Stable CAD to simulate tool paths

[brengine]

Hello,
I am wanting to make my own tool path verification program to prove out g-code programs. Altho rather than writing my own program for everything, I was wondering if there was a CAD program out there that can handle probably millions of moves, cutting away a little material at a time plus allow me to control it with macros/VBA. I am more interested in programming where the tool is in relation to the work-piece, and then telling the CAD to remove the material. The reason for this is that I use variables, macros, subprograms, looping, branching, conditional statements, etc... in my g-code. I've heard Vericut can handle this, but I haven't seen any demos. I've also heard the Predator as some of this capibility too. Either way, I am still hesitant that those programs will have all the functionality *I* need.

I did a small sample of this with SolidWorks, but my filesizes got very bloated in just a couple minutes and that was only a couple moves. The processing data and time for an entire program to run is not a realistic option with a parametric program like SW.

If you can offer any info. for or against I'd be much appreciated to hear it.
Thanks,
Ken

 

[klord]

Vericut is a very Versitile tool for program verification. I use Vericut to verify every toolpath I create before sending it to the machine. It is able to handle parameter input from the program but you have to do some up-front work first. I.E. creating the variables in the control file for the program to feed to, Creating any special words like G10 or G11 for cinci controls, All sub-routines have to be loaded into the file or else linked to the file so vericut will know where to look for it.
You can create complete machines and even cells to check for ram interferences or holder interferences. It calculates machining cycle times and many other things that I can't think of now or have time to list.
I even use it to simulate dual ram vbm turning with a Fanuc 15TT control. It runs exactly the same way the machine does.
All in all Vericut is an extremely powerfull verification tool for NC Programmers and process engineers.
This probably sounds like a sales pitch for CGTech but Vericut makes my job much easier.

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http://www.vericut.com

Keith Lord
Manufacturing Engineer/NC Programmer