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Jeff Quinn
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Guide
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lesson 1: Mastercam for SolidWorks—Getting Started
Lesson 2: Contour Toolpaths—Part 1
Lesson 3: Contour Toolpaths—Part 2
Lesson 4: Pocket Toolpaths
Lesson 5: Advanced Pocket Toolpaths
Lesson 6: Manual Drill Toolpaths
Lesson 7: FBM Drill Toolpaths
Lesson 8: 2D (HST) High Speed Toolpaths
Lesson 9: Miscellaneous 2D Toolpaths
Lesson 10: FBM Mill Toolpaths
Lesson 11: 3D (HST) High Speed Toolpaths—Part 1
Lesson 12: 3D (HST) High Speed Toolpaths— Part 2
Lesson 13: Assembly Toolpaths: Configurations
Lesson 14: Assembly Toolpaths: Replacing Parts
Page
1!1
2!1
3!1
4!1
5!1
6!1
7!1
8!1
9!1
10!1
11!1
12!1
13!1
14!1
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—1
LESSON 3 ! CONTOUR TOOLPATHS ! PART 2
INTRODUCTON:
This lesson builds on the basic procedures you were introduced to in the first Contour lesson. You will gain ex!
perience in additional geometry selection (Chaining) techniques that will allow you to cut most Contour shapes
you come across. The toolpaths will consist of several new types of contours.
Overview of Exercise:
In this lesson we will machine the part shown by first Facing the 5.0 X 8.0 stock, then machining the yellow
areas shown by using several different types of 2D contour toolpaths and tools.
NEW CONCEPTS COVERED IN THIS LESSON:
! Facing rough stock
! Multi!pass contour to cut an open pocket shape
! Removing excess stock
! Chamfer contour toolpath
! Multiple techniques for contour chain selection
! Chain Manager options
! Review of basic Mastercam for SolidWorks general workflow procedures
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—2
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—3
Contour Toolpaths ! Additional Reference Information:
REFERENCE INFORMATION: 2D GEOMETRY SELECTION OPTIONS Single Edge: Click the edge. (The Mastercam Chain Manager gives the option to automatically propogate along tangencies.) Multiple Edges: CTRL-Click each edge. (The Chain Manager will display all individual edges. The CHAINS tab will show how Mastercam has connected continuous edges into a single Chain.) Select Tangency: Right Click on Edge and choose the option from the menu. (This will select all of the edges tangent to the one highlighted and put them in the Selection list in the Chain Manager.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—4
Select Loop: Right Click on Edge and choose the option from the menu. (This will select every connecting edge on a face, whether tangent or not. If the wrong Loop is chosen by SolidWorks, click the yellow arrow to toggle to the other option.) Partial Loop: Click the first entity, then CTRL-RIGHT Click on the second entity to choose the option from the menu. NOTE: When CTRL-RIGHT Clicking on the second entity, you must select on the end of the entity nearest the direction you want to close. For more information, see the SolidWorks Help menu. (This will allow a faster method of selecting a large number of individual edges on complicated contours.)
Select Face: Click on a Face. (This will select every individual edge on a face, including interior edges, whether tangent or not. The Chain Manager gives the option to use only outer loop on faces. This is useful if you only want to cut the outer shape.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—5
In this task you will choose the view to machine from
and locate part on the machine. Due to the shape of
the model, there is no good location for the origin. We
will use SolidWorks to create the origin location first.
1. Open the part “CONTOUR 2.SLDPRT”
2. From the SolidWorks Drop!Down View Menu, make
sure View Sketches is selected.
(We will need to see Sketches in a later step.)
3. Select this face and select Insert Sketch from the
pop!up icons or from the SolidWorks Insert menu.
(This will start a new sketch on this top face. The
following steps will have us create a single point at
the theoretical sharp corner of the stock. So we can
locate the machining origin where we want it.)
Process Step 1: Prepare and Orient Model for
Machining
CONTOUR TOOLPATHS ! PART 2 ! TUTORIAL
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—6
4. Rotate the model similar to the view shown and
select both of the edges by pressing the Control key
and selecting these two edges.
5. Select the Point icon from the SolidWorks Sketch
toolbar or from the drop down menu Tools – Sketch
Entities – Point, to create a point entity at the
intersection of the two lines.
(Note: You must select the (2) edges first to get
the point at the intersection.)
6. Exit the Sketch.
(Right Mouse Click and Select Icon.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—7
7. From the Mastercam drop down menu, select
View Manager.
8. View Manager Dialog settings:
9. Select the Geometry button.
10. Rotate the model as needed so you can pick the top
Solid Face to be the Machine View.
11. Rotate XY as desired for Direction.
(We will leave at 0° in this example.)
12. Click OK to accept.
13. Give the new view a Name.
(“2D Machining View” in this example.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—8
14. Set the Current View and Origin equal to this new
view by clicking the “EQUALS” button.
15. Select button to choose the desired Origin Point.
16. Select the sketch point previously created
as shown.
(In order to see this sketch Point,
View Sketches must be on. See Step # 2)
17. Click OK to accept.
18. Click OK to Accept again to exit and save the View
Manager settings dialog.
(The Mastercam Origin should be located on the
point entity as shown.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—9
In this task you will supply Mastercam with information
about tool information and stock size prior to beginning
the machining operations.
19. Select the Mastercam Toolpath Manager Icon from
the Property Manager page.
20. Expand the Properties in the Toolpath Manager.
(Click the plus (+) sign if the Files, Tool Settings
and Stock Setup icons are not visible.)
21. Select the Tool Settings icon
22. Change or confirm the highlighted parameters as
shown:
Process Step 2: Create the Job Setup
REFERENCE INFORMATION For further information on other settings, see the Mastercam Help file by clicking Program # Identifies the program in the output NC machine code. Feed Calculation from tool uses the feed rate, plunge rate, and spindle speed directly from the tool definition. Assign tool numbers sequentially assigns the next available tool number. This option overrides the tool numbers stored in the tool definition. Warn of duplicate tool numbers informs you when a duplicate tool number is entered and displays a description of the duplicate tool. Override defaults with modal values When selected, the default values for any of the checked items will be the value from the previous operation. These override the values found in the toolpath defaults file.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—10
23. Select the Stock Setup tab.
24. Select the icon and then set the Stock View to the
previously created view. (“2D Machining View”)
25. Select the Bounding Box button.
26. Accept the default Bounding Box values as shown:
(In this example, the Stock size will be defined as
the extents of the solid model.)
27. Click OK to accept and close the Machine Group
Properties.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—11
During this section you will select the portions of the
solid model that CNC tool will cut. We will generate 5
separate operations to machine the part in this process
step. These will include:
Facing the Top of the Stock
Open Contour Toolpath with Multiple Passes
Partial Contour Toolpaths
Contour the Entire Outside Periphery
Chamfer the top edge
Facing the Top of the Stock
28. Select Facing Toolpaths from the Mastercam
Drop Down Menu or Command Manager.
(Facing operations will machine the entire top
surface of the model to prepare for subsequent
operations.)
29. Rotate model as needed and select the top face as
shown:
(Note: In this example, the shape is simple enough
to allow selecting the top face. In other cases,
additional sketching may be required to define the
stock shape for the facing operation.)
30. Click OK to accept and close the Chain Manager.
(In facing operations, the entire boundary must be
closed and the facing tool cuts inside the boundary,
so chaining direction and cut side is not required to
be set in this example.)
Process Step 3: Toolpath Selection and
Generation
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—12
31. When prompted, enter a name for the NC program
we are going to create.
(“CONTOUR 2” is used in this lesson.)
32. Click OK to accept and close the NC name dialog
box.
33. Facing Toolpath Parameters Dialog Box Preview:
(In the following steps we will be setting the
parameters to make our Facing toolpath.)
34. Toolpath Type:
Facing
35. Tool:
Select Library Tool
(We will choose a 2” Face Mill from the Library of
tools provided by Mastercam.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—13
36. Select the Filter button.
(The Filter button will allow searching through the
tool library for a specific tool type to make it easier
and quicker to find the desired tool.)
37. Select the None button.
(This will de!select all tool types to clear the filter.)
38. Select the Face Mill tool type.
(You can hover your cursor over the icons to see
what tool type is represented by each icon.)
39. Confirm that the rest of your settings match the
screenshot as shown and click OK to accept.
40. Select the 2” Face Mill from the filtered list and
click OK to accept.
41. Other Tool settings:
(Tool numbers should be automatically assigned
from our Job Setup settings.)
Rapid Retract = Selected
Comment: (Enter a description of what the toolpath
does. This will be part of the NC program to assist
the operator of the machine identify what this part
of the program does.)
In this example we inserted “FACE OFF THE TOP OF
THE STOCK”
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—14
42. Cut Parameters:
Style = Zigzag
Across overlap = 25%
Along overlap = 110%
Approach distance = 0
Exit distance = 0
Move between cuts = High speed loops
43. Linking Parameters values:
Clearance = 2.0 (Absolute)
Retract = .25 (Absolute)
Feed Plane = 0.1 (Incremental)
Top of Stock = 0.0 (Absolute)
Depth = 0.0 (Absolute)
(Depth value is set from the value of the selected
faces. In this case, Absolute depth of the top face is
at Z 0.0)
44. Set Coolant value:
Flood = ON
45. Click OK to accept the Facing Toolpath parameters
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—15
46. Results of Facing parameters:
47. Select the Operation and Backplot and/or Verify
the toolpath operation to confirm your results.
Open Contour Toolpath with Multiple Passes
(In this operation we will remove the cutout area using
Contour toolpath.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—16
48. Before starting the next operation, turn off the
toolpath display for the Facing operation.
(This will remove selected toolpaths to make it
easier to view and select the model edges for the
next operation.)
49. Select Contour Toolpaths from the Mastercam X4
Drop Down Menu or from the Command Manager.
50. Rotate the model as shown, then Right Mouse Click
on the edge Shown and choose Select Tangency.
(We are using the SolidWorks selection option to
select all of the entities that are Tangent to this
edge instead of selecting each entity individually.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—17
51. Results:
(You should have 5 edges in the selection list. If you
do not have all 5, you may select the missing edge
from the model or Right Mouse click in the box and
Clear Selections to try again.)
52. Select Chains tab in the Chain Manager.
(Notice that all 5 edges have been combined into
one continuous chain automatically by Mastercam
for SolidWorks.)
53. Click on “Chain 1” in the Chains Selection box.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—18
54. Verify the Direction of cut and Cut side of the
selected chain by selecting the icons.
(Match screenshot shown to Climb Cut
the contour.)
55. Click OK to accept the Chains and close the Chain
Manager.
56. Contour Toolpath Parameters Dialog Box:
(In the following steps we will be setting the
parameters to make our toolpath.)
57. Toolpath Type:
Contour
REFERENCE INFORMATION Change Sides changes which side of the selected chain the cutter will travel. Delete Chain deletes the currently selected chain(s) from the list. Analyze Chain provides technical information about the selected chain. Reverse Chain changes the selected chain cut direction. Rename Chain allows changing the name from Chain #1, etc. to a more meaningful name to help user recall the purpose of the chain. Start Point allows user to change the start point by scrolling through each possible chain point. End Point allows user to change the end point by scrolling through each possible chain point.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—19
58. Tool:
Select Library Tool
(We will choose a ½” Flat Endmill from the
Library of tools provided by Mastercam.)
59. Select the Filter button.
(The Filter button will allow searching
through the tool library for a specific
tool type to make it easier and quicker
to find the desired tool.)
60. Select the None button.
(This will de!select all tool types to clear the filter.)
61. Select the Flat Endmill tool type.
(You can hover your cursor over the icons to see
what tool type is represented by each icon.)
62. Confirm that the rest or your settings match the
screenshot as shown and click OK to accept.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—20
63. Select the 1/2 Flat Endmill from the
filtered list and click OK.
64. Other Tool settings:
Rapid Retract = Selected
Comment: “REMOVE THE OPEN POCKET AREA”
65. Cut Parameter Settings:
Compensation = Wear
Stock to leave on walls = .005
(We will leave .005 for final clean!up contour
operation we will add later. Confirm other settings
match the default values as shown.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—21
66. Lead In/Out Settings:
Lead In/Out = Selected
Entry = Selected
Entry Line Tangent = 30%
Entry Arc Radius = 30%
Select the Double Arrow to copy all values to the
Exit Values.
67. Set Break Through values as shown:
Break through = Selected
Break through amount = 0.05
68. Set Multi Passes settings as shown:
Multi Passes = Selected
Rough = 3
Spacing = .25
Finish = 0
Spacing = 0
Keep tool down = Selected
(Since there is no danger of cutting through the part
in this toolpath, it is more efficient to keep the tool
down.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—22
69. Set the Linking Parameters values as shown:
Clearance = 2.0 (Absolute)
Retract = .25 (Absolute)
Feed Plane = 0.1 (Incremental)
Top of Stock = 0.0 (Absolute)
Depth = 0.0 (Incremental)
(Depth value is set from the value of the chained
edges. Incremental value is used in case there are
multiple edges are at different depths. Incremental
values always display 0.0)
70. Set Coolant value:
Flood = ON
71. Click OK to accept the Contour Toolpath Parameters.
72. Results:
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—23
73. Select the Operation and Backplot and/or Verify
the toolpath operation to confirm your results.
(If your verify does not look like this result, click the
Parameters icon under the Contour operation in the
Mastercam Operations Manager and confirm your
settings are correct. Then Regenerate the toolpath.)
Partial Contour Toolpaths
(In this Contour operation we will remove the excess
material at the four corners of the stock.)
74. Before starting the next operation, turn off the
toolpath display for the Contour operation you just
completed.
75. Select Contour Toolpaths from the Mastercam
Drop Down Menu or from the Command Manager.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—24
76. Rotate the model as shown and select the 3
individual edges as highlighted.
77. Rotate the model so you can select 3 more edges
from the next angled corner of the model.
78. Repeat rotating the model and selecting the edges
for all 4 angled corners. When complete, you
should have 12 edges listed in the Selection list.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—25
79. Select the Chains tab in the Chain Manager.
(Notice once again the Mastercam has combined
the 12 edges into 4 separate chains.)
80. Click on Chain 1 in the Chains Selection Box.
81. Verify the direction of cut and cut side of the
selected chain by selecting the icons.
(Cut side and direction should match screenshot so
we Climb Cut the contours.)
82. Repeat for Chain 2, Chain 3, and Chain 4. Make sure
cut side and cut direction matches the screenshot.
(We want to make sure the cutter is on the outside
of the part and moves in direction shown so we
Climb Cut the contours.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—26
83. Click OK to accept the Chains to close the Chain
Manager.
84. Contour Toolpath Parameters Dialog Box.
(Most settings should remain correct from the
previous contour operation.)
Confirm the following Settings. All others set as in
screenshot or as desired:
85. Toolpath Type = Contour
86. Tool = ½ “ Flat Endmill
Rapid Retract = ON
Comment = “Remove excess stock from corners”
87. Cut Parameters:
Compensation type = Wear
Compensation Direction = Left
Contour Type = 2D
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—27
88. Depth Cuts = OFF
89. Lead In/Out:
Entry = Selected
Entry Line = Tangent
Length = 30%
Entry Arc Radius = 30%
Arc Sweep = 30 degrees
Exit moves should be same as Entry
90. Break Through = Selected
Break through amount = .05
91. Multi Passes = Selected
Rough = 2
Rough Spacing = .25
Finish = 0
Finish Spacing = 0
Keep tool down = OFF
(Note: in this case, we must turn off Keep tool down
to avoid the tool cutting through the part as it moves
to the next corner.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—28
92. Linking Parameters
Clearance = 2.0 (Absolute)
Retract = .25 (Absolute)
Feed plane = .01 (Incremental)
Top of Stock = 0.0 (Absolute)
Depth = !0.5 (Absolute)
93. Coolant:
Flood = On
94. Click OK to accept the Contour Toolpath Parameters
95. Results:
96. Select the Operation and Backplot and/or Verify
the toolpath operation to confirm your results.
(If your verify does not look like this result, click the
Parameters icon under the Contour operation in the
Mastercam Operations Manager and confirm your
settings are correct.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—29
Contour the Entire Outside Periphery
(In this Contour operation we will run a clean!up contour
around the entire outside edge of the part.)
97. Before starting the next operation, turn off the
toolpath display for the Contour operation you just
completed.
98. Select Contour Toolpaths from the Mastercam
Drop Down Menu or from the Command Manager.
99. Rotate the model as shown then Right Mouse Click
on the edge and choose Select Loop.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—30
100. Make sure the arrow has the correct loop selected.
If it is incorrect, click on the arrow to select the
alternate loop option.
(Confirm the arrow has selected the bottom edge
loop as shown in the screenshot.)
101. Select the Chains tab in the Chain Manager.
102. Click on Chain 1 in the Chains Selection Box.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—31
103. Verify the direction of cut and cut side of the
selected chain by selecting the icons.
104. Move the Start Point to the corner shown by
clicking the Start Point Icon until it matches
screenshot.
105. Click OK to accept the Chains and close the Chain
Manager.
106. Contour Toolpath Parameters Dialog Box.
(Most settings should remain correct from the
previous contour operation.)
Confirm the following Settings:
107. Toolpath Type = Contour
108. Tool = ½ “ Flat Endmill
109. Cut Parameters:
Compensation type = Wear
Compensation Direction = Left
Contour Type = 2D
110. Lead In/Out:
Entry = Selected
Entry Line = Tangent
Length = 30%
Entry Arc = 30%
Exit moves should be same as Entry
111. Break Through = Selected
Break through amount = .05
112. Multi Passes = OFF
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—32
113. Linking Parameters
Clearance = 2.0 (Absolute)
Retract = .25 (Absolute)
Feed plane = .01 (Incremental)
Top of Stock = 0.0 (Absolute)
Depth = !0.5 (Absolute)
114. Coolant:
Flood = On
115. Click OK to accept the Contour Toolpath Parame!
ters.
116. Results:
117. Select the Operation and Backplot and/or Verify
the toolpath operation to confirm your results.
(Note: the screenshot shown is a Verify of just the
finish contour operation.)
Chamfer the top edge
(In this Contour operation we will run a clean!up
Chamfer contour around the entire top edge of the part.
We will select our geometry Chain at the bottom edge
of the chamfer.)
118. Before starting the next operation, turn off the
toolpath display for the Contour operation you
just completed.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—33
119. Select Contour Toolpaths from the Mastercam
Drop Down Menu or from the Command Manager.
120. Rotate the model as shown then Right Mouse Click
on the edge at the bottom of the chamfer and
choose Select Tangency.
121. Since there is a sharp corner where the inside
cutout starts, the selection stops. To get the rest
of the edges, rotate the model again as shown
and Right Mouse Click the next edge and choose
Select Tangency.
(You should now have 21 Edges in the Selection
list.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—34
122. Select the Chains tab in the Chain Manager.
123. Click on Chain 1 in the Chains Selection Box.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—35
124. Verify the Cut Direction, Cutter Side and Start
Point of the selected chain by selecting the icons.
(Make arrow directions match screenshot.)
125. Click OK to accept the Chains and close the Chain
Manager.
126. Contour Toolpath Parameters Dialog Box.
(Most settings should remain correct from the
previous contour operation.)
Confirm the following Settings for each category:
127. Toolpath Type = Contour
128. Tool :
½ “ Chamfer Mill
(User Filter as needed to locate the Chamfer Mill
tool.)
129. Cut Parameters:
Compensation type = Wear
Compensation Direction = Left
Contour Type = 2D Chamfer
Width = 0.06
Tip Offset = 0.1
(Match other parameters as shown.
Note: the 2D Chamfer toolpath is a special type of
contour that compensates for the chamfer size. It
has been designed to calculate from a Depth of
0.0. We will set this value in upcoming step.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—36
130. Lead In/Out:
Entry = Selected
Entry/Exit at midpoint in closed contours = OFF
Entry Line = Tangent
Length = 30%
Entry Arc = 30%
Exit moves should be same as Entry
(Set other values as desired or as shown.)
131. Break Through:
OFF
132. Multi Passes:
OFF
133. Linking Parameters
Clearance = 2.0 (Absolute)
Retract = .25 (Absolute)
Feed plane = .01 (Incremental)
Top of Stock = 0.0 (Absolute)
Depth = Type in Value = 0 (Absolute)
(Note – The chamfer toolpath is designed to calcu!
late the correct depth from an input value of 0.0, so
we need to enter this value even though our
chained geometry was at a different depth.)
134. Coolant:
Flood = On
135. Accept the Contour Toolpath Parameters.
136. Results:
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—37
With this step, we will view all operations in the
completed toolpath on the computer screen to confirm
that we have the results we expected before we send
the NC code to the machine. This step will help avoid
costly mistakes.
Backplot the toolpath.
(Backplotting is the quickest way to confirm the
toolpath. With backplot, you do not see material being
removed, you only see tool motion compared to the
finished part.)
137. Make sure ALL operations of the toolpath are
selected.
138. Select the Backplot button.
139. Play the toolpath.
(These buttons are similar to a video recorder.
You can hover your cursor over each button to
see what their function is.)
Process Step 4: Backplot and Solid Verify the
Entire Toolpath
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—38
140. Backplot results:
141. Solid Verify the toolpath:
142. Make sure ALL toolpaths are selected.
143. Select the Verify button.
REFERENCE INFORMATION Display with Color Codes Shows the toolpath moves using the color codes from the Backplot Options. Display Tool Toggles the tool on and off Display Holder Toggles the tool holder on and off. Display Rapid Moves Includes the rapid moves in the backplot. Display Endpoints Shows the entity endpoints in the toolpath. This allows you to see how many tool moves actually occur. Display Quick Verify Displays a shaded path the width of the tool as the backplot progresses. Options Opens the backplot options dialog.
Details Gives tool location and other information
during the backplot.
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—39
144. Select to display the Holder and Tool.
145. Play the toolpath.
146. Results from Verify:
(Completed Toolpath)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—40
(Mastercam for SolidWorks allows you to make changes
to your geometry and any parameters or settings
without requiring you to start over.
In this example, an Engineering Change Order requires
the slot to change dimensions. We will make the
necessary modifications and make the required changes
to get a correct new toolpath.)
ENGINEERING CHANGE ORDER:
A. Slot dimension to change from 2” wide by 1.75”
deep to 2.5” wide by 2.5” deep.
147. Double Click on an interior face of the slot on the
solid model to display the parametric dimensions.
Process Step 5: Making Changes—Editing the Toolpath
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—41
148. Double click on the text of the first dimension
value to be changed.
149. Change the dimension to the new value.
(In this example the 2.00 dimension needs to
be changed to 2.50)
150. Click the Regenerate button to rebuild the
solid with the new value.
151. Click OK to accept the new value.
152. Change the 1.75 dimension to the new value
by repeating the procedure.
(In this example the 1.75 value needs also
needs to be changed to 2.50)
153. Results:
(Make sure your model matches the
screenshot shown.)
Mastercam for SolidWorks Step!by!Step Programming Exercises
Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—42
154. Regenerate the toolpath to see the updated
toolpath.
(Note: Since we did not change the overall
dimensions of the model size, we will not need
to update the Stock Setup on this example.)
Select All Operations in the Operations
Manager.
155. Regenerate all Selected Operations.
156. Solid Verify all operations.
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Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—43
157. Results of Verify:
(NOTE: The dimensional changes caused a
problem with removing all of the material from
the open contour area. We will need to make
a change to the parameters to fix this.)
158. Select the Parameters icon under Operation
#2 from the Operations Manager.
(Note: Operation #2 is the operation that cuts
the open pocket area. You can confirm this by
hovering your cursor over the operation and
reading the comment we previously input to
identify this operation.)
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159. Set the Multi Passes parameters as shown:
Rough Number = 4
(All other parameters should remain as shown.)
160. Click OK to accept and close the parameter dialog.
161. Click the icon to Select all Dirty Operations.
(Since we changed parameters, Mastercam
recognizes the toolpath needs to be regenerated
and marks it as “Dirty” in the Operations
Manager.)
162. Select the icon to Regenerate all Dirty Operations.
163. Repeat Solid Verify procedures.
(Select all operations then Solid Verify all
Selected operations.)
164. New Modified Verify results:
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Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—45
We now will take the toolpath information we have
created and post process it to a language that the
machine tool can read.
165. Select the operations to Post Process.
(Usually we will select ALL Operations to post.)
166. Select to Post Selected Operations.
Process Step 6: Post Process the Program to
Generate NC Code
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Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—46
167. Set the Post Processing options as shown:
168. Click OK to accept and Post Process the toolpath.
169. Give the program a name.
(CONTOUR 2.NC is used in this example.)
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170. Resulting NC Code:
171. Close the Mastercam X Editor Window.
172. SAVE your SolidWorks file.
SUMMARY:
In this lesson, you added to your experience in the basic procedures of cutting contour shapes with Mastercam
for SolidWorks. You experienced multiple new ways to select geometry to identify chains to cut and created a
program with multiple operations. After completing this lesson and the practice exercises that follow you
should be able to:
! Select multiple sets of individual edges to create Chains to generate Contour toolpaths.
! Select Tangent edges to create Chains.
! Select Loop edges to create Chains.
! Face extra stock from the top of a part.
! Create a cleanup contour pass around the outside of a part.
! Chamfer edges of a part.
! Cut an open pocket area with multiple contour passes.
! Remove areas that have additional stock with multiple contour passes.
! Verify using Backplot and Solid Verify multiple operations.
! Modify parameters and solid model dimensions and have the toolpath update parametrically.
! Create NC code to send to the machine.
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Lesson 3
Lab Exercise #1
Lab Exercise Instructions:
Program the part above (Contour2!Lab 1.SLDPRT) with the following requirements:
1. Use View Manager to create and setup the machining view and locate the origin
2. Job Setup Notes/Tips:
Stock Size = Bounding Box
Locate Origin at Corner of Stock
3. Operations:
Remove excess material from the angled corners (Tool = 1” Flat Endmill)
Contour the entire outside periphery (Tool = 1” Flat Endmill)
Chamfer the top edge to remove sharp corners (Tool = 1/2” Chamfer Mill)
4. Run Backplot and Solid Verify to confirm results
5. Create G!code for NC machine
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Lesson 3
Lab Exercise #2
Job Description:
Incorporate the changes to the Contour 2 Hands!on exercise you completed during the lesson.
An Engineering change order modifies:
1. The 8.00 length dimension needs to be changed to 6.00.
2. The .06 X 45° Chamfer needs to be changed to .125 X 45° Chamfer.
Lab Exercise Instructions:
1. Modify the Part model to the new dimensions shown and listed above.
2. Use View Manager to relocate the origin.
3. Use Job Setup to redefine the stock size (Bounding Box)
4. Update parameters as needed to make a correct part.
5. Run Backplot and Solid Verify to confirm results
6. Create G!code for NC machine
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Contour Toolpaths —Part 2 Lesson 3 Page 3—50
Lesson 3
Lab Exercise #3
Lab Exercise Instructions:
1. Open the part CONTOUR2!LAB 3.SLDPRT.
2. Use View Manager to create and setup the machining view and locate the origin.
3. Job Setup Notes/Tips:
Stock Size = Bounding Box
Locate Origin at Corner of Stock
4. Operations:
Multi!pass Contour to remove the material from the two flat relieved areas. (Tool = 1” Flat Endmill)
Contour the entire outside periphery (Tool = 1” Flat Endmill)
Chamfer the top edge to remove sharp corners (Tool = 1/2” Chamfer Mill)
5. Run Backplot and Solid Verify to confirm results
6. Create G!code for NC machine