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Developed by CNC Software, Mastercam's Port Expert add-on is designed to create accurate, efficient engine cylinder head porting toolpaths on port surface or solid data. It uses a lollipop tool and has collision checks for the entire tool (shank, arbor and holder).

The software tool features multiple cutting options, enabling the user to cut the top or bottom only, or specify how much stock to leave on the entire port. Toolpaths use three-axis machining as far into the port as possible, then convert automatically to five-axis motion with minimum tilt. This leaves no fishtails or inefficient reverse moves, and smoothly transitions where the toolpaths meet at the middle of the port, the company says.

The software provides both roughing and finishing toolpaths to make ports from castings or billets. It automatically calculates optimal tilt angles so there is no need to split the surface or create tool-axis control splines, and it creates toolpaths on triangulated or stitched surfaces, eliminating the need for a one-piece surface. Mastercam’s simulation proceeds step-by-step through the toolpath, even showing the motion used in transition at the middle of the port. It generates five-axis code that can run virtually any CNC machine.