Powermill - Automation Solutions by NexGen  

As a service to our Platinum & Enterprise support based customers we offer a host of solutions both custom and canned for the Automation of Autodesk Powermill. These solutions are designed to streamline efficiency and minimize the mundane tasks in your CNC programming work flows. NexGenSolutions Powermill team believes that all things within Powermill are capable and available through the API for customization and will completely implement and train user accompanying projects.

Note: All Automation Projects are subject to NexGenSolutions Powermill Applications Team approval before delivery of sale or PO.     

Custom Macro & Plugin Services: 

Fully customizable services provided with the NexGen Enterprise & Platinum level support packages. Additional consulting and implementation hours may be applied and are available within both packaged offerings at discounts or per an agreed upon quoted project scope within a contract. Nexgen’s advanced Powermill Development team will work with yours to automate any process in your organization to its fullest capability. Often shortening programming and validation times by up to 60%. Each service includes training hours for deployment.         

• UI Customization

  • Custom ribbon interface design catered to your manufacturing processes and utilizing macros, commands, and standard tools in order to fast track your workflow through Powermill.

  • Custom right mouse button click menus within the Powermill Explorer for various commands and macros for your team.  

• Startup File Customization

  • Customization of Powermills startup file to cater the user experience and pre-set default Powermill options, commands, fields, and toolpaths to your team's needs. 

• Machine Tool and Post Selection

  • Custom selection or startup selections for NC Program post selections and options. 

  • Custom machine tool selection for both Post and for verification/simulation of your machines coupled with the posts, along with standard tool template file imports to improve and eliminate the mundane selection options often necessary in the process. 

• Thickness & Levels automation 

• Tooling and Fixture automation

  • Automated Dynamic Vise and Fixture importing via the Vise importer plugin.

    • Automatically apply and position vises, chucks, and plates into your projects utilizing a simple selection based plugin. NexGen’s Powermill team will assist in adding your fixtures and vises to the plugin and simplify the files for easy use.  

  • Several options for FCS or placeable fixture pod components. Customized to your equipment, machines, and component placement needs.    

• Tool Library and Tool Template File Automations

  • Custom template files containing standard tools, holders, and cutting conditions to your materials and programming strategies. 

  • Setup of tool libraries for tooling including tool library migrations. 

• CAM Tool Library Migrations

  • Available on request

    • Fusion to Powermill 

    • HSMWorks to Powermill

    • WorkNC to Powermill

  • Custom quoted options at a project consulting rate

    • Mastercam

    • Esprit  

• Automated Setup & Workplane Alignment

  • Customized macros to start your projects setup needs including proper work plane placement and alignment for multi axis processes 

  • Step by step guidance for setups to any process 

• Custom Toolpathing & Whole Component Programming Automations

  • 5th axis dovetail stock prep

  • Custom stock prep

  • FCS stock prep 

  • Powermill template and strategy import and calculations 

    • NexGen Powermill team members will assist your team in creating template and strategy files from existing projects to apply to other projects as a standard template. 

  • Powermill Electrode wizard 

    • Prep, Plate, and mold base operations

    • Core/Cavity toolpath automations

  • Custom mold and die processes automation

    • Roughing, rest machining, and semi finishing of all mold die components using macros and strategies for your tools, machines, and processes options. Including block assignment, boundary creation, and collision checking throughout the calculation of the toolpaths.

    • Finish toolpath assignments for automated or guided implementation and calculation. 

    • Rib toolpath automation 

    • 5th axis process and toolpath automation     

  • Customization of Powermill drilling methods for automated hole programming of standardized components hole needs. 

  • Implementation and training of the Powermill Hole Wizard Plugin

  • Impeller/blade/black automation 

  • Port and hydraulic block process automation 

  • Full part automation processing per your team's programming standards available upon request and assessment for project scope. 

  • Drag and drop, hands off programming automated processes - upon request and subject to project quotation          

• Custom Renaming and Post Processing Macros

  • Customized naming convention macros for toolpaths, NC programs, folders, holes, workplanes, and tools to rename each component within your Powermill projects after creation. Saving time and standardizing your shops Powermill projects.  

• Custom Feeds and Speeds macros - (Projects subject to NexGen evaluation before sale) 

  • Calculation by calculators 

  • Setting of cutting conditions by macro

•  Customized setup sheets or Work instruction Plugins 

• Workflow ,API, & Plugin interfaces 

Available Canned User Macros & Plugins: 

 Individual standard process macros for your team to customize and use in house are available on request for NexGenSolutions Platinum and enterprise support customers. Requests can be made directly or through a support ticket. All macros are as is and any customization is subject to approval of the Nexgen Powermill team.

Disclaimer warning! Please be advised that all standard plugins and macros may have settings and options configured to default or test bench selections. Consequently, results may vary, and users assume full responsibility for any outcomes.

NexGenSolutions will not be held responsible for the results obtained through the use and/or implementation of these tools.

Kindly note that additional fees, time, and materials may be necessary for implementation or support beyond the scope of NexGenSolutions' customized projects.     

• Autodesk Powermill Hole Wizard (Plugin) 

• Vise importer (Plugin) 

• HSM/Fusion Tool Importer (Plugin)

• Excel Setup sheet (Plugin)

• Head Prewind 5th Axis (Plugin)

• Machine Simulation Import

• Standard Post options setting 

• Toolpath Template/strategy Import 

• Standard Leeds and Links preset/Reset 

• Connection Moves Standard 

• Safe Plane Reset 

  • 3D & 5th Axis available

• Set Start End Points Above Model 

• Block Setting

  • Block Shrink-wrap

  • Block Plus 

  • Block Shrink-wrap Cylinder

• Template File Open (Macros)

• IMPORT MACHINETOOL FILESELECTOR

• Gouge_Collision_Check_Selected 

• Model Select 

• Create Levels Standard

• Delete_Stockmodel

• SelectWholeComponent

• Axial Offset Steps

• Thickness_Step

• Activate_Toolpath_From_NCProgram

• AppendToolpaths

• CentreLinePatternU

• CentreLinePatternV

• 5th axis from pattern Auto

• Sort Holes by Diameter

• Select_Flat_and_Vertical_Surfaces

• Multiple-3plus2-WorkplanesZXY&XY

• Create_Both_5Axis_2_Solutions (2)

• Align2Tool

• Align2View

• Test Jog 5th Axis

• SaveProjectWithModelNameAndPath

• DeleteAll-ResetForms

• Rename_Tools

• Rename _Toolpaths

• Circle Segment Optimization 

• Tool or holder from solid profile

• From Pattern Angle Offset