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PowerMILL 2012 - Release Notes
These notes detail changes to PowerMILL that may be of interest to the user.
They list both bug fixes and enhancements but they do not contain details of internal code changes.
Links and text within [ ] brackets are supplied for internal Delcam use only.
Version Number : 13.0.06.(32|64).1143223
Service Pack : SP4
Release Type : Service Pack 4 (SP4)
Build Date: 19/01/12
Licence Options
Note that these release notes only cover changes up to and including this codebase. Changes during the beta
testing phase can be found in the Beta Release document. Changes patched after this codebase can be found
in the Service Pack Release document
Important Information
You are advised to read these notes carefully in conjunction with the What's New in PowerMILL 2012
documentation. This can be found in Help format via the Help->What's New menu in PowerMILL or in Adobe
Acrobat format on the PowerMILL DVD
1. General
PowerMILL 2012 32-bit/64-bit
PowerMILL 2012 is available in two variants:-
PowerMILL 2012 32-bit - this version will run on 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems but has a
limit on the amount of memory it can use (2 GB on a 32-bit operating system/4 GB on a 64-bit
operating system).
PowerMILL 2012 64-bit - this version will ONLY run on 64-bit operating systems and has NO
limit on the amount of memory it can use.
General points:-
The bit variant you are running is displayed in the title bar and Help->About. It is also found as
the fourth element of the version number i.e. 13.0.06.32.1143221 indicates 32-bit and
13.0.06.64.1143221 indicates 64-bit
There is a combined installers for PowerMILL 2012 32-bit and PowerMILL 2012 64-bit that
allows you to install either version on the same computer. You will see separate desktop
shortcuts for each version.
All data files (projects/surfaces/tape files/etc) are interchangeable between 32-bit and 64-bit
versions. However, projects that consume more that 4 GB on loading cannot be read by
PowerMILL 2012 32-bit as it will exceed the memory limit.
Issues to be aware of with PowerMILL 2012 64-bit:-
Requires 64-bit hardware (Intel/AMD)
Supported on 64-bit versions of Vista and Windows 7.
NOT supported on Windows xp 64-bit.
We are seeing faster calculation times (approx 15% to 20% depending on usage)
It will requires more memory on start-up and for toolpath calculation (approx 20% depending on
usage).We would recommend a minimum of 8 GB memory in a computer running PowerMILL 2012 64-bit
This is NOT a cost option and is available to all existed users who are licensed to run PowerMILL 2012
2. Licencing Modifications
PowerMILL 2012 Service Pack 4 (SP4) requires 2012.02 year.month security codes.
PowerMILL 2012 does not support the FLEXlm network licencing system. A new network licencing
system has been developed that supports PowerMILL 2012. This new system replaces the FLEXlm
network licensing system. Please contact your system supplier for more details.
To run this version of PowerMILL you must install the Sentinel dongle driver with a minimum version
number of 7.5.1 available here
3. Parameter Changes
Macro Command Syntax Changes
The following macro command syntax changes have taken place since PowerMILL 2011:-
The command FORM TPTXFORM will no longer work as the form has been removed. Commands
EDIT TOOLPATH TRANSFORM ... have been replaced by TRANSFORM ...
4. Tool Database
The tool database needs to be upgraded to version 10. When first using a tool database in PowerMILL 2012
users will be requested to upgrade.
5. Maintenance Downloads
Check the Products Download website for the latest available maintenance downloads.
Enhancements
1. Extensions to the macro language
It is now possible to write macros which contain loops, variables and conditional statements giving a
very powerful tool to automate PowerMILL.
2. Tool holder profile
Separate shank clearance is available.
3. Workplanes
It is now easier to edit workplanes, and workplanes may be transformed in the same way the toolpaths
are transformed.
powermill#25940[CB11401]
4. Boundaries
It is now possible to make a plane at the upper or lower position on a boundary using the right click
menu Models->CreatePlane->Best Fit.
powermill#25696[CB11408]
5. Tools
The option "Double-Click to Create Tools" now works correctly.
powermill#26119[CB11413]
A new tool type thread mill has been added.
powermill#20289[CB11390]
6. New Strategies
BBI Spiral
Flowline Machining This strategy allows machining between curves on a model, smoothly blending
between the curves.
Parametric spiral A strategy which machines a model in a spiral from a point or curve to a check
surface, allowing undercuts.
7. Toolpaths
Toolpaths may now be limited easily by adding a maximum or minimum Z value.
powermill#25866[CB11397]
Raceline machining now works for 2d curve profile.
powermill#26149[CB11413]
When claculating a spiral constant Z toolpath, the final flat pass will be included in the spiral if it is a
closed segment.
powermill#24407[CB11413]
Limit toolaxis angle: point distribution control to limit the angular distance between toolpath points.
8. BBI Tool Axis Improvements
9. Graphical User Interface
The block, tool and tool axis may now be edited on the strategy dialog so it is now possible to create
most toolpaths using a single form.
The list of toolpaths on the NC program form and the list of tools on the tool database form may now
be customised, putting the columns in a different order or removing unwanted columns, to allow the
user to see quickly the information they are interested in. These changes will be remembered between
PowerMILL sessions.
10. Graphical Input into Numeric Form Fields
Clicking on a label on a form will allow the graphics to be used to fill in a value so points, directions
and distances can be found easily from the model.
11. Graphics
A new option exists on the options form to allow the centre point of an arc to be displayed.
powermill#25297[CB11375]
12. Parameters
Toolpath statistics now have parameters:
Statistics.CuttingMoves and Statistics.LeadsandLinks for toolpaths and ncprograms.
Two new parameters tool.Overhang and tool.HolderName are available.
powermill#25887[CB11412]
13. Bezier curves
This allows the creation of smoother curves and the editing of all curves as smooth curves.
powermill#25705[CB11388]
14. Machine tools
Machine tools now appear in the explorer tree and will be saved with a PowerMILL project.
Bug Fixes
1. Toolpaths
Some problems which resulted in misshapen wireframe swarf toolpaths have been fixed.
powermill#25990[CB11403]
Automatic corner finishing has been improved.
powermill#25451[CB11375]
Improvements have been made to contact point based machining strategies where problems with
normal calculation were causing a bad quality toolpath.
powermill#25456[CB11375]
Three axis drilling toolpaths can now be transformed correctly.
powermill#25465[CB11376]
Area clearance toolpaths are improved in the case of axial and radial thickness having different signs.
powermill#25511[CB11376]
A problem with area clearance missing a slice has been fixed.
powermill#26066[CB11408]
A problem with spikes on vertical walls in area clearance has been fixed.
powermill#26166[CB11413]
Using raceline smoothing in area clearance sometimes caused a crash. This no longer happens.
powermill#25966[CB11403]
Blisk toolpaths now calculate more reliably.
dmk#6467[CB11407]
Constant Z cusp based stepdown no longer takes too large a step when moving from a steep region to
a shallow region.
powermill#25165[CB11377]
Constant Z spiral toolpaths now calculate without unnecessary lifts.
powermill#25926[CB11406]
They will also now machine in shallow pockets
powermill#25972[CB11404]
When arcfitting, the effect of the tolerance factor has been corrected to ensure that the resulting
toolpath is always within tolerance.
powermill#26064[CB11413]
2. Boundaries
Some improvements have been made to the smoothness of shallow boundaries.
powermill#26245[CB11413]
Limiting to a boundary now works correctly for steep and shallow toolpaths.
powermill#26054[CB11413]
3. Miscellaneous
Paste in the expression editor will now append instead of overwriting the whole buffer.
powermill#25558[CB11408]
Tool images now appear correctly in project summary setup sheets.
powermill#26080 [CB11408]
The Z heights form button on 2.5D area clearance no longer greys out when the toolpath is cloned or
edited.
powermill#26079[CB11407]
Smart selection can now be saved in a template without having to calculate the toolpath first.
powermill#25905[CB11407]
The GRAPHICS LOCK and GRAPHICS UNLOCK commands have been added to allow writers of
macros and automation clients to suspend graphics updates.
powermill#14067[CB11404]
A reference tool can now be saved in a toolpath template.
powermill#25778[CB11401]
Thickness set components are reliably stored and read back in a PowerMILL project.
powermill#25937[CB11401]
www.powermill.com
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