Learn how to reduce your simulation time from an hour down to just a few seconds!
Optimizing Simulation Speed
When simulating parts and assemblies that contain multiple machining setups, or 4 and 5 axis simultaneous toolpaths, we are often asked to support the Turbo mode simulation as it is faster than the Tool mode simulation. Due to technical reasons this is not possible. However, many users do not realize that the performance of Tool mode simulation can be significantly improved by modifying various simulation parameters.
The following three parameters have the most significant impact on Tool mode simulation performance:
- Hardware rendering,
- Tool mode tolerance, and
- The number of records to process in the Show Animation option.
Executing the Tool Mode simulation on an actual end user programmed part, wit
h an in-house computer, required an hour and 35 minutes using the following settings:
- Hardware rendering - Off
- Cutter coordinates in Message Window - Off
- Tool mode tolerance - .00999mm
- Show Animation - 1 Record
- Stock view - Shaded with Edges
- Tool view - Shaded
- Holder view - Shaded with Edges
- Fixture view - None
- Target part view - None
- Tool collision - Ignore
- Tool Shank collision - Cut Collision
- Tool Holder collision – Ignore
Using the same part and making the following changes reduced the overall time to 3 minutes and 32 seconds!
- Hardware rendering - On
- Tool mode tolerance - .121mm
- Show Animation - 20 Records
- Stock view - Shaded
- Holder view – None
The overall time was reduced to 47 seconds by changing the Show Animation setting to “End”.
That’s how you reduce your simulation time from 1 hour 35 minutes to just 47 seconds!
