Mastercam X5 for SolidWorks

Mastercam X5 for SolidWorks CNC manufacturing software gives you the best of both worlds, design and manufacturing

Mastercam X5 for SolidWorks CNC manufacturing software includes a suite of the most sought-after cutting strategies, including High Speed Machining toolpaths. In addition, Mastercam X5 for SolidWorks CNC manufacturing software delivers a powerful set of automated toolpaths that get parts off the machine faster, with little or no handwork.

Powerful 2D Machining. 2D machining ranges from the very simple to the very complex. Mastercam X5 for SolidWorks CNC manufacturing software delivers all the tools you need for these operations. Highlights include:

• Feature Based Machining (FBM) automatically programs pockets, contours, and drilling routines.
• Dynamic Milling creates an active toolpath that delivers more consistent cutting conditions and allows use of the entire tool flute length.
• Standard pocketing styles include zigzag, one way, true spiral, constant overlap spiral, “morph” pocketing, and open pocketing.
• Choose plunge, helical, or ramp entry.
• Contour and pocket remachining use smaller tools to automatically clean out material left from previous operations.

3D Roughing, Finishing, and Cleanup Machining. High Speed Machining can deliver a faster turnaround and a superior finish. Mastercam for SolidWorks includes a suite of fully associative High Speed Machining techniques that make the most of your NC machines.

• Core Roughing and Area Clearance efficiently remove bulk material with toolpaths tailored to your part’s core or cavity.
• Rest Roughing smoothly removes remaining material from a previous rough pass.
• Using a constant 3D stepover, Scallop finishing maintains a consistent finish on sloped and flat surfaces.
• Horizontal area finishing quickly machines all flats on your part.
• Spiral, Radial, and Raster machining deliver optimal choices for cutting different types of parts.
• Pencil machining walks a tool along the intersection of solid faces to clean out hard-to-reach areas and details.

Dependable Toolpath Verification. Mastercam X5 for SolidWorks CNC manufacturing software gives you the confidence to run even the most complex cutter paths on your machines. You can easily check that the motion delivers exactly what you want with Mastercam’s toolpath verification tools.

• Watch and measure your part as it is cut from a solid block of material with Mastercam's solid model toolpath verification. The tool and holder are checked and displayed during simulation.
• Play the program with toolpath backplotting and get an estimate of machining time. Dynamically view all the vital information about tools and operations at any point, and even isolate specific areas to watch more closely.
• Quickly verify 2D toolpaths with a pixel paint of the full tool diameter to check the finish.

Save Time, Wear, and Money with Feed Rate Optimization. Running an entire job at a single feed rate reduces efficiency. Running the same job at varying feed rates can save time, tool wear, and money. Mastercam X5 for SolidWorks CNC manufacturing software's High Feed Machining function can optimize any 2-axis or 3-axis toolpath based on volume of material being removed and machine tool limitations to give you efficient, varied feed rates tailored to each job.

• Automatically vary feed rates based on volume. More material and the cutter moves slower; less material and the cutter moves faster.
• Automatically ease the tool into and out of corners.
• Create libraries of optimization settings for different jobs.

Efficient NC Tools and Toolpath Management. The actual cutter path is only a portion of what makes a good NC program. The overall toolpath management and controls make each operation as optimized and efficient as possible thus maximizing the potential of Mastercam X5 for SolidWorks CNC manufacturing software.

• Full control over all aspects of tool approach and retract.
• Safe zones help ensure safe tool retract in all toolpath types.
• Significantly reduce the size of a program with toolpath filtering.
• Use all your tooling including lollipop, slot, dovetail, tapered, and much more.
• User-customizable tool and material libraries automatically calculate feeds and speeds.
• Mastercam's Toolpath Manager stores all your job's operations in one place. Quickly create, edit, and verify your toolpaths, or copy and paste parameters from one operation to another. Use machine groups to organize your operations, and easily copy and paste toolpaths and tool definitions from one machine group to another.

To learn more about SolidWorks Mastercam X5 for SolidWorks software, contact MLC CAD Systems at 800-364-1652, email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact your local MLC CAD Systems location for more information.