<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  VisualCAM FAQs > General Training > How to: Simulate a Toolpath

VisualCAM allows you to simulate your toolpath to see the cut material removal and in-process stock.

Here are the basic steps to simulate a toolpath:

1.First create a toolpath to simulate and make sure the toolpath has generated cleanly.  Each toolpath when generated is listed under a Setup in the Machining Job.  If the operation is flagged it means that it needs to be regenerated and cannot be simulated yet.

2.From the Machining Job, select the operation that you want to simulate.

3.Select the Simulate tab.  Its located to the right of the Program tab.

4. Pick the Play button to run the simulation.

5. You can toggle off the toolpath to see the resulting in-process stock model by selecting the Toggle Toolpath Visibility icon from the base of the Machining Browser.

6.You can slow down the simulation by adjusting the slider located on the Simulate tab menu.  You can further slow down the simulation by un-checking Simulate by Moves from the Simulate tab menu.

7. You can fast-forward to the end of the simulation by selecting Pause and then To End.

8. To see each cut motion one at a time, you can select the Step button.

9. You can set simulation preferences by selecting Preferences from the Simulate tab menu.

10. You can apply a Stock Material texture to the simulation by selecting the Toggle Material Texture Visibility icon from the base of the Machining Browser.

11.If the in-process Stock does not display on the screen during the simulation, make sure you have simulated all previous operations that appear in the Machining Job.