FeatureCAM's Machine Simulation enables you to see the whole machine in a view that is similar to the 3D simulation. Machine Simulation is intended to complement the standard simulation types of Centerline, 2D, 3D, and 3D RapidCut. With these other types of simulation you can see only the stock and the current cutting tool. This is enough for simple machines, but more complex machines, such as multi-axis turning and 5-axis milling, need simulation of the entire machine to demonstrate how the machine cuts your part. You can detect odd motions and collisions so that you can adjust the program before code is sent to the CNC machine. You can expect to save a lot of time by proofing your NC code on the PC before sending it to the machine.
A few simple example machines are provided with FeatureCAM. But the ability to design a machine from scratch is also included in FeatureCAM as a document type called a Machine Design (MD) document. The file extension is .md. The process of designing a machine consists of creating solids and establishing movement relationships between them. Because machine design relies on solids, you must either create them in FeatureCAM or import them from another CAD system. After the solids are present in an MD file, you establish relationships between them. This capability is part of the MD document type and is independent of solid modeling or solid import.
Machine Simulation applies to every machine type except wire. The full range of milling machines is supported, such as 2.5-axis, 3-axis, 4-axis indexers and rotary tables, and 5-axis machines of all types. Turning is also fully supported: simple 2-axis turning, Y-axis, C-axis, turn/mill with rotary (live) tooling, sub-spindle, and multi-axis multi-turret turning. You can also create auxiliary machine functions like parts catchers, tool changers, bar feeders, and so on, possibly using some coding in BASIC using FeatureCAM's API.