57565519 Tutorial 2 1 CAM EdgeCAM

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EdgeCAM Tutorial

EdgeCAM is a CAD/CAM system that enables you to design and plan the manufacture of

components. EdgeCAM allows you to:

• create Design models and/or import 3rd party format files

• select the machine and tools required to produce the component

• simulate the production process

• generate the CNC code required to operate the selected machine

• communicate with machine tool controllers

• manage a tooling database

0. File location:

To start EdgeCAM you can do the following:

start>> programs >> (SAMME) >> EdgeCAM >> EdgeCAM 12.5

EdgeCAM main screen automatically opens in design mode:

The EdgeCAM main screen is your main workspace, in which you design and plan the

manufacture of components. The EdgeCAM main screen consists of the following main

features:

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1. Selecting the environment - Dynamic menu and interface: toggle through

Design and Manufacturing mode:

When you first enter EdgeCAM you are automatically in design mode. To access manufacture

mode, you can

• click on the Manufacture button on the Standard toolbar:Top Right button on the screen

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• select the Manufacture option from the Options menu: Option Menu

• Short cut Menu (rihght click the mouse)

• Ctrl +M

When you enter the Manufacturing module for the first time, following dialogue box will pop up:

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. under “General” tag bar, two important parameter should be setup as follows:

Discipline : mill

Machine tool: fanuc3x.mcp

Discipline: Select the machining strategy, MILL, TURN, WIRE and CMM.

Initial CPL: The first tool will be positioned so as it is aligned with the CPL.

Job Data: Registers the part in EdgeCAMs “Job Manager” You may store manufacturing

data specific to the component. Information gathered within the Job Manger can be used for

planning purposes and is cross-referenced with the ToolStore.

Sequence Name: Enter a title for this set of CAM instructions.

2. Menu, Tool bar, Widows

• You can view your component on the screen in different ways by:

• zooming into and out of a design

• rotating the view

• panning the view

• selecting a view orientation.

• Using a 3D motion controller

Selecting a view orientation or change view: (right) click the blue rectangular region at the

left-bottom of the main widow

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The blue view status bar at the bottom left-hand corner of the graphics area shows the view

orientation currently on display, for example, the 'Top' view orientation. You can change this view

orientation to look at your design from a different angle. To select a view orientation, click on the

blue view status bar, and then select a new view orientation from the menu that is displayed:

Standard toolbar

The Standard toolbar provides general commands such as opening, saving and printing

designs and switching between the design and manufacture modes.

Main toolbar

The Main toolbar provides the basic commands you require in Manufacturing Mode.

Display toolbar

The functions on the Display toolbar allow you to alter the view of the component part.

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Operations toolbar

The Operations toolbar enables you to specify machining operation commands. The

commands available depend on whether you are working in the milling or turning

environment.

Milling tool tool bar

Splitting the graphics area

You can split the EdgeCAM graphics area horizontally and vertically, to create more than one

window in which to view a component. This is particularly useful if, for example, you want to

display two or more different view orientations at the same time, or to zoom in on a specific part

while keeping the original view on display. You have several options available to you for splitting

the graphics area:

• select the Horizontal Split or Vertical Split option from the View menu

• right-click in the graphics area and select the Horizontal Split or Vertical Split option from

the shortcut menu that is displayed.

• selecting from the symbols found in the bottom right corner of the graphics port

• EdgeCAM splits the graphic area into two windows: Horizontal split Vertical split

EdgeCAM automatically sets the size of the view port – you will discover that the split will

be equal in proportion. You can alter the size of the port by placing the cursor on the split

line – observe the cursor alters its appearance to a double headed arrow. Hold down the left

hand mouse button and move the mouse.

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The Coordinate System is illustrated with red,. Green and blue color, which indicates X, Y, and Z

respectively ( RGB: X,Y,Z)

3 Procedures: Select tool >>> Select machining strategy and set up parameters >>> Select surface (on workpiece) >>> Calculation >>> Simulation >>> NC code generation 3.1 Creating stock

Before you can machine a component, you would typically create the stock to represent the

material (or billet). The stock envelops the component outline and is used in EdgeCAM’s simulator

to display the removal of material as the machining instructions are simulated.

You can create stock by selecting the Stock/Fixture option from the Geometry menu (in Design

module):

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The diaglogue box is shown below:

Use the “Toggle Stock Command” to view the Stock, then return to "Manufacturing" module

3.2 Manufacturing Environment

EdgeCAM manufacture mode allows you to specify tooling and machining commands to

manufacture components. The first time you enter manufacture mode, you must enter details on the

type of machining you want to perform (having been done in Step 1)

The ‘Sequence Window’ on the left hand side of the screen displays a list of manufacturing

commands. You can copy, move, edit and delete commands within this ‘Window’. You may edit

any of the initial information by clicking the right-hand mouse button over the Sequence Name in

the Instructions Browser and select ‘Edit’

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3.3 Selecting the tool

You must select an appropriate tool for each milling cycle you perform. You select tools using the

Tool Store or by manually supplying data within the appropriate Tooling

Description dialog box. You can access the Tool Store by:

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or select from "Milling Cutter" , or Selecting a specific tool type from the Tooling Toolbar

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Select from store. Unit: mm or inch?

Type of tools: Endmill, ballend,bulldoze…

Design a new one:

Display or hide holder: available in display menu

3.4 Creating CAM Instructions

Essentially, you have two methods of creating machining instructions in EdgeCAM. Firstly

you may adopt a ‘Manual’ method which relies entirely on the users’ knowledge and skill of

the software. Each individual CAM instruction will be created by the user.

Alternatively, you can choose to work in a more ‘Automated’ manner which allows the

software to make more machining decisions for you and the physical creation of each CAM

instructions are faster.

Manual

CAM Instructions such as machining cycles and Miscellaneous Functions are selected by the

user during the creation of the machining sequence. The user is responsible for the entire

contents of the machining sequence. A cycle will contain the maximum amount of

machining capability offered by EdgeCAM and will normally be used by more experienced

users.

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Automatic

EdgeCAM handles the task of creating CAM instructions by placing them in a group –

known as an Operation. Operations will quickly produce a number of CAM instructions and

keep the amount of user input down to a minimum. An Operation can be “exploded” into

individual CAM instructions. As an Operation can only contain the minimum amount of

EdgeCAM machining capability, it is used usually by “novice” users.

An Operation uses the hierarchy structure. The Operation can be expanded & collapsed by using the +/- symbols in the same way as files and folders are displayed by MS Windows Explorer.

Manually created machining Instructions

One method for creating CAM instructions is to allow the user to pick and choose the

sequence of CAM commands.

The following table illustrates the steps taken by a user to produce CAM instructions capable

of machining around a Profile.

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Automatically created machining Instructions

An alternative method for creating CAM instructions is to allow EdgeCAM to determine the

type and the amount of CAM commands.

The Mill Cycle’s menu will only be active if a Mill Cutter has been previously selected.

3.5 Viewing the Toolpath - Simulation

4. Mill Cycles and Operations: please check the menu

5. Concepts Machining Sequences: A machining sequence is a set of machining information for an EdgeCAM part. Depending on the environment, it specifies the:

• machine tool (the Code Generator to be used to provide machining commands and to create CNC code from the instruction list)

• machine datum for the machine tool

• axis system being used

• machine tool specific functions available (M-Function category commands)

• units to be used in the CNC output

• sequential list of machining instructions and/or operations.

• A new sequence can be defined at any time in Manufacture using the command New Sequence (File menu).

• Parts can contain multiple sequences, for example two milling operations on the same model. Also, more than one discipline (mill, inspection, turning, and so on) can be used with the same model.

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Name of sequence Postprocessor (or machine tool used) Cutting time

Clearance Plane, Retract plane, Level, Depth.

Layers Visible and hide

Layers can be used for separating different types of entities from each other for display purposes. For example, toolpaths would normally be on different layers from the geometry of a part model. The Layers Window displays the current set of available layers, listing their names and visibility status. Please note that only layers that are visible can be drawn on.

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When EdgeCAM is started, the default is Geometry Lead in/out:

6. Examples: The explanation of parameter in the diaglogue box could be found by clicking the "Help" button on its bottom line.

Example 1: 2D Profile

File location: S:\cadlab\manu1418\EdgeCAM\ Example1 RoughExternalBoss.ppf

Tool: 20mm Endmill Mill cycle: 2D Profile Start point: arrow End piont: yellow start

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Example 2: Roughing 1

File location: S:\cadlab\manu1418\EdgeCAM\ Example1 RoughExternalBoss.ppf

Model type: wireframe Stock: Profile

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Rough Strategies:

Stock Type - Allows you to define the stock volume for the roughing cycle. Choose between the following options:

None - With Stock Type set to None the Roughing cycle will only machine closed pockets. No digitised input required.

3D Model - You can digitise a solid model, surface(s) or an STL model to represent the stock volume. It is recommended that the entities representing the stock are placed on a separate layer for easy selection and show/hide. You will be prompted to digitise surfaces, solid or STL entities that represent the stock volume. This option is useful when a stock model is available which represents a casting, forging or pre-machined material that is not a simple offset of the finished part.

Thickness - The entities selected for machining are offset by the Stock Offset value and used as the stock definition. Note that this option can only be used when machining surfaces, solids or STL models. This feature is useful for casting and forging that form a constant wall thickness.

Bounding Box - A bounding box is a rectangular box that is placed around the extents of the 2D or 3D entities selected for machining. This box (not displayed) is used to define the stock envelope. This option is used when machining rectangular parts that contains pockets and/or open sided pockets.

Profile - Select a 2D geometric profile to represent the stock edge. When selecting this option, you will be prompted to digitise the stock profile. Digitised Input: Lines, arcs, continuous, boss or pocket feature that form a closed 2D boundary. This option can be used with any flat faced straight walled stock shape.

Stock Type is unavailable with Rest Rough checked (when the value from the cycle being rest roughed is used).

Stock Offset - Specifies a 3D offset. This can optionally be applied to all Stock Types, but is required for the Thickness type.

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Example 3: Roughing 2 Change following selectable items and see effects. (1) Strategy - concentric, stock- profile (2) change "strategy", "No stock" (3) Full Width Cut Moves: Trochoidal Example 4: Profiling

File location: S:\cadlab\manu1418\EdgeCAM\ Example4

smoothlinks.ppf

(1) Tool : 10mm ball end (2) Level: 40, Dept: -20, incerement:3, Strategy (3) Model type: Surface (not wireframe, otherwise you can not select

the halfball surface)

Example 5: Profiling Change parameters and see effects * Example 6: Flat land finishing

File location: S:\cadlab\manu2095\EdgeCAM\ Example6 FlatLandsParasolidModel.ppf

Tool: 14 mm Endmill Use mouse to select every surface. Try Different strategies

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Example 7: Parallel Lace

File location: S:\cadlab\manu2095\EdgeCAM\ Example7 Parallellace.ppf

Tool: 16 mm Ballend Try different “Mill Type” under “General” Tag Try different “Angle” under “General” Tag

Example 8: Constant Cusp height

File location: S:\cadlab\manu1418\EdgeCAM\ Example8 constantcuspfinishing.ppf

Tool: 5 mm Ballend