Simulation

The SolidCAM simulation option enables you to check and view the generated tool path after you have defined and calculated your machining operations. The simulation can help you avoid problems such as mistakes in the definition of the operations or selection of an unsuitable milling strategy you would otherwise experience during the actual production running.

To simulate an operation, right-click its name in SolidCAM Manager.
The operation menu is displayed. Choose Simulate.

You can simulate a group of selected operations. Select the operations with the Ctrl key, right-click on them and choose the Simulate option from the menu.

To simulate all operations, right-click the Operations header in SolidCAM Manager and choose the Simulate option from the menu.

The Simulation control panel is displayed.

Simulation control panel

The Simulation control panel offers you the following controls to manage the simulation:

Show Tool path

This option toggles on/off the tool path for the current operation.

Show hidden lines

This option toggles on/off the display of tool path lines hidden by the model geometry.

When this option is selected, the hidden lines are visible on the model.

When this check box is not selected, the hidden lines are not visible on the model.

Show tool 2D

This option toggles on/off the graphic simulation of the tool.

Show trail

This option displays several previous elements of the tool path by highlighting them with a different color. The color is defined in the Simulation settings.

Show tool 3D

This option toggles on/off the 3D graphic simulation of the tool.

Show holder

This button toggles the display of the tool holder during simulation. The option is enabled only with Show tool 3D.

Show data

Select this check box to display tool path information such as coordinates of the current point, time, feed in the Simulation Data dialog box.

The X, Y, and Z fields display the position of the tool relative to the CoordSys at every step of the simulation.
Feed displays the current feed rate.
Spin displays the current spin rate.
Spindle direction displays the Clockwise(CW) or Anticlockwise (CCW) direction of the spindle. In Multi-depth drilling operations, when the spin direction is set to OFF this field is empty.
The Step field displays the number of steps of the simulation.
Time shows the elapsed machining time of the simulated operations (theoretical value based on feed and distance covered).
Compensation displays whether Compensation is defined in the Technology page.

Solid Verification

These options enable you to display machining simulation on the solid model similar to SolidVerify using the SOLIDWORKS model.

Show Stock

This option displays how the stock is updated during the simulation.

Show rest material

This option uploads the target model and highlights the areas with left material. The highlighting color is defined in the Simulation settings.

Show gouges

This option displays the gouge report.

Enable automatic stock splitting

This option toggles on/off the automatic splitting of the stock.

Colorize stock

This option enables you to display the updated model surfaces in the same color as the tool's color.

Multi-Core support

This option enables you to perform multicore calculation of the simulation. It means that the CPU performance of your computer is optimized in such a way that allows simultaneous calculation of different elements by different central processing units (cores). In this case, the animation is faster, but looks less accurate.

Stop on next

This option opens the Stop on Next dialog box where you can define the specific point to stop the simulation process.

The options of this dialog box are following:

Tool change - this option stops the simulation every time when the tool changes.
Feed change - this option stops the simulation every time when the feed changes.
Rapid motion – this option stops the simulation every time when the rapid motion is performed.
Z Change - this option stops the simulation at every change of the Z coordinate of the tool.
Tool steps - this option stops the simulation every defined number of tool steps.
End of procedure - this option stops the simulation at the end of the procedure.
Sync point - this option stops the simulation of the balanced roughing turning, when one tool waits for another in a synchronization point.
Z plunge on stock - this option pauses the simulation when tool plunges in the Z direction in rapid motion and comes in contact with the stock.

Clear

This button clears the simulated tool path and the tool images from the Host CAD screen.

Colors

Click Colors to change the display color of the simulated tool path. The Simulation Colors dialog box is displayed.

To change the tool color, click the colored box next to the tool number.
The standard color dialog box of Windows will be displayed.
Select the new tool path color for this tool number.
Confirm with OK.

You can use the Reset to default to apply the default tool colors defined in the SolidCAM Settings dialog box.

Simulation speed

The slider controls the Simulation speed.

Simulation controls

The Simulation controls are used to manage the simulation.

Turbo mode- The simulation is performed in the computer memory without showing on the screen. The image is shown when the simulation is completed or when you click the Pause button.

Play- Use this button to play the simulation in continuous mode.

Loop mode- automatically repeats the simulation from the beginning. This mode is activated by pressing and holding the Play button for two seconds. Press and hold again the Loop button to switch back to the Play mode.

Pauses- the simulation when it is performed in continuous play mode.

Single Step mode-simulate the next tool movement by clicking on the symbol or by using the space bar of your keyboard.

Operation step mode- Simulation is shown separately operation by operation.

Exit- This button enables you to exit from the simulation module.

Simulation modes

SolidCAM offers the following simulation modes:

You can enable or disable the Active Simulation modes in the SolidCAM Settings dialog box.

	Turbo mode- The simulation is performed in the computer memory without showing on the screen. The image is shown when the simulation is completed or when you click the Pause button.
	Play- Use this button to play the simulation in continuous mode.
	Loop mode- automatically repeats the simulation from the beginning. This mode is activated by pressing and holding the Play button for two seconds. Press and hold again the Loop button to switch back to the Play mode.
	Pauses- the simulation when it is performed in continuous play mode.
	Single Step mode-simulate the next tool movement by clicking on the symbol or by using the space bar of your keyboard.
	Operation step mode- Simulation is shown separately operation by operation.
	Exit- This button enables you to exit from the simulation module.