How VisualCAMc Helps Companies Do CAM Programming Anywhere

Add Your Heading Text Here

VisualCAMc by MecSoft is the first full-cloud, production-ready CAM solution that allows you to perform CAM programming from anywhere and on any computer from your Onshape account. Let’s take a closer look at how one Onshape customer uses VisualCAMc to manufacture customized holographic labels to help brands fight counterfeiting.

John Humpherys is the Engineering Manager at DeLaRue Authentication Solutions, a UK-based global company that provides governments, central banks and commercial organizations with anti-counterfeiting products and services. DeLaRue’s Utah facility, where Humpherys is based, makes pressure-sensitive labels that are applied to a company’s product or packaging during manufacturing. The label applique, which can consist of holographic imaging, serialization and bar coding, alerts the consumer that the product they are looking at is authentic. With these labels, customers can track and trace the origins of their products.

These holographic labels are not embossed. They use proprietary laser imaging processes, all performed within a 0.001” inch thickness of photopolymer, a resin that changes its properties when exposed to light. The product packaging would include instructions on how the label should appear to the human eye. The DeLaRue image shown below is a simplified example of an authentication label:

Because product authentication is a relatively niche market, there are no OEM manufactured systems that can produce these holographic authentication labels. The entire manufacturing apparatus is a unique and guarded proprietary process that is tailored to each customer’s authentication solution needs. We recently sat down with John to discuss his use of VisualCAMc for Onshape as his Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) solution of choice for machine design and manufacturing.

The CAD/CAM Platforms

John has been using desktop CAD design software tools since they were first introduced in the 1990s. His CAD system of choice for years has been SOLIDWORKS, and his CAM system of choice has always been VisualCAM for SOLIDWORKS. I say has been because John has also been using Onshape’s cloud-based CAD system since its launch in 2012 and has also been using VisualCAMc, the full-cloud production CAM solution for Onshape, during its beta release and then production release in 2018.

The CNC Machining Centers

John relies on four different CNC machines on a daily basis. The MecSoft technical support staff worked with John to fine-tune VisualCAM post-processors for each of his machining centers using VisualCAM’s built-in Post-Processor Generator. The machining hardware in service at DeLaRue Authentication Solutions is listed and shown below:

The Roland MDX540 milling machine for plastics
The CNCMasters Supra knee type milling machine for aluminum
The XCarve CNC router for wood and plastics
A custom-built CNC router for woods and plastics

Add Your Heading Text Here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Why Cloud-Based CAD/CAM?

We asked John what drew him to Onshape. Here is his short list of reasons:

The Future is in the Cloud: “The software industry in general has been moving to the cloud and we feel that Onshape is on the cutting edge of that migration for the CAD industry.”
The Onshape Development Team: “We were comfortable in knowing that the same team that developed SOLIDWORKS is now developing the Onshape platform.”
Updates & Compatibility: “We don’t have to pay an IT group to come in and update our software. Onshape updates occur automatically every three weeks. We can also access our Onshape designs from any computer, anywhere in the world without worrying about hardware compatibility.”
Collaboration: “We can collaborate and share design information with colleagues and contractors who do not need a paid Onshape account to view them!”

Why VisualCAMc?

An early concern John had when migrating to Onshape was his ability to generate the g-code he needs to run his multiple CNC machines. CAM was the very first Onshape add-on application that he started looking for. John also shared these added benefits of using VisualCAMc for Onshape:

Onshape Compatibility: “VisualCAMc is a fully integrated Onshape-partner plugin. Other CAM solutions require you to download and translate part models on your desktop computer, breaking the link with the Onshape part. With VisualCAMc, our toolpaths are updated automatically when the Onshape part model changes.”
Accessibility: “I can use the same Onshape account with VisualCAMc at work and at home. I have custom built a CNC machine at home and can generate g-code for all of my CNC machines at any time and from anywhere.”
Minimal Learning Curve: “I have been using the desktop version of VisualCAM inside of SOLIDWORKS for years. This made the transition to VisualCAMc much easier because many of the same features are available in VisualCAMc for Onshape.”

Example Project

Here’s an example of how John Humpherys uses VisualCAMc for Onshape. The Inspection Light mechanism shown below is a typical machine design sub-assembly that incorporates multiple components that require CAM g-code to machine. The DeLaRue production system incorporates multiple stages, each stage being a production process that can incorporate as many as 100 or more machined components.

The parts and assemblies are displayed and worked on in the Part Studio tab of the Onshape Document. Toolpaths are generated and displayed in a separate but associated VisualCAMc tab within the same Onshape Document. When design changes are made in the Part Studio, the associated VisualCAMc toolpaths are updated automatically.

John adds that VisualCAMc for Onshape now helps his company iterate new prototypes significantly faster.

“Many of our initial parts now happily end up in the recycle bin. That’s because we can design, machine, evaluate, redesign and machine again all within the same day,” he says. “We now machine all of our development and prototype components in-house where design issues can be resolved quickly and economically before going to mass production.”

Example VisualCAMc Toolpaths

One of the components in the Inspection Light sub-assembly is shown below. It contains many prismatic features that were machined using 2½ axis toolpath strategies on DeLeRue’s CNCMasters Supra knee mill machining center. These include drilled holes of various sizes and depths, blind pockets, open slots, etc. These features are shown in the Part Studio tab and in the corresponding VisualCAMc tab both within the Onshape Document. The stock is ¼” aluminum plate measuring 13” by 1”.

Pictured below (on the left) we see the contents of the VisualCAMc Machining Job tab. It defines the Machine Tool orientation in relation to the Onshape world coordinate system (WCS). This is followed by the Post and Stock definitions. The Setup defines the orientation of the machine tool coordinate system (MCS) for the machining operations contained within it. The Work Zero defines the machine zero location point from which all toolpath coordinates are measured from. This is then followed by the various Drilling, Pocketing and Profiling toolpath operations.

Moving the cursor over an operation in the Machining Job displays information about that operation such as its name, cutting tool, cut feed rate, estimated machining time, etc. On the right, we see the Tools tab containing an assortment of Drill and Mill tools located within the Document. Tools can also be saved and reused from a Tool Library.

Drilling

The component requires thru holes of four different diameters (0.07, 0.089, 0.107 and 0.128). Each are defined as Deep Drill operations with a specified step increment. This means that the drill will cut to each increment depth, retract, and re-engage until the full depth is obtained (similar to peck drilling). A minimum distance sorting rule is also applied to minimize machining time. The 0.107 diameter holes are shown.

Pocketing

A 9.57 x 0.4 pocket runs nearly the full length of the component at a depth of 0.135. The pocket is cut in three levels using a ⅛” flat end mill and a 35% stepover. A 10-degree ramp entry motion is used along with a 45-degree linear exit retract motion. The side walls are cut with zero stock remaining leaving 0.063 radii in the four corners

Slot Profiling

To cut the 0.7 wide by 0.13 deep open slot, two Profiling operations are used that follow each side of the slot. Notice that the engage and retract motions (shown in magenta and white) are linear and set to zero degrees. This extends the toolpath out past the open slot at each end and for each of the three cut levels. The cyan paths are linear motions while the dark blue paths are arc motions. The entry motion is yellow, while the approach and transfer motions are red.

Hole Profiling

To cut the counterbore holes, a Profiling operation is used, again with the same ⅛” end mill. A 10 degree ramp entry creates a helical motion (shown in magenta) to the first of three cut levels. Depth First cut levels ordering ensures that one complete counterbore is cut before moving on to the next.

G-Code Sample

Shown here is sample g-code generated for the 2½ axis pocketing toolpath strategy shown above. The g-code was generated within the Onshape Document for the CNCMasters Supra knee mill using the VisualCAMc CNCMasters-Inch post processor.

This is one of over 300 post processors included free of charge within VisualCAMc.

They are the same posts that have undergone years of user-tested reliability in MecSoft’s desktop VisualCAM application. Here is the complete list of the available post processors.

Moving Forward

John estimates that they have approximately 10,000 components that were originally designed and machined using VisualCAM for SOLIDWORKS. Today, about 25% of their new CAD design and CAM programming is performed in Onshape and VisualCAMc. John expects that will increase to nearly 100% in 2019 as they migrate over to Onshape.

For an even deeper look at how DeLaRue uses VisualCAMc for Onshape, watch the video below:

If you’d like to explore how your company can experience similar benefits, please visit the Onshape App Store for a free 14-day trial of VisualCAMc.

Try a free 14-day trial of VisualCAMc, the first full-cloud, production-ready CAM solution that allows you to perform CAM programming from anywhere and on any computer from your Onshape account.

Don LaCourse

Don LaCourse is an Application Engineer with MecSoft Corporation. Don brings over 20 years of experience in CAD/CAM operations in both automotive and mold design applications. Don also has extensive experience in documenting CAD/CAM products and is actively involved with writing the on-line help as well as creating training tutorials for MecSoft's products.