We're back and excited to announce the launch of v2024 this week!

Highlights of what new:

• Functionality: New Job Operations Planner Manager Enhancements:

     

•  Machining Additions including New Work Setup Home Positions

      

• General Improvements to Select all and JOS Reporting
• Exciting Macro Improvements
• Data Translation Updates 

 

For more details, check out our intro page: https://www.smartcamcnc.com/Products/Release/v2024/introduction.php

SmartCAM v2021 Release

A New SmartCAM release is now shipping.

What an extraordinary and challenging year 2020 has been for everybody.

We offer a piece of normality: as is our custom at this time of year, we have produced a new version of SmartCAM. In the new SmartCAM v2021 release we deliver further incremental developments to the CNC programming system of choice for our valued customers.

Our goal remains unchanged - to continuously deliver technology changes that add even more capability and productivity to SmartCAM, assisted with updates to the user interface and everyday usability improvements.

We always strive to maintain "The SmartCAM Difference" going forward.

Below is a broad-brush summary of the enhancements that have been created for the Version 2021 release.

Regards, Stay Healthy.
The Team at SmartCAMcnc.

 

SmartCAM v2021 Release

Process Model Viewers

New: Four new optional Process Model Viewer applications become available in the SmartCAM v2021 release.

Process Model Viewers are used by office or machine shop personnel needing to view Toolpath or data available in the SmartCAM Process Model: Managers, Supervisors, Programmers, Machine Operators, Tool Setters, Inspectors, for example.

SmartCAM Viewers

User Interface

New: Layer Manager

A new Layer Manager has been added. CAD Layer management becomes simpler, more efficient and faster.

Layer Manager

New: Toolbar Button Editor. Preferred Toolbar content is easier to setup than previously. 

Visual Customization ToolKit

New: Images can be incorporated in SmartCAM Visual Customization ToolKit (the VCTK) panels and dialogs.

Images for CTK Panels and Dialogs

SmartCAM has always been strong on customization. Users of these open and powerful tools rate this enhancement for the SmartCAM Visual Customization ToolKit (the VCTK).

And More...

The SmartCAM Version 2021 release contains a number of what we'll describe here for the sake of brevity as miscellaneous enhancements.

Tool Check Distances can now be set in the Planner.

The Job Information panel has a new Created For data field

Additional Code Generator Words

New Macro Language commands

Visit our website for detailed information about

SmartCAM CNC Programming Applications.

Talk CAM with us. We're at:

+1 (541) 344-4563

sales@smartcamcnc.com

www.smartcamcnc.com

The SmartCAMcnc Team

SmartCAM Reseller partner growth

We want additional Reseller Sales Partners for many regions of the world outside of the US. If a good, (even if they were appropriate, I'm not going to use here any of those markety-words such as powerful, affordable, market-leading -  you know the ones I mean) proven, mid-range CAM system fits into your product portfolio and business model and you believe that you have the ability to successfully sell and support in a technically-demanding applications sector then let's talk. Contact us, for a initial chat so that we can explore the possibilities together.

That's it: our shortest blog post to date.

Take care.

Have a great day.
Our Regards,

The SmartCAMcnc Team

Talk CAM with us. We're at:

+1 (541) 344-4563

sales@smartcamcnc.com

www.smartcamcnc.com

M99

Welcome back once again to the SmartCAMcnc blog

M99?

I think I may have been too clever for my own good there.

As I sat here trying to come up with novel title for this blog post - as is my way -  it occurred to me that we kind of reached the end of another month, a 'subroutine' in our development cycle, culminating in the release of SmartCAM Version 2019.

I did consider naming it M30, but that has an entirely different connotation that we have reached the end of the program. Which we haven't.

I also thought about using G80. But the common definition of that is 'cycle cancel'. Which we haven't. We completed that cycle, we didn't cancel it. Which is what actually happens on your CNC after all. It is close. Maybe G80 would have been good.

No? Ahem. Let's move on before I dig myself even deeper into that hole and get myself into trouble with The Management.

---

As those that know us have come to know, we are in the habit of providing an overview of a new release on our website, which you can view here

But here is a fast run-through of What’s New:

New: Adaptive Solid Processes

The benefits of Adaptive Rouging Toolpaths are firmly established, having been added to SmartCAM in a previous release.

Those Toolpath Modeling functions were wireframe-based. Version 2019 adds Solid Model-based Adaptive Toolpath functionality: a CAD solid model can be analyzed for the regions to be Toolpathed and Adaptive Toolpaths automatically applied to those regions.

Two new Adaptive Solid Processes are available, Adaptive Solid Pocket Roughing and Adaptive Solid Planar Roughing.

We won't provide detailed information about or attempt to demo those functions here, but you can see Adaptive Solid Pocket Roughing being applied in this short video:

Adaptive Solid Roughing is the predominant toolpath technology addition for SmartCAM Version 2019, but there are a number of detailed additions and changes that we know existing users in particular are going to appreciate. And understand; some of them will be lost, we think, on anybody that does not yet know SmartCAM concepts and methodology.

Rattling through them and other changes and additions quickly, they are:

Adaptive Process Tool End Radius

All of the Adaptive Toolpath Processes now support the difference between a regular, cylindrical cutting tool and bull- or ball-mills. The result is, of course, ‘tighter’ toolpath due to that tool end radius.

Mill Roughing Compute Times
All of the Mill Roughing Processes benefit from improved performance / faster results due to identifying when identical cut patterns are generated at multiple depths of cut.

Spiral Hole Leads and Comp Codes

The Spiral Hole Toolpath Modeling Process has been enhanced to now support Line, Arc, and Line / Arc leads, and tool radius compensation can now be applied within the Process.

The User Interface: Toolbars

The User Interface had a lot of development attention and benefits from a more modern appearance and general ‘freshen up’. We really like it.

The primary enhancements have been:

-      Optionally associate text with icons on a toolbar

-     Better and easier control of Toolbar configuration

-   A new Toolbar ‘set’ capability can be used to store user-preferred toolbar arrangements

-      Each Toolbar can now be sized independently of the others. Small beer, it would seem, but we love that particular one ourselves.

Gradient Graphics Background

We didn’t appreciate just how effective that could be before now. A Gradient background can be configured or turned off according to user preference.

Zoom to Active Group

The Active Group is one of the cornerstone concepts in SmartCAM usage. We bet that if we’d asked our customers ‘would you like to be able to zoom to the extent of the Active Group?’, 99.9% or more would have said yes.

And now you can.

Code Generation. For those that don’t know us, Code Generation is the term used by the SmartCAM community for what are commonly called Post Processors in other systems. There’s a little more of the SmartCAM Difference for you right there.

The SmartCAM Code Generator Tookit is possibly the most open and flexible in the CAM world. Version 2019 delivers a small number of code generator enhancements, which will again be a little meaningless to those who do not yet know anything about our technology. But being a techie sort of guy, one who such things excite ( how sad is that? )  I’m going to run through them anyway. It’s hard to come up with an image for these things, I’ve not even bothered to try.

Solid @OP_HOLEwMILLOP

Now how techie is that, eh? This stuff is SmartCAM Code Generator-specific.

OK, so it was a little tricky to handle CNC code for a hole being toolpathed with other than a Hole Operation. A  new CGT Section more easily enables the processing of Hole Toolpaths where the current operation is a Milling rather than a Hole Making operation type.

Code Generator / Macro Parsing

This one is buried deep within the Code Generator / Custom Toolkit functionality. Our users who have ‘been there’ with various customization projects will really appreciate the fact that macro variables can be parsed from the CG to the macros.

Customization might, for example ‘do something’, call Code Generation and then ‘do something more’ after Code Generation is complete and has parsed information back to the macro system.

Code Generator 'Function' Section

This one ‘lights my fire’, I have to tell you. A new section behaviour has been added to the Code Generator mechanism which enables Code Generator creators to create their own specific ‘functions’ within their Code Generator.

The primary goal of this work has been to enhance the ‘readability’ of Code Generator Template files, but it does empower the creator with so many technical possibilities, some of which we haven’t yet imagined.

I personally have a view of the SmartCAM Code Generator and Customization Toolkit, that what can be achieved is really only limited by the imagination. So much is possible with that stuff, we have been privy to some remarkable projects by our customers.

There are a number of miscellaneous changes and additions summarized on our website, but there we have it: some of the result of the 'subroutines' we ran during development of our favorite CAM system. Now we're into the next program cycle of exciting development work for SmartCAM Version 2020.

I really must get back to my proper job. I hope I helped with a little comprehension of another great release of SmartCAM.

Take care.

Have a great day / evening / weekend. Morning, even.

Talk CAM with us. We're at:

+1 (541) 344-4563

sales@smartcamcnc.com

www.smartcamcnc.com

The SmartCAMcnc Team

Another great SmartCAM release hits the streets

Welcome back once again to the SmartCAMcnc blog J

Apologies, it’s been a while.

That’s entirely down to me,

I’ve been fully occupied with release material work.

That’s a subtle way of letting you know that a new release of our CNC programming software has recently become available, SmartCAM Version 2018.

As is our custom, an overview of the release content can be found on our website here

But here is a fast run-through of What’s New:

New: Adaptive Roughing Toolpaths

The benefits of Adaptive Rouging toolpaths are based upon impeccably robust logic:

Always-tangential toolpath and a Consistent Cut Volume mean that there are no shock loads due to corners or burying the cutter deep into stock.

User control over maximum widths of cut / the use of small widths of cut mean that small chips are produced, which are more easily and quickly removed from the cutter taking heat away with them.

Tool life is increased.

No shock loading and small widths of cut / chips mean that you can ramp up High Speed Milling speeds and feeds and can use deeper depths of cut, often using the maximum cutter flute length. Faster material removal results in reduced cycle times.

RIP, Lars Selen

It's with heavy hearts that we at SmartCAMcnc share the news that Lars Anton Selen passed away May 18, 2017, at age 82.

New Release: SmartCAM Version 2017

Welcome back to the SmartCAMcnc blog J

An especially warm welcome to our many highly-valued SmartCAM customers.

We are particularly pleased with ourselves today.
SmartCAM Version 2017 has hit the streets.

A brief overview of the release content can be found on our website,
starting here

That stuff was put together by our marketing types. But actually they’re OK, we’ll forgive them for being what they are; like all of us here at SmartCAMcnc, they have a sound knowledge of SmartCAM and of matters CAM & CNC.

We’d also like to present to you here a condensed summary of What’s New:

SmartCAM, Training and Me by Mr. Casey Baker.

A Warm Welcome back J

We have something a little different for you in this post; an autobiography by the latest hire at SmartCAMcnc, our trainer for our SmartCAM CAM Software, Mr. Casey Baker.

Casey has written up for you a short recollection of his career with SmartCAM

Your new SmartCAM Training Center

Hey! - Welcome back to our blog site J

You’ve come to the right place to learn about CNC programming with SmartCAM.

And so have our customers: we have opened an all-new training center within our Springfield HQ.

You’re maybe thinking: And what’s the big deal in that?

Those of you who don't already know us will need to read a little about the history of our business and our SmartCAM products in order to understand why we’re excited about our new training center.

Our marketing types have written a short summary for our website, SmartCAM Training

We’re a company of CAM professionals whose careers have largely been based around SmartCAM. Some of us have been involved with it since it first appeared on the market way back in the 1980s. We’re all 100% committed to our unique CAM solutions.

SmartCAM Version 2016 is now shipping

A Warm Welcome back to our blog site J

If you are into CNC and CAM Programming then you have found the right place.

Our latest news: we just wanted to let you know that we have begun shipping the latest release of our SmartCAM CAM system, Version 2016.

You can read about SmartCAM Version 2016 on our website …

We have created a summary of the significant additions and changes to this release on our website. Please do take a moment to read our material here

… But here is a condensed summary of What’s New:

Our first blog, where we talk about ourselves.

Hi, and a Very Warm Welcome to our blog

You’ve reached the SmartCAMcnc Blog. We created our blog to primarily inform about this-or-that aspect of our CAM Software / CNC Programming software, but we also post other information that we hope you will find interesting and informative.

If you were looking for a webcam then you probably needed to go here

Otherwise, and if SmartCAM is new to you we would like to let you know a little bit about our company and our products.

We thought it would be a bright idea to apply the 5 W’s of What, Why, When, Where and Who + a How to do just that:

What we do

We create software that is used to generate programs for CNC machinery, known by the manufacturing communities as Computer-Aided-Manufacturing, or CAM software.
Our brand name is SmartCAM. We produce 7 applications products that provide you with CAM tools for milling, turning, wire EDM and fabrication programming needs.

Why do we do it?

It is generally said that Numerically-Controlled – NC - machinery began its evolution in the second half of the 1940’s, with the first NC machines being developed in the early 50’s. The later addition of the C as in CNC stands for ‘Computer’.

Programs for NC / CNC machines are files comprised of combinations of letters and numbers.

For example, if we wanted to cause a machine tool to rapid move to the top-left start of the blue arc which is centred at 0,0  and to cut the arc in a clockwise direction at a rate of 20 units per minute, one form of CNC code to do that is:

G00 X2.93 Y14.042

G02 X13.81 Y3.879 I-2.93 J-14.042 F20.0

We’ve omitted tool change, spindle & coolant codes, tool & work offsets, tool compensation and cut depth from our example.

Programs containing a lot of toolpath are clearly going to be huge. Before CAM computer programs became available all of the math and trig for each move was calculated by the programmer.

Just imagine creating an NC program without the aid of any form of graphical toolpath verification! And using the calculators of the time? We take our hats off to those guys.

When computers became capable of being used to run software to help generate all of those letters and numbers, the CAM software industry began to develop.

When did SmartCAM begin life?

SmartCAM was first created around about the time that affordable desktop PCs became available, in the early 1980’s. If you’re interested to know more, you can read about our history on our website, here

 Where we do it

Our business is headquartered in a wonderful part of the world at Springfield, Oregon, up here in the American North-West.

But we sell SmartCAM to all parts of the world. 99% of our sales in the US are handled directly by our company, and we apply a reseller sales partner business model for international business.

Our international business manager was really anxious for us to let you know that there are usually opportunities to join us as an international sales partner in many parts of the world. Contact us at info@smartcamcnc.com if you’re interested.

There, that should keep him happy.

Who we are

We are SmartCAMcnc, created by owner and founder Gregg Olson to continue SmartCAM development & sales following a, ahem, turbulent period in the history of our CAM software.

Many of our staff were part of the original SmartCAM business. We are as enthusiastic today about CAM and about our SmartCAM products as we have ever been.

We’ve found that SmartCAM kind of gets in your blood. Maybe you’ll discover that for yourself one day.

And last but not least, the H: How we do it

We reckon that the way that SmartCAM is used to create CNC programs is pretty unique. In an illuminating quote from a valued customer – thank you, Chris - The SmartCAM Difference is neatly summarized for us:

“Where SmartCAM CAM software is unparalleled is in toolpath manipulation. There is NO CAM product in existence that is as versatile at this. Because all SmartCAM toolpath (including holes) are created as a type of geometry element, every single toolpath segment can easily be edited/modified/sorted/re-ordered per your necessity or desire. In this regard, SmartCAM is the best CAM product in the world. “

Chris K., SmartCAM User

You can draw toolpath in SmartCAM. You can modify it as if it were CAD geometry. You can convert CAD geometry to toolpath and vice versa. You can easily transform / copy-transform toolpath. You can use automated processes to produce toolpath. You can work with those automated toolpaths alongside interactively-created elements. You can easily re-sequence, modify, delete toolpath, and more.

And – the thing we all too easily forget what CAM software is purchased for in the first place – to enable you to generate quality CNC code for your machines. 

Enough said, we think.

Have a great day,

The SmartCAMcnc Team