customizable post-processors
• User-definable events and macros
• Error check
• APT source or CL file output formats

Geometry/Verification/Tooling/Filtering
With SofTech's powerful ExpertCAD software, included with ExpertCAM, you can edit geometry supplied by other CAD systems while eliminating unnecessary geometry, text, or dimensions. You can also create new geometry, tooling, and fixture drawings. ExpertCAD includes all the features needed for dramatic increases in 2D design and drafting productivity, including:

• Integrated component libraries
• Powerful editing features and text manipulation functions
• Parametric programming facilities
• Dimensioning standards and techniques
• Multiple, user-defined text fonts
• Construction layout capabilities that mimic traditional on-the-board drafting techniques
• Multiple text fonts, colors, views, and up to 64 line styles
• Associative dimensioning that can be changed automatically from inch to metric
• A user-definable interface
• An extensive library of CAD data translators
• Up to 1,024 layers to organize and manage even the largest designs
• Data Translation

One of the keys to effective tool design and manufacturing is fast, accurate data translation. DXF, DWG, CADRA and IGES bi-directional translators come as standard features of ExpertCAM.

ScriptLINK™ User Interface
Our popular macro-programming language ScriptLINK™, in combination with ExpertCAM's parametric foundation, enables programmers to create their own commands, re-engineer processes, and achieve true automation improvements. With these capabilities, companies can capture and retain the knowledge of their most experienced programmers for future use — and benefits. ScriptLINK™ helps every user of ExpertCAM become proficient and productive, right from the start. ScriptLINK enables you to:

• Use friendly features such as icons, pop-up menus, panels and cursor strokes to quickly learn how to operate ExpertCAM
• Obtain as-needed assistance with on-screen help and error messages
• Add your own custom functions to ExpertCAM using our extensive macro language