TopSolid'Cam is one of the only CAM solutions on the market which is able to machine all parts by offering the most suitable machining process.

One of TopSolid'Cam's greatest forces is its capacity to manage all machining processes thereby making it one of the only CAM solutions on the market which is able to machine all parts by offering the most suitable machining process. TopSolid'Cam is capable of piloting turning, 2 axes milling, 3 axis milling, 4 and 5 axis continued milling, 4 and 5 axis continued turning, synchronisation and complex simulation. Today, the optimisation of the digital calculation of objects has led designers to create shapes which can only be made by using machines able to operate in 5 continuous axis.

Before looking at what TopSolid'Cam proposes for the machining of such parts, let's take a look at the 2 main cases where continuous 5 axis machining is used:.

* Machining of parts which cannot be made without a 5 axis machine tool.

In general 5 axis machining is required to manage accessibility constraints to certain areas of the part and means that the part cannot be made on machines with fewer axis.

* Machining of parts which can be carried out on 3 axis machines.

In this case the main reason behind using a 5 axis machine (when the part could in fact be machined on a 3 axis machine) is to allow the use of shorter tools which offer better cutting conditions and thereby reduce manufacturing times.