In this tutorial you will look at V-Bit carving a detailed pattern in ArtCAM

Insignia or ArtCAM Express. You will start by simulating a previously

calculated toolpath so you can see the finished piece, and then go on to

create, calculate, simulate and save your own toolpath in order to understand

the complete machining process.

Simulating a toolpath You will begin by opening a previously saved ArtCAM model, and then

simulating the calculated toolpath included.

1. From the Start panel, click Open Model. The Open dialog

box is displayed.

2. Select the Pattern Model.art file, and then click Open. The ArtCAM

model is opened, with detailed pattern vector artwork and a wireframe

toolpath preview displayed in the 2D View window:

V-Bit Carved Pattern

3. Press the F3 key to display the 3D View window. The material block

is displayed.

4. From the Project panel, click beside Toolpaths in the Project

Tree. The calculated toolpath is displayed in the 3D View window.

This toolpath was calculated to machine the detailed pattern vector

artwork previously seen in the 2D View window.

5. From the Project panel, click beside Toolpaths in the Project

Tree to show the V-Bit Carving toolpath.

6. In the Project Tree, right-click the V-Bit Carving toolpath, and then

select Simulate Toolpath from the context menu.

If you are working in ArtCAM Express, the toolpath simulation starts.

If you are working in ArtCAM Insignia, the Toolpath Simulation – Block Definition dialog is displayed:

Click Simulate Toolpath to simulate the V-Bit Carving toolpath

using the default settings.

ArtCAM Insignia gives you the option to set the resolution of the

simulation so you can view the finished piece more clearly.

ArtCAM Express has a fixed resolution.

In the 3D View window, the finished toolpath simulation looks as

follows:

7. In the Project tree, click the Simulation. The Simulation options

panel is displayed below the splitter bar.

8. Click the Material drop down

menu, followed by the Light Oak (H) option.

9. Click Apply. The toolpath simulation shown in the 3D View window

is rendered with the selected material shading set. This enables you to

envision the finished piece machined in a sheet of wood.

Creating the toolpath You will now delete the calculated toolpath and its simulation. You will then

be ready to create, calculate and simulate your own toolpath.

1. From the Project panel, click to select the V-Bit Carving toolpath

in the Project Tree. Its name is highlighted in the Project Tree and

displayed on the splitter bar.

2. Click the Delete Toolpath button displayed below the splitter

bar. A message box is displayed asking if you want to delete the

toolpath.

3. Click Yes to delete the V-Bit Carving toolpath and close the message

box.

4. In the Project Tree, right-click Simulation, and then select

Delete from the context menu. The toolpath simulation is deleted;

leaving only the zero plane shown in the 3D View window.

5. Press the F2 key to display the 2D View window. The detailed

pattern vector artwork is displayed.

6. Press the Ctrl+A keys to select all of the vector artwork shown in the

2D View window. The vector artwork is magenta and surrounded by

a bounding box.

7. From the Project panel, click to select Toolpaths in the Project

Tree. Its name is highlighted in the Project Tree and displayed on the

splitter bar.

8. From the Project panel, click the Create V-Bit Carving Toolpath

button in the 2D Toolpaths area displayed below the splitter

bar. The V-Bit Carving panel is displayed.

9. In the Vector Association area, make sure that Selected Vectors

is selected in the list box.

10. In the Cutting Depth area:

a. Make sure that the Start Depth is set to 0.000.

b. Make sure that the Limit tool maximum depth check box is

deselected.

c. Type 0.01 in the Tolerance box.

11. In the Carving Tool area, click the control bar:

The Tool Database is displayed.

12. From the Metric Tools > Wood or Plastic > V-Carving tool

group, double-click the V-Bit 32 mm 90 degree tool.

The Tool Database closes and the tool's description is displayed on

the control bar in the Carving Tool area.

13. Click Refresh. The maximum width and depth of the cut made by

the selected carving tool is displayed in the Width and Depth of Cut Information area.

14. In the Options area, click the Safe Z control bar. The safe Z and

home position settings are displayed.

15. In the Safe Z and Home Z boxes, type 10.

16. In the Options area, click the Material Thickness control bar. The

material settings are displayed.

17. Click Select. The Material Setup dialog box is displayed:

18. Make sure that the:

a. Material Thickness is set to 10;

b. Material Z Zero is set to the top of the material block; and

c. Model Position in Material is set to the top of the material

block.

19. Click OK to close the Material Setup dialog box.

20. Click Calculate Now to calculate the toolpath. During the

calculation process, a progress bar is shown. When calculated, the V-

Bit Carving toolpath is listed in the Project Tree and its wireframe

preview is shown in the 2D View window.

21. Click on the V-Bit Carving panel's header to close it.

Simulating the toolpath You are now ready to simulate the calculated toolpath.

1. Press the F3 key to display the 3D View window. The calculated V-

Bit Carving toolpath is displayed along with the material block:

2. From the Project panel, right-click the V-Bit Carving toolpath in

the Project Tree, and then select Simulate Toolpath in the context

menu.

If you are working in ArtCAM Express, the toolpath simulation starts.

If you are working in ArtCAM Insignia, the Toolpath Simulation – Block Definition dialog is displayed:

Click Simulate Toolpath to simulate the Machine Relief toolpath

using the default settings.

ArtCAM Insignia gives you the option to set the resolution of the

simulation so you can view the finished piece more clearly.

ArtCAM Express has a fixed resolution.

In the 3D View window, the finished toolpath simulation looks as

follows:

Saving the toolpath You are now ready to save the calculated toolpaths to a machine-specific file

format, so that you can machine the finished piece.

1. From the Project panel, click to select Toolpaths in the Project

Tree. Its name is highlighted in the Project Tree and displayed on the

splitter bar.

2. Click the Save Toolpaths button in the Toolpath Operations area displayed below the splitter bar. The Save Toolpaths dialog box is displayed with the V-Bit Carving toolpath

listed in the Toolpaths to save window.

3. Click the Machine file format list box, followed by the option for

the specific machine format in which you want to save the toolpath

file.

4. In the File name box, type V-Bit Pattern and Browse to where you

wish to save the file.

5. Click Save. The toolpath file is now ready for you to load on your

machine.