SolidCAM HSS versus HSM
| SolidCAM has HSS (high-speed surfacing), as well as HSM (high-speed machining). This video compares them. |
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Original 3D part file here.
Completed part file here.
Alternate part file here.
SolidCAM's base package costs around $5,000. That includes two HSS (high-speed surfacing) toolpaths, Constant-Z, and Level. The full HSS module is less than $2k, and gives radial and morphing toolpaths as well.
HSM (high-speed machining) is another ~$2k package that does similar toolpaths. The difference is that in HSS you select surfaces as the geometry, while in HSM you select the solid model and then use other geometry to limit the extent of the toolpaths. If I can only afford one module, I think I would get HSS. |
SolidCAM also has two 3D roughing modules, both for around $2k. One is HSR, high-speed roughing. The other is 3D iMachining, which does adaptive toolpaths that reduce tool loads, increase tool life by cutting across the full flute, and takes advantage of modern high-speed spindles that can turn from 15k to 24k RPM. Indeed, the spindle on my Avid Benchtop Pro will only go down to 8,000 RPM before it starts to overheat the spindle.
Also, in a modern constant-torque spindle motor, cutting the speed in half cuts the horsepower in half as well. So if you can do toolpaths that let the spindle turn fast, you can remove more material per minute, since you have more horsepower to do the work.
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Choosing "Perpendicular to Curve" on our test part gives scallops running down the sides. The stepover I set high to see the toolpaths easily.
