Create a New Probing Operation with SOLIDWORKS CAM

The design process includes many steps to bring an idea from imagination to reality. The last step along this journey is the manufacturing process. This is where the “rubber” meets the road. In this case though, it’s the metal being shaped by the machines. For some parts, the features can be critical with tight tolerances. To better achieve these high levels of precision, SOLIDWORKS CAM 2020 introduced the probe tool. In this week’s Video Tech Tip, we show you how to leverage this tool for your machining operations.

Probing operations are used to reset tool path coordinates. Manufacturing of critical features with tight tolerances requires resetting the coordinate system to achieve the highest levels of precise manufacturing. This enables you to get the most out of your machine.

Setting up a probing operation in SOLIDWORKS CAM is easy. In just a few clicks, you can create a probing operation and associate it with an existing CAM setup. Keep in mind a probing operation is created after you already have some machining set up. In other words, this is used in a more complicated part with tight tolerances. Simply choose the desired probe tool from your library of CAM tools and select previously machined surfaces to add new coordinates for the subsequent machining operation.

Probing opens the door to a new level of precision with SOLIDWORKS CAM. To maintain tight tolerances based on previously machined features, turn to the probe tool to tackle these difficult machining challenges. Check out the video to see this feature in action and learn how the probing tool added to SOLIDWORKS CAM 2020 can enable next-level precision.