Post Processor with Optional Simulation

3DEXPERIENCE Creo FeatureCAM Fusion 360 Mastercam NX_CLS NX_ICAM PowerMill

Post Processor Only

Cadds5 Cadra Camand CAMWorks Cimatron Em Machine Generic GibbsCAM hyperMILL Icam IDEAS Intercim Intergraph NCCS NCLCAM NICAM NX_CLF Pathtrace SurfCAM TopSolid

Copyright © 2026 Icam Technologies Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


Integration Utility Kit Return to previous

ICAM MFGExtractor for FeatureCAM




ICAM MFGExtractor for FeatureCAM

Overview

Thanks for choosing Icam Post, the NC post-processing product from Icam Technologies Corporation.

ICAM unified manufacture extractor, automatically retrieves all necessary information (include tool path, process, machine setup, tools, product geometries etc.) from FeatureCAM to run the Adaptive Post-Processing, Simulation and Optimization sequence.

Prequisite

Start Extractor

Extractor is integrated as standard FeatureCAM plugin:

Select product release to use

If more than one ICAM product release were set for this FeatureCAM version, a window will appear with radio buttons. Select the ICAM version to launch, then press OK.

ICAM Manufacture Extractor


Extractor Tree Nodes

Using the Extractor

Typical interaction with the ICAM Extractor UI window includes:

  1. Verifying the simulation resource tree components. If any changes are required, right-click to reassign:
    • Simulation Setup: Select another CAM-POST database.
    • ICAM Resources: Select another PP, VM or CE contained in the same database.
    • Cutter Location Source File: Select another CL file or NC program.
    • Mounting Reference: Select a different coordinate system defined in NX.
    • Product Geometry Group components: Reassign elements as Part, Stock, Fixture or None.
    • The VM Tool Axis: Select a different axis if multiple tool axes are defined in VM.
  2. Verifying the Working Directory at the bottom of the UI (select a different folder if required)
  3. Verifying the Tolerance settings in the upper-right area of the UI:
    • VM tolerances (Gouge, Collision, Facet, Tool path).
    • STL tolerances (Part, Stock, Fixture)
  4. Selecting the checkboxes for fixture and tool offset calculation
    • Machine base offset include the offset between stock axis and tool axis in VM model while calculating the fixture offset. This fixture offset is listed in the Base & Fixture Compensation table.
    • Base offset as #Base list the above offset as a separate base offset and not in the programmed fixture offset. The base offset and fixture offset are listed separately in the Base & Fixture Compensation table.
    • Use tool# as Offset# use the tool number as the tool length compensation number for VM’s tool compensation table.
  5. Selecting miscellaneous options:
    • Copy CL source cope the CL file/ NC tape to the simulation folder.
    • Simulate By Program changes how the Program Group is organized in the extractor tree and how simulation job files are created (one per program).
    • Use Cam Folder changes the path of simulation folder to be the same as CAM part file folder.
    • Regenerate STL re-outputs STL files when the extractor runs the job again, even if STL files are already present.

VM Tolerance Selection

VM tolerances are used to calculate material removal during simulation.

STL tolerances are used to output STL files from NX.

Several sets of tolerance values can be saved for different VM models by pressing Save as.

Launching the Simulation Job

Three ICAM simulation options are available to launch from the Extractor UI:

The launch options will depend on the selected modes in the box above. The remaining buttons are:

Preference options

More options are available under the preference options window. To access this window, you must right-click the extractor top bar, using the selection window, go to preference options.


This window provide additional options which are either generic or specific to a CAM system, shown in bracket.

General Settings
Back to top