Simulating Work in Process in SOLIDWORKS CAM

The Tips and Trick videos are designed to give a basic overview of functionality when using SOLIDWORKS CAM or CAMWorks. These videos are not intended to replace training for the software but to help you get started using these powerful and time saving features of the SOLIDWORKS CAM and CAMWorks (Computer Aided Manufacturing) Add-ins for SOLIDWORKS.  

In this video we will be covering how to use the simulated work in process to verify your tool path for a specific operation.

I have already run feature recognition, generated my operation plan and generated my tool path. I have also combined features into common operations to simplify setting cutting parameters when needed.

Next I created an interactive operation, a contour mill and combined several features that I would like to edge break or chamfer. I then renamed this operation edge break.

Now that I have added this new operation, I would like to verify the tool path using simulation. However, the prior operations have already been verified and takes time to run, so I will use the Work In Process (or WIP) to generate a simulated model to verify the new operation and tool path.

Select Simulate tool path.

A WIP window will appear.

From this window you can select what operations you wish to use to calculate the WIP model.

In this example I am using all of the previous operations.

Select OK.

The system is now calculating the WIP.

Once this is completed the model is displayed and ready to simulate the operation I wish to verify.

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