Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks Tutorial

8/10/2019 Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks Tutorial

1/100

TUTORIAL


2/100


3/100

Be sure you have the latest information!

Information might have been changed or added since this document was

published. The latest version of this document is installed with Mastercam or

can be obtained from your local Reseller. The ReadMe file (ReadMe.htm)

includes the latest information about new features and enhancements.

Mastercam forSolidWorks TutorialSeptember 2009


4/100


5/100


6/100


7/100

Exercise 5: Backplotting and Verifying the Toolpaths ............. 80

2. FBM Drill .................................................................. 83

Lesson Goals ..................................................................................83

Exercise 1: Creating the Drill Toolpaths .................................. 84

Exercise 2: Customizing the FBM Drill Toolpaths.................... 86

Exercise 3: Backplotting and Verifying the Toolpaths ............. 87


8/100

VI MASTERCAM FOR SOLIDWORKS TUTORIAL


9/100

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks provides Mastercam X4 CAM functionality within SolidWorks.

Inside SolidWorks, you can access many toolpath strategies:

3D high speed (HST) toolpaths

2D feature based machining (FBM) mill toolpaths

2D feature based machining drill toolpaths

Non-FBM high speed 2D toolpaths

Besides these powerful toolpaths, Mastercam for SolidWorks features many supporting functions,

including:

Boundary creation

Part setup (including tool and material managers)

Toolpath transformations

Backplotting

Verification

Post processing

Communications

Thread management

In this tutorial, you learn to use many strategies to apply toolpaths to parts in Mastercam for

SolidWorks.


10/100

2 MASTERCAM FOR SOLIDWORKS TUTORIAL

Tutorial Goals

Set up a part in Mastercam for SolidWorks.

Define a tool plane and stock.

Create 2D High Speed toolpaths.

Create HST milling toolpaths.

Create FBM Mill and Drill toolpaths.

Backplot and verify toolpaths.

Post toolpaths.

Before You Begin

This tutorial focuses on Mastercam for SolidWorks. You can learn more about the standalone

version of Mastercam in theMastercam Getting Started Tutorialseries, which includes the following

modules:

Welcome to Mastercam

Files and Mastercam

Working in the Graphics Window

Basic 2D Design

Basic 2D Machining

For information and availability, please contact your local Mastercam Reseller.

General Tutorial RequirementsBecause each lesson in the tutorial builds on the mastery of preceding lessons skills, we

recommend that you complete them in order. In addition, this tutorial has the following

requirements:

You must be comfortable using the Windowsoperating system.

You must have installed SolidWorks 2009 or higher and Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks.

You must have the part files that accompany this tutorial. You can store them in a folder

with the tutorial or in a location that you prefer.

Preparing for the TutorialBefore you start the tutorial, be sure you have completed the following tasks:


11/100

INTRODUCTION

1 Start SolidWorks using your preferred

method:

Double-click the SolidWorks

desktop icon.

Or

Launch SolidWorks from the

Windows Start menu.

2 In SolidWorks, verify that you have a

Mastercam menu. If you do not have the

Mastercam menu, please refer to

installation instructions in Getting Started

in Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks, which is

included in the Mastercam for SolidWorks

package.

If You Need More Help

There are many ways to get help with Mastercam for SolidWorks, including the following:

Mastercam for SolidWorks HelpAccess Mastercam for SolidWorks Help by selecting Help

Contentsfrom SolidWorkss menu bar.

Mastercam for SolidWorks videosTo see videos of many Mastercam for SolidWorks

features, choose Videosin the Mastercam X4 Help section of the SolidWorks Help menu.

Mastercam for SolidWorks tutorial videosIn your Start menu, under Mastercam X4 forSolidWorks, Documentation, You can find a full set of interactive tutorials that are based

on the lessons in this book.

Context Sensitive HelpMost dialog boxes feature a Help button that opens Mastercam

for SolidWorks Help directly to related information.

Online helpYou can search for information or ask questions on the Mastercam Web

forum, located atwww.emastercam.com.

Mastercam ResellerYour local Mastercam Reseller can help with most questions about

Mastercam for SolidWorks.

Technical SupportCNC Softwares Technical Support department (860-875-5006 or

[email protected]) is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. USA

Eastern Standard Time.

Documentation feedbackFor questions about this or other Mastercam documentation,

contact the Technical Documentation department by e-mail at [email protected]
http://www.emastercam.com/http://www.mastercam.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.mastercamedu.com/http://www.mastercam.com/http://www.emastercam.com/


12/100


Additional Documentation

You can find more information on using Mastercam for SolidWorks in the book Getting Started in

Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks, which is included in the Mastercam for SolidWorks package. You can

also find a PDF version of the book in the \Documentationfolder of your Mastercam for

SolidWorks installation. The default installation path is C:\Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks.


13/100

Section 1

2D Toolpaths


14/100



15/100

L E S S O N

1General Setup - Mold CoreBefore generating toolpaths for a part, you must prepare Mastercam for SolidWorks and the partfile. This preparation includes such tasks as selecting a machine definition and defining a tool

plane. Failure to set up the part correctly will give unpredictable results. This lesson introduces the

tutorial part files for Section 1, 2D Toolpathsand shows how to create a machine group.

Lesson Goals

Explore the part files.

Select a machine.

Copy a toolpath.

About the Mold Core Part

The lessons in this section are based on the MoldCore.SLDPRTfile, which is included with the

tutorial. The following picture shows the part file as it displays in SolidWorks. This demo part

contains nearly 20 operations, which demonstrate many of Mastercam for SolidWorkss 2D

toolpaths.


16/100


This tutorial covers only two of the toolpaths: Facing and Area Mill.

Note: To fully machine the part requires more operations than are described in this book.

The part files included for this portion of the tutorial are:

2DToolpath01.SLDPRTThe tutorial file for starting Lesson 1

2DToolpath02.SLDPRTThe tutorial file for starting Lesson 3

2DToolpathComplete.SLDPRTThe tutorial file after completing Lesson 3

MoldCore.SLDPRTThe fully toolpathed part

Exercise 1: Selecting Your Machine

Toolpaths are contained in Machine groups. For this reason, your part file needs at least one

machine group before you can toolpath the part. Mastercam for SolidWorks automatically creates a

machine group for each machine you select from the Machine Selection menu item. To see howmachine selection works, complete the following exercise.

1 Open the part file 2DToolpath01.SLDPRT,

which was provided with this tutorial.

2 Save the part under the name

2DToolpath01Tutorial.SLDPRT.

Saving the part under a new name helpsprevent your accidentally modifying the

original file.

3 From the Mastercam X4 menu, choose

Machine Selection, and then select your

machine from the submenu.

Mastercam for SolidWorks creates a

machine group for the selected machine.


17/100

GENERAL SETUP - MOLD CORE

TIP: To customize the Machine Selection list, choose Mastercam X4, Machine Selection,

Manage List. For more information on the dialog box that displays, click the dialog boxs

Help button ( ).

4 In the SolidWorks FeatureManager, click

the Mastercam Toolpath Managertab to

display the Toolpath Manager.

Note: The Toolpath Manager in Mastercam for

SolidWorks is nearly identical to the Toolpath

Manager in the standalone version of

Mastercam.

5 Click the 2D High Speed (2D Core Mill)

operation to select it.

A green check mark shows that the

operation is selected.

6 Right-click the selected toolpath, and

choose Cutfrom the menu that displays.

Mastercam for SolidWorks removes the

operation from the Toolpath Manager.

7 Click the toolpath group in your new

machine group.


18/100


8 Right-click the selected toolpath group,

and choose Pastefrom the menu that

displays.

Mastercam for SolidWorks pastes the

operation into your new machine group.

Note: The red arrow in the machine group

indicates where Mastercam will paste the

operation. For Step 8, the red arrow should be

located below the new toolpath group. If its

not, drag it down with your mouse.

9 Right-click Machine Group-1, and select

Groups, Deletefrom the pop-up menu.

Mastercam for SolidWorks removes the old

machine group, leaving only the one you

created.

10 Right-click your new machine group, and

select Groups, Renamefrom the pop-up

menu.

Mastercam for SolidWorks highlights the

current group name.

11 Type a new machine group name.

TIP: The machine group name can be anything you want, but choose a name that describes

the machine and its operations.

12 If the copied operation is dirty (marked

with a red X), click the Regenerate all dirty

operationsbutton.

Mastercam for SolidWorks regenerates the

toolpath for the new machine.

13 Select File, Saveto save the file.


19/100

L E S S O N 2

2The 2D Facing ToolpathThe first toolpath you explore in this tutorial is 2D Facing. Your starting part file,2DToolpath01Tutorial.SLDPRT, already has a single toolpath defined (the 2D Core Mill

operation). In this lesson, you add the facing operation to the part file.

Lesson Goals

Define the parts tool plane.

Set up the parts stock model.

Add the 2D Facing toolpath.

Backplot the toolpaths.

Verify the toolpaths.

Exercise 1: Defining the Tool plane

1 If necessary, open the

2DToolpath01Tutorial.SLDPRT file that

you created in the previous lesson.

2 In the CommandManager, click the

Mastercam X4tab.

The CommandManager displays

Mastercam for SolidWorks commands.

3 Click View Manager.

The View Manager dialog box displays.


20/100


4 Click the Geometrybutton.

The View Manager dialog box minimizes to

uncover the SolidWorks graphics area.

5 Click the upper surface of the parts base,

as shown in the image to the right.

The selected surface becomes highlighted,

and Facedisplays in the Define View

with geometrydialog box, which is

docked on the left side of the SolidWorks

window.

6 Click OK(the green check) in the Define

View with geometrydialog box.

Mastercam for SolidWorks creates a new

view based on your selection, and the View

Manager reappears.

7 Right-click NEW VIEW #1, and choose

Renamefrom the menu that displays.

8 Type MACHINE, and press [Enter].

9 Click in the MACHINE rows Tcolumn.

A Tdisplays in the column, indicating that

MACHINE is now your tool plane.


21/100

THE 2D FACING TOOLPATH 1

10 If necessary, select the Enable origin

option, and then click the Select a new

origin for the selected viewbutton.

The View Manager dialog box again

minimizes to uncover the SolidWorks

graphics area.

11 In the graphics area, click the parts lower-

left corner, as shown in the picture to the

right.

A point named Vertexdisplays in the

Selection dialog box, which is docked on

the left edge of the SolidWorks window.

12 Click OKin the Selection dialog box.

Mastercam for SolidWorks places the new

views origin at the selected point.

13 Click the View Managers OKbutton to

finalize your choices.

You have now defined your parts tool

plane.

Exercise 2: Setting Up the Stock Model

Before Mastercam for SolidWorks can generate toolpaths, it must know the dimensions and

orientation of the stock from which your part will be cut. The following exercise shows how to set u

the stock for your part.

1 In the SolidWorks FeatureManager, click

the Mastercam Toolpath Managertab to

display the Toolpath Manager.


22/100


2 In the machine groups Properties, click

Stock setup. (If necessary, click the +to

expand the options.)

The Stock Setup tab of the Machine Group

Properties dialog box displays.

3 Click the All Entitiesbutton.

Mastercam for SolidWorks calculates the

dimensions of the stock required.

4 Click the OKbutton to close the Machine

Group Properties dialog box.

The stock model shows in the graphics

area with dashed red lines.

Exercise 3: Creating the Facing Toolpath

1 In the Mastercam X4 CommandManager,

click Pocket Toolpaths.

The Chain Manager displays, docked on

the left edge of the SolidWorks window.


23/100


2 Right-click to select the line segement

shown in the picture to the right, and then

choose Select Loopfrom the menu that

displays.

Mastercam for SolidWorks chains the selected geometry, as shown below, and Loop

appears in the Chain Managers Selection tab.

3 Click OKin the Chain Manager to finalize

your choice.

The 2D Toolpaths dialog box displays.

4 In the 2D Toolpaths dialog box:

a Select the Toolpath Typepage.

b Click the Facingtoolpath.


24/100


TIP: Notice the Chain geometrysection in the Toolpath Type page. To the left of the Select

chainsbutton is (1), which means you have specified one chain for the toolpath. The chain

referenced is the one you created in Step 2.

5 In the 2D Toolpaths dialog box:

a Select the Toolpage.

b Select the 5/8 FLAT ENDMILLtool.

6 Set the following options:

a Set Feed rate to 120.

b Set Spindle speed to 6000.

c Select Rapid Retract.

7 Select the Cut Parameterspage, and then:

a Set Across overlap to 50.

b Set Along overlap to 75.

c Set Max stepover to 50.

d Turn off the Reverse direction of lastpassoption.


25/100


8 Select the Linking Parameterspage, and

then:

a Set Retract to 2.0.

b Set Feed plane to 1.6.

cSet Top of stock to 1.5.

d Set Depth to 1.25.

e Ensure that all values are set toAbsolute.

9 Click OKto finalize your choices.

Mastercam for SolidWorks creates the

toolpath shown in the following picture.

Exercise 4: Backplot and Verify the Facing Toolpath

1 In the Toolpath Manager, click the

Backplot selected operationsbutton.

The Backplot controls display at thebottom of the graphics area.


26/100


2 Click the Playbutton to watch Mastercam

for SolidWorks backplot the toolpath.

TIP: To increase Backplots speed, drag the Backplot dialog boxs slider to the right.

3 When Backplot finishes, click OKor Cancel

(the red X) to close the Backplot controls.

4 In the Toolpath Manager, click the Verify

selected operationsbutton.

The Verify controls appear.

5 Click the Fast Forwardbutton to start

Verify.

Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates the cutting operation, as shown in the following

picture.


27/100


6 Click the OKor Cancelto close Verify.

Exercise 5: Verifying All of the Toolpaths

1 In the Toolpath Manager, click the Select

all operationsbutton.

Mastercam for SolidWorks places green

check marks on both the Core Mill and

Facing toolpaths.



The Verify controls appear.


Verify.

Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates both of the cutting operations, as shown in the

following picture.


28/100


TIP: To verify the toolpaths more quickly, click the Fast Forwardbutton( ), instead of Play.

Mastercam for SolidWorks then processes the toolpath without updating the screen until the

Verify completes.

4 Click OKor Cancelto close Verify.

Exercise 6: Posting the Toolpath

1 If necessary, click the Mastercam Toolpath

Managertab to display the Toolpath

Manager.

2 Click the Post selected operationsbutton.

The Post processing dialog box displays.

3 If they are not already selected, select theNC Fileand Editoptions, and then click

OK.

The Save As dialog box displays.

4 Enter a file name for the NC File, and click

Save.


29/100


Mastercam for SolidWorks analyzes all operations and creates the NC file for the part.

Because you selected the Edit option, the NC file displays in Mastercam Editor, as shown i

the following picture.

5 Close Mastercam Editor.

6 Save your work by choosing File, Save

from the SolidWorks menu bar.

7 Choose File, Closeto close the file.


30/100


31/100

L E S S O N 3

32D Area MillAnother toolpath used to cut the mold core part is Area Mill, which will cut the pocket using asmooth, clean motion. In this lesson, you add the Area Mill toolpaths to the part. Note that the par

file you use contains three toolpaths, the two from the previous part file and an Area Clearance

toolpath.

Lesson Goals

Add the Area Mill toolpath.



Exercise 1: Creating the Area Mill Toolpath

1 Choose File, Open, and then load the

2DToolpath02.SLDPRTfile, which was

provided with this tutorial.

2 Save the file as

2DToolpath02Tutorial.SLDPRT.

Saving the file under a new name prevents

you from accidentally modifying theoriginal.

3 In the CommandManager, click the

Mastercam X4tab.

4 Click 2D High Speed Toolpaths.

The Chain Manager dialog box displays.


32/100


5 Right-click on the edge shown in the

picture to the right, and then choose

Select Loopfrom the menu that appears.

6 If necessary, click the yellow arrow to

switch the selection from the face to the

edge.

Mastercam for SolidWorks chains the

entire selected edge, as shown in the

following picture.

7 Click OKin the Chain Manager dialog box.

In a few moments, the 2D High Speed Toolpath dialog box displays.


33/100

2D AREA MILL 2

8 Click Toolpath Type, and select Area Mill.

9 Click Tool, and select the 1/2 FLAT

ENDMILL.

10 Change the Feed rateto 80and the

Spindle speedto 8000.

11 Click Cut Parametersto display the Cut

Parameters page, and change % of dia.to40.0.

12 Click Depth Cuts, and then turn off the

Depth Cutsoption.

13 Click Linking Parameters, and set the

following (as seen in the next picture):

a Retract to 2.0, Absolute

b Feed plane to 1.5, Absolute

c Top of stock to 1.25, Absolute

d Depth to 1.125, Absolute


34/100


14 Click OKto finalize your choices.

Mastercam for SolidWorks generates the toolpath shown below.


35/100

2D AREA MILL 2

Exercise 2: Backplotting and Verifying the Toolpath



The Backplot controls display at the

bottom of the graphics area.



3 When Backplot finishes, click OKor Cancel

to close the Backplot controls.



The Verify controls display.


Verify.

Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates the cutting operation, as shown in the following

picture.



36/100


Exercise 3: Verifying All of the Toolpaths



Mastercam for SolidWorks places green

check marks on all of the toolpaths.





Verify.

Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates all of the cutting operations, as shown in the picture

below. The full verification might take several minutes.

TIP: You can click the Stopbutton at any time to see how far the verification process has

proceeded, and then click Fast Forwardto pick up where Verify left off.



37/100

2D AREA MILL 2



Managertab to display the Toolpath

Manager.



3 If they are not already selected, select the

NC Fileand Editoptions, and then click

OK.



Save.

Mastercam for SolidWorks analyzes all

operations and creates the NC file for the

part. Because you selected the Edit option,

the NC file displays in Mastercam Editor.


6 Save your work by choosing File, Savefrom the SolidWorks menu bar.

7 Choose File, Closeto close the file.


38/100



39/100

Section 2

3D High Speed Toolpaths


40/100



41/100

L E S S O N

1General Setup - Phone CradleAs you learned in Section 1, before generating toolpaths for a part, you must prepare Mastercam foSolidWorks and the part file. Because the exercises in this lesson use a different part than the first

three lessons, you need to set up the new part for your machine. As before, this preparation

includes such tasks as selecting a machine definition and defining a tool plane. Failure to set up th

part correctly will give unpredictable results. This lesson introduces the tutorial part files, as well a

teaches you to set up the parts for toolpathing.

Lesson Goals

Understand the part files.

Select a machine.

Create and set the tool plane.

Define the stock.

About the Phone Cradle Sample Part

Lessons 1 through 3 of this section are based on the PhoneCradle.SLDPRTfile, which is included

with the tutorial. The following picture shows the part file as it displays in SolidWorks.


42/100


This tutorial covers only a subset of the toolpath types used to machine the part. These toolpath

types are as follows:

Core Roughing

Rest Roughing

Scallop

Waterline

Note: To fully machine the part (shown in the following picture) requires more operations than

are described in this book.

The part files included for the phone cradle portion of the tutorial are:

PhoneCradle01.SLDPRTThe tutorial file for starting Lesson 1

PhoneCradle02.SLDPRTThe tutorial file after completing Lesson 1




PhoneCradleComplete.SLDPRTThe tutorial file after completing all lessons

PhoneCradle.SLDPRTThe phone cradles full SolidWorks drawing, with no toolpaths


43/100

GENERAL SETUP - PHONE CRADLE 3

Exercise 1: Selecting Your Machine

Toolpaths are contained in machine groups. For this reason, your part file needs at least one

machine group before you can add a toolpath to the part. Mastercam for SolidWorks automatically

creates a machine group for each machine you select from the Machine Selection menu item. To

see how machine selection works, complete the following exercise.

1 Open the part file

PhoneCradle01.SLDPRT, which was

provided with this tutorial.

2 Save the part under the name

PhoneCradleTutorial.SLDPRT.

3 Optional:If you want to use a machine

definition other than the default:

a From the Mastercam X4 menu, choose

Machine Selection, and then selectyour machine from the submenu.


machine group for the selected

machine.

TIP: To customize the Machine Selection list, choose Mastercam X4, Machine Selection,

Manage List. For more information on the dialog box that displays, click the dialog boxs

Help button ( ).


44/100


b Click the Mastercam ToolpathManagertab to display the ToolpathManager.

c Right-click Machine Group-1, andselect Groups, Deletefrom the pop-upmenu.


old machine group, leaving only the

one you created.

Exercise 2: Defining the Tool Plane

Mastercam for SolidWorks uses planes to determine the orientation of the toolpaths it creates. The

following exercise shows one way to define the tool plane for a part.

1 On the SolidWorks CommandManager,

select the Mastercam X4tab.

Commands specific to Mastercam forSolidWorks display in the

CommandManager.

2 Click View Manager.

The View Manager dialog box displays.


45/100


3 Click the Geometrybutton.

View Manager minimizes to uncover the

SolidWorks graphics area.

4 Click the upper surface of the parts

rectangular base.

The selected face highlights, and its default

name, Face, displays in the Define

View with geometrydialog box.

5 Click OK(the green check) to finalize your

selection.

The View Manager redisplays.

6 In View Manager, right-click NEW VIEW

#1, and select Renamefrom the pop-up

menu.

7 Type MACHINE, and press [Enter].

You now have a user-defined plane named

MACHINE.

8 With the MACHINE plane selected, click

the Set your current tool plane and origin

to the selected viewbutton.

Mastercam for SolidWorks aligns your tool

plane to the MACHINE plane.


46/100


9 Select the Enable originoption, if

necessary, and then click the Select a new

origin for the selected viewbutton.

The View Manager minimizes to uncoverthe SolidWorks graphics area.

10 Click the bottom left corner of the parts

base, and then click OKin the Selection

dialog box to finalize your choice.

Mastercam for SolidWorks places theorigin at the selected point.

11 Click the View Managers OKbutton.

You have now defined your parts tool

plane.

Exercise 3: Defining the Stock

Before Mastercam for SolidWorks can generate toolpaths, it must know the dimensions and

orientation of the stock from which your part will be cut. The following exercise shows how to set up

the stock for your part.

1 In the SolidWorks FeaturesManager, click

the Mastercam Toolpath Managertab.

The Toolpath Manager displays.


47/100


2 In your machine groups properties, select

Stock setup. (If necessary, display Stock

setup by clicking the +next to the

Properties icon.)

The Stock Setup dialog box displays.

3 Click All Entitiesand then OK.

Mastercam for SolidWorks analyzes the parts geometry and creates stock of the

appropriate size, as shown in the following picture.

4 Click OK, and save your work by choosing

File, Savefrom the SolidWorks menu bar.


48/100



49/100

L E S S O N 2

2The Core Roughing ToolpathIn this lesson, you program the roughing toolpath that removes the majority of the material fromthe phone cradle. Because the feature to cut is a dome-shaped core, and because the tool can

approach the feature from the outside, you will create an HST Core Roughing toolpath to rough ou

the part. The following picture shows the Core Roughing toolpath being cut on a Makino vertical

machining center.

Lesson Goals

Set a containment boundary.

Set toolpath parameters.

Generate the toolpath.

Backplot and Verify the toolpath.

Post the toolpath.

Exercise 1: Creating the Toolpath

1 If necessary, load the file

PhoneCradleTutorial.SLDPRT that you

saved at the end of the previous lesson.

Alternatively, you can start this lesson with

the file PhoneCradle02.SLDPRT.


50/100


CAUTION: The steps in this exercise describe only the key settings required to create the

Core Roughing toolpath for the phone cradle part. Your toolpath settings might vary

depending on your selected parameters, including machine definition, tooling, material,

toolpath type, surface finish requirement, and cycle time requirement. For this reason, as

you work through this exercise, review all settings in each dialog box to ensure that the

settings are correct for your situation.

2 If necessary, click the Mastercam X4tab to

show the Mastercam CommandManager.

3 In the CommandManager, clickSurface

High Speed Toolpaths.

The Enter new NC namedialog box

displays.

Note: If you are asked to try the Toolpath

Refinement feature, select Suppress this

featureand OK.

4 Type a name for the toolpaths NC file, and

click OK.

In a few moments, the Surface High Speed

Toolpaths dialog box displays.

5 On the Toolpath Type page, select Core

Roughing.


51/100

THE CORE ROUGHING TOOLPATH 4

6 Click the Select containment boundaries

button.

The dialog box minimizes to uncover the


7 To create the containment boundary:

a Right-click the edge shown highlighted

in the image to the right.

b Choose Select Loopfrom the menuthat displays.

Mastercam for SolidWorks highlights all

four edges of the upper rectangle.

8 Finalize your choice by clicking OKin the

Selection dialog box.

Mastercam for SolidWorks sets the selected

geometry as the toolpaths containment

boundary.

9 Select the dialog boxs Toolpage, and click

Select library tool.

The Tool Selection dialog box displays.

10 Select a 3/4 flat endmill.


52/100


11 Set Feed rateto 80and Spindle speedto

2000.

12 Select the Cut Parameters page, choose

the Add cutsoption, and then enter a

Stepdownof 0.125, a Min stepdownof

0.0125, and a Max profile stepoverof

0.375.

13 Set the stock to leave on walls and floors to

0.05

14 Select the Arc Filter/Tolerancepage, and

set Filter ratioto 2:1. Make sure that Filter

toleranceis 0.001333, Cut toleranceis

0.000667, and Total toleranceis 0.002.

15 Click OK.

Mastercam for SolidWorks generates the

Core Roughing toolpath. (It might take a

minute or so.)


53/100


Exercise 2: Backplotting and Verifying the toolpath



The Backplot controls display in the

PropertyManager.



TIP: To increase Backplots speed, drag the

Backplot dialog boxs slider to the right.

3 When Backplot finishes, click the OKor

Cancel(the red X)to close the Backplot

controls.





Verify.


54/100


Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates the cutting operation as shown in the following

picture.




Managertab to display the ToolpathManager.




55/100


3 If they are not already selected, select the

NC Fileand Editoptions, and then click

OK.



Save.

Mastercam for SolidWorks analyzes all operations and creates the NC file for the part.

Because you selected the Edit option, the NC file displays in Mastercam Editor, as shown i

the following picture.





56/100


57/100

L E S S O N 3

3The Rest Roughing ToolpathBefore you apply the finishing toolpath, the part needs further roughing. The Rest Roughingtoolpath is a good choice, because it removes only stock remaining from previous toolpaths, rathe

than cutting the entire part. Here, you program the Rest Roughing toolpath that will smooth out th

surface of the main phone cradle. The following picture shows the toolpath being cut on a Makino

vertical machining center.

Lesson Goals

Create a containment boundary from construction geometry.

Set the toolpath parameters.

Generate the Rest Roughing toolpath.

Backplot and Verify the toolpaths.



Rest Roughing toolpath for the phone cradle part. Your toolpath settings might vary

depending on your selected parameters, including machine definition, tooling, material,

toolpath type, surface finish requirement, and cycle time requirement. For this reason, as

you work through this exercise, review all settings in each dialog box to ensure that the

settings are correct for your machine.


58/100







2 Hide previously generated toolpaths:

a Display the Toolpath Manager, by

clicking the Mastercam Toolpath

Managertab.

b Click the Select all operationsbutton.

c Click the Toggle toolpath display onselected operationsbutton.

3 Click the Mastercam X4tab to display the

Mastercam CommandManager.

4 In the CommandManager, clickSurface

High Speed Toolpaths.

In a few moments, the Surface High Speed

Toolpaths dialog box displays.

5 On the Toolpath Type page, select Rest

Roughing.

6 Click the Select containment boundariesbutton.




59/100

THE REST ROUGHING TOOLPATH 5

7 If necessary, click the plus mark in the

upper left corner of the graphics area to

display the flyout design tree.

8 In the design tree, select Sketch6.

SolidWorks highlights Sketch6 on thescreen, and Sketch6 displays in the

selection box.

9 Click OKto finalize your selection.

You have now defined a containment

boundary for this toolpath.

10 Select the Toolpage, and choose the 3/4

flat endmill.

11 Also on the Tool page, set Feed rateto 80

and Spindle speedto 2000.

12 Select the Cut Parameters page, ensure

that Add cutsis still selected, and then

enter 0.03for Stepdown, a Min stepdown

of 0.003, and a Max profile stepoverof0.375.


60/100



0.02

14 To set how to compute the remaining

stock:

a Select the Rest Materialpage

b Select the One other operationoption

c Choose the Core Roughing operation,as shown below.


make sure that Filter ratiois still set to 2:1,

and that the other values are still set as

shown in the image to the right.

16 Click OK.


Rest Roughing toolpath. (It might take a

minute or two.)


61/100






PropertyManager.

2 Click the Playbutton to watch a backplot

of the toolpath.

3 Click OKor Cancelto close the Backplot

controls.


all operationsbutton and then the Verify


The Verify controls appear in the

PropertyManager.

5 Click the Fast Forwardbutton to start the

Verify function.

Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates the

cutting operation. The first picture

following shows the result. The second

picture following shows the part after Rest

Roughing has been completed.


62/100


TIP: To turn off the animated display, and so get to the results quicker, click the Fast

Forwardbutton in the Verify dialog box. Verify might still take a while to complete, but not as

long as it would take if Mastercam for SolidWorks needed to concurrently update the

display.


63/100


6 Click OKor Cancelto close the Verify

dialog box.




64/100



65/100

L E S S O N 4

4The Scallop ToolpathWith the roughing complete, its time to apply a finishing toolpath to the phone cradles surface.The high speed Scallop toolpath uses a 3D stepover distance that is measured along the surface,

instead of parallel to the tool plane. This ensures a consistent scallop height, regardless of the

surface direction. In this lesson, you create a Scallop toolpath to finish the surface of the main

phone cradle. The following picture shows the toolpath being cut on a Makino vertical machining

center.

Lesson Goals

Set Scallop toolpath parameters.

Generate a Scallop toolpath.

Backplot the toolpath.

Verify the toolpath.


66/100




Scallop toolpath for the phone cradle part. Your toolpath settings might vary depending on

your selected parameters, including machine definition, tooling, material, toolpath type,

surface finish requirement, and cycle time requirement. For this reason, as you work

through this exercise, review all settings in each dialog box to ensure that the settings are

correct for your situation.







a Display the Toolpath Manager, by

clicking the Mastercam Toolpath

Managertab.


c Click the Toggle toolpath display onselected operationsbutton twice.

3 Click the Mastercam X4tab to display the


4 Click Surface High Speed Toolpathsin the

CommandManager.

The Surface High Speed Toolpaths dialog

box displays.


67/100

THE SCALLOP TOOLPATH 5

5 On the Toolpath Type page, select the

Finishingoption, and then choose Scallop.


button.



7 If necessary, click the plus mark in the

upper left corner of the graphics area to

display the flyout design tree.

8 In the design tree, select Top TCB.

SolidWorks highlights the Top TCB

geometry on the screen, and Top TCBdisplays in the selection box.

9 Click OKto finalize your selection.

You have now specified a containment

boundary for the Scallop toolpath.

10 On the dialog boxs Toolpage, click theSelect library toolbutton.

The Tool Selection dialog box displays.


68/100


11 Click the 3/32 ball endmill, and click OK.



13Select the Cut Parameters page, and entera Stepoverof 0.005. Make sure that

Scallop heightis 0.000067.


0.0.

15 Select the Steep/Shallowpage, and set

Fromto 0.0and Toto 60.


69/100

THE SCALLOP TOOLPATH 6


then set Filter ratioto Offand Total

toleranceto 0.001.

17 Click OK.


Scallop toolpath. (It might take several

minutes.)





PropertyManager.


of the toolpath.


controls.


70/100


4 In the Toolpath Manager, click Select all

operationsand then Verify selected

operations.


PropertyManager.


Verify function.

Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates the cutting operation for all the toolpaths. The first

picture following shows Verify in progress, whereas the second picture following shows thecompleted cut on the actual part.


71/100


72/100



73/100

L E S S O N 5

5The Waterline ToolpathThe last toolpath covered in the phone cradle tutorial finishes the wall areas of the part. Due to thangles involved, which can be constrained to between 30 and 90 degrees, a Waterline toolpath is

appropriate. Waterline toolpaths are similar to finish contour toolpaths, but use Mastercam's high

speed toolpath techniques for a smoother, more efficient tool motion. In this lesson, you generate

the Waterline toolpath for the phone cradle part.

Lesson Goals

Set Waterline toolpath parameters.

Generate a Waterline toolpath.

Backplot the Waterline toolpath.

Verify the Waterline toolpath.

Exercise 1: Creating the Waterline Toolpath


Waterline toolpath for the phone cradle part. Your toolpath settings might vary depending

on your selected parameters, including machine definition, tooling, material, toolpath type

surface finish requirement, and cycle time requirement. For this reason, as you work

through this exercise, review all settings in each dialog box to ensure that the settings arecorrect for your situation.







a Display the Toolpath Manager, byclicking the Mastercam Toolpath

Managertab.


c Click the Toggle toolpath display onselected operationsbutton twice.


74/100


3 Click the Mastercamtab to display the


4 Click Surface High Speed Toolpathsin the

CommandManager.

The Surface High Speed Toolpaths dialog

box displays.

5 On the Toolpath Type page, select the

Finishingoption, and then chooseWaterline.


button.



7 If necessary, display the flyout design tree

by clicking the plus mark in the upper left

corner of the graphics area.

8 In the design tree, select Wall TCB Upper

and Wall TCB Lower.

SolidWorks highlights the selected

geometry and displays Wall TCB Upper

and Wall TCB Lower in the selection box.


75/100

THE WATERLINE TOOLPATH 6

TIP: If SolidWorks ignores your second

selection, click on the screen away from the

flyout list, and then try the second selection

again.

9 Click OKto finalize your selections.

You have now specified containment

boundaries for the Waterline toolpath.

10 Go to the dialog boxs Toolpage, and

choose the 3/32 ball endmill.



12On the Cut Parameterspage, ensure thatAdd cutsis still selected, and then enter a

Stepdownof 0.005, a Min stepdownof

0.0005, and a Max profile stepoverof

0.046875.


0.0.

14 Select the Steep/Shallowpage, and set the

Fromvalue to 30and the Tovalue to 90.


76/100


15 On the Arc Filter/Tolerancepage, make

sure that Total toleranceis 0.001.

16 Click OK.


Waterline toolpath. (It might take several

minutes.)





PropertyManager.


of the toolpath.


controls.

4 In the Toolpath Manager, click the Selectall operationsand Verify selected

operationsbutton.


PropertyManager.


77/100

THE WATERLINE TOOLPATH 6


Verify function.

Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates the

cutting operation.


dialog box.




78/100



79/100


80/100



81/100

L E S S O N

1FBM Mill

About the FBM Sample PartLessons 1 and 2 of this section introduce the Feature-Based Machining (FBM) functions in

Mastercam for SolidWorks. The following picture shows the part file as it displays in SolidWorks.

The part files included for the FBM portion of the tutorial are:

FBMPart01.SLDPRTThe file for starting the FBM section of the tutorial

FBMPart02.SLDPRTThe file after completing Lesson 1

FBMPartComplete.SLDPRTThe FBM tutorial file after completing Lessons 1 and 2

FBM Mill is a powerful feature-based machining (FBM) strategy that analyzes a solid part, detects

all machining features in a specified plane, and generates the 2D milling toolpaths needed tomachine the detected features. In this lesson, you use FBM Mill to generate toolpaths for the part

shown in the following picture. The goal is to generate toolpaths for the following operations:

Facing the top surface

Contouring the parts outside edges

Cutting the main pocket

Cutting the slots in the main pocket

Cutting the two large holes in the main pocket


82/100


Lesson Goals

Set up a machine group.

Define the parts stock.

Generate FBM Mill toolpaths.

Modify FBM Mill parameters.

Backplot and Verify the toolpaths.

Exercise 1: Set Up

1 Load the part file FBMPart01.SLDPRT,

which was supplied with this tutorial

2 So that you do not overwrite the original

during this tutorial, save the file as

FBMPartTutorial.SLDPRT.

3 Optional: If you want to use a machine

definition other than the default:

a From the Mastercam X4 menu, choose

Machine Selection, and then select

your machine from the submenu.


machine group for the selected

machine.

b Click the Mastercam ToolpathManagertab to display the ToolpathManager.


83/100

FBM MILL 7

c Right-click Machine Group-1, andselect Groups, Deletefrom the pop-upmenu.


old machine group, leaving only the

one you created.

Exercise 2: Defining the Stock

FBM Mill requires that you set up stock for the part. The following exercise shows how to completthis task.

1 In the SolidWorks FeaturesManager, click

the Mastercam Toolpath Managertab.

The Toolpath Manager displays.

2 In your machine groups properties, select

Stock setup. (If necessary, display Stock

setup by clicking the +next to the

Properties icon.)

The Stock Setup dialog box displays.

3 Click All Entities.

Mastercam for SolidWorks analyzes the

parts geometry and creates stock of the

same size as the parts geometry.


84/100


4 Change the X, Y, and Z dimensions to 102,

152, and 27, respectively.

Now you have extra stock for a facing

operation and to cut the outside contour.

5 Change the Zcoordinate of the stock origin

to2.

This change takes all of the extra stock that

is normal to the Z axis and places it above

the parts front face, which is the tool

plane.

6 Click OK.

The Stock Setup dialog box closes, and

Mastercam for SolidWorks displays the

stock as dashed red lines.

Exercise 3: Creating the Mill Toolpaths


click FBM Mill.

The FBM Toolpaths - Milldialog box

displays.

2 Select the Setuppage.


85/100

FBM MILL 7

3 Select Rough outside of partand Finish

outside of part.

FBM Mill will now create rough and finish

toolpaths for the outside edges of the part.

4 Deselect the Create as neededoption.Now FBM Mill can only use tools from the

library selected in the Tool library box.

5 Click the Detectbutton.

FBM Mill analyzes the part to identify

features to machine, and then displays the

detected features in the Features page.

6 Click OKto generate toolpaths for the

detected features.

The Enter new NC namedialog box

displays.

7 Type a name for the NC file, and click OK.


86/100


87/100

FBM MILL 7

3 Change the Recognize holes greater than

this diameter as featuressetting to 10.

The value of 10 ensures that FBM

generates a toolpath for the 20mm hole

that is located inside the pocket.


FBM Mill reanalyzes the part to identify

features to machine and then displays the

features in the Features page. Notice the

new Zone 5 operation, which is the 20mm

hole.

5 Click OK.

The dialog box closes, and Mastercam for

SolidWorks marks the FBM Mill operation

as dirty.

6 Click the Regenerate all dirty operations

button.

FBM Mill regenerates the toolpaths, this time including the smaller hole as a detected

feature, as shown in the following picture.


88/100


Exercise 5: Backplotting and Verifying the Toolpaths



2 Click the Backplot selected operations

button.


PropertyManager.


of the toolpaths.4 Click OKor Cancelto close the Backplot

controls.


89/100

FBM MILL 8

5 Click Verify selected operations.


PropertyManager.


Verify function.

Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates the cutting operation. The following picture shows

the results.


dialog box.




90/100


91/100

L E S S O N 2

2FBM DrillFBM Drill is a feature-based machining (FBM) strategy that can detect holes in a solid andautomatically generate a complete series of drill operations for the selected features. With FBM

Drill you can:

Detect holes in a solid using specified criteria.

Review the detected features list and edit or delete features.

Preview toolpath operations and make additional changes before they are generated.

Automatically generate a complete series of drill operations for the selected features.

In this lesson, you use FBM Drill to generate toolpaths to drill the holes indicated in the following

picture.

Lesson Goals

Generate FBM Drill toolpaths.

Adjust feature detection.

Customize FBM Drill toolpaths.




92/100


Exercise 1: Creating the Drill Toolpaths

1 If necessary, load the part file

FBMPartTutorial.SLDPRT that you


Alternatively, you can start this lesson withthe file FBMPart02.SLDPRT.


click FBM Drill.

The FBM Toolpaths - Drilldialog box

displays.


FBM Drill analyzes the part and displays a set of operations for all detected holes, as shown

in the following picture. Notice that the 20mm hole, which was toolpathed by FBM Mill in

the previous lesson, is in the list.


93/100

FBM DRILL 8

4 Select the Hole Detection page.

5 Set the Minimum diameterand Maximum

diametersettings to 0.5and10.0,

respectively.

Reducing Maximum diameterto 10

ensures that FBM Drill does not generate a

toolpath for the 20mm hole.

6 Click the Detectbutton again.

FBM Drill uses the new parameters toreanalyze the part. The 20mm hole no

longer appears in the feature list.

7 Click OK.

FBM Drill generates the drilling toolpaths

and adds them to the mill toolpaths that

FBM Mill generated in the previous lesson.

8 To hide the FBM Mill toolpaths so that you

can see the drill toolpaths more clearly:

a Select the FBM Mill toolpaths by

clicking FBM Mill-FRONTin the

Toolpath Manager.

Mastercam for SolidWorks selects the

entire toolpath group and deselects all

others.

b Click the Toggle toolpath display onselected operationsbutton.

Mastercam for SolidWorks removes theFBM Mill toolpaths from the display,

leaving only the unselected FBM Drill

operations, as shown in the following

picture.


94/100


95/100

FBM DRILL 8

3 On the Features page, choose the Select

common featuresoption.

You can now select entire groups of similar

features with a single mouse click.

4 In the features list, click one of the 8mm

holes.

FBM Drill automatically selects all four of

the 8mm holes.

5 In the Hole typecolumn, right-click one of

the 8mm holes, and select Hole type,

Counter borefrom the pop-up menu.

FBM Drill changes the hole type for all four

8mm holes.

6 Click OKto dismiss the dialog box.

Mastercam for SolidWorks marks the FBM

Drill operations as dirty.

7 Click Regenerate all dirty operations.

FBM Drill regenerates the toolpaths based

on the new parameters.

Exercise 3: Backplotting and Verifying the Toolpaths

1 In the Toolpath Manager, click Select all

operationsand Backplot selected

operations.

The backplot controls display in the

PropertyManager.


96/100



of the toolpaths.


controls.




PropertyManager.


Verify function.

Mastercam for SolidWorks simulates the cutting operation. The following picture shows

the results.


97/100

FBM DRILL 8


dialog box.

7 Save the file.


98/100



99/100


100/100

Documents

Mastercam X4 for SolidWorks Tutorial