Simulation Options dialog (PartMaker)

Use the Simulation Options dialog to control how PartMaker simulates the machining of a part in the Simulation window.

To display this dialog, select Simulation > Simulation Options.

The options available on this dialog vary depending on the PartMaker product you are using. The options described below are available in PartMaker/SwissCAM.

• For PartMaker/Turn and PartMaker/Turn-Mill, the term Guide Bushing (GB) is replaced by Main Spindle in the option names.
• See Simulation Options dialog - PartMaker/Mill-specific options for options that are available only in PartMaker/Mill.
• See Simulation Options dialog - PartMaker/WireEDM-specific options for options that are available only in PartMaker/WireEDM.

Options

Enable Collision Checking — Select this option if you want PartMaker to check for collisions during simulation. Use the options in the Report Collision Types area of the dialog to select the types of collisions you want PartMaker to detect.

Check Overtravel* — Select this option if you want PartMaker to check that tool posts, or tool heads for PartMaker/Mill, do not exceed their travel limits (as defined on the Tool Post Properties dialog or the Tool Head Properties dialog).

Pause On — Select an option when you want PartMaker to pause during simulation:

• Never — PartMaker never pauses during simulation.
• Eject — PartMaker pauses before a part eject operation.
• Cut-Off — PartMaker pauses after the cut-off operation.
• Every Process — PartMaker pauses at the beginning of every process.
• Selected Process — PartMaker pauses at the beginning of any process that is currently selected in the Process Table.
• Every Move — PartMaker pauses before each tool move.
• Tool Collision — PartMaker pauses when a tool collision occurs.
• Tool Overtravel* — PartMaker pauses every time a tool post, or tool spindle in PartMaker/Mill, exceeds its travel limits.

Display Control — Use these options to control the display of the simulation:

• Time Delay — Enter a number to specify a time delay following every tool motion. Use a positive number to slow down simulation or use a negative number to speed up simulation, for example for surface milling.
• Transparency of Stock/Part — Enter the transparency of the part and/or stock when displayed in the Simulation window. 0% displays a solid part. 100% displays a fully transparent (invisible) part.
• Run in a Loop — Select this option to run the simulation in a continuous loop.
• Display Status — Select this option to display the current simulation status (consisting of the Process ID and current tool point coordinates) at the bottom of the Simulation window.
• Hide Tool Holders — Select this option if you do not want to display tool holders for turning tools during simulation.
• Wireframe Display — Select this option to display wireframe representations, instead of solid modeling, during simulation.
• Cosmetic Thread — Select this option to replace every multi-pass helical thread with a single pass to speed up simulation.
• Software Rendering — Select this option to use OpenGL software graphics libraries instead of the hardware implementation of the OpenGL drivers, which are dependent on the actual Graphics Video card used in every computer. If you use a high-performance AGP video card, deselecting this option can speed up simulation.
• Show Empty Tool Posts* — Select this option if you want PartMaker to display empty tool posts that are not used in the current job, but are available on the machine.
• Show Tool Numbers of Tool Posts* — Select this option to display the tool numbers on tool posts.

Display Quality

• Coarse — Select this option to display solid models using relatively large facets. Select this option for the fastest simulation.
• Medium — Select this option to display solid models using medium-sized facets. Select this option to balance the appearance of the models against the simulation speed.
• Fine — Select this option to display solid models using small-sized facets. Select this option to achieve the best appearance of the solid models, but with slower simulation.
• Apply to all Machine Components*** — Select this option if you want the Display Quality settings in this dialog to override individual settings for models (as specified on the Model Data dialog).

Report Collision Types — PartMaker can check for different types of collisions. Use the following option to specify the types of collisions you want PartMaker to detect:

• Tool with Stock(s) on Rapid Move — Checks for collisions between the tool (or Insert) and the stock in the main spindle, as well as a part in sub-spindle.
• Tool with GB and/or Sub-Spindle — Checks for collisions between the tool (or Insert) and the guide bushing and/or sub- spindle.
• GB with Main or Sub-Spindle — Checks for collisions between the guide bushing and the main or sub-spindle.
• Tool Holder Collision — Checks for collisions between the tool holder with any part/stock, as well as with the guide bushing and sub-spindle.
• Tool with Foreign Stock — Checks for collisions between the tool (or Insert) working on the main spindle with the part in the sub- spindle or between the tool (or Insert) working on the sub-spindle with the stock or part in the main spindle.
• Tool with Tool* — Checks for collisions between tools on different tool posts.
• Tool with Tool Post* — Checks for collisions between tools and tool posts.
• Tool Post with Tool Post* — Checks for collisions between different tool posts.
• Tool Post with Stock* — Checks for collisions between tool posts and any part/stock in the main spindle and in the sub- spindle.
• Tool Post with Spindle* — Checks for collisions between tool posts and the main spindle, the sub-spindle and the guide bushing.
• Non-Active Tool with Spindle* — Checks for collisions between non-active tools and the main spindle, the sub-spindle and the guide bushing.
• Non-Active Tool with Stock* — Checks for collisions between non-active tools and any part/stock in the main spindle and in the sub-spindle.
• Tool with Machine Housing*** — Checks for collisions between the tool and machine housing.

Settings

• Turning Insert Thickness — Specifies the thickness of the turning insert when no holder has been programmed.
• Max ID Tool Holder Thickness — Specifies the maximum thickness of the turning holder for an ID (Inside Diameter) tool.
• Enable Multithreading for Calculations — Select this option to increase the simulation speed.
• Automatically close Custom Shape Models — Select this option to fix custom shape solid models that have missing or self-intersecting faces so that they can be simulated.

Colors

• Use Group Colors — Specifies that the work group colors from the CAM window are used during simulation. If this option is not selected, PartMaker uses a metallic gray color as the cut color.
• Set Stock Color — Click to display the Color dialog so you can select the color to use for the stock during simulation.