2-axis and 3-axis

This strategy is suitable for all types of 2D or 3D shapes. It creates optimized smooth cutting movements for High-Speed Machining (HSM) while maintaining part accuracy, tool life, and machine tool life. All cutters and tool holders are checked for collisions. To maximize efficiency, visualization of the stock and the machined part is available at every stage of the manufacturing process.

The strategy will always attempt to use a helix when plunging into the material. If a helix cannot be used, the plunge is automatically adjusted to ramp conditions when moving down in the Z-axis and when copying the toolpath profile.

In areas too small for machining with the given tool and entry conditions, etc., toolpaths are automatically omitted. NCG CAM detects these areas and then processes them using rest roughing, thereby achieving efficient roughing without inefficient "air" machining.

NCG CAM fully controls the tool and tool holder against damage, which is very important if a tool holder and/or tool is not long enough to reach deep shapes. Protection is automatically provided even when using indexed (3+2) machining, to ensure machining of shapes and parts of models that cannot be machined in standard 3-axis mode.

Tools and tool holders can be selected either from a standard tool catalog, or you can define your own libraries using the tool holder/tool designer. These can then be saved for each machine tool or material being machined.

This strategy is suitable for roughing a shape with a protruding core, where the requirement is to remove material from the outside of the material while maintaining climb milling. All toolpaths start outside the material at a given Z-depth and proceed inwards.

NCG CAM creates a safe boundary from the outer silhouette of the entire core model. All toolpaths start from this safe boundary, enter the material using an arc approach, machine with tool overlap no greater than half the diameter (or as specified) and exit the material along an arc back to the safe boundary.

Zig-zag roughing creates straight cuts in Z-axis levels, similar to Pocket Roughing or Roughing strategies. Since the cuts are linear, there are no constant changes in toolpath direction, so the data volume in the output NC code is very small. Before moving down to the next roughing level, a profile cut is applied at each level to remove irregularities around the part contour.

When creating cuts, it is possible to spread the cuts. This is advantageous for maintaining minimal irregularities at the bottom when roughing with a ball end mill. When connecting zig-zag roughing cuts, there are options for one-way, two-way, and zig-zag, and for profile cuts, it is possible to choose climb or conventional milling.

Parallel roughing ensures roughing of the part using the Parallel strategy, which is divided into levels in the Z-axis. When the tool approaches the shape at a given Z-level, it follows the shape up to the upper level of that Z-level, ensuring that no large amount of residual material (step) is left. When using a ball end mill, the cuts can be spread to leave minimal surface roughness. Connection options for the strategy are one-way and two-way.

This strategy maintains (never exceeds) the specified tool engagement, thereby preventing full immersion into the material (preventing overload and potential damage to the tool/workpiece) through optimized cuts obtained based on special calculations.

The strategy focuses on high-speed machining using carbide tools, which allows for safe machining along the entire cutting edge at optimal cutting speed and tool load. Tool wear is evenly distributed along the entire cutting edge, not just the bottom of the cutter. Due to constant tool load, tool deformation and potential vibrations are prevented. The Adaptive strategy is suitable for machining hard materials, for deep machining, and also for electrode production. The strategy automatically adjusts the toolpath to maintain optimal cutting conditions for efficient and safe machining.

The strategy not only significantly extends tool life but also reduces machining time by an average of 25% compared to conventional roughing, because the machine uses the full length of the tool's cutting edge at optimal speed without exceeding its limits.

The order of connecting the cuts is very important in this case, so the connection is performed simultaneously with the calculation of the cuts.

After roughing using the full cutting edge length, it is possible to automatically perform additional cuts (step reduction) to reduce the size of steps left on the 3D shape after progressive roughing. Depending on the amount of remaining material relative to the part shape, the cuts resulting from step reduction are performed with a single profile cut or multiple roughing cuts.

NCG CAM roughing operations have an important option for vibration suppression, which allows for increased tool life, productivity, and potentially improved surface quality after machining.

This option significantly reduces vibrations, which is an important feature in machining, helping to maintain consistent cutting conditions, extend machine tool and tool life. Already in the process of roughing and rest roughing, it is possible to achieve more precise dimensions and a higher quality surface, which ultimately saves time and money. The execution is that the tool, when machining the bottom, is not in contact with the side walls, and conversely, when machining the walls, the tool is not in contact with the bottom. The size of the required gap can be set.

NCG CAM allows for two ways of performing rest roughing.

The user creates the first roughing operation from the stock block, as described earlier, in Pocket Roughing or Roughing. rest roughing is created automatically by selecting another tool along with the previous toolpaths. rest roughing eliminates "air" machining by only machining areas with residual material. Another stock model can be created by combining operations, thereby also showing the progress and sequence of machining.

This strategy can be used for finishing or pre-finishing machining of steep areas of a part.

If a slope angle is specified, for example between 30° - 90°, steep areas are machined, while shallow areas lying between 0° - 30° are left for more suitable strategies. These can be created separately or by using the option to complement the Contour strategy with a Uniform strategy, which will machine the shallow areas. This ensures that surfaces are machined across the entire range of slopes within one continuous strategy.

Cuts can be limited by a boundary or by selected surfaces. Contour machining also has an option for feed optimization.

Connection options for contour machining cuts are two-way and one-way machining. Two-way machining will maintain constant contact with the part using climb milling in one direction and conventional milling in the other, but such machining should only be used for light machining. The default setting is one-way machining and ensures climb milling, which extends tool life, achieves higher accuracy, and a good resulting surface finish. Connections between levels can be made on the surface or off the surface using defined approaches. If necessary, conventional milling can also be set.

These strategies are used for efficient finishing of horizontal surfaces using cylindrical tools.

The Horizontal Closed strategy focuses on machining cavities, where the start of machining is usually in the middle of the shape.

The Horizontal Open strategy focuses on open shapes, where machining can start outside the material and approach the center/shape using side steps, thereby optimizing cutting conditions, improving the resulting surface, and increasing tool life.

Both strategies have similar properties for area cleanup and detect all horizontal surfaces on the part, with or without the use of boundaries.

If it is necessary to machine horizontal surfaces with more than one pass, it is possible to axially offset these passes (in the tool axis) and set the desired number of passes.

These strategies are suitable for surface finishing. The best results are achieved in conjunction with settings for steep and shallow surfaces and with other machining strategies, most often Contour.

It is advisable to divide machining so that parallel cuts machine shallow surfaces in the range of 0° - 40° and contour cuts in the range of 30° - 90°. Such a combination of machining is suitable for finishing complex 3D parts and can be used on older CNC milling machines as well as high-speed machines. Parallel cuts can be limited by a boundary or by selected surfaces.

The Parallel Cross strategy is used to achieve a consistent surface over the entire part while maintaining both side overlap and ascent/descent. Machining proceeds in one direction, and in the case of an unsuitable surface slope (steep surfaces parallel to the machining direction), problematic cuts are skipped. The unmachined parts are then filled with cuts that are perpendicular to the previous cuts, thereby ensuring uniform surface roughness.

When connecting cuts, there is a choice for one-way or two-way machining, and further options for down milling (for 3D machining with insert mills) and up milling (for 3D finishing with solid carbide mills).

A spiral toolpath is created from a focal point, generating constant overlap within a given boundary.

This strategy is ideal for use on circular shallow surfaces with angles between 0° - 30°, in conjunction with contour machining for steep surfaces 30° - 90°. These cuts can be limited by a boundary or to selected surfaces.

Similar to Spiral machining, this strategy also starts from a focal point and allows for the creation of radial cuts. A special setting allows for not reaching the focal point completely, where the cuts are already very dense.

The focal point for radial or spiral machining is detected automatically or can be specified by the user. This strategy can also be used in conjunction with contact angles (steep / shallow). These cuts can be limited by a machining boundary or applied only to selected surfaces.

This strategy maintains a constant step between individual cuts regardless of the slope angle of the part surfaces.

Depending on the shape, this can be suitable for machining the entire part while maintaining good surface roughness, or it can be combined with other strategies to optimize the machining process. Often, steep surfaces are first machined using the Contour strategy, and for finishing shallow surfaces, the Uniform strategy is a good choice. Of course, it depends on the topology of the model shape, and sometimes it will be more advantageous to choose a different strategy for shallow areas.

Machining can be limited by boundaries, contact angles (steep / shallow), or can be applied to the entire part without any limitations.

This strategy allows you to control the tool path using boundaries and directional profiles, optimizing individual cuts to achieve a uniform step distribution and thus a homogenous surface.

The cavity in the image is an ideal example for using this strategy. Machining can be used in conjunction with contact angles (steep / shallow).

This strategy is designed for finishing internal corners that couldn't be machined by the previous tool, or for cleaning surfaces to remove irregularities after a previous operation.

The strategy is ideal for corners where the surface curvature is the same as the tool's radius. A single pass of pencil milling will ensure a higher resulting surface quality suitable for polishing. The tool path during machining maintains its original consistent direction and can be used in conjunction with contact angles (steep / shallow). As with all tool paths in NCG CAM, simulation can be performed independently or with the tool holder.

Offset Pencil Machining is an extension of Pencil Machining, where it's possible to specify the number and size of side steps to each side of the original pencil cut.

This is useful in cases where the previous tool couldn't ensure the machining of internal corners with a small radius of curvature. These multiple passes will remove the remaining material by machining from the outside inwards to the corner. This will ensure a good resulting surface and can be used in conjunction with contact angles (steep / shallow).

This strategy is similar to uniform machining, but it's based on the detected edges of the model.

This strategy doesn't machine from the outer boundary towards the center of the part, but creates pencil cuts on the part's edges, and then offset tool paths are calculated from these cuts across the entire part. The tool path maintains a constant and uniform surface across the entire part. Depending on the shape, the resulting surface in corners can be significantly better than with uniform machining because the tool path follows the 3D shapes of the corners.

Machining can be limited by boundaries, contact angles (steep / shallow), or can be applied to the entire part without any limitations.

This strategy focuses on finishing or pre-finishing internal corners, or other shapes that were otherwise inaccessible with previous tools.

The machined area is defined by a user-specified reference tool. A ball-nose cutter is used, steep areas are separated from shallow ones, and just like all other strategies, the tool and holder are protected from collision. Spiral connections maintain the machining direction in shallow areas. On steep areas, the tool is kept in contact with the part as much as possible to minimize "air cutting."

This strategy is used for machining along an open or closed boundary profile. A negative allowance can be used for machining at a constant depth below the machined surface, and the strategy can be used in conjunction with contact angles (steep / shallow).

The strategy can be used to machine a specific detail of a mold, or for engraving special shapes and text that can be generated using Windows True TypeTM fonts in the NCG CAM system. Available fonts will depend on the WindowsTM operating system.

NCG CAM typically uses surface triangulation for fast tool path calculations and undercut checking. Real surface machining is optional. This option ensures a uniform distribution of points in the resulting NC code, which allows for smoother and more fluid machine movement on some machine tools. In most cases, however, these calculations will take a bit longer.

On the other hand, this option will ensure better resulting surface quality, reducing the effort and time spent on polishing, which saves time and money, but also reduces potential incorrect polishing in corners, etc. This option can therefore be used advantageously only for polishing surfaces.

NCG CAM allows you to create optimized machining for complex shapes in one step while achieving the best possible resulting surface.

The Combined Contour strategy creates optimized passes for machining both steep and shallow areas of the part.

It is possible to choose the angle for individual areas, for example, 30° – 90° for steep areas and 0° – 40° for shallow areas. The system then analyzes the part and creates optimized paths for the respective areas.

Machining can be limited by boundaries, contact angles (steep / shallow), or can be applied to the entire part without any limitations.

The strategy is not surface-driven but curve-driven. This allows you to create a tool path inside/outside the surfaces or completely independent of the 3D CAD model if needed.

Curves can be loaded or extracted from the model. Curves can be extracted as 3D curves, and the 3D path will be respected during machining. The curve can also be extracted as 2D curves for 2D machining. The extracted curves contain line segments and arcs to obtain a tool path with straight-line or arc movements. The extracted curve can also be used as a machining boundary.

Non-contiguous curves (gaps in curves) can be joined to obtain a continuous profile to prevent unwanted tool departures from the model.

The strategy supports 2D tool compensation (G41 and G42 or cutter left/right). Tool compensation is important for achieving toleranced workpiece dimensions by changing the tool diameter. Tool compensation is only available for 2D curves. The strategy allows you to specify optimized leads/lead-outs along an arc, etc.

The strategy allows you to check the tool holder, shank, and cutting edge for collisions with the model, if necessary.

Starting positions can be specified by creating multiple points, and several curves can be machined in a single operation.

The option to extend passes allows you to lengthen the path (open profiles) to ensure the tool approaches from outside the material and to achieve more favorable and safer cutting conditions.

The option to overlap passes allows the tool to go past the entry position (closed profiles) to minimize the "tool mark," resulting in a cleaner surface.

Indexed multi-axis machining (3+2) is very easy with just a few clicks thanks to the intuitive graphical interface, including several options for setting the required tool orientation, such as selecting the surface normal.

By rotating the A, B, or C axes, it is possible to reach and machine otherwise inaccessible parts of the workpiece (deep/tall or complex areas on the workpiece) or to optimize machining efficiently. This makes it easy to align flat surfaces in a plane other than XY or to machine with short overhang tools, achieving higher rigidity. After rotating to the desired orientation, all machining strategies are available, including important collision checking of the tool and holder.

Machining can be limited by boundaries, surface selection, or contact angles (steep / shallow).

NCG CAM allows you to use rest machining in all finishing strategies: Contour, Parallel, Spiral, Radial, Uniform, Offset Pencil, Uniform Pencil, Morph, and Boundary Machining.

Rest machining is enabled by specifying the size of a previously used cutter or a reference tool. Passes will only be created in areas inaccessible to the reference tool. All calculations for rest areas can be performed without the need to specify boundaries. If optimization is needed, angles can be used for steep or shallow areas.

NCG CAM allows automatic detection of all cylindrical holes, chamfers, and cones that are part of the same hole (on the same axis). Filters for minimum/maximum diameter, depth, angle (tool axis), and color can be used for detection.

NCG CAM displays a series of components representing the found axis orientations. These can then be divided into subfolders for drilling based on filters for the same size, depth, etc. The required drilling cycles can then be applied to the holes divided in this way. Cylindrical holes, chamfers, and cones having the same tool orientation and starting points are combined, so multiple drilling cycles can be used.

Supported drilling cycles are: Drilling, Deep drilling, Deep drilling with chip breaking, Reaming, Right/left-hand tapping, Thread milling (internal, external, left-hand, and right-hand), Boring, Back boring, and Trepanning.

In the NCG CAM product, it is possible to use a variable value "spark gap," which can be used for the production of electrodes for EDM machines (sinkers). By using the "spark gap" variable in conjunction with a macro, it is possible to achieve efficient machining instantly without having to enter frequently repeating values.