VERICUT 7.0 features significant performance improving enhancements that reduce the time required for manufacturing engineers to develop, analyze, inspect and document the CNC programming and machining process. Instead of focusing on new features or add-on modules, CGTech developer resources have focused on diligent code optimization and customer-driven enhancements.
GUI Updates Our goal: reduce the number of pop-up dialogs for day-to-day VERICUT users and eliminate any confusion associated with “Apply”, “OK” and “Cancel” buttons. Result: it has never been easier to setup a new project in VERICUT. Items formerly in pop-up dialogs have been moved to the Project Tree, where all projects are now configured by using an intuitive configuration panel automatically displayed as the user selects each branch. Actions are immediate, so “Apply” or “Okay” clicks are unnecessary.
Items formerly in pop-up dialogs are now in the Project Tree. Everything needed to configure a VERICUT project is in one intuitive location, making setup faster and easier than ever!
The Component Tree has also been merged into the Project Tree but can be optionally hidden, depending on your requirements. Additionally, the Project menu is now much simpler with menu actions moved to the Project Tree. All these updates mean you can stop hunting through menus to find the dialog you need; everything you need is now in one place making setup a snap!
MOTION CHANGES VERICUT 7.0’s motion processing is all new! Thousands of development hours have gone toward optimizing VERICUT’s internal code for the fastest, most efficient motion simulation to date. Motion Simulation refers to how VERICUT calculates the motion path from the NC data and animates it. The motion in all view-types is now coordinated and tool images are consistent. Collision tolerance and motion display are independent. When set to stop at a travel limit, the simulation continues the motion with axis clamped, while any cuts during a limit error are painted red. A 5-axis NC block is now one motion and simulation times overall are shorter due to improved efficiency.
Helix motion creates a helix feature
It is now possible to pause VERICUT in the middle of an NC block. Pressing Pause halts VERICUT immediately. The busy light is yellow when paused in the middle of an NC block, and displays green when stopped at the end of an NC block. If paused mid-motion you can complete the current block by pressing the Step button. If paused mid-cycle, pressing the Step button will finish the multi-motion cycle. Several new Step options are available by right-mouse clicking the Step button. These allow you to step into, over, or to the end of any subroutines used in your NC program sequence.
You now have more control over Drill Cycles. Options for “Full Motion” & “Bottom Only” add the same cycle time and only control the animation display. “No Motion” removes material and adds cycle time but without any animation, and “Ignore” skips the cycle with no added time. Drill, turn, and pocket cycles stop immediately, and can be continued to the end with Step or Play, while turn cycles prompt you to finish the cycle or jump to the end.
In version 7.0 the tool shank is shaded darker and the driven point can be anywhere relative to milling tool axis
COLLISION DETECTION All collision configuration is now done via the collision branch in the Project Tree. 5.x and 6.x collision configurations are upward compatible and read into 7.0. This central location for all collision control eliminates any possibility of duplicate collision checks. All current functionality is maintained. You can define a near-miss collision with cut stock, and all near-miss and actual collision errors are separated in the logger. Components turn red upon first display of the collision contact, instead of at the end of the colliding motion.
CAM INTEGRATION VERICUT can read NX Part Files directly when NX is on the same computer. NX parts can be referenced either directly from within VERICUT, or via the NX-to-VERICUT interface.
The CATIA V5–To-VERICUT Interface has been enhanced with many new features for managing tools. You can merge tools from a template with new tools from the Part Operation, and optionally put all unique tools in one tool library. You can also use CATIA-referenced STL models. VERICUT holders are now named using the holder names already defined in CATIA. Additional new features include the option to specify work offset subsystems and set model tolerances for the stock, fixture and design models. The interface optionally remembers the last options used. When working with multiple setups, the design model is only output in the first setup and moves with the cut stock.
ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS
VERICUT and the VERICUT license server are now Vista compatible
Option to automatically set working directory to current project’s folder
Optionally write and display thumbnail images in the project and machine files
Include visible CSYS in Report images
Adding a new setup renames the currently selected setup and increments its number
Minimum Cutter Extension option: Do not shorten
Polar measure in X-caliper
X-caliper measurement markers stay on screen
Save machine images and display thumbnail images in both the file selection dialog and in the choice list
A configurable tool bar gives you the ability to add/remove individual icons and display them in the order that works best for you
CGTech always welcomes input. Regardless of where the feedback is received – the VERICUT User forum, CGTech technical support, or at one of the many VERICUT User Group meetings held around the world – CGTech is listening. In all, over 150 customer driven enhancements have been included in VERICUT 7.0.
Airbus is selling so well that the demand to increase build rate has never been higher. BAE Systems (Filton, UK) needed a simple way to improve throughput - it found the answer in VERICUT.
With VERICUT, engineers at Stellex Monitor modeled the Sidewinder and Spar Mill machines.
Tell Tool of Westfield, Mass., has integrated VERICUT CNC simulation software into its numerical control program prove-out process.
VERICUT enabled us to start ordinary production after a minimum of time. Since this product is new for Volvo Aero Norge and our company had never before had parts with similar machining complexity, it is difficult to estimate the amount of cost saving.
Before implementing VERICUT, the company experienced the usual time-consuming and expensive manufacturing problems related to NC program prove-outs such as scrap loss, broken tooling, and a danger of occasional machine crash.
Over the last two years, AH has used Machine Simulation to speed the implementation of several new 5-axis machine tools.
VERICUT showed the NC programmers leftover or heavy stock." And the software detected a couple of places where the depth of cut was too large and tools were shanking out," said Collings. They then went back and corrected the errors in the tool path before
Dassault, Seclin initially purchased VERICUT in order to reduce the number of manual prove-outs using polystyrene material, which represented a significant expense in terms of time and money.
VERICUT enabled the designers and programmers see exactly what they were building as and in-process model in different stages of the machining cycle.
We utilized VERICUT to verify the CNC programs for cutting the tooling before they were sent to the machine control,
To protect their investment, they have been using VERICUT since 1996. They have two people to verify the accuracy of their G-code files.
"When we first started using OptiPath we concentrated on the feed rate option; now we use the constant chip thickness capability. With jobs up to 200 hours long, 50% saving is significant like having another machine tool."
The entire process took less than two hours and no manpower was required, whereas, creating the same pattern manually (the old way), would have taken one of our designers several days.
The verification process stays ahead of the actual machine position in the NC code being verified. Opera-tors can see errors before they occur.
The bottom line? Using VERICUT has made Supreme's existing machine tools more productive. Enthusiasm is up, delivery times have been reduced, and pricing is more competitive.delivery times have been reduced, and pricing is more competitive.
Using VERICUT to compare the electrode burn with the mold cavity ensures that we have all the correct clearances in the electrodes and that we have 100% clean-up." says Allen.
If I was using VERICUT at the time I would've caught the problem, and had a chance to fix it before it damaged the part.
Now I rarely see the potential crashes because the students find and correct them before I review the work. Catching those costly problems is a non-event now!
VERICUT can change speeds and feeds according to cutting conditions including difference in material and tooling. It is done automatically; the programmer does not have to make even one manual insert into the code."
Flying shrapnel from shattered cutting tools and components is avoided by using VERICUT to test student programs before they are run on NC machines.
The NC programmers at Ingersoll also rely on the simulation software to prevent mistakes when programming complex, five-axis parts.
After creating the NC programs in Mastercam, they began simulating the machining process in VERICUT by simulating the G-code data. There often can be a difference between the motion as programmed and the code after it's run through the post processor
After selecting VERICUT for third-party verification, each NC programmer attended two days of basic training where they experienced first-hand the type of results they could expect to achieve.
The program simulates milling, drilling, turning, wire EDM, and mill/turn machining operations using both G-codes and CAM output.
VERICUT provides simulation capabilities for the all the 3-5 axis and wire EDM parts, with focused control over the orientation of our 5-axis machine tool including the cutters used on that machine.
The inspection probe is created as a tool in VERICUT so the complete in- cycle gauging sequence is checked for collisions.
The bottom was machined first. This effort took about 24 hours from start to finish. By using VERICUT software from CGTech, Elliot was able to test the NC program for any problems before it was ever cut on the machine.
Cosworth Racing Integrates Walter TDM Tool Management into Manufacturing Systems
With data exported from NX, Vericut simulates the cutting process on the shop floor utilizing the machine G-code to detect any issues prior to NC Program release.
Helix motion creates a helix feature 
In version 7.0 the tool shank is shaded darker and the driven point can be anywhere relative to milling tool axis 