Visualmill - Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)

CAD part

VisualMill is a CAM package for producing 2D and 3D toolpaths for 3D CAD models. VisualMill imports 3D CAD geometry from surface, solid and polygon modelling packages. It outputs toolpaths in various formats to suit a wide range of CNC milling machines.

VisualMill 5.0: This package is ideal for mould, die and tooling, wood working rapid-prototyping and general machining users. VisualMill contains powerful toolpath generation strategies coupled with features for efficiently controlling the cutting tool for detailed machining capabilities, while not sacrificing ease of use. Suitable for demanding users with sophisticated manufacturing requirements.

VisualMill Basic 5.0: This is a general purpose machining program targeted at the general user. VisualMill is ideal for the rapid-prototyping, hobby and educational markets where ease of use is a paramount requirement. Packed with sufficiently powerful manufacturing methods this easy to use package is not only effective but also attractively priced for the budget conscious or entry level buyer.

Logical Windows Interface
VisualMill screen image
VisualMill interface showing cutting simulation of roughing cut

Using a standard Windows environment, VisualMill uses tabs and pull down menus for ease of use. A logical left to right sequence is used to for the toolpath creation process, making the use of VisualMill very intuitive.

Features
Toolpath strategies are available for 2, 3, 4 and 5 axis machining. More advanced features available include region cutting to freeform curves, machining between two curves and 4th-axis rotary machining. Please see the features page for a full list of toolpath strategies and drawing features.

Cutting Preview
At each stage, you can preview what will happen for each toolpath. The cutting simulation can be altered to adjust speed, allowing you to see in detail how the cutter behaves at every point of the toolpath.

A time estimate is also provided, providing you with potential job times before you start cutting. This allows you to adjust cutting settings such as speed and cutting-in amounts to see what is a good compromise between surface finish and time.

Compatibility
Available file imports include: IGES, Rhino, Dxf, Dwg, STL, VRML, RAW, Point Cloud.

Additional File Formats: Parasolid format files, SolidWorks (.sldprt), Solid Edge (.par) and A3DS files (available as a separately priced module )

Features in Detail

Cad Creation / Editing Tools	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
2D and 3D Cad Creation	Yes	Yes
Layers	Yes	Yes
Unlimited Undo	Yes	Yes
Clipboard	Yes	Yes
True Type Font Text	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Yes
2 1/2 Axis Milling	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
Pocketing	Yes	Yes
Profiling	Yes	Yes
Engraving	Yes	Yes
Facing	Yes	Yes
Re-Machining	Yes	No
V-Carving	Yes	Yes
Hole Milling	Yes	Yes
Thread Milling	Yes	Yes
Advanced Pocketing	Yes	No
Advanced Profiling	Yes	No
3 Axis Milling	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
Horizontal Roughing	Yes	Yes
Parallel Finishing	Yes	Yes
Horizontal Finishing	Yes	Yes
Plunge Roughing	Yes	No
Horizontal Re-roughing	Yes	No
Plunge Re-roughing	Yes	No
3 Axis Pocketing	Yes	No
Pencil Tracing , including Flat Mills	Yes	No
Valley Re-machining, along the cuts	Yes	No
Plateau Machining	Yes	No
Steep Area Parallel Machining	Yes	No
Steep Area Horizontal Machining	Yes	No
Curve Machining	Yes	No
Spiral Machining	Yes	No
Radial Machining	Yes	No
Between 2 Curves Machining	Yes	No
Reverse Post Machining	Yes	No
Horizontal Hill Machining	Yes	No
4 Axis Milling	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
4-Axis Indexed Machining	Yes	No
4-Axis Continuous Rotary Machining	Yes	No
4-Axis Continuous Rotary Engraving	Yes	No
4-Axis Parallel Roughing	Yes	No
5 Axis Milling	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
Indexing	Yes	No
Hole Making	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
Automatic hole Selection, Sorting	Yes	Yes
Drilling	Yes	Yes
Tapping	Yes	Yes
Boring	Yes	Yes
Reverse Boring	Yes	Yes
User defined drilling cycles	Yes	Yes
Toolpath Simulation	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
Toolpath Animation	Yes	Yes
Cut Material Simulation	Yes	Yes
Advanced Cut Material Simulation	Yes	No
Tools	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
Thread Mill	Yes	Yes
Tool Holder Simulation	Yes	Yes
Form Tools	Yes	No
Toolpath Editing	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
Toolpath Graphical Editing	Yes	No
Toolpath Instancing	Yes	No
Toolpath Arc Fitting	Yes	No
Post-Processor Generator	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
User customizable post-processor generator	Yes	Yes
5-Axis	No	No
User Defined Cycles	Yes	Yes
Helix Output	Yes	Yes
Spiral Output	Yes	Yes
Simulate Cycles	Yes	Yes
X-pert DNC	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
Direct numerical control	Yes	Yes
MetaCut Utilities	VisualMill	VisualMill Basic
GCode Analysis Verification Tool	Yes	Yes