Products : MCU : Feature List

No other software available at any price provides the wealth of useful tools, information and functionality for people working in the CNC industry.  MCU is not a CAM system, it's a collection of powerful utilities for machinists and anyone working with CNC machines and toolpaths.

Take a look at this partial feature list below, then continue on to the options. After reviewing the feature list download the trial to see it all in action!

Multiple "active" views into the CNC file

Each view (graphic, edit, and tree) is actively linked with each of the others to provide more information together than would be possible alone.  A brief description of each of the views follows:

Graphics view - A 3D dynamic backplot drawing of the CNC file

• Zoom, rotate, pan

• Pick entities and chains of entities

• Dynamic forward and reverse backplotting (backplot as you scroll)

Edit View - A text view of the CNC file, which can be edited and saved.

• Renumber

• Insert/delete spaces

• Undo/redo typing

• Find/replace text

• Selection of lines by range

• Automatic detection of file type.  Open a CNC file, and the standard MCU interface opens.  Open any other type of file, and the interface changes to a standard text editor!  MCU was designed to be the one editor that works for all your editing needs.

Tree View -  The CNC file is sorted by tool call, and further sorted by paths within each tool

• Change visibility in the graphics area by selecting tools in the tree

• Select lines in the edit view by selecting tools in the tree view

• Assign tool geometry and color

The toolbox provides detailed information about the CNC file and also contains controls to work with the file.

General information - such as: the physical size, the low point and high point, the number and type of entities and the cutting time length.  This information is available for the entire file, a single tool or even just two entities.

Detailed geometric information - This information is automatically updated as entities are selected from the edit view or the graphics screen.  Also displays the current feed and speed for any selected entity.

Graphical Edit

 

Imagine visually checking your editing with the push of a button.

...and easily returning to any revision you made along the way...

...then visually comparing your changes from the original file to any particular revision. 

MCU's Graphical Edit option will make you wonder how you ever edited a CNC file without these powerful tools.  You have to see this option in action to understand the full power.

Graphical refresh - When you begin to edit a file, the refresh button lights to let you know that there are changes to the file, and that you can make a new revision and see the changes with the push of the button.

Revision history - The revision history keeps a list of each revision that is made during a session. You can step through the revisions, or go directly to any particular revision at any time.

Graphical Compare

The graphical compare feature allows you to SEE the smallest changes between revisions of the same file or even between two different files.  And it works with both the backplot and with solid verify models.  Graphical compare locks the files into the same 3D space then lets you toggle between the files.  If something moves... it's different.  It's that simple.

Verify (3-axis)

 

The Verify option works with 3-axis milling type toolpaths to create a 3D solid model of a part based upon the motion of the path and the shape of the tool. 

MCU's Verify option provides unbelievable detail in seconds, not hours and the model can be referenced right from the graphics screen!  If you see a problem, just click on it, and the line of code that made it is instantly highlighted.

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Some of the other standard MCU features include:

• DNC send and receive (provided by RYM)

• 3-axis machine Simulation.  Dynamically move like the machine tool.

• STL viewer. View one or many STL files, control color and visibility.  Import an STL of your part to check it against the verification model.

• STL spindles and tables. Associate any STL file as a spindle or a table for backplot.

• Chip volume graph. An interactive graph of the changing chip volume.

• DXF out (export any wireframe path as a DXF file.  Great for reverse posting.

• World's easiest and most powerful CNC file interpreter.  Most CNC file types are automatically recognized without the need for customization, Including, Fanuc style, Heidenhain, Dynapath, Anilam and more.

• Visual import customization is available for the few CNC styles that are not automatically recognized.

• Highly optimized for speed in all areas of the program.

• Drag and Drop support (NC code, STL files, or text files).

• Interactive "Quick tours" which use MCU to show you MCU!

• Multiple view-ports in the graphics view.

• Toggles for the visibility of tools, endpoints, rapid motions, axis and more.

• Color coding by entity type.

• Support for Fanuc style NURBS.

• Support for non-interpolated rapids ("dog-leg" rapids).

• LOTS MORE!

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At just $99, MCU Light is exactly like MCU
but IT DOES NOT INCLUDE the following MCU features:

• No DXF out

• No Verification

• No STL view

• No STL spindle or table

• No 3-axis machine backplot simulation

• No upgrade path

• No Graphical Editing and Compare
  (You can still edit with MCU Light, but without the "one button" revision that lets you  instantly see your changes and maintain multiple revisions of your file.  With MCU Light you have to save and reload the file to see your changes.)

STL Pack

 

The STL Pack adds the ability to use:

• STL as stock. Use an STL file for stock during verification.
   

• STL export. Save the current verification model as an STL file.

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Wizard Pack

 

The Wizard pack adds 3 powerful wizards to MCU.

• Restart Wizard - When a tool breaks, the restart wizard will have you machining again in minutes with a new toolpath that includes only the remaining code needed to complete the machining of your part. It automatically checks for crashes on remaining stock and allows you to dynamically create custom entry motions in the restart area.
   

• Tool Wear Wizard - On long toolpaths, the tool may wear out before the toolpath is finished. The MCU Tool Wear wizard automates the process of inserting additional toolchanges while automatically checking for crashes with remaining stock and allowing you to create custom entry motions.
   

• Surface Compare Wizard - The surface compare wizard provides an easy way to directly compare the surface finish of different machining strategies. Create a verification model on a small area of a toolpath, then select a different file, and MCU automatically creates a new verification model in the same area and at the same resolution on the second toolpath. Selecting the graphical compare button in the graphics area will toggle between the two models for a direct comparison of the finish.

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Merge

 

The Merge option temporarily combines multiple CNC files to allow analysis and verification of the files as if they were a single file.  The files can be selected all at once with { File | Merge } or sequentially using { File | Append } 

This option is especially useful to anyone who creates separate files for each of the operations needed to make a complete part.  Merging is a powerful, faster, and easy way to verify the results of machining with sequential but separate files.

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4-Axis Simulation

 

Simulate the motion of your 4-Axis machine during backplot. Load an STL file of the finished part to help visualize, understand and check complex indexed or simultaneous motions.  Dynamically scroll through your file, or run in "Play" mode.

Exceptional performance, incredible value for 4-axis mills.

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5-Axis Simulation

 

Simulate the motion of your 5-Axis machine during backplot. Load an STL file of the finished part to help visualize, understand and check complex indexed or simultaneous motions.  Dynamically scroll through your file, or run in "Play" mode.

Exceptional performance and incredible value for 5-Axis visualization and simulation.

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Download the free trial now!