1

VISI Machining 16.0Release Notes

16.0.03.0916.0.02.0916.0.01.0916.0. 12.0816.0. 11.08

Technical Support Help Desk: support@tst-software.com

Hotline: 810-603-9878

Website for updates: www.tst-software.com

2

16.0.03.09Compass technology: added the possibility to select a “User” folder for the

Compass configurations.The current Compass folder is editable in the “General CAM parameters” window.

The current Compass folder is displayed on the title bar of the “CYT browser” and“Tool browser” window as displayed below:

NOTE 1: To allows this new option, we are forced to move the file“Compass.mdb” from the actual folder (..\Library\Common\Cam\DB)To the folder ..\ Library\Common\Cam\Compass. This means that all filerelated to the compass are now in the same folder.

NOTE 2: Please note that when the user changes the compass folder, thesystem des not copy the files necessary for the compass technology. Thismeans that before you can use a “user” configuration, it is necessary to copythe following files:- Compass.mdb- CamStringAliases .cfg- All folders containing “*.cmp” and “*.cyt” files- v2ax_compass.py (if not present copy it from “.. \Library\Common\Cam”) -

vcyc_compass.py (if not present copy it from “.. \Library\Common\Cam”) -

v2hs_compass.py (if not present copy it from “.. \Library\Common\Cam”)

- Cyt.Bmp- Cyt.Ico- Default_Img.bmp

3

Compass technology: added a new criteria in the feature CYT association rules.The criteria is the “3D ratio” and it represents this ratio :

Feature depth

Minimum side of the feature bounding box

By default this value has been set to 10.000 that for the system means infinite.Due to this new parameter, the “Feature CYT association” browser and“Parameters” window has also been updated...

Compass technology: Visualisation filters are now stored to simplify thevisualisation for the association rules.Have also added a combo box that gives the possibility to filter the “Feature type”:

NOTE : the columns visualisation has been changed a little bit because now thecolumns are visualised in the same order of the “query” functions that the systemuses to generate the associations. This should give a more understandable view ofthe grid.

For the same reason, lines are now also automatically sorting, by fixed rules. Thedefault sorting is:

- H o l e- P o c k e t- Boss- Open pocket- Face

4

- Countersunk hole- Counterbore hole- Multistep hole

Tools: added a switch in the machine parameters that allows to select between twodifferent behaviours for the tool crib position (tool number).

If switched off, Tool position must be different for each tool.

If switched on, Tool position could be also equal for different tools.

Piece parameters: added the option to save and recall user settings.

5

Edit geometry: on all 2D operations, for the start / end point editing, havechanged the “pick point” command. Now it starts with the “Pick intersection”...

3D operations parameters: added a switch to better manage the allowanceparameters.

If switched off, the allowance is constant on the whole model.

If switched on, it is possible to set different values for the horizontal areas(Bottom allowance).

6

16.0.02.09Feature recognition: Added the capability to recognise a portion of a cylindrical

face as a complete hole feature.In the feature recognition parameters, there is a new variable that allows you todefine the minimum angle to recognise an open cylinder as a feature hole.

By default the value is set equal to 270° that means, in case of a squared pocketwith corner relief on the corners, these open cylinders are recognised as featureholes.

Example:Hole angle portion =270 Hole angle portion =271

Feature recognition: Added the possibility to edit the Status (Blind /Through) ofa recognised hole. This option is useful in case of recognition problems wherethrough hole are recognised as blind and the orientation is wrong.

7

Compass technology: On the standard CYT association have added a newvariable that defines the position of the current step within a multi-step hole.This variable is called “Fea_StepPosition” and is used by the system when multistepholes is split in single holes and it is needed to associate different CYT in relationto the original step position.The “Step position” variable can assume the following values:

-1 = Any position0 = First position1 = Intermediate position

2 = Last position

“Step position” parameter has been added in the CYT association browser and in theCYT association parameters dialog...

Machine definition: Virtual angle methods have been improved to cover allpossible situations. On this version, have added a flag called “Virtual angle otheroptions” that if switched on will produce a different set of virtual planes.

Virtual angle other options =0 : one set is for the more common situation ( NCmachined without particular axis limitation).

Virtual angle other options =1 : these solutions are useful to cover critical situationwhere the NC machine has physical axis limitation.

Virtual angle quadrant method = 0 :

8

it produces the following results:

9

Virtual angle quadrant method = 1:

it produces the following results:

Machine definition: Pole Handling options had been added on previous update,but functionality are complete.

10

Freeze angle around pole: with this option selected, the x and y positions and therotation axis are not changed.

Use rotation angle around pole: with this option selected, the X and Y position

and the rotation axis are re-computed in case the machine limits are reached.Note: this options works only in case of Head-Table and Table-Tablemachines where the primary rotation axis is parallel to the Z axis (0,0,1 or0,0,-1).

When use this option: this option is good to use when the toolpath ismore like a 3AXIS toolpath (no Tool axis tilting).

How it works: In case the toolpath the goes out of the limits, the systemtries to convert the translation movement in rotation movement trying tostay within the machine limits.

Linear interpolation around pole: with this option selected, the system tries tochange linearly the C axis value when there are toolpath points with very littletool axis tilting and quite big C axis rotation.

Note: this options works only in case of Head-Table and Table-Tablemachines where the primary rotation axis is parallel to the Z axis (0,0,1 or0,0,-1).

When use this option: this option is useful on 5 AXIS toolpath.

How it works: it identifies in a 5 axis tool path the moves where the toolhas vertical orientations. Just before the tool gets vertical, it was slightlynon-vertical (lets call this point A), then afterwards tools are vertical (letscall these positions B,C,... E) and afterwards at F tool gets non-verticalagain. At non-vertical orientations the C axis value is determined strictly(that means we don't have the freedom of choosing any C axis value). Nowimagine, that at point A, we have a C axis value of 100 degrees and atpoint F, the C axis value is 200 degrees. Now, using this "linearinterpolation" option, the post will assign C axis values to the pointsB,C,D,E such that the C axis value can increase from 100 to 200 degrees"linearly". That means point B will be at 120 degrees, point C will be at 140degrees, point D will be at 160 degrees and point E will be at 180 degrees.

Toolpath Report: added a new functionality that allows to report only toolinformation. Please see the document. “Technical addendum - Operation report - toollist.doc” for more information.

11

16.0.01.09Compass technology: added the Features colours management for cyt

association.Related to this important improvement there are some news in the parametersalso:

Compass settings:

Extended: if switched on allows the colours management in the cytassociation.Use geometric rule as default: if switched on, the system try to associate“cyt” also in case there are not Attribute defined in the

“CamStri ngAliases . cfg”.

and also an extended edit parameters window:

Operation cycle association:In the extended mode the browse displays more columns:

12

The following parameters have been added to the association rules:

Side colour: defines the colour to be consider on the side face of a feature

Bottom colour: defines the colour to be consider on the bottom face of afeature

Recognised Diameter: is physically the diameter recognised by the AFR.

Nominal Diameter: in case of thread holes, defines the “pre-drill diameter”or the “thread diameter” accordingly with the “match as thread” flag. Inthe other cases, it defines the diameter to override to the recogniseddiameter.

Match as thread (Matching reference): only for thread holes, define ifconsider the recognised diameter as “Thread diameter” or as “pre-drilldiameter”.

Table name: only for thread holes, it defines the table name (from theForms.mdb) to kip the thread parameters.

Depth formula: only for the thread holes, allows to define the rule tocompute the thread depth.

13

Activate WPL selection: allows to activate and select a CAD WPL or a CAM-Setup touse as reference for the displacement on the tool machine.

Activate local obstacle selection: allows to activate and select Obstacles to use in thesimulation when the “machining WPL” is used.

NOTE: with this option it is possible to manage a situation like:

1. Model displacement when it is needed to machine from the oppositeside.

2. Model displacement without losing the information of his originalpos i ti on in the car layout assembly (Automotive market) . 3.Model displacement when models lies on pallets.

Kinematic Simulator: updated the user interface and added some more options toimprove the performance during the simulation.

A new toolbar for toolpath analysis and rendering has been added, and it makesavailable for the user the following actions:

display the tool path corresponding to tool center.

display the tool path corresponding to tool tip.

display the entire tool path.

display only the current operation.

display the tool path in 'follow' mode.

display the tool path in 'trace' mode.

display the tool axis vectors.

display the tool path points.

CAM-Setup: Added the “Roto-translation” management for the machining WPLdisplacement.

14

New features have been added to Simulator toolpath analysis UI, for:1. adjusting the graphic toolpath colours inside a defined range

2. auto adjust the graphic toolpath colours inside the minim, maxim valuesvalid in the current simulation. This modes are available for:

-rotary axis values change-rotary axis values scale

Additional view position accessible via the view toolbar

A global tool bar button allows now direct reset and restart of the machineand material simulation.

Added new “simulation modes” concept.

These are predefined sets of items and functionalities to bedisplayed and activated in the simulation window. The modesshould help the user examine the three main components ofthe simulation:tool path (with collision check), material verification (with

15

gouge check) and kinematics motions (without collisionchecking).

1) Tool Path Back-plot Mode: Tool path visiblewithout material removal at this stage2) Material Removal Mode: Only material removal isvisible, no tool path at this stage3) Machine Kinematic Mode: No tool path back-plotand material removal at this stage.

Machine definition: the angular step management has been changed in theXML file.Now the string to be use in the XML file for a rotation axis where it isneeded a step value is:

...<axis id

="C" x

="0" y

="0" z

="1" type

="rotation" rzx

="0" rzy

="0" rzz

="0" minvalue

="-10000" maxvalue

="10000"

valuetype=“discrete_stepped" step

="2.5">

...

NOTE: available updated document

“VISIMachining 1 6_Indexed_Machine_Definition_ENG.doc” formore details on this issue.

will be displayed only if the parameter “Always re-confirm defaults” is switched on.

5 axis post processor: the displacement parameters are now taken from the projectparameters. This means that displacement dialog box …

16

the options are:1. No limits: no checks (as before)2. Translational limits: checks limits only on the translation axis3. Rotational limits: checks limits only on Rotation axis4. All limits: checks limits on all axis (as before).

Machine definition: added the options “Z –X” and “Z-Y” options in the “Virtualangle method” parameter.

Machine definition: added some more options in the “Machine limits” parameter.

17

16.0.12.08Tools: possibility to re-number the tool position following the operation ordering.

It is possible to set a starting number also.

Tools: possibility to update feed and speed by the cutting mode and the partmaterial set in the project parameters.

Manual Feature: now manages correctly also “Core”.

Manual Feature: now supports also “Open pocket”.

Features management: it is now possible to explode also “Countersunk” and“Counterbore” holes in simple holes.

VISI Protection: “Plate machining” option now supports also the finishingoperation (only Parallel plane is available).

18

CAM-Setup: has been added the management to output the ISO code with out“Primary” and “Secondary” angles values (like the old “Origin” managementavailable on previous VISI versions).

NOTE: this parameter has been added in the machine definition alsoallows to set it by default machine parameters.

CAM Navigator: has been added the name of the default post-processor used bythe current machine.

19

16.0.11.08Tools: Presetting computation has been improved and now support the

computation on multiple operations selection.

Compass Technology: added more information when a tool is notavailable (during the run compass procedure).

NOTE: the highlighted strings mean that the system is generating a “Drillingcycle” and it is looking for a Tool “End mill” with a Diameter range that isbetween 17.82 and 18.18. The last value (.... ,0) is the “Usable length” and“0” means that there is not rules for this variable.

Compass technology: added the Inches unit management.

AFR: Now manage holes with blends on the bottom