SolidCAM SolidShop | Everything You Need To Know

SolidShop is a comprehensive suite of manufacturing management tools introduced in SolidCAM 2023 SP3. It is based on the integration of CIMCO products and is designed to provide a complete digital manufacturing ecosystem for CNC machine shops using SolidCAM.

What is SolidShop?

The SolidShop Suite provides a host of functionality depending on your needs. At its core, it is an advanced NC code editor that allows you to back-plot your programs and do complete toolpath verification or simulation. Additionally, SolidShop PDM provides a system to securely control programs and documents alongside their revisions.

SolidShop also has a reliable Direct Numerical Control (DNC) that gives communication between user computers and the CNC machines. This is either to feed programs to the machines without needing to manually transfer the file or to enable real-time machine monitoring of the shop floor productivity.

Key benefits of SolidShop in SolidCAM

• Streamlines CNC programming, management, quoting, and production planning.
• Enhances shop floor communication and document management.
• Provides dashboards for production management and quality control.
• Supports ISO 9001 and AS 9100 audits by managing inspection plans and quality documents.
• Enables real-time machine monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
• SolidShop is fully integrated with SolidCAM, offering a seamless workflow from design and CAM programming to shop floor execution and monitoring, making it a powerful solution for modern CNC machine shops.

SolidShop Editor

The SolidShop Editor in SolidCAM is a powerful tool for CNC programmers and operators, offering several key advantages:

• Comprehensive NC Code Editing: The Editor provides advanced features for editing, comparing, and managing NC code, making it easy to modify and optimize programs.
• Simulation Capabilities: It can simulate CNC cycles, including probing, roughing, turning, threading, and pocket cycles on milling machines. This allows users to visualize and verify changes before running them on the machine, reducing the risk of errors.
• Legacy and Parametric Program Support: The Editor can handle legacy files and parametric programs that may not be compatible with other systems, ensuring flexibility for shops with diverse programming needs.
• Collision and Over-Travel Detection: The Editor can detect collisions and over-travel during simulation, providing an extra layer of safety and confidence before actual machining.
• Cost-Effective G-code Simulation: Compared to other G-code simulation solutions (like Vericut, which can be very expensive), the SolidShop Editor offers similar essential features at a fraction of the cost.
• Operator Empowerment: Operators can use the Editor on the shop floor to generate, simulate, and track G-codes, ensuring that changes made in the office or on the floor are always up to date and traceable.

G-Code Machine Verify

G-Code Machine Verify has a lot of time-saving capabilities your team could leverage.

Some of the key benefits include:

• True G-Code Simulation: It simulates the actual G-code that will be sent to your CNC machine, not just the toolpath generated by the CAM system. This means you see exactly what your machine will do, including all post-processed code, subprograms, and custom macros.
• Error Detection Before Machining: By running a simulation of the real G-code, you can catch errors such as collisions, over-travel, incorrect tool calls, or syntax issues before they reach the machine. This helps prevent costly mistakes and potential machine damage.
• Supports Complex Cycles and Probing: G-Code Machine Verify can simulate complex canned cycles, probing routines, and custom machine logic that may not be visible in standard CAM simulation.
• Confidence for Operators and Programmers: Both programmers and operators can trust that what they see in the simulation is what will happen on the shop floor, reducing the need for dry runs and increasing confidence in the process.
• Saves Time and Money: By verifying the G-code before running it on the machine, you reduce setup time, avoid scrapped parts, and minimize machine downtime.
• Integration with Shop Floor Workflow: G-Code Machine Verify is integrated into the SolidShop suite, making it easy to use alongside other tools for editing, managing, and tracking NC programs.
• Cost-Effective Solution: It provides many of the benefits of high-end G-code verification software at a much lower cost, making advanced simulation accessible to more shops.

Version and Revision Control

SolidShop PDM in SolidCAM is an outstanding solution for CNC machine shops because it is specifically designed for manufacturing environments.

Managing program revisions and changes

It offers several unique advantages:

• Manufacturing-Focused Workflows: Unlike generic PDM systems (such as Teamcenter, Enovia, or SolidWorks PDM), SolidShop PDM is built with CNC programmers and shop floor operators in mind. Its workflows are tailored to the needs of manufacturing, making it intuitive and efficient for managing NC programs, setup sheets, tool lists, and related documents.
• Full Integration with DNC and Shop Floor Systems: SolidShop PDM is fully integrated with DNC software, allowing seamless transfer and management of NC files between the office and the shop floor. This eliminates manual processes like using USB sticks, reducing errors, and improving traceability.
• Single Source of Truth:
  All data, such as programs, documents, revisions, and notes, is stored in a centralized database. Programmers and operators always work with the latest, approved versions, ensuring consistency and reducing the risk of mistakes.
• Change Tracking and Version Control: Every change to a file or document is tracked, and previous versions can be restored if needed. This is critical for quality control, audits, and continuous improvement.
• Dependency Management and Mass Changes: The system tracks dependencies between programs, sub-programs, and tools. For example, if a tool needs to be replaced across multiple programs, you can generate a report of all affected files and make mass changes efficiently.
• Enhanced Communication: Notes and status flags can be attached to programs, making it easy to communicate important information (such as why a program is locked or waiting for a new tool) without relying on paper or informal channels.
• Audit and Compliance Support: SolidShop PDM helps companies prepare for ISO 9001 and AS 9100 audits by providing structured, traceable documentation and process control.
• Scalable and Proven: The system is scalable, allowing shops to start with just PDM and DNC and expand to other modules as needed. It is widely proven in thousands of installations worldwide.
• Operator Empowerment: Operators can access the same data as programmers, make backups, and even roll back changes if necessary, fostering a collaborative and transparent environment.

SolidShop DNC

SolidShop DNC in SolidCAM is an excellent solution for CNC machine shops due to its robust features and practical benefits.

Using DNC to control machines

• Centralized and Secure File Transfer: SolidShop DNC eliminates the need for unreliable and insecure methods like USB sticks, which can introduce viruses and make it difficult to track file transfers. Instead, it provides a secure, centralized way to send and receive NC programs between the office and CNC machines.
• Supports a Wide Range of Machines: The system can connect to up to 4,000 machines, supporting both modern and legacy CNC controls. It works with standard RS232 connections, as well as Wi-Fi and Ethernet for newer equipment, making it highly adaptable to any shop floor.
• Full Traceability and Audit Readiness: Every file transfer is logged, providing a complete history of when and by whom files were sent or received. This is essential for passing ISO audits and maintaining high standards of process control.
• Integration with Shop Floor Devices: SolidShop DNC can interface with not only CNC machines but also other shop floor devices like ovens, furnaces, robots, and conveyors using protocols such as OPC and Modbus. This allows for comprehensive monitoring and data collection across the entire manufacturing process.
• Reduces Human Error: By automating file transfers and providing clear records, SolidShop DNC reduces the risk of sending the wrong program to a machine or losing track of revisions.
• Easy Infrastructure Integration: The system can utilize existing DNC infrastructure if present, or help build new infrastructure as needed. It is flexible enough to fit into any shop’s current setup.
• Scalable and Reliable: Whether you have a small shop or a large facility with thousands of machines, SolidShop DNC is designed to scale and remain reliable.
• Operator-Friendly: Operators can easily receive, send, and manage files directly from the shop floor, improving efficiency and reducing downtime.

Machine Monitoring

SolidShop Machine Monitoring in SolidCAM is a powerful tool for CNC machine shops.

Directly monitoring machine status with SolidShop

It offers several key advantages:

• Real-Time Visibility: It provides live monitoring of machine status, including whether machines are running, idle, or in alarm. This real-time data helps shop managers and operators instantly see what’s happening on the shop floor.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: By collecting and analyzing machine data, you can identify bottlenecks, downtime causes, and inefficiencies. This enables better scheduling, maintenance planning, and resource allocation.
• Improved Productivity: With accurate machine utilization statistics, you can maximize spindle time, reduce idle periods, and increase overall shop throughput.
• Automatic Data Collection: SolidShop Machine Monitoring automatically gathers data from CNC machines and other shop floor equipment using protocols like OPC and Modbus. This eliminates manual data entry and ensures accuracy.
• Customizable Dashboards and Reports: The system offers dashboards and reports that can be tailored for different roles for operators, supervisors, production managers, and even meeting rooms. This makes it easy to share key performance indicators (KPIs) and production status across the organization.
• Supports Continuous Improvement: By tracking trends and historical performance, you can implement lean manufacturing practices, reduce waste, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Audit and Compliance Support: The monitoring data helps with ISO 9001 and AS 9100 audits by providing documented evidence of machine performance and maintenance.
• Integration with Other SolidShop Modules: Machine Monitoring works seamlessly with other SolidShop modules like PDM and DNC, creating a unified ecosystem for shop floor management.
• Operator Empowerment: Operators can see their own performance and machine status, encouraging accountability and proactive problem-solving.

Job and Resource Planning

SolidShop Planner in SolidCAM is a valuable tool for CNC machine shops because it streamlines and optimizes production scheduling and resource management.

Planning jobs based on the current workload

Here’s why it stands out:

• Centralized Scheduling: SolidShop Planner provides a single, unified platform to schedule jobs, machines, and resources. This eliminates confusion from using spreadsheets or whiteboards and ensures everyone is working from the same up-to-date plan.
• Real-Time Updates: The planner is connected to machine monitoring and shop floor data, so schedules automatically update based on actual machine status and job progress. This allows for quick adjustments when priorities or conditions change.
• Visual Job Tracking: It offers clear, visual representations of job queues, machine assignments, and production timelines. This makes it easy to spot bottlenecks, delays, or underutilized resources at a glance.
• Improved On-Time Delivery: By optimizing job sequencing and resource allocation, SolidShop Planner helps ensure that jobs are completed on schedule, improving customer satisfaction and shop reliability.
• What-If Analysis: The system allows you to simulate different scheduling scenarios, so you can see the impact of adding new jobs, changing priorities, or reallocating resources before making decisions.
• Seamless Integration: SolidShop Planner works in harmony with other SolidShop modules like PDM, DNC, and Machine Monitoring, creating a fully integrated digital manufacturing environment.
• Reduced Downtime and Overtime: By balancing workloads and preventing over-scheduling, the planner helps minimize machine downtime and unnecessary overtime, leading to cost savings.
• Easy Communication: Everyone from the office to the shop floor can access the current schedule, reducing miscommunication and ensuring all team members are aligned.

Realize the Power of SolidShop

SolidCAM and SolidShop provide a robust toolset that almost any machine programmer or operator can leverage. From simple 2-axis operations to complex Swiss-style machining or full-stack shop integration, we are here to support that journey. Not matter the use case, SolidCAM has a solution for you.

Ready to implement SolidShop to improve your production processes? Contact us here.