Mastercam Port Expert
Mastercam Port Expert is a Mastercam add-on designed for multiaxis machining of internal channels and other hard-to-reach tubular geometries. It generates roughing and finishing toolpaths from surface or solid geometry and automatically controls the tool axis based on the shape of the channel.
Port Expert is suitable for machining engine cylinder-head intake and exhaust ports, as well as other internal fluid-flow passages. A channel can be machined from one end or from both ends when the entire geometry cannot be reached from a single direction.
Mastercam Port Expert for Multiaxis Machining of Internal Channels
Machining internal channels is challenging because the tool must reach deep inside the part while the channel shape, tool reach, and surrounding geometry limit the available tool orientations. Mastercam Port Expert is specifically designed for CAM programming of this type of geometry.
The toolpath can be generated from the channel’s surface or solid geometry. The programmer defines the channel to be machined, the tool to be used, the geometry to avoid, and the machining settings. Port Expert then generates a multiaxis toolpath that follows the shape of the channel.
The channel can be machined from one end or from both ends. When machining from both directions, the toolpaths can be created to meet in a controlled manner inside the channel. This is particularly useful for long, curved, or otherwise difficult-to-access channels.
During roughing, Port Expert can account for the remaining stock and generate toolpaths accordingly. During finishing, the tool’s direction of travel can be defined to follow the channel’s flow direction or run perpendicular to it, depending on the part geometry and the desired machining method.
Automatic Tool Axis Control for Channel Machining
Port Expert automatically controls the tool axis orientation based on the channel geometry, tool reach, and accessibility. The tool orientation is changed only when required by the shape of the channel or the surrounding geometry.
Three-axis motion can be used as far as the channel geometry allows. When accessibility requires it, the tool axis is tilted and machining transitions to multiaxis motion. This helps reduce unnecessary rotary-axis movement and keeps machining as simple as possible in areas where multiaxis motion is not needed.
Collision control can account for the tool, shank, holder, remaining stock, and other avoidance geometry. The tool axis can be tilted automatically to reach difficult-to-access areas and avoid collisions.
Automatic axis control reduces the need to define the tool orientation manually at different points along the channel. This is especially helpful when programming deep, curved channels that change direction, where the tool orientation must continuously change relative to the part.
Contact us if you want to program internal channels with Mastercam Port Expert.
