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Vericut USA’s (CGTech, Irvine, Calif., U.S.) release of Icam Suite V26 delivers major enhancements to postprocessing automation, tool and diagnostic management and tighter integration with Vericut to improve manufacturing efficiency and precision.

The company offers Vericut simulation, optimization and composite software to optimize composites manufacturing. Icam V26, which is paired , offers advanced software for both programming and simulation of automated composite processes.

Icam V26 introduces additional features to simplify setup, improve traceability and streamline workflow between NC programming, postprocessing and simulation, all while enhancing safety and reducing programming time.

Icam V26 includes an automatic rotary axis clamping/unclamping algorithm, which now intelligently manages clamping based on axis movement and operation type. It also introduces a look-ahead feature for better control at the start of each operation — enabled through an updated Clamp section in the Questionnaire and new system variables for advanced customization.

To complement this, the release adds $FCLINFO(), a macro function for fast, selective look-ahead of cutter location data. Vericut reports that it offers the benefits of $FINFO() with significantly faster performance.

Diagnostics are now more transparent and configurable. An event macro enables users to intercept and customize diagnostic messages (including warnings, errors and fatal messages) before they are generated. Whether adjusting severity or suppressing non-critical alerts, this gives post developers more control over system messaging.

In addition, discrete color coding for diagnostics has been added to both GENER and CERun, enhancing clarity and helping users quickly distinguish message severity. These colors can be customized through the Preferences dialog.

Icam V26 improves support for tool names during tool changes, enabling consistent tool identification across all Icam products — including Quest, Virtual Machine and NC post-processors. A Questionnaire setting supports NC programs that rely on tool names instead of tool numbers, and a REG_TOOL alias helps ensure proper indexing and referencing.

For users of both Icam and Vericut, V26 also offers a streamlined process for enhanced accuracy and performance. Users can import Vericut Project data directly into the GENER launch panel to set machine limits and tool lengths during postprocessing, without requiring simulation. Feedrates may also be optimized with Vericut Optimizer or Force before postprocessing using a new “Optimizer” tab. This enables GENER to output postprocessed G-code based on the optimized cutter location data, avoiding manual rework and supporting machine shops with strict procedural controls.

Additional Icam V26 enhancements include:

Improved LCS/Auto generation. Improved activation of tilted plane on multiaxis drilling and improved compatibility with generated motion paths from path planning, rotary turn-around and SmartPATH.

New SmartPATH command. Improves motion generation on tool change and home reference point when exiting and re-entering the working envelope. Provides the ability to define bounding geometry for safe approach calculation.

Detailed multi-level debugging in GENER. Offers clearer insight into cycles, circular interpolation, threading and SmartCUT behaviors at debug Level 2.

“Icam Suite V26 is about smarter automation and deeper integration,” says Patrice Bastien, R&D manager (postprocessor). “We’re making it easier for manufacturers to configure, control and trust their NC output, while still leveraging the full power of Vericut and Icam together.