Download help solidcam pdf

Define the Drilling depth The overall height of the model is 10 mm plus the 5 mm bottom offset defined for the stock. The drilling has to be performed deeper than this depth in order to enable the tool to exit from the material and perform the through drilling.

Switch to the Levels page. Define the Drill depth. Rotate the model and select the bottom face as shown. Since the Z- offset defined for the stock model is 5 mm, set the Delta value to To perform the through drilling, choose the Full diameter option in the Depth type area.

With this option, the drilling is performed until the full diameter is reached at the specified drill depth. This means that the conical part of the tool exits from the material. In this operation, the pecking canned cycle is used for chip breaking. With this cycle, the chip breaking is accomplished by slight retracts of the tool during the drilling process.

Switch to the Technology page and click the Drill cycle type button. Available drill cycles are displayed. Click the Peck button. The cycle is chosen for the operation.

Click the Data button to define the pecking parameters. The Drill Options dialog box is displayed. Confirm the data with the OK button. The Drilling operation data is saved, and the tool path is calculated. Simulate the operation Simulate the operation in the SolidVerify simulation mode. Since in the previous operation the drilling diameter was greater than that in this operation, the drilling results in a chamfer on the drilled holes.

Now you have successfully finished the exercise. The cover is machined on the 3-Axis milling CNC-machine using the machining vice. The part is machined using two setups. At the first stage, the workpiece is positioned in the vice as shown below. At the next stage, the rest of the cover faces are machined using the second positioning.

Load the SolidWorks model Load the Exercise3. The CAM-Part is defined. Select the CNC-machine controller. Click the arrow in the CNC- Machine section to display the list of post-processors installed on your system. Define the Stock model In this exercise, you have to define the Stock model before you define the Coordinate System in order to use the workpiece for the CoordSys definition.

In the Expand box at section, set the value of the Z- parameter direction to 5. This allowance is used for the first clamping. Set the value of 2 for the rest of the directions. Click on the model. The face is highlighted, and the box surrounding the model is displayed. Click the Add box to CAD model button. Confirm the Model dialog box with.

In the Define CoordSys options list, choose the Define option. This mode enables you to define the Coordinate System by picking three points on the solid model. At first, you have to define the Coordinate System origin location and then the points for the X- and Y-directions. Pick the origin point in the stock box corner as shown. Click on the stock model edge as shown to define the Y-axis of the Coordinate System.

When a point is selected, the next button is automatically activated. If you miss the selection, you can at any time select the button you want to define and continue automatically to the next button. The model is rotated, and the Coordinate System is displayed. Define the Part Lower level directly on the solid model.

This parameter defines the lower surface level of the part to be milled. Click the Part Lower level button. Rotate the model and select the lower face that is milled using the first positioning as shown. The Z-coordinate of the face is displayed in the Pick Part Lower level dialog box. Confirm the CoordSys Manager dialog box with. The target Model dialog box is displayed. This dialog box enables you to define a 3D model for the Target. The default target model is chosen.

Click twice on the solid body to clear the selection and select a new target model. The solid body is highlighted.. The Face Milling operation is used for the upper face machining.

Define the Face Milling geometry Click the button in the Geometry page. Using the default Model option, click the Define button and pick on the solid model to select a face. In the Face Milling Geometry dialog box, define the 3 mm offset to machine over the stock edges. In the Modify section, set the Offset value to 3. This feature also enables you to see a more realistic simulation in the SolidVerify simulation.

Switch to the Holder page in the Choosing tool for operation dialog box. This table contains a number of frequently used tool holder components. You can make changes in the Global table. The SolidCAM tool holder is defined by combining two components. The first component is the tool adaptor mounted on the spindle unit of the milling machine. The second component can consist of various types of extensions and reductions like collet chucks, arbors, shanks and other components that you may have.

This collet chuck is suitable for the chosen tool diameter 40 mm. Choose the defined tool for the operation by clicking the Select button. Click the Face depth button in the Milling levels area and select the model face as shown. The Face depth 2 is calculated. In the Technology section, use the default Hatch option.

Hatch Machining Technology The machining is performed in a linear pattern. The Hatch page enables you to define the hatching parameters.

The tool path always follows the length of the face no matter what angle the machined surface is facing. The Delta from optimal parameter enables you to change the hatching angle.

The Zigzag option enables you to create the tool path with bidirectional movements. The Extension section enables you to define the extension both along the tool path the Along section and across the tool path the Across section.

The Fillet option connects each direction with a given radius allowing for a smoother transition between path directions. Click the Data tab to define the machining parameters. In the Hatch angle section, switch to the Automatic optimal angle option.

Switch back to the Technology tab. Overlap This section enables you to define the tool overlapping between two successive passes. This option can be defined as Percentage of the tool diameter or as a Value.

Overlap value but not smaller than this value. Overlapping Overlapping When this check box is not selected, the distance between the last pass and the one before it can be smaller than that between all of the other passes.

When this check box is selected, the evenly spaced hatch tool path is generated. The overlap between two successive passes is not smaller than the specified Min.

Overlap Overlapping Overlapping value. This option is available only for the Hatch strategy. Define the roughing offset that remains on the floor of the face.

This offset is left unmachined during the rough face machining and removed during the face finishing. In the Offsets section, set the Floor offset value to 0. Select the Finish check box to perform finishing of the face in this operation. This check box enables you to remove the remaining offset with the last cutting pass. Define the Lead in and Lead out Switch to the Link page of the Face Milling dialog box to define the way the tool approaches the material and retreats away.

In the Lead in section, choose the Tangent option. This option enables the tool to approach the material on a line tangent to the profile. In the Length field, set the length of the tangent to 5. Add a Profile operation At this stage, you have to define a Profile operation in order to machine the upper profile of the cover.

Click the Add button in the Multi-chain section. The Chains Selection dialog box is displayed. This dialog box enables you to pick a number of chains from the model by selecting the model elements. SolidCAM automatically creates chains from the selected elements. Click on the top face of the model as shown. The face is selected, and its boundary is highlighted. Confirm the geometry definition with.

Choose the tool holder. Switch to the Holder page and select the Use holder check box. Click the Local holders tab. When a new holder is chosen from the Global holders table, it is copied to the local table to make a further use easier. Confirm the tool selection by clicking the Select button. Define the Profile depth Switch to the Levels page. In the same manner as explained in previous steps, define the Profile depth by clicking on the model face as shown below.

Define the technological parameters Switch to the Technology page. In the Modify section, set the Tool side to Right. Click the Geometry button to check the tool position relative to the geometry. Close the Modify Geometry dialog box with the button. Now you have to define the roughing and finishing parameters. SolidCAM Profile operation enables you to perform the rough and finish machining in the single operation. Set the Step down value to 3. The profile is machined in two equal Z-steps.

In the Offsets section, set the Wall offset and the Floor offset to 0. These allowances are removed during the finish machining. Select the Clear offset check box.

Set the Offset value to 5 and the Step over value to 2. The Offset defines the distance from the geometry at which the milling starts. The Clear offset value should be equal to or larger than the Wall offset value. The tool starts milling the profile at the distance defined by the Clear offset and finishes at the distance defined by the Wall offset; the overlap of the adjacent tool paths is defined by the Step over parameter.

The Step over parameter defines the overlap of adjacent tool paths. It determines the offset between two successive concentric profiles. The 0. Define the Lead in and Lead out Switch to the Link page. With this option, the tool approaches the material tangentially to the geometry in the start point. Set the Length value to The Profile operation data is saved and the tool path is calculated.

Simulate Click the Simulate button in the Profile Operation dialog box. The SolidVerify simulation mode enables you to measure distances directly on solid bodies in the SolidVerify window. This feature enables checking the linear dimensions of the part during simulation. Click the Measure button on the toolbar. The Measure Distance dialog box is displayed.

Click on the top face of the cover and then on the horizontal face machined in the current operation. In this case, the Delta Z parameter displays the depth of the machined face relative to the cover top face 5. Close the Profile Operation dialog box with the Exit button.

Add a Profile operation At this stage, you have to define a Profile operation in order to machine the lower profile of the cover. Define the Geometry Click the button in the Geometry page. Click on the workpiece edge as shown to define the first entity of the chain. In the Chain section, choose the Auto-constant Z option.

The closed chain is automatically selected. Confirm it by clicking Yes. Confirm the geometry with. Click the Select button in the Tool page.

Choose the previously defined Tool 2 and click the Select button. Define the Profile depth You have to define a new Upper level for the operation taking into account the already machined faces. Switch to the Levels page and click the Upper level button in the Milling levels area. Define the Upper level by clicking on the model face as shown. Confirm the definition of the Upper level with. In the same manner as explained in the previous steps, define the Profile depth by clicking on the model vertex as shown.

Now you have to define the parameters of profile roughing and finishing. Set the Step down value to 2. In the Offsets section, set the Wall offset value to 0. This allowance is removed during the finish machining. Select the Finish check box and set the Step down value to 5. In the Lead in section, choose the Arc option. The tool approaches the material tangentially to the geometry at the start point.

Set the Radius value to In the Lead out section, select the Same as Lead in check box. Add a Profile operation At this stage, you have to define a new Profile operation to machine four hole pads.

Define the Geometry In the Geometry page, click the button. Click on the model edge as shown. Click on the next model edges as shown below to complete the chain.

In the Chain List section, click to confirm the chain selection. In the same manner, define the geometry for the rest of the pads. Make sure that all the selected chains have the same direction. Define the Tool Define a new tool for the operation. Define the Milling levels In this operation, the machining starts at the Z-level of the already machined faces. The upper level has to be defined. Define the Upper level by clicking on the already machined model face as shown.

In the same manner as explained earlier, define the Profile depth by clicking on the pad face as shown. Define the technological parameters Select the Rough check box. The profile is machined in one Z-step. Set the Offset value to 5 and the Step over value to 4.

Select the Finish check box and set the Step down value to 3. Set the Radius value to 2. At this point, the machining of the external cover faces is finished. At the next stages you have to machine the internal faces.

Define a New Coordinate System The machining of the internal model faces requires another positioning. The part has to be rotated and clamped in a vice as shown. The CoordSys Manager dialog box is displayed. Right-click the MAC 1 item in the list and choose the Add option from the menu.

The CoordSys dialog box is displayed. In the Mac CoordSys Number field, set the value to 2. Changing of the Mac CoordSys number means that a new clamping is used. Make sure that the default Select Face mode is chosen. In this case, the Z-axis of the Coordinate System is normal to the selected face. Rotate the model and click on its bottom face as shown below. Make sure that the Corner of model box option is chosen. In this case, the box surrounding the model is calculated.

Now you have to move the origin of the Coordinate System from the automatically defined position to the corner of the workpiece. Select the Pick origin check box in the Pick section of the CoordSys dialog box. Click on the corner of the workpiece stock model as shown to choose it for the origin. The origin is moved to the new location. Confirm the dialog box with the OK button. Using them you can program operations for different positions clamping.

The Machine Coordinate System 2 is used for the machining of the back face and the internal faces. Click to confirm the CoordSys Manager dialog box. Define the Geometry Since this operation is performed with the second Coordinate System position, choose the Machine Coordinate System 2. Click the button to start the geometry definition. The rectangle is generated surrounding the Target model at the XY-plane. Define the 3 mm offset to extend the machined surface over the stock edges.

Click to confirm the Face Milling Geometry dialog box. Choose the previously defined tool and click the Select button. Define the Upper level by clicking on the workpiece corner as shown. Define the Face depth directly on the solid model by clicking on its bottom face as shown below.

Set the Step down to 2. In the Technology section, choose the Hatch option and click the Hatch tab. This offset is being left unmachined during the rough face machining and is removed during the face finishing. Define the Lead in and Lead out Switch to the Link page of the Face Milling Operation dialog box to define the way the tool approaches the material and retreats away.

Confirm this message with the Yes button. The operation data is saved, and the tool path is calculated. Simulate Simulate the operation in the SolidVerify mode. The bottom face machining is finished.

Now you have to perform the pocket machining. Pocket machining overview The pocket is machined in several technological steps: The rough machining of the upper part of the pocket. The machining is performed until the Z-level of the pads is reached. The rough machining of the pocket with islands pads. The machining is performed from the upper face of the pads till the pocket floor.

At this stage, two operations are used to perform the machining with two tools of big and small diameter. The finish machining of the outside wall of the pocket. The finish machining of the island top face. The finish machining of the pocket floor. Add a Pocket operation Add a new Pocket operation to perform the rough machining of the upper part of the pocket down to the pads height. Define the Pocket depth Define the Pocket Depth directly on the solid model. Use the top face of the pads for the definition.

The Step down parameter enables you to define the distance between each two successive Z-levels. The pocket is machined in two Z-levels. In the Ramping section, choose the Helical option. Click the Data button. Set the Radius of the descent helix to 3 and confirm the dialog box with. With a circular motion tangent to the last entity of the pocket contour, the tool retreats from the profile.

The radius of the arc must be specified. Radius Simulate Perform the simulation of the Pocket operation in the SolidVerify mode. During the simulation, notice the helical lead in movement.

Add a new Pocket operation Add a new Pocket operation to machine the bottom part of the pocket including two islands pads for the circuit board installing.

In the same manner as explained in the Step 18 of this exercise, define the geometry by clicking on the pocket bottom face as shown below. SolidCAM automatically determines the edges of the selected face and defines chains on them.

The first chain is the external boundary of the pocket. All closed chains inside the first chain of each pocket are automatically treated as pocket islands.

Overlapping chains are milled as separate pockets, not as islands. To select multiple pockets with islands, continue adding chains to the geometry.

Define the Milling levels The machining in this operation starts at the Z-level of the top faces of the pads and ends on the bottom face of the pocket. Define the Upper level by selecting the top face of the pads as shown. Define the Lower level by selecting the bottom face of the pocket.

Define the technological parameters Make sure that the default Contour option is chosen in the Technology section. In the Offsets section of the Technology page, set the Wall offset, Island offset and Floor offset values to 0. These offsets remain unmachined during roughing and are removed in the next finishing operations. Wall offset — the roughing offset remaining on the wall of the pocket. Floor offset — the roughing offset remaining on the floor of the pocket.

Set the Radius of the descent helix to 3 and confirm the dialog box with the OK button. Define the Lead out In the Lead out section, choose the Arc option.

The Pocket operation data is saved, and the tool path is calculated. Simulate Perform the Pocket operation simulation in the SolidVerify mode. In order to complete the machining, you have to perform an additional Pocket operation with a tool of a smaller diameter in the areas that were not machined in the current Pocket operation. Add a new Pocket operation Add a new Pocket operation.

SolidCAM enables you to use the existing operations as templates for new ones. In this case, the last created Pocket operation is used to define a new Pocket operation from the template. All the parameters of the chosen operation are copied to the current one. Change the Tool Define a new tool for the operation. The Part Tool Table. Since this tool is used in several operations, its parameters cannot be edited.

Click to define a new tool. Choose the End mill tool from the Tool type dialog box. A new Tool 4 is added with the default parameters. In the Holder page, click the Local tab. Choose the BT40 ER32x60 collet chuck from the list. During the machining, when a large tool is used, the tool leaves material in areas that it cannot enter.

Unmachined area Machined area Geometry The Rest material option enables you to remove the material from these areas without defining a new geometry. The new Rest tab appears and opens the page automatically. Notice that the Separate areas option is chosen by default in the Milling type box.

When this option is chosen, SolidCAM performs the machining only in areas that were not machined with the previous tool. Define the diameter of the end mill that was used in the previous operation. Click the Previous tool diameter button. In the Previous wall offset field, set the value of 0. This offset was defined in the previous Pocket operation. Define the Ramping strategy In the Ramping section of the Link page, choose the Helical strategy to define how the tool enters into the material.

Set the Z-entry helix Radius to 3. With the defined parameters, the tool machines all the areas that were not machined by the previous tool. The machining area is extended by 1 mm to overlap the previously machined area.

Simulate Play the simulation of the Pocket operation in the SolidVerify mode. Notice that the machining is performed only in the areas that were not machined in the previous operation. At this stage, the rough machining of the pocket is completed, and you have to program the finishing operations. Add a Profile operation A Profile operation is used for the finish machining of the pocket walls. Define the Geometry In the Geometry page, click the Browse button to view the geometries defined for the current Coordinate System.

You can click entries in the list to display the corresponding geometries on the model. Choose the Contour3 geometry from the list. Confirm the Browse Geometries dialog box by clicking.

Define the Profile depth Define the Profile depth by clicking on the bottom face of the pocket. Define the technological parameters In the Modify section, choose the Right option from the Tool side area. In this operation, use the Equal step down option to keep an equal distance between all Z-levels. Equal Step down Max. This option enables you to Step down perform all cuts at an equal Z-level distance one from the other.

SolidCAM automatically calculates the actual step down to keep an equal distance between all passes. When the Equal step down check box is selected, Step down is replaced by Max. Step down. This value is taken into account during the calculation of the actual step down so that Actual Step down it is not exceeded. Select the Equal step down check box. Select the Finish check box and set the Max.

Step down value to 3. With the Helical option, the tool performs spiral movements around the geometry with continuous lowering along the Z-axis. For each turn around the geometry, the tool moves downward along the Z-axis according to the step down value. When the Profile depth is reached by the spiral movements, SolidCAM performs the last cut with the constant-Z movement at the Profile depth.

The tool approaches the material with the movement normal to the pocket contour and retreats in the same way. Simulate Play the simulation in the SolidVerify mode.

Add a Profile operation Add a new Profile operation to machine the walls of the islands. Define the Geometry Choose the Machine Coordinate System 2 for the operation and click the button in the Geometry page. Select the edge of the island as shown below. Make sure that the chain direction is clockwise. Such direction enables you to perform the climb milling of the profile. The chain is automatically completed. The first chain is defined. The chain is automatically completed and the confirmation message is displayed.

Confirm it by clicking the Yes button. The first selected entity in the geometry chain defines the approach location for the whole chain. In this case, the internal edges of the pads are chosen in order to prevent the collision between the tool and pocket wall during the lead in movement.

Confirm the Geometry definition with. Define the Milling levels Define the operation Upper level directly on the solid model by clicking on the top face of the pad as shown below. Define the technological parameters In the Technology page, make sure the Finish check box is selected and set the Step down value to 4. In the Depth Type area, set the Helical option. The tool approaches the material with an arc movement tangential to the geometry and retreats in the same way.

Define the geometry In the Geometry page, choose the Coordinate System 2 MAC 2 and click to define the geometry for this milling operation.

In the Face Milling Geometry dialog box, choose the Faces option in the Type section and then click the Define button. The Select Faces dialog box is displayed. Click on the surface of the tow pads and confirm your selection by clicking. In order to machine the two faces separately, click the Separate button in the Chain List section. Milling levels Define the operation Upper level directly on the solid model by clicking on the top face of the pad.

Define the Face depth value by clicking on the same face. Define the technological parameters In the Technology page, choose the One Pass strategy from the list. The operation data is saved, and tool path is calculated.

At the next stage you have to machine the pocket floor. Add a Pocket operation Define a new Pocket operation to perform the finish machining of the pocket floor. Define the geometry Use the already defined geometry contour4.

Define the Milling levels Define the operation Upper level directly on the bottom face of the pocket. Define the Pocket depth value by clicking on the same face to perform the machining in a single Z-level. Define the technological parameters Make sure that the default Contour strategy is chosen in the Technology page.

In the Offsets section, set the Wall offset and Island offset values to 0. Such offset prevents the contact between the tool and the already finally machined wall and island surfaces during the floor machining. Define the Lead out Choose the Arc option from the Lead out list.

Add a Slot operation Add a new Slot operation to machine the slot on the bottom face of the cover model. The Slot Operation dialog box is displayed. Define the Geometry Choose the Machine Coordinate System 2 for the operation and define the geometry for the slot as shown.

Make sure that the chain direction is clockwise to perform the climb milling. Define the technological parameters In the Tool side area, choose the Right option to machine the slot at the right side of the selected geometry. In the Slot levels area, click the Depth button to define the slot depth directly on the solid model. The Slot depth 1. Set the Step down value to 0. The Slot operation data is saved and the tool path is calculated.

At the final stage of the cover part, you have to perform several operations to machine the holes located on the bottom face and pads. Define a Drilling operation Define a new Drilling operation for the center drilling of the holes located on the bottom face of the cover. Define the Geometry In the Geometry page, choose the Machine Coordinate System 2 for the operation and click the button to start the definition of drill positions.

The Drill Geometry Selection dialog box is displayed. Choose the Multi-positions option in the Select centers by section. Click on the bottom model face as shown below. All the circular edges located on the selected face are collected, and the drill positions are determined.

Confirm the geometry selection with. Define the Tool In the Tool page, click the Select button. In the drilling operations of this exercise, the tools imported from an external tool library are used.

This library is located in the Exercises folder you have copied to your hard drive. In the Part Tool Table, click the Import Tool s button and choose Import to import the tool from the previously defined tool library. Set it in the Library list. Click the Import All Tolls button located in the left bottom part of the dialog box.

The tools are imported into the Part Tool Table. Click OK to exit from the tool library. Confirm the tool definition by clicking the Select button. Define the Drilling depth In the Milling levels area, set the Drill depth to 0.

To perform center drilling, use the Depth type option. In the Depth type section, choose the Diameter value option and set the value to 5. The center drilling operation is performed until the specified diameter is reached at the upper level the top face of the model.

The upper diameter of the center drilling cone is greater than the drilled hole diameter; this means that the 0. Simulate Play the simulation of the center drilling in the SolidVerify mode. Choose the same Drill geometry used in the previous operation. Define the Drilling depth In the Levels page, define the Upper level by clicking on the model upper face. Define the Drill depth by clicking on the model face as shown. Set the Delta depth value to To perform through drilling, use the Depth type option.

In the Depth type section, choose the Full diameter option. The drilling is performed until the given diameter is reached at the specified Drill depth. Simulate Play the simulation of the drilling in the SolidVerify mode. At the next stage, you have to perform a number of drilling operations center drilling, drilling, tapping for eight holes located on the pads top faces.

Add a Drilling operation Add a new Drilling operation to perform the center drilling of the pad holes. Define the Geometry In the same manner as explained in Step , define the geometry for the drilling.

Use the Machine Coordinate System 2 for the operation. Define the Drilling depth In the Levels page, define the Upper level by clicking on the top face of the pad. Set the Drill depth value to 1.

Add a Drilling operation Add a new Drilling operation to perform the drilling of the pad holes. In the Geometry area, choose the Drill1 geometry defined in Step This tool enables you to perform preliminary drilling for the M2 tapping.

Define the Milling levels In the Levels page, define the Upper level in the same manner as explained in Step Define the Drill depth directly on the solid model. Pick the lower vertex of the hole cone as shown to define the depth.

Define the Drill cycle type Click the Drill cycle type button in the Technology page. The Drill Cycles panel is displayed. Choose the Peck type to perform the pecking canned cycle. The Drill options dialog box is displayed. Set the Step down value for pecking to 0. Confirm the dialog box with OK. Add a Drilling operation Add a new Drilling operation to perform the tapping of the pads holes.

Total The tool consists of two Length parts: cylindrical and Outside conical, and is defined Holder Length Chamfer Cutting by the following major Length Length parameters presented on the illustration. Tip Diameter Diameter When the Tap tool is used in the operation, the Tapping is chosen automatically. Define the Drilling depth In the Levels page, define the Upper level in the same manner as explained in Step Set the Drill Depth to 4.

Simulate Click the Simulate button. SolidCAM enables you to simulate several operations together. Holding the Shift key, select the last three operations in SolidCAM Manager center drilling, drilling and tapping of the pad holes and play the simulation. At this stage, programming of the machining operations is completed. The generated GCode is displayed in the Notepad window. At this stage, the exercise is completed. The following steps have to be implemented in order to reach the final CAM-Part: 1.

Machine the top face Define a Face Milling operation to machine the top face of the bracket. Machine the side faces Perform the Profile rough and finish machining of the bracket side faces. Machine the open pockets Define a Profile operation to perform the machining of the open areas as shown. Machine the pocket Define a Pocket operation to perform rough and finish machining of the pocket located on the top face of the bracket. Pre-machine the cylindrical hole Define two Drilling operations to perform the center drilling and preliminary drilling for the further pocket operation.

Machine the cylindrical hole Perform two Pocket operations to machine the faces of the through hole. Use the pre-drilled hole to perform the safe lead in movement of the tool into the material. Machine the holes Perform center drilling and drilling of the holes. Machine the bottom face Define a Face Milling operation to machine the bottom face of the bracket.

This operation requires different clamping, so define and use a new Coordinate System with the Z-axis oriented normally to the bottom face. Machine the top face Define a Face Milling operation to machine the top face of the electronic box part with the Hatch strategy. Machine the side faces Define two Profile operations to perform rough machining of the external faces. Machine the pocket Define two Pocket operations to perform rough machining of the internal pocket faces with a tool of large diameter.

Perform the pocket finish machining Define a number of Pocket operations to perform finish machining of the internal pocket faces. Choose the Tool according to the minimal radius of the model fillets.

During the wall finish machining, use the Rest Material strategy to remove the bulk of material in the corners. Perform finish machining of the external faces At the first stage, perform the rest material machining of the corner faces to remove the bulk of the material. Define a number of Profile operations to machine the external faces. Machine the holes Define a number of Drilling operations to perform the center drilling, drilling, and tapping of the holes.

Use a Pocket operation for counterboring of the holes. Machine the bottom face Define a Face Milling operation to machine the bottom face of the electronic box part using the Hatch strategy. The following steps have to be implemented in order to obtain the final CAM-Part: 1. Make a note that the workpiece used for this part is the box exactly surrounding the clamp model without an offset.

Holes machining Perform a number of Drilling operations to machine the holes. Use the appropriate Machine Coordinate System defined for the positioning shown below.

Open pocket machining Add a Machine Coordinate System for the positioning shown below to machine the open pocket. In this operation, the open pocket machining strategy will be used. Select the open pocket geometry chain as shown. Click to confirm the selected chain. The Close Chain dialog box is displayed. Close Chain dialog box This dialog box is displayed when you confirm an open chain definition in the Geometry Edit dialog box. When you confirm this dialog box with the Yes button, the chain is closed with a line that connects the start and the end points of the chain.

The Mark line as open edge check box enables you to mark the connecting line as open edge to perform open pocket machining. When you click the No button, SolidCAM returns to the geometry definition and enables you to close the chain manually by the model element selection. The open edge is marked. Confirm the Geometry Edit dialog box by clicking. Select the upper face of the model as the Upper level and the pocket floor as the Pocket depth.

In the Technology page, only the Contour machining strategy is available. Switch to the Open pocket tab to define the parameters of the open pocket machining. Define the extension of the tool path beyond the open edge. Extension This section enables you to define the overlapping between the tool and the open edges. Since the diameter of the tool used in this operation is 6 mm, the tool path is extended by 3. Note that the Extension value cannot be smaller than the radius of the tool.

Select the Use profile strategy check box. Use Profile Strategy This option enables you to perform the open pocket machining in a Profile manner. The tool path at a specific Z-level consists of several equidistant profiles starting from outside the model at the distance defined by the Extension parameter.

The tool moves on offsets parallel to the pocket geometry. The cutting direction either climb or conventional is preserved for each cutting pass. The machining is performed without leaving the material, thus constantly switching between climb and conventional milling.

Select the Approach from outside check box. Approach from Outside This option enables the tool to approach from outside of the material in the open pocket areas, if possible. Such approach enables you to decrease the tool loading when plunging into the material.

This option enables you to perform the approach movement from the automatically calculated point outside of the material. The tool moves to the required depth outside of the material and then plunges into the material. Switch to the Technology tab. To remove these offsets with the finishing cut, select the Wall and Floor check boxes in the Finish section. Hole machining Define two Drilling operations to perform center drilling and drilling of the hole located at the bottom of the open pocket.

Use the same Machine Coordinate System positioning as in the previous operation. Step machining Define a Profile operation to machine the step. Define the Machine Coordinate System for the positioning shown below.

Use the Point to point option in the Geometry Edit dialog box to define the geometry. Point to Point Mode This option enables you to connect the specified points. The points are connected by a straight line. This option is useful when it is impossible to define the geometry using the model edges.

In this exercise, it is impossible to define the straight geometry for the Profile Milling using the model edges. The Point to Point option enables you to define the geometry by two points located on the model vertices. Depth Cutting Type When the One Way option is chosen, the cutting passes are oriented in the same direction, and the connection between them is performed through the Operation Clearance level.

At the end of each pass the tool performs a retreat movement to the Operation Clearance level, a horizontal movement at rapid feed to the start point of the next pass and then descends to the Z-level of the next pass. The same cutting direction climb or conventional is kept along the whole tool path.

When the Zigzag option is chosen, the tool path is performed in a zigzag manner, with the tool path direction changing from one pass to the next. The passes located at two successive Z-levels are connected directly from the end of one pass to the beginning of the next pass. The Zigzag option cannot be used together with the Clear offset technology. Upper cusp machining Define two Profile operations to remove the bulk of material and perform the rough and the finish machining of the cusp.

Step machining Perform the rough and finish machining of the step faces using the Profile operation. External contour machining Define a Profile operation to perform the rough and finish machining of the external model faces. Connector opening machining Define a Pocket operation to perform the rough machining of the connector opening faces. Connector pocket machining Define a number of Pocket and Profile operations to perform the roughing and finishing of the connector pocket.

Connector opening finish machining Use the Pocket rest material strategy to perform the finish machining of the connector opening faces.

Machine screw head areas Define a Profile operation to perform the rough and finish machining of the screw head areas. Top face machining Use the Face milling Hatch strategy to perform the rough and finish machining of the top face. Press the User Login at the top left corner, in order to enter your User Login data and have full access to all documentation. Download PDF. This interactive manual contains getting started examples for iMachining 2D and 3D, 2.

Download Exercises. Download Examples. Download Tutorial. Download Part and Machine files. Download Course Materials. US English. Chinese TW. SolidCAM Documentation. See the new functionality of SolidCAM New Tool Table Toolkit. ToolKit Reference Guide. Multiblade Machining. Mold Machining. Multiaxis Roughing — Part 1. Multiaxis Roughing — Part 2. Port Machining.