A Preview of Alibre CAM 2.0 CNC Software

The upcoming release of Alibre Design 12.1 (SP1) will include major enhancement to the basic CAM software included free with Alibre Design Expert, as well as the four- and five-axis options available for Alibre CAM Professional and Alibre CAM Expert. Improvement to the Alibre CAM Interface will make CNC programming inside Alibre Design much easier and enjoyable to do. Here is one comparison between the crowded old (left) tab interface and the new (right) cascading style:

But more than the lookand feel of Alibre CAM will change. A new entry method has been added to 2.5 axis profile milling operations allowing you to have more control over the entry angle.You can now create tabs/bridges for 2.5 axis profiling operations. You can specify the bridge height and length. You can also specify whether you want to use a particular number of bridges which will be equally distributed around the profiles or you can set an exact distance between bridges. Below is an example of the same cut-outs using 5 bridges and 10 bridges per profile.

The Tool Libraries will allow "drag and drop" of pre-defined tools into the active tool set. There will also be an option to immediately preview a tool upon creation.

Alibre CAM 2.0 will now support avoidance regions to specify where the tool should not cut, for example to avoid clamps holding the stock material down on your CNC machine. Flat faces can be directly selected as machining / avoidance regions instead of having to use sketches. You can also select the starting point for the engagement of the tool for Machining Operations defined by sketches.

Alibre CAM Standard will offer along-path-3D-entry for 3 axis horizontal finishing offers more control over surface finish for steep areas of parts. Specifying the engage angle and path height allows you to control the smoothness of the engage motion, helping to eliminate unwanted marks on the cut part that would otherwise need to be buffed out later. Alibre CAM Professional will also enjoy improvements to 4 axis milling.

Alibre CAM Expert will add a new 3D Offset profiling method, 3D Offset pocketing for making constant offset tool paths on the part surfaces, 3 axis pencil tracing now offers multiple passes & 3 axis valley re-machining allows split cuts, step over and cut control. Tool Holder Collision determines the minimum tool length required to avoid collision.

Alibre Design is sold in Australia by CADDIT. Download Alibre Design / Alibre CAM in Australia for a free 30 day "Professional" trial before software reverts back to free "Xpress" mode.

progeCAD German Version Offers AutoCAD Compatibility in German

This announcement is in English and German languages. See German version below.

Como Italy, 26 May 2009 – progeSOFT in partnership with CADDIT and N.W.S. Germany announced the German translation release of progeCAD 2009 Professional CAD design software. Designers, engineers and architects accustomed to AutoCAD, Auto CAD LT or IntelliCAD can compare the cost-for-feature value free for 30 days. Unlike most AutoCAD compatible CAD software, progeCAD 2009 far exceeds simple DWG file compatibility with special features like Google Earth export, PDF conversion, Quick-Dimensioning (“QDIM”) and even an updated spell checker. Now German users enjoy the convenience of using progeCAD design commands in native German language. The progeCAD German version can be downloaded HERE.

progeCAD German CAD software translation was supervised by progeSOFT, located near beautiful Lake Como in Italy. progeCAD in German is available from numerous authorized progeCAD distributors around the world including progeSOFT ( http://www.progesoft.com/ , http://www.progecad-deutschland.com/ and CADDIT ( http://www.caddit.net/progecad/progecad-deutsch.php ). A german language support forum for progeCAD is also available: http://www.caddit.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=6

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Como-Italien, 26.Mai 2009 – progeSOFT in Zusammenarbeit mit CADDIT und N.W.S Deutschland gibt hiermit die Freigabe der deutschen Übersetzung von progeCAD 2009 Professional bekannt. Designer, Konstrukteure und Architekten, die mit AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT oder IntelliCAD vertraut sind, haben die Möglichkeit den Nutzwert der Software für 30 Tage kostenlos zu testen. Im Gegensatz zur meisten AutoCAD ähnlichen CAD-Software übertrifft progeCAD 2009 einfache DWG-Dateiformat Kompatibilität mit speziellen Funktionen wie Google Earth Export, PDF Konvertierung, Quick-Dimensioning(„QDIM“) und eine verbesserte Rechtschreibprüfung bei weitem. Deutsche Benutzer haben jetzt auch den Komfort progeCAD Designbefehle in Ihrer deutschen Muttersprache zu verwenden. Benutzter können jetzt die deutsche Version direkt herunterladen - HIER.

Die Software Übersetzung von progeCAD wurde von progeSOFT, mit Firmensitz am idyllischen Comer See in Italien, betreut. progeCAD Deutsch ist weltweit erhältlich bei zahlreichen progeCAD Vertriebspartnern, einschließlich progeSOFT ( http://www.progesoft.com/ , http://www.progecad-deutschland.com/ und CADDIT ( http://www.caddit.net/progecad/progecad-deutsch.php ). Zur Verfügung steht auch ein deutschsprachiges progeCAD Forum unter http://www.caddit.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=6