CAM Library Component

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Geometry algorithms for CAM application developers

CAM Library provides building blocks for contour processing, offsets, pocketing, mesh sections and geodesic calculations. Developers can combine these algorithms into a manufacturing workflow while retaining control over tool selection, operation sequencing and application behavior.

Planar contours, offsets and pockets

The library converts arbitrary 2D curves into sequences of lines and circular arcs, computes inner and outer offsets of polygonal contours, and generates offset contours within pocket boundaries.

For example, a pocket-processing workflow can begin with a planar boundary, create the required offset contours and pass them to application logic that orders and connects paths. Tool and machine requirements determine how those geometric results become a machining operation.

Sections and paths on triangulated geometry

Capability	Geometric result
Planar sections	Cross-sections extracted from a triangular mesh
Planar outlines	Projections for outline-based processing
Geodesic paths	Paths between points along a triangulated surface
Distance isolines	Lines at specified distances from seed points
Distance fields	Spatial information for further surface-path calculations

These operations can support tasks such as surface inspection planning, cutting-path preparation or custom CAM processing. The application defines the tool behavior and how calculated geometry is interpreted.

Toolpath data structures and reusable operations

The library includes specialized data structures for 2D and 3D toolpaths and contours, together with standard Boolean operations. Results can be passed into other OCCT modeling operations for further processing within the same application.

Pocketing generates sets of offset contours inside the pocket border. Planar outlines provide a projection-style result comparable in purpose to hidden-line outline processing. Geodesic calculations operate on triangulated models to find shortest surface paths, isolines at specified distances from seed points, and distance fields.

These building blocks can be combined for CNC contour preparation, PCB workflows, robotic inspection, laser cutting or welding, CT analysis and additive-manufacturing path planning. Each application defines how geometric paths relate to a tool, probe or deposition process and how the result is converted to the required machine format.

From geometric paths to manufacturing output

A contour or path is an input to a wider process. Specify how tool geometry, clearances, approach/retract moves and machine output are handled by the application. Do not assume a general geometry library supplies the complete machine-specific postprocessor.

For mesh-based interference checks, explore Collision Detection. For graph-native meshing configured for material-removal workflows, see BRepGraph Advance. Use exchange components for the required source CAD format.

Discuss CAM Library evaluation with your input representation, required path operations and how the result will be used downstream.