About FeatureCAM

Welcome to the FeatureCAM Help.

FeatureCAM is an easy-to-use CAM software for milling machines and turn/mill centres.

The FeatureCAM Help is split into the following sections, which follow the recommended steps in the Steps panel. You can follow these steps to create a part from start to finish and output the NC Code.

• Introduction — This section covers the main concepts in FeatureCAM:
  • using the FeatureCAM interface.
  • creating a new part, saving your part, and importing files.
  • coordinate systems.
  • document-level options.
  • add-ins.
• Stock — This section covers stock (the material from which you machine the part), and indexing.
• Geometry — The basic shapes, such as lines and circles, from which you can create curves.
• Curves — Curves are continuous paths in 2D or 3D space. Use curves to create features, surfaces and solids.
• Surfaces — Surfaces are continuous sets of points in 2D or 3D space which have no thickness. Use surfaces to create surface milling features.
• Solids — Solids are groups of connected surfaces that make up a solid model.
• AFR (Automatic Feature Recognition) — Automatically extract machining features from solid models.
• Features — Use features to generate toolpaths without creating individual manufacturing operations.
• Toolpaths — Simulate the toolpaths in FeatureCAM to see the finished part and check for collisions.
• NC Code — Create the NC code and send it to the machine.
• Customize Mfg. — Customize the manufacturing settings.

These steps are used for mill, turn, turn/mill, and wire documents; different steps are used for multiple fixture, tombstone machining, and machine simulation documents.