Re: RE: Re: inlays

> Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 20:36:52 -0400
> From: "Carol & Jerry Jankura" <jerry.jankura@...>
>Subject: RE: Re: inlays

>What all does 9.4 bring to the party over 9.3? Is there an upgrade from
>9.3 -> 9.4 available? Your CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO web page only shows 9.3

Jerry,

9.4 was the designation between the last release of the wireframe only
Vector and the 3D surfacing versions. Up until about build 9.4.020
there was no real functional difference between the two versions with
respect to the wireframe capabilities.

With that build the pocketing routines were significantly rewritten.
I also convinced the powers that be, to allow us to grandfather the 9.3
cam users into the 9.4 version and the associated enhancements to
wireframe and rotary capabilities.

The primary benefit to 9.3 users is the speed and operational
improvements to the pocketing routines. It is billed as an improvement
to the horizontal pocket, but the spiral and the multilevel Z depth functions
all use the same basic routines and are much more bulletproof.
The number of islands and contour complexity is not a factor in
pocketing with this release. There is also some attempt to optimize
the cutting order of the pocket sections when the geometry forces
a tool pull up. The result is longer cutting paths and shorter rapids
from end of path1 to beginning of path2 within the same pocket. Selection
direction controls the cutting direction of the finish pass so you
can easily specify conventional or climb milling.

Some of the complex sign layouts with 40 or 50 letters could cause
problems in prior versions. None of these seem to be problematic anymore.

The rotary users (only) have a new function called wrap Y-Z profile. It is similar to
wrap cylinder, but does the 3D wrapping on an irregular extrusion form
rather than just a cylinder. It was originally designed for laser engraving
of rectangular tubing with large radius corners, but works nicely for
text along a curve too. The rotary now automatically recognizes and
cuts in tangential planes so you can mix rotary arcs (A90) and planar
G02/G03 within the same program automatically, without any manual
indexing operations.

There are some other minor items that are listed on the what's new topic
on the Vector user forum. The download is no charge and there is a small
handling charge for a distribution CD for 9.3 cam users.

Best Regards, Fred Smith- IMService

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