Contents

Introduction .......................................................................................... 3 About this Guide...................................................................................3 Other Resources .................................................................................... 4 What is EdgeCAM? ................................................................................5 Supporting Applications .........................................................................6 Installing EdgeCAM ............................................................................... 7 Fitting the security key..........................................................................7 Running EdgeCAM without a Security Key................................................7 Installing EdgeCAM ...............................................................................8 If the EdgeCAM CD doesn't Autorun ........................................................8 What else can I Install? .........................................................................9 Preparing EdgeCAM ............................................................................. 10 Switching to Student Edition Mode........................................................10 Starting EdgeCAM...............................................................................11 Registering EdgeCAM ..........................................................................11 The EdgeCAM User Interface ................................................................12 Customising the User Interface ........................................................... 13 Checking the Defaults File ...................................................................14 The Milling Exercise............................................................................. 15 Loading the CAD model .......................................................................16 Selecting the Isometric View ................................................................17 Zooming In and Out............................................................................17 Creating the Stock ..............................................................................18

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Using Undo ........................................................................................19 Showing Translucent Stock ..................................................................19 Finding the Features ...........................................................................20 Saving and Opening your Work ............................................................21 Specifying the Material ........................................................................22 Specifying the ToolStore Database........................................................23 Creating the Machining Sequence .........................................................24 Drilling the Hole .................................................................................25 Roughing the Part...............................................................................26 Rest Roughing the Part........................................................................28 Machining the Flat Lands .....................................................................29 Profiling the Inner Profile (Upper Boss)..................................................30 Profiling the Outer Profile (Lower Boss) .................................................32 Profiling the Pockets ...........................................................................33 Simulating the Machining ....................................................................34 Editing the Profiling Operation..............................................................36 Generating CNC Code .........................................................................37 Exercise Summary..............................................................................38 Creating a Code Generator Exercise .................................................... 39 Starting the Code Wizard.....................................................................39 Opening the Template .........................................................................39 Working through the Screens ...............................................................40 Reviewing the Settings........................................................................41 Saving the Configuration .....................................................................41 Compiling ..........................................................................................41 Using the Code Generator....................................................................42

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Introduction
About this Guide
In this guide you work through a series of exercises that teach you some of the basics of using EdgeCAM and EdgeCAM Solid Machinist. You become familiar with the user interface and some of the EdgeCAM concepts. The guide starts with some overview information and a basic installation procedure. This is followed by some preparation of EdgeCAM for the exercises. You then work through the complete process of producing toolpaths for machining a part supplied as a solid model. Please note that: In the exercises you use the intelligence of EdgeCAM to quickly produce results. You see how EdgeCAM speeds up your work by automatically setting many of the machining details for you. As your knowledge of EdgeCAM increases you will learn how you can also take more detailed control of your machining, if necessary. As a general introduction to the EdgeCAM software the guide is not a substitute for a formal instructor-led training course. The guide assumes that you are familiar with a PC and Microsoft Windows. Some experience with CAD/CAM methods and terminology would be beneficial, but not essential. The guide is for use with EdgeCAM version 9.00 and above.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Other Resources
Other resources to help you in your EdgeCAM work are: Graphical help on your settings in dialogs

Online help topics accessible directly from dialogs

EdgeCAM menu

Complete reference help including explanations and step by step procedures. Some exercises that teach you important aspects of EdgeCAM design and manufacture.

Useful Web-based support resourses

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

What is EdgeCAM?
EdgeCAM is Computer Aided Manufacturing software enabling machining strategies and CNC code to be generated from CAD models. Here are the main stages in using EdgeCAM: CAD CAM SIMULATE GENERATE

Model or import the part

Create the Machining Sequence

Simulate the Machining

Generate CNC Code

Use EdgeCAM Design Mode for wireframe.

Use EdgeCAM Manufacture Mode.

Use EdgeCAM Simulator.

Use the Generate Code command.

Import solid models or drawings from major CAD systems.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Supporting Applications
To support the core EdgeCAM activities there are a number of tools and utilities. You can access these from the EdgeCAM program group (Start menu, Programs, EdgeCAM):

Code Wizard - Configure the requirements of a CNC machine into a new code generator, which is then used to produce CNC code tailored for that machine. (Not available in Student Edition mode.) Comms Setup - Set up communication links so that you can transmit and receive files between PCs and machine tools over your local area network. Editor - A dedicated CNC file editor with essential editing, comparison and formatting features. Job Manager - Manage 'jobs' (kits of tooling).

Technology Assistant - Automatically calculate feeds and speeds for tools to be used within EdgeCAM.

Toolkit Assistant - Manage your ToolStore database more effectively and streamline the process of preparing to write an NC file. ToolStore - Store, manage and retrieve details of your tools. Utilities - A range of utilities. There is a utility for setting up file sharing across networks, for example.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Installing EdgeCAM
Fitting the security key
If you have been supplied with a security key, fit this to either the PC's parallel or USB port, depending on the type of key:

USB Key

Parallel Key

Running EdgeCAM without a Security Key

Without a security key fitted, EdgeCAM starts in 'Student Edition' mode. In this mode you can evaluate and learn about EdgeCAM, and you can complete the exercises in this guide. This could be on any convenient installation; on your home PC for example. You can use Student Edition mode for up to 999 days. Part files are saved in the educational .epf format, which does not allow NC code to be generated.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Installing EdgeCAM
On inserting the CD this screen appears:

Click Install EdgeCAM and follow the on-screen instructions. For a quick and easy installation that is ready for the exercises, at the prompts accept all the default choices. At the Select Components prompt choose Typical.

If the EdgeCAM CD doesn't Autorun

If the opening screen doesn't appear when you insert the installation CD you need to run the setup executable. You can open Windows explorer, then navigate to and open: CD Rom drive\EdgeCAM\Setup.exe For example if 'D:' is your CD Rom drive you would open: D:\EdgeCAM\Setup.exe (Note that you do not use the setup.exe in the root folder of the CD.)

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

What else can I Install?

You have already installed the necessary software for the exercises. For your information, here are some other software options:

Install

If

EdgeCAM CAD Link

You want to be able to launch EdgeCAM from your CAD system. You can install links in: Autodesk Inventor SolidWorks Solid Edge Note that EdgeCAM Part Modeler automatically includes a link to EdgeCAM.

EdgeCAM Part Modeler

You want to install EdgeCAM Part Modeler; a powerful solids-based CAD package.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Preparing EdgeCAM
Switching to Student Edition Mode
So that you can complete the exercises no matter what EdgeCAM licence you have, you use EdgeCAM in Student Edition mode. If you do not have a security key fitted EdgeCAM automatically starts in this mode (if you are learning on an installation at your home for example). If you do have a security key fitted, before starting EdgeCAM: Find the Windows' Notification Area (usually at the bottom-right of the screen, where the time is displayed). In this area right-click the EdgeCLS icon and in the menu that opens click Run Student Edition to enable it.

The next time EdgeCAM starts it will be in Student Edition mode.

Switching back to Normal Licenced Mode

You might need to change back to normal licenced mode in between exercise sessions. To do this close EdgeCAM (you can use the Close button in the top right corner of the EdgeCAM window - see page 21) and repeat the step above clicking 'Run Student Edition' again disables it, and EdgeCAM will next start in the normal licenced mode.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Starting EdgeCAM
In a standard installation: Click the EdgeCAM icon on your desktop.

Alternatively click the Start button, then All Programs, then EdgeCAM then EdgeCAM. You see a message dialog stating you are in Student Edition Mode. Confirm in the dialog to continue.

Registering EdgeCAM
As you are starting EdgeCAM for the first time you now have an opportunity to register.

You are strongly recommended to register. This is so that you can access online support and Frequently Asked Questions, track the progress of service calls and download the latest EdgeCAM updates. After completing the registration EdgeCAM starts ready for you to start work on a new part.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

11

The EdgeCAM User Interface

Your EdgeCAM window should be configured for the exercises, and look like this: Standard Toolbar Menus

Status Bar Prompt

View Caption

Window tab (Features)

Windows

Graphics Area

Main toolbar

To be sure you are using this correct configuration (in case there have been changes to the configuration since installation): Right-click on a toolbar and in the menu that opens rest the cursor on Profiles , then in the menu that opens rest the cursor on Mill Config , then click default.config.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Customising the User Interface

You can customise the User Interface to suit yourself. When first starting with EdgeCAM for example, you might want to display the text of buttons as a reminder of what they do: 1. Right-click on any toolbar and in the menu that opens click Customise.

2. In the Customise dialog that opens click the Toolbars tab, scroll down the list to the Standard toolbar and click to select it.

3. Now click Show text labels to check it. Notice how the buttons in the Standard toolbar now have labels.

4. Leave Show text labels checked or unchecked as you prefer and close the dialog.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

13

Checking the Defaults File

The default installation of EdgeCAM is suitable for the exercises. To be sure you are using the correct defaults file (in case there have been changes to the defaults since installation): 1. Click the Options menu and click Select Defaults to open the Defaults dialog. 2. If the file entered in the Name box is not mill_mm.dft, click the Browse button and use the browser dialog to navigate to and open: installation folder\Cam\Supprt\mill_mm.dft for example: c:\Program Files\EdgeCAM\Cam\Support\mill_mm.dft This enables the milling (XY) environment and millimetre (mm) units. (The defaults file also contains many other settings, such as the Tolerance setting.) 3. If you had to change to mill_mm.dft and you want EdgeCAM to automatically use this file every time it starts, click in the Load on Entry box and in the list that opens click Selected File. (Note that you do not need to re-set the defaults every time you re-open saved work, as the settings become part of the saved file.) 4. Click OK.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

The Milling Exercise

In the exercise you learn: How to open a solid model. How to change view - select Isometric and zoom. How to create stock. How to specify the stock material. How to 'undo' after a mistake. How to find 'features' in the solid model, on which to base your machining. How to save your work. How to specify a ToolStore database. How to create machining for the features using 'operations'. An operation is a complete package for producing the feature, including cycles (that control the toolpath) and any necessary moves to tool change, tool changes and so on. How to simulate your machining. How to edit operations. How to generate CNC code for the machining.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

15

Loading the CAD model

1. In the Standard toolbar (or File menu) click the Open button. 2. In the Open dialog that appears, navigate to the folder: installation folder\Cam\Examples\tutorial\Solid Machinist\Parasolid For example: C:\Program Files\EdgeCAM\Cam\Examples\tutorial\Solid Machinist\Parasolid 3. From this folder open prismatic milling.x_t. The part opens looking like this:

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Selecting the Isometric View

You can change the view to 'Isometric' for a more three dimensional impression of your part: Right-click on the View Caption and in the menu that opens click Isometric.

You part now looks like this:

Zooming In and Out

You can enlarge or reduce the size of the part on the screen: Roll the top of the mouse wheel away from you to zoom in. Roll the top of the mouse wheel towards you to zoom out.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

17

Creating the Stock

Stock represents the billet of material from which the part is to be machined. (When you come to use EdgeCAM Simulator this material is shown being machined away to produce the part.) To create the stock: 1. Click the Geometry menu and click Stock/Fixture. 2. In the dialog that opens make these settings. Click Automatic Stock first.

3. Click OK to add the stock. An outline appears showing your added stock.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Using Undo
If you make a mistake you can cancel your last action:

1. In the Standard toolbar click the Undo button.

Your added stock disappears. You could now recreate stock with different settings, for example. Our stock is OK however, so to 'undo the undo': 2. In the Standard toolbar click the Redo button.

Your stock re-appears.

Showing Translucent Stock

1. In the Display toolbar (to the right of the Standard toolbar) click the Toggle Stock button.

The stock display changes to 'translucent'.

2. Click the button again to switch back (to 'wireframe'). Leave the stock displayed as you prefer (stock is shown as wireframe in the exercises).

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

19

Finding the Features

Features are pre-identified areas of the model that you can base your machining on. To find features: 1. In the Standard toolbar check the CPL Selector setting. If it is not Top, click the current setting and in the list that opens click Top (note that the toolbar is show here with button text - see page 13):

CPL Selector 2. Click the Solids menu and click Feature Finder.

3. In the Feature Finder dialog that opens, make these settings and click the OK button to find the features. 4. Note how the Features Window is automatically displayed, showing a 'tree' view of the newlyfound features:

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Saving and Opening your Work

It is a good idea to save your work regularly so you don't accidentally loose it: 1. In the Standard toolbar (or File menu) click Save.

2. As this is the first save, a dialog opens for specifying a file name and location. Save to a folder and filename of your choice. For the filename you could add your initials to the default name (which is from the original solid model file). All your work in EdgeCAM is saved to the '.epf' file, including features and machining instructions (which you will be creating in later exercises). The .epf format is for educational purposes, with restrictions on what you can do with the file (for example you cannot generate CNC code). The normal licensed file format is '.ppf'. You could now take a break from the exercise and close EdgeCAM: 1. Click the Close button in the top right hand corner of the EdgeCAM window. (Alternatively click the File menu and click Exit). To re-open the file and continue with the exercises after re-starting EdgeCAM: 2. Click the File menu and select your saved file from the 'recent files' list at the bottom of the menu. (Alternatively click the File menu and click Open, then navigate to the file and open it.)

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

21

Specifying the Material

As you will be using operations, speeds and feeds are automatically calculated. These are based on the material being machined, so you need to specify this: 1. Click the Options menu and click Model. 2. In the Model dialog that opens click Browse.

3. In the dialog that opens scroll down the list in the All tab, then click Steel - 150 HB to select it, then click Select. 4. Click OK to close the Model dialog.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Specifying the ToolStore Database

You will be selecting pre-defined tools from the ToolStore. Using the ToolStore you can access tools from different databases, and you need to ensure you are using the correct one, which is the example database that is installed with EdgeCAM: 1. Click the Options menu and click Preferences. 2. In the Preferences dialog that opens click the Tool Libraries tab.

3. The Name entry should be installation folder\Cam\tstore\tstore.mdb for example: c:\program files\EdgeCAM\Cam\tstore\tstore.mdb If this is not the entry, click the Browse button and use the browser to navigate to this file and open it. 4. Click OK to close the dialog.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

23

Creating the Machining Sequence

You now start to create your machining instructions: 1. Switch to Manufacture mode - click the Manufacture icon in the top right hand corner of the EdgeCAM window.

2. As this is the first switch to Manufacture mode for the part, the Machining Sequence dialog opens so that you can define a new 'sequence', which stores your machining instructions. Set up the dialog like this (set Discipline first and for Machine Tool be careful not to select fanuc3x-in.mcp).

The 'Machine Tool' setting is the code generator for generating CNC code from the sequence. You specify this now to help ensure you develop machining that is compatible with the machine capabilities. 3. Click the OK button to confirm and close the dialog. 4. If you see prompts for more details, click Cancel to accept the defaults. In Manufacture mode you will find the User Interface has changed slightly to support your machining work.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Drilling the Hole

Now you drill the hole through the centre of the part: 1. In the Operations toolbar click the Hole Operation button.

2. The Status Bar now prompts you to 'Select Points'. Click on the Features window tab and in the Features window rest the cursor on the 1: Through hole feature. The hole feature in the centre of the part changes colour to confirm where this is. 3. Click on the feature to select it (the hole feature in the part changes colour again to show this).

4. Move the cursor (now a cross) back into the Graphics area and right-click to terminate the points selection. 5. Now the Hole dialog opens. Leave all the settings unchanged, apart from setting Clearance to 20. Click OK. 6. The Hole operation is now created. Click the Sequence window tab, then click the '+' symbol for the Hole operation to see the instructions within the operation. (In the Graphics Area you see a graphic for the automatically-selected tool. Note how this has been given the diameter of the hole.) Getting Started with EdgeCAM 25

Roughing the Part

Now you rough the part: 1. In the Operations toolbar click the Roughing Operation button.

2. The Status Bar now prompts you to 'Digitise Geometry to machine'. Move the cursor over the part until the whole part changes colour and the tooltip indicates 'Solid'. Now click, and the part changes colour again to show it is selected. Terminate the geometry selection with a right-click.

3. The Status Bar prompts you to 'Select boundary entities...'. Terminate without selecting anything. 4. Now the Roughing Operation dialog opens. In the General tab make these settings. (Note how you see an illustrative graphic when you click an option.)

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

5. Click the Tooling tab and in this tab click Find to open the ToolStore. In the ToolStore's tooling list scroll to 14 mm Endmill - 4 Flute 13A F30M and click to select it. Click the Select button. 6. Click the Depth tab and set Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to 0 and Cut Increment to 2. Click OK to close the dialog. 7. The Status Bar now prompts you to 'Digitise Stock'. Rest the cursor on one of the lines comprising the top profile of the stock. The line changes colour and the tooltip indicates 'Stock'. Double-click to select the whole top profile. Then right-click to terminate the stock selection. The Roughing operation is now created. The toolpath is displayed on the part.

8. Click the Sequence window tab. Now click the '+' symbol for the Roughing operation to see the instructions within the operation.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

27

Rest Roughing the Part

In the previous roughing operation the tool was too large to remove all the material (the tool could not fit into the pockets, for example). You now 'rest rough' with a smaller tool to remove this material. To do this repeat the previous Roughing operation, but with slight changes. Here is a summary, with the changes marked '*': 1. In the Operations toolbar click Roughing Operation. 2. Select the whole solid. 3. Select no boundaries. 4. In the Roughing Dialog, General tab, set Rest Rough to checked *, set Offset to 0.2, set Digitise Stock to unchecked * (you can leave the other settings as they are). 5. Click the Tooling tab and from the ToolStore select the tool 6 mm Endmill long series* (you can leave the other settings as they are). 6. Click the Depth tab and set Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to 0 and Cut Increment to 2. Click OK to close the dialog and generate the operation (there will be no prompt for stock). 7. In the Sequence window rest the cursor on 3 Roughing Operation (that you have just created). Notice how the toolpath for the operation becomes highlighted.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Machining the Flat Lands

You now use a finishing tool on the flat areas, removing the material left by the 0.2 offset in the previous Roughing operations: 1. In the Operations toolbar click the Flatland Operation button.

2. The Status Bar now prompts you to 'Digitise Geometry to machine'. Select the whole solid and terminate, as you did as you did before for the Roughing operations. 3. At the 'Select boundary entities...' prompt right-click to terminate without making a selection. 4. The Flatland Operation dialog now opens. In the General tab make these settings. (The Stand Off Distance leaves an unmachined border round the flats to be removed in subsequent Profiling operations.)

5. Click on the Tooling tab and from the ToolStore select 8 mm Endmill long series as you did before for the Rest Roughing. (Other settings can be left as they are.) 6. Click the Depth tab and set Clearance to 5, Level to -0.1 and Depth to 0. 7. Click OK to close the dialog and generate the operation.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

29

Profiling the Inner Profile (Upper Boss)

Now you profile finish the upper central boss: 1. In the Operations toolbar click the Profiling Operation button.

2. The Status Bar now prompts you to 'Digitise Profile(s)'. Select the feature in the Features window and terminate as you did when drilling the hole (page 25); this time select the 7: 2D Boss feature. 3. After terminating the geometry selection, terminate at the 'Select boundary entities' prompt without making a selection. 4. The Profiling dialog now opens. In the General tab make these settings.

5. Click the Tooling tab and from the ToolStore select the 5 mm diameter SSM-ZX-2 Flute-5 (other settings can be left as they are). 6. Click the Depth tab and set Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to 0, Cut Increment to 2 and Cusp Height to 0. 7. Click OK to close the dialog and generate the toolpath.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

8. The tool graphic can sometimes get in the way. In the Display toolbar click the ' ' symbol of the Toolbar Properties button and click Hide. Repeat to show the tool again. Set this as you prefer.

With the tool hidden you have an unobstructed view of the part and its new toolpath.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

31

Profiling the Outer Profile (Lower Boss)

Now you machine the outer perimeter of the part. To do this repeat the previous Profiling operation, but with slight changes. Here is a summary, with the changes marked '*': 1. In the Operations toolbar click Profiling Operation. 2. Select the 2: 2D Boss feature *. 3. Select no boundaries. 4. In the Profiling dialog, General tab, set: Offset to 0 and Lead Radius to 4. (Other settings can be left as they are). 5. In the Profiling dialog Tooling tab open the ToolStore and select the 5 mm diameter SSM-ZX-2 Flute-5. (Other settings can be left as they are.) 6. In the Profiling dialog Depth tab, set: Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to 0, Cut Increment to 2, Cusp Height to 0. Click OK to close the dialog and generate the operation. 7. Rest the cursor on the new operation to highlight its toolpath.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Profiling the Pockets

You now start to machine the pockets. To do this repeat the previous Profiling operations, but with slight changes. Here is a summary, with the changes marked '*': 1. In the Operations toolbar click Profiling Operation. 2. Select all four pocket features *. To select all the pockets, click on the 3: 2D Pocket then hold down the Shift key and click on 6: 2D Pocket.

3. Select no boundaries. 4. In the Profiling dialog, General tab, set: Offset to 0 and Lead Radius to 4. (Other settings can be left as they are). 5. In the Profiling dialog Tooling tab open the ToolStore and select the 3 mm diameter SSM-ZX-2 Flute-3. (Other settings can be left as they are.) 6. In the Profiling dialog Depth tab, set: Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to 0, Cut Increment to 2, Cusp Height to 0. Click OK to close the dialog and generate the operation. 7. Rest the cursor on the new operation to highlight its toolpath.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

33

Simulating the Machining

You have now created the machining, so you can simulate it. Simulating gives you a visual 'confidence check' of your machining. You can check, for example, that you have not forgotten to machine a feature, and that there are no tool collisions. You will be quickly running through the main features of the Simulator, there are many more you will use with experience. In the Main toolbar underneath the Standard toolbar (or in the View menu) click Simulate Machining. You see the Simulator window containing your un-machined stock:

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

 Click the button for starting the simulation.

You see your part being machined out of the stock. (Once complete, the simulation will show tool collisions, as marked in red at the top of the boss. EdgeCAM allows you to correct these, in the next stage.)

As the simulation continues, click the Speed Control button.

In the Speed Control that appears, drag the slider to the left and right to control the speed of the simulation. Use these buttons to control the simulation at any time:

Play/Resume

Shuttle

Pause

To Start

To End

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

35

Editing the Profiling Operation

You used the Operation as a quick way to generate a toolpath using automatic settings. The simulation highlighted a tool collision, but EdgeCAM allows you to 'fine tune' the operation to correct this: 1. In the Sequence window, click the '+' symbol of the last Profiling operation in the sequence. This expands the operation to show the instructions within it. The last instruction is 'Profiling'. This is the 'cycle', which controls the toolpath.

2. Double-click on Profiling and in the Profiling dialog that opens, click the Links tab and set (Long Links) Type to Clearance.

3. Click OK to close the dialog.

Repeat the simulation and you will see that the collision has been eliminated.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Generating CNC Code

Once you are satisfied with your machining you generate the CNC code: Click the Generate Code button in the Main toolbar, underneath the Standard toolbar (or in the File menu). A message dialog now tells you that 'This option is not available in the Student Edition', so this is as far as you can go with the live exercise. If you were working on a '.ppf' part in Licenced mode, you would see the Generate Code dialog.

After setting the CNC Name and clicking OK, the code would be generated. With Open Editor checked, the newly generated code is shown loaded into the Editor application.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

37

Exercise Summary
You have now completed the exercise. You have taken a solid model design and produced CNC code for producing parts to the design. You have learnt how to: Open solid model parts generated in CAD packages. Change view - select Isometric and zoom. Create stock representing the raw billet. Specify the stock material. Find 'Features' in the model: holes, pockets and bosses. Save your work. Specify a ToolStore database. Create machining for the features, using operations. Use Simulator to provide a visual confidence check of your machining. Edit operations. Generate the CNC code.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Creating a Code Generator Exercise

A code generator interprets your EdgeCAM machining sequence to produce CNC code that is tailored for a particular target CNC machine. When you create a code generator you configure the characteristics of the target machine into it. Code generators are stored files; a typical example is the 'facnuc3x.mcp' you used earlier. (There are also '.tcp' turning code generators and '.wcp' wire erosion code generators.) You create and configure code generators using the Code Wizard.

Starting the Code Wizard

Before you can use Code Wizard you need to switch to the normal licenced mode; see page 10 for details. Then, in a standard installation: Click the Start button, then All Programs EdgeCAM Code Wizard.

Opening the Template

A template contains a typical CNC machine configuration that you can use as a starting point, to be modified for your particular machine. You chose the template closest to your particular machine. After starting the Code Wizard you see this dialog. Click Start a new document and click OK.

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

39

 After a brief 'Searching for files' message this dialog opens. Click Lathe or Mill, depending on your type of work. Further options now become available (such as 2 and 4 Axis); click those most relevant to your work. (Your choices are not important for the exercise.) Click OK.

Working through the Screens

You now see this wizard screen. Start to work through the screens to gain some idea of the settings you can make. Use the Next and Back buttons to navigate. You can simply step through the screens without making changes. This screen keeps reappearing to show the completed steps, and you can click on a step (such as '3: NC Style....') to jump straight to it 'out of sequence'. At any time you can click Finish to accept the defaults.

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM

Reviewing the Settings

Once you have completed the wizard you can still make changes. You now work in a 'tree' view of the settings. Click the '+' symbol to open a branch. Double click on an entry in the tree to open a dialog for changing the settings.

Saving the Configuration

You can save your settings. Once saved you can restore and change them later, in the tree view, without having to work through the wizard again: 1. In the toolbar (under the menus), or in the File menu, click Save.

2. Use the dialog to save the '.cgd' file with a name, and in a folder, of your choice.

Compiling
In the toolbar (under the menus), or in the File menu, click Compile.

A code generator file is created. This is automatically named after the saved '.cgd' file (or 'Untitled' if there was no save), with the appropriate extension (such as '.mcp' for a milling code generator).

Getting Started with EdgeCAM

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Using the Code Generator

You use the code generator by specifying it as the Machine Tool setting in the Machining Sequence dialog. You did this in the milling exercise; see page 24.

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Index
boundary entities - selecting ............... 26 CAD part - loading .............................. 16 cancelling............................................ 19 clearance - setting .............................. 25 CNC code editor ............................................. 37 generating ..................................... 37 code generator compiling ....................................... 41 creating.......................................... 39 specifying ...................................... 24 using.............................................. 42 Code Wizard opening template........................... 39 saving configurations..................... 41 starting........................................... 39 stepping through............................ 40 defaults file - using correct.................. 14 EdgeCAM introduction...................................... 5 registering...................................... 11 starting........................................... 11 features finding............................................ 20 selecting ........................................ 25 Features window - location .................12 Graphics Area - location......................12 hole - drilling........................................25 Hole operation - creating.....................25 installing ................................................8 Isometric view - selecting ....................17 licenced mode - switching to ...............10 lower boss - profiling ...........................32 machining - simulating ........................34 machining sequence - creating ...........24 Manufacture mode - switching to ........24 material - specifying ............................22 Milling exercise - introduction..............15 opening parts ......................................21 pockets - roughing...............................33 profiling operation - creating................32 registering EdgeCAM ..........................11 Roughing operation - creating.............26 saving parts .........................................21 Security Key - fitting ..............................7 sequence........ See machining sequence setup executable - running....................8 simulating - speed control ...................35 simulating machining...........................34 solid model - loading ...........................16

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specifying material .............................. 22 Standard toolbar location.................... 12 starting EdgeCAM............................... 11 Status Bar - location ........................... 12 stock creating.......................................... 18 showing translucent....................... 19 Student Edition mode about ............................................... 7 switching to.................................... 10 template - opening .............................. 39 terminating input ................................. 25 tool diameter - specifying.................... 27

tool graphic - hiding .............................31 ToolStore selecting tools in ............................27 specifying database .......................23 Undo....................................................19 upper boss - roughing .........................26 User Interface customising....................................13 overview.........................................12 View Caption - location .......................12 windows locations ...............................12 Zooming ..............................................17

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Getting Started with EdgeCAM