AlphaCAM

AlphaCAM

AlphaCAM is one example of a CAD program designed to create NC code. EdgeCAM, MasterCAM and Galaad are just three out of many more.

AlphaCAM can create 2.5 and 3D NC code for a wide range of CNC machine tools: lathes, multi-axis mills and routers, flame and laser cutters etc. The profile of a part is drawn on a PC screen, tools are selected and cutting paths are generated. The product of this is the NC code which is exported to a CNC machine controller such as WELmill. AlphaCAM is used in industry, colleges and schools. It is expensive but there is special pricing for educational establishments. It is easy to use, powerful and has a wide range of capabilities including the ability to create 2D and 3D drawings, import 2D and 3D drawings from other sources, vectorise bit map line drawings, create tool paths mapped over a grey scale bit map image and a wide range of 2.5D and 3D machining strategies.

Pay-As-You Use
While AlphaCAM can be purchased outright, it is also available on a pay-as-you-use basis over the internet. This may be cost-effective for some users. Full details are on the Licom Systems web site: link below.

Post Processor
The NC code which AlphaCAM generates must be in the format WELmill requires. This is ensured by the WELmill post processor which works with AlphaCAM. A post processor is rather like a printer driver which ensures that data from, say, a word processor matches the printer.

Two AlphaCAM post processors are supplied with WELmill. Either can be used. The only difference between them is that, when cutting arcs, WELmill F1.amp uses the radius, R, of an arc while WELmill IJ.amp locates the centre of an arc by its distances in X (I) and Y(J) from the start of the arc. These post processors can be found in C:\WELsoft\WELmill\WELmill Allsorts\AlphaCAM Post

Post Processor Installation
Start AlphaEDIT. Click on FILE - Open Post - Mill. Locate the post in C:\WELsoft\WELmill\WELmill Allsorts\AlphaCAM-WELmill Post and open either the file WELmill F1.amp or the file WELmill IJ.amp

The post processor data appears on the screen. It is essentially a configuration file. Do not alter it in any way unless you know what you are doing. However, if you have the WoodWorker version of the mill you need to find section $743 in the post processor listing and change the maximum spindle speed from 2000 to 8000.

Now, click on FILE - Save as Post - Mill and go into drive C, open the folder Licomdat and, within that, open the folder Mposts.alp This is where you save the post processor. Call it WELmill.

It is likely there will be other post processors in Mposts.alp for other mills. Delete all for which you have no use. If you do need to have two or three post processors, because you have other types of CNC mill, choose which is to be the default post. To do this:

Start AlphaEDIT. Click on FILE - Set Default Post - Mill. Choose the post processor you wish to have as the default.

Portadisk
Correctly formatted NC code created by AlphaCAM needs to be exported to WELmill. This is done by a utility in AlphaEDIT called Portadisk. Portadisk has to be configured correctly for this job: see the topic AlphaCAM, AlphaEDIT and Portadisk.

Security Key
AlphaCAM only works when a security key (dongle) is connect the PC parallel port. The normal security key gives unlimited use of the program. Licom Systems did, and may still, offer a security key programmed for 100 uses of the software. After 100 uses, on payment of a fee, Licom Systems reprogram the security key for a further 100 uses. This may be cost-effective for some users.

AlphaCAM is published by
Licom Systems Ltd
Davenport Road
Coventry
CV5 6PY
UK
telephone: 024 7671 3434
fax: 024 7671 3449
www.licom.co.uk

There is a link to the Licom web site from the WELsoft web site www.welsoft.co.uk On the Licom web site there is available for download a number of AlphaCAM tutorials in Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf files).

Licom Systems have distributors and agents throughout the world and there are links to them from their UK web site.

Other Software
The WELsoft team are very familiar with AlphaCAM and this is why it is given extensive coverage in this and other topics. However, any other NC code-producing software can be used provided that the software allows a user to customise a post processor so that NC code is produced in the undemanding format required by WELmill.

Good, reliable, powerful NC code creation software, such as AlphaCAM, is very expensive. It is hugely complex and costly in time and effort to create, develop and support. We have searched for lower cost and reliable code creation software and spent many hours assessing some brave but very ragged efforts best avoided.

Two of many alternatives to AlphaCAM are:

1) Galaad is a straightforward, lower cost program which can create code for WELmill. It is supplied by Unimatic Engineers Ltd who bundle it with their Isel CNC routers (web link below). There is special education pricing.

2) EdgeCAM is a very powerful and more costly program which can create code for mills and lathes (web link below). Enquire about education pricing.

Manually Written NC Code
NC code for WELmill can be manually calculated and compiled. There is a topic in Machining with WELmill which gives guidance on how to do this.

AlphaCAM, AlphaEDIT and Portadisk
AlphaCAM, the Billet, the Part, the Work Origin
CAD Software as an Aid to NC Code Preparation
Code-generating Software
Defining Tools In AlphaCAM
EdgeCAM
Galaad