Nesting Training Tutorial

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Mastercam X7 Nesting Copyright: 1998 - 2013 In-House Solutions Inc. All rights reserved Software: Mastercam X7 Author: Mariana Lendel ISBN: 978-1-77146-042-2 Revision Date: August 26, 2013 Notice In-House Solutions Inc. reserves the right to make improvements to this manual at any time and without notice. Disclaimer Of All Warranties And Liability In-House Solutions Inc. makes no warranties, either express or implied, with respect to this manual or with respect to the software described in this manual, its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. In-House Solutions Inc. manual is sold or licensed "as is." The entire risk as to its quality and performance is with the buyer. Should the manual prove defective following its purchase, the buyer (and not In-House Solutions Inc., its distributer, or its retailer) assumes the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair, of correction and any incidental or consequential damages. In no event will In-House Solutions Inc. be liable for direct, indirect, or consequential damages resulting from any defect in the manual, even if In-House Solutions Inc. has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties or liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. Copyrights This manual is protected under International copyright laws. All rights are reserved. This document may not, in whole or part, be copied, photographed, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine readable form without prior consent, in writing, from In-House Solutions Inc. Trademarks Mastercam is a registered trademark of CNC Software, Inc. Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, MS, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; N-See is a registered trademark of Microcompatibles, Inc.; Windows 7 and Windows 8 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Geometry Nesting .................................................................................................................................. 2 Machine The Nested Parts ................................................................................................................... 10 Toolpath Nesting .................................................................................................................................. 18 Toolpath Nesting From Solids .............................................................................................................. 27

GETTING STARTED

Nesting Training Tutorial

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Nesting Training Tutorial

NESTING

NESTING
Objectives:
Gain knowledge on how Nesting option in Mastercam fits parts onto a sheet of material for best yield. Learn how Nesting operates on geometry. Learn how Nesting operates on Toolpaths.

Nesting Training Tutorial

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NESTING

XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

GEOMETRY NESTING XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

Geometry Nesting fits parts onto a sheet of material for best yield. Nesting operates on geometry or toolpaths. For geometry nesting (Xform, Xform Geometry Nesting), Mastercam can nest geometry consisting of a closed boundary. Open chains can be selected and will be nested along with the boundary in which they are contained, as can drafting notes.

Resources - Download the file from www.emastercam.com/files/ File Open. Select FRAME NESTED.MCX-7.

NOTE: The drawing is metric file and has holes with two diameter sizes. Change the color of the holes, based on their diameter, for an easier selection when machining them. Change the color of the holes
Select the All button and enable Miscellaneous. Filter by Diameter = 12mm as shown. the OK button. Mastercam automatically selects all the circles with this diameter. Right mouse click in the Status bar on the Color and change the color to blue no 9. Using again All button and filter by Diameter = 10mm select all the circles with this diameter and change the color to green no 2.

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Nesting Training Tutorial

XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

NESTING

Nesting the Geometry

Preselect the geometry using window selection. Xform Sheets
Mastercam can create geometry to represent the sheets, or you can create your own geometry for the sheet. Mastercam uses the sheets in the order in which they appear in the list. In our exercises we will add a rectangular sheet and we will leave a margin between the edge of the sheet and the parts to be able to machine them. Otherwise if the margin is zero Mastercam nests the parts to the very edge of the sheet.

Geometry Nesting.

Right mouse click in the window and select Add rectangular to establish the sheet size. For our exercise, change the Size values to 2438 by 1218. Change the Sheet Margin to 2mm. The parameters should look as shown in Figure: 1. Figure: 1

Grain Direction is used when nesting parts on material with a noticeable surface direction. Set the grain direction to match the orientation of the grain on the sheet. Fill Direction determines the direction in which the sheet is filled with nested parts. A sheet's fill direction runs perpendicular to the part's nesting direction. Choose calculate to have Mastercam apply the most efficient direction.

Select the Configure button.

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NESTING

XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

Nesting Configuration
Nesting configuration allows you to choose the Nesting Mode between Rectangular or TrueShape. Rectangular nesting places a bounding box around the part and uses the box as the part boundary for nesting. The Rectangular nesting mode is available with Mastercam Router and Router Pro. Use this option when the shape of the parts are close to rectangular shape. TrueShape nests parts according to each part's actual shape and other parameters. TrueShape nesting fits parts on a sheet based on each part's actual shape and other parameters. It allows access to sheet and part libraries and extended functionality beyond Rectangular nesting. TrueShape nesting is a separately-purchased option for Mastercam Router and Mill.

Change the nesting mode to TrueShape for a more efficient nesting and leave the Accuracy to Fine as shown in Figure: 2. Figure: 2

Display Results dialog automatically displays the nesting results dialog box. Accuracy determines the precision of the nest. The finer the accuracy, the longer the results may take to generate. Each of the predefined accuracy settings corresponds to a resolution value, for example, Fine = .025. Use a larger setting such as Coarse for bigger parts. Choosing User Defined enables the resolution field where you can enter the resolution for the results. Delete original chains deletes the chains that you selected when adding parts from the graphics window. When this checkbox is cleared, Mastercam leaves the chains in their original position in the graphics window.

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Nesting Training Tutorial

XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

NESTING

Select the OK button to exit Nesting Configuration. Parts

Parts page allows you to select the parts from the open Mastercam file or open existing files. When you add parts as a cluster, Mastercam nests them as a single unit. Both geometry and toolpath operations can be added as a cluster.

Note that all of the parts are listed in the window. Change the Part-Part Distance to 13mm and leave the rest of the parameters as shown in Figure: 3. Figure: 3

Minimum quantity allows you to enter the number of copies of the selected part. Nesting creates as many copies as it can up to the minimum quantity. To make extra copies beyond the minimum quantity, use the Fill all sheets or Filler Qty fields. Step Angle deletes the chains that you selected when adding parts from the graphics window. When this checkbox is cleared, Mastercam leaves the chains in their original position in the graphics window. Part-Part Distance allows you to enter the amount of space between nested parts. When nesting geometry only, be sure to space the parts far enough apart to accommodate toolpaths. When nesting toolpaths, Mastercam spaces the parts using this parameter and whether you selected to nest to the tool center or diameter in the Nesting configuration dialog box.

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NESTING

XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

Select the OK button.

Nesting Results
Nesting Results page allows you to view the results from the geometry nesting before Mastercam creates the nested geometry. Here you can manually edit your nested results. You have the ability to move and copy parts in an existing nest while maintaining the "part-to-part distance setting. With bump nesting, you can also delete or lock in place selected parts from the sheet.

Enable Vertical Trim as shown in Figure: 4. Figure: 4.

NOTE: To modify the parameters click on the redo button.

Select the OK button to exit Nesting Configuration. Select the Fit icon to fit the nested geometry to the screen.

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Nesting Training Tutorial

XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

NESTING

The geometry should look as shown.

Move the vertical cut off

Use Xform Offset to Move the vertical cut off 10 mm to the right.

Xform Offset. In the Offset dialog box enable Move and set the distance to 10. Select the hidden line and indicate the offset direction to the right of the line.

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NESTING

XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

Create rectangular points along the part to establish the location of the tabs
Tabs are uncut areas of a toolpath that assist in holding down a part. While the tool is cutting the contour, it retracts slightly at the tab location to leave a small amount of stock, then plunges back to the normal cutting depth. Tabs are especially useful when you are cutting out small parts, multiple parts or nested parts. The rectangular style points are used to define the tab location in the toolpath. Use Point Dynamic command and make sure that you aligned the points on two adjacent entities by snapping to the already created points.

Make sure that the point style is rectangle and choose the brown color #4 to create them. Create Point. Dynamic.

Select the line and move the arrow to the midpoint as shown.

Click to create the point. Press Enter or select the Apply button to continue.

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Nesting Training Tutorial

XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

NESTING

NOTE: To avoid removing the tab while machining the neighboring part, make sure that you aligned the points
on two adjacent entities by snapping to the already created point. Select the adjacent line and move the arrow to the existing point as shown.

Click to create the point. Press Enter to continue. Use Point dynamic command and make sure that you aligned the points on two adjacent entities by snapping to the already created point as shown.

Save the file as FRAME NESTED_TOOLPATHS.MCX-7.

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NESTING

XFORM GEOMETRY NESTING

MACHINE THE NESTED PARTS

Resources - Download the file from www.emastercam.com/files/ File Open.

Select FRAME NESTED_TOOLPATHS.MCX-7. Delete the text "Sheet #1 Results" and the original parts and keep only the sheet with the nested parts as shown.

Screen Combine Views.

NOTE: This ensures that all arcs are moved from the parallel views to the single view. This option is useful
when you translate files from other applications and want to reduce the number of different views. For example, if you have arcs on the bottom view and top view, Mastercam moves all arcs to top view.

Machine Type
Select as Machine Type the Router Default.

Properties
Expand the Properties tree by clicking on the plus in front of it.

Tool Settings
Set the Program number to 1. Enable Assign tool numbers sequentially and all the Advanced options. Enable Feed Calculation From Tool.

Establishing the stock size

Set the stock size using the All Entities button.

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Nesting Training Tutorial

DRILL THE 10 MM DIAMETER THROUGH HOLES

NESTING

Enter the thickness of the stock as Z = 16.0. The stock should look as shown.

DRILL THE 10 MM DIAMETER THROUGH HOLES

Toolpaths Drill. Use Mask on Arc to select the 10mm circles (dark green color).

NOTE: Click on Mask on Arc button in the Drill Point Selection. Select one of the dark green color circle from the graphics window. Make a window around the entire part and press Enter to finish the selection.
Select the OK button to exit the Drill Point Selection dialog box.

Tool
Using Select library tool and the Filter options select the 10mm Drill. Set the Spindle speed and the Feed rate. Type in the comment area "Drilling the 10mm diameter holes".

Cut Parameters
Set the Cycle to Drill/Counterbore.

Linking Parameters
Clearance = 50.0" (Absolute). Enable Use clearance only at the start and end of operation. Retract = 5.0" (Absolute). Top of stock = 0.0" (Absolute). Depth = -17.0 (Absolute).

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NESTING

DRILLING THE 12MM DIAMETER THROUGH HOLES

Verify the toolpath

Enable Toolpath in the Visibility area and click on the Isometric icon as shown.

NOTE: Note the color green #10 arcs (as circled below) that were created to ensure a better fitting of the parts
when they will be assembled. We are going to drill them with a 12mm drill.

DRILLING THE 12MM DIAMETER THROUGH HOLES

Toolpaths Drill. In the Drill Point Selection, enable Entity. Select the All button to filter the arcs by their color. Enable and click on Color and holding down the Ctrl key, select color 9 and color 10. Select the OK button to continue. Press Enter to finish the selection. Select the OK button to exit Drill Point Selection dialog box.

Tool
Using Select library tool and the filter options select the 12mm Drill. Set the Spindle speed and the Feed rate. Type in the comment area "Drilling the 12mm diameter holes".

Cut Parameters
Set the Cycle to Drill/Counterbore.

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Nesting Training Tutorial

CONTOUR THE OUTSIDE PROFILES

NESTING

Linking Parameters
Clearance = 50.0" (Absolute). Enable Use clearance only at the start and end of operation. Retract = 5.0"(Absolute). Top of stock = 0.0" (Absolute). Depth = -17.0" (Absolute).

Verify the toolpath

CONTOUR THE OUTSIDE PROFILES

Toolpaths Contour. Select Window button and click on the Option button as shown.

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NESTING

CONTOUR THE OUTSIDE PROFILES

Enable Color and click on the button to select only the magenta color #13. Enable CW for Closed chains to ensure climb cut as shown.

Select the OK button to exit Chaining Options dialog box. Make a window around the entire part. Select the OK button to exit Chaining dialog box. Select the Approximate sketch point at the lower left corner of the sheet.

Tool
Using the Tool Library select the 12mm Straight Bit. Set the Spindle speed and the Feed rate. Insert a comment: "Contour the outside profiles."

Cut Parameters
Set the Compensation Type to Computer and set the Compensation Direction to Left. Set the Contour Type to 2D. Set the Stock to leave on walls to 0.0". Set the Stock to leave on floors to 0.0".

Lead In/Out
Enable Lead In/Out. Set the Entry line to Tangent and 200%. No Arc entry and no exit Line and Arc.

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Nesting Training Tutorial

NESTING
Tabs
Enable Tabs. Enable Manual, Use square point for tab position and Midpoint. Enable Partial, Width= 30.0" and Tab thickness = 3.0". Enable Ramp moves with Ramp angle = 45.

Linking Parameters
Clearance = 50.0" (Absolute). Retract = 25.0" (Absolute). Feed plane = 2.0" (Incremental). Top of stock = 0.0" (Absolute). Depth = -17.0" (Absolute). Once these parameters have been input select OK and the toolpath will generate. Backplot and Verify the toolpath.

NOTE: You might need to

change the cutter compensation to the Right.

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NESTING

USE THE CONTOUR TOOLPATH TO MACHINE THE CUT OFF

USE THE CONTOUR TOOLPATH TO MACHINE THE CUT OFF

Toolpaths Contour. Use Single selection and select the line in the upward direction. (Make sure that the Color mask is disabled).

Tool
Select the 12mm Straight Bit. Set the Spindle speed and the Feed rate. Insert a comment: "Machine the Cutoff."

Cut Parameters
Set the Compensation Type to Computer and set the Compensation Direction to Right. Set the Contour Type to 2D. Set the Stock to leave on walls to 0.0". Set the Stock to leave on floors to 0.0".

Lead In/Out
Enable Lead In/Out. Set the Entry line to Tangent and 200%. No Arc entry and no exit Line and Arc.

Tabs
Disable Tabs.

Linking Parameters
Clearance = 50.0" (Absolute). Retract = 25.0" (Absolute). Feed plane = 2.0" (Incremental). Top of stock = 0.0" (Absolute). Depth = -17.0" (Absolute). Once these parameters have been input select OK and the toolpath will generate.

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Nesting Training Tutorial

USE THE CONTOUR TOOLPATH TO MACHINE THE CUT OFF

NESTING

Backplot and Verify the toolpath

Verify all toolpaths

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Mastercam X7 Nesting Training Tutorial.

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