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EdgeCAM
FAQ Page |
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Email :
service@edgecam.com
for further queries.
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Installation
and Upgrades |
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How do I install EdgeCAM? |
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EdgeCAM can
be installed with a CD. EdgeCAM can also be downloaded from
www.edgecam.com in the Support area |
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How do I upgrade EdgeCAM?
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To upgrade
to the latest versions you need to be on a maintenance contract.
Then you can download patch updates or full installations from
the Support area on the Web. For
major releases (once a year) the reseller will send a CD.
To find out more about maintenance, please contact your local
reseller or Pathtrace
directly. |
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Should I update my maintenance
contract? |
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Purchasing
Maintenance is up to you. Maintenance contracts give many
benefits, which vary according to country and reseller. In
the UK for example, there are benefits which include:
Free access to technical support.
The email and telephone support hotline provides you with
advice and prompt solutions to any technical problems you
may encounter. All calls are logged and responded to within
2 hours, ensuring that you machine tools keep running.
Customer Care Days. Get the most from
your investment by attending one of our monthly customer care
days. These give you the opportunity to meet our service engineers
face-to-face to discuss how to maximize your output from the
EdgeCAM system by use of advanced techniques and tailoring
of the EdgeCAM system.
Software upgrades at no extra cost!
You can expect to receive all major upgrades and have access
to software patches throughout the year. These upgrades will
keep you up-to-date with advances in technology and enhancements
in the EdgeCAM product. |
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How can I evaluate new
modules of EdgeCAM? |
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To evaluate
a version of Edgecam select to stop EdgeCLS (for that version)
and run EdgeCAM as normal. EdgeCAM will then start up in evaluation
mode. This means that it will not be able to file save nor will
NC output be available, but all other modules can be accessed
for 30 days after first use. A dongle is not required in this
mode. |
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How do I purchase
new licenses or modules of EdgeCAM? |
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To purchase
new modules, you should contact your local reseller (Americas,
EMEA, Asia
Pacific) or for the UK, contact your sales engineer. |
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What's the difference
between a Service Pack update and a CD update? |
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Patch updates
are available to each consecutive version of EdgeCAM. These
can be downloaded on the service
packs page.
CD updates are available for major
releases (e.g. version 5.0, version 6.0). CD installations
are also available for new customers.
The results of a Patch and CD upgrade are identical apart
from the example files which are typically not altered by
a Patch. |
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Why should I upgrade
EdgeCAM to the latest version? |
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EdgeCAM is constantly
being updated with minor releases every 4 months. Upgrades
include new features which may improve your productivity,
and also include enhancements to existing features such as
faster generation and machining times. See the service pack
page for latest developments.
The EdgeCAM development team
listens and includes enhancement requests from a wide audience
including customers and resellers. Maintenance of existing
features requested by customers of EdgeCAM modules are also
included. |
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Who do I call when I
have a problem? |
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Contact your local reseller
(Americas, EMEA,
Asia Pacific) or for the
UK, contact Pathtrace directly on (+44) 118 975 6084. |
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Which languages is EdgeCAM available
in? |
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EdgeCAM is available in
English, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Finnish, Greek,
Czech, Polish. We are currently working on Chinese (Mandarin),
Spanish and Russian. |
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I want to upgrade my PC, what should
I buy? |
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For all hardware requirements
please visit the Hardware
page in the Product area.
For all graphic card requirements please visit the Graphics
page in the Product area. |
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When will the next version of EdgeCAM
be available? |
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There are 3 major releases
of EdgeCAM a year, typically in January, April and September. |
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What are the benefits of Solid CAD
and Solid Machining? |
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Solid CAD and Solid Machining
enable seamless transition across CAM systems. This means they
are less likely to corrupt data and can easily find features
from the CAD model. |
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How do I set-up communications to
my machine tool? |
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If you have experience
of machine tool communications, use the Communications Wizard
which comes free as part of the EdgeCAM package. Otherwise contact
your reseller. |
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How should I organize my EdgeCAM
data? |
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EdgeCAM data can
be organized using the Toolkit Assistant, Job Manager and Technology
Assistant to maintain your tooling and job information in an
integrated database. |
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How do I organize training? |
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Training enhances your skills
to program quicker and use time more effectively. Training
is based on your level of expertise with your requirements
in mind. Training is varied from basic introduction courses
to PCI and PDI writing. There is a course to fit every need.
Please contact your nearest reseller or Pathtrace Directly
for details of courses in your area.
To organize training you should contact
your reseller directly or contact Pathtrace Training Direct
if you would like training in the UK. |
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What are code generators
and post processors? |
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Code Generator (also known
as Post Processor) translates information from EdgeCAM into
an NC format the machine tool can read.
In EdgeCAM, Code Wizard is the user interface, which creates
code generators for your machine tools, with an easy to understand,
graphical interfaces. |
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At what point in EdgeCAM do
my machining cycles become available? |
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Once you load a tool, EdgeCAM
intelligently displays any appropriate cycles. |
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Does EdgeCAM support
the machining of multi-level geometry? |
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EdgeCAM will automatically detect various
heights of islands and drill patterns when optimizing cutter
paths. |
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If I rough out a pocket, does EdgeCAM
automatically recognize uncut material? |
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EdgeCAM automatically recognizes any
uncut areas and removes these with subsequent selected cutters.
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Should a geometry design change
occur, do I have to start again? |
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The associativity between geometry
and toolpath is maintained and updated. |
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I need the ability to generate threads
by thread milling - not by tapping. Can EdgeCAM do this? |
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Left and right hand tapered, internal,
external, multi start with single or multi toothed cutters are
supported. |
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A client has requested his name,
part number and company logo to be machined. What could EdgeCAM
do for me? |
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EdgeCAM supports 2D and true 3D engraving
and a company logo can be imported and machined using conical
and spherical tools. |
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I use a vast
range of inserts, including button and grooving inserts. I need
EdgeCAM to calculate tool nose radius compensation, can it do
this? |
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This is one of the long-standing unique
features of EdgeCAM. |
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Most of my finished components
originate from castings and forgings. Will EdgeCAM recognize
any billets and reduce fresh air cutting time? |
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Special machining cycles
for pre-formed billets are standard within EdgeCAM Turning.
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Can I program the latest side/groove
tooling in EdgeCAM? |
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Only EdgeCAM offers specialist cycles
for these insert/machinery methods. |
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I have just installed a new multi-axis
turning center. What does EdgeCAM provide? |
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EdgeCAM supports C,Y and
4 axis turning. Synchronized combinations are supported within
a single multi-turning environment. |
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