SolidSurfacer

SolidSurfacer

The SolidSurfacer option includes high-level surface and solids modeling capabilities and advanced functionality for machining surfaces and solids. Complex surface and solid functions are made easy with the intuitive GibbsCAM graphical user interface. Use the Advanced 3D with High-Speed Machining component of SolidSurfacer to create a toolpath that is ideal for hard-metal cutting and high-speed machining for smooth surface finishes. Use SolidSurfacer to address the demanding requirements of modeling and machining complex mold, tool, and die.

GibbsCAM Solids data sheet

Extended Surface Modeling Capabilities
Though more and more parts files are provided in solid model format, surfaces still play a key part in their definition, and surface modeling for manufacturing is still a very important capability. SolidSurfacer provides extended surface modeling capabilities to handle surface creation or modification. And its powerful surface modeling functionality is easy to use.

Advanced 3D with High-Speed Machining
Advanced 3D with High-Speed Machining (HSM) expands the 3D surface and solid body machining of SolidSurfacer in many ways:

New types of finishing processes
Support for 3D material only toolpaths
Enhanced entry/exit control
Directly machining faceted bodies like imported STL files
Automatic core/cavity detection for inside-out or outside-in determination
Operation splitting for tool wear and for optimal length out of the holder
Automatic filleting of a surface to avoid sharp concave corners
Support for batch toolpath generation
Draft
Often parts have vertical walls that make them difficult to remove from molds without sliders. With SolidSurfacer, you can apply an amount of draft slightly angling vertical walls.

Automatic Parting Line Generation
You need to separate mold halves at the extents of the part to ensure that the part can be removed readily. Manually determining where the parting line should be can be a very tedious process. With SolidSurfacer, you can generate the correct parting line automatically and then use it to divide the mold halves easily.

Extract/Heal Features (For Core/Cavity or Electrodes)
Often parts include minor features that get in the way when generating toolpaths. You can suppress these features with the SolidSurfacer extract/heal feature capability, which removes the feature’s geometry and heals the surrounding area. You can use the solid, which is generated from the suppressed feature, to create cores or electrodes.

Multiple Offsets
You must consider different types of surfaces when machining: the surface that is actually being machined, the part surfaces not being machined, and any surfaces associated with fixtures. With SolidSurfacer, you can specify the offset, or how closely the tool comes, for each of these surface types. So, you’re in complete control when generating toolpaths.

3-Axis Multi-Surface Machining
Today’s parts include a variety of forms and surfaces. Applying toolpaths across multiple surfaces or over an entire solid is a key machining capability, in addition to pocketing and profiling. With SolidSurfacer, you can create gouge-free, 3-axis toolpaths easily using a variety of machining styles like lace-cut and zig-zag. You have complete control over cut parameters like direction, orientation, step-over amount, and depth. With SolidSurfacer, you can machine multiple surfaces quickly and easily.

3D Projection Machining
Sometimes you want to have direct control of the toolpath over multiple surfaces. You generate the toolpath you want and then you project it onto the surfaces to be machined. The source for the toolpath geometry can be just about anything, including text. SolidSurfacer provides a powerful capability that allows you to project geometry onto surfaces to generate final toolpath geometry.

Parent Product: GibbsCAM