Sec 3.

4]

SmartCAM

101

3.4 SMARTCAM
SmartCAM is a PC-based, two-dimensional, menu-driven,
graphical part programming system. The part may be defined by selecting
an element of the part geometry, such as a line or arc, from an on-screen
menu and entering the endpoint coordinates of the element in response
to system prompts for the X, Y values. Part geometry is displayed as
each element is defined; any errors in the definition can be interactively
corrected. The tool path is derived directly from this definition and can
be displayed for verification. The part may, more easily and conveniently,
be defined using other PC-based CAD packages, such as AutoCAD or
Personal Designer, and ported directly to SmartCAM using a CAD
drawing database file called a DXF file. Each machining operation is
defined seperately, on layers within the CAD package
Within SmartCAM special functions (such as facing tool paths,
pocketing and island avoidance for milling, and rough turning and
threading cycles for turning) are provided to reduce programming time.
The program does not have the capabilities of the integrated CAD/CAM
programs described in Chapter 4 although for a PC-based program it is
very effective. It can be used for a range of CNC equipment including
milling machines, lathes, electric discharge machines (EDM), and flame
cutting machines.
The main menu with two sub-menus, called Job Plan and Shape,
are shown in Table 3.1. A further two sub-menus of the Shape module,
called View and Tool Path, are given in Table 3.2. The purpose of the Job
Plan module is to provide a data base of tool information and cutting
parameters. The Shape module is used for part definition and to
generate CNC code. Within Shape, part definition elements may be
created or modified, and finishing and roughing tool paths can be
generated and displayed. As shown in Table 3.2, the View sub-menu
allows the user to adjust the graphics display with windows, viewpoint,
zoom etc. and the Tool Path sub-menu to enter or change tool path
information such as operation sequence, direction of cut, starting
position, tool-path profile, lead-in and lead-out etc.
Some of the
machining capabilities include:
Wall Offset option, which defines a tool path that is parallel or
concentric to previously defined lines or arcs. It can be used to
leave a stock allowance on rectangular and circular profiles or to
leave material for a roughing pass.
Roughing option, which is used to Pocket or Face with a mill, Turn
or Face with a lathe, and Clear an area with a punch. With the
Pocket option, in which a cavity is machined in a block of
material, the tool path starts at the centre of the cavity and works
out to the walls. Both Pocket and Face options provide a choice of
Linear, Spiral, or Zig Zag tool paths, Island avoidance and Stock
allowance.
Code option, which generates the G-code for a defined tool path.
If standardized 'start' and 'end' procedures are required, the
information to generate these tasks is stored in the Template file

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[Ch.3
and is read and incorporated in the part program as the code is
generated.
Table 3.1
SmartCAM Menus
System Menu
Job Plan
Shape
Edit Plus
Utilities
CAM Connection
Tape-to-Shape
Drafting System
Leave SmartCam
Job Plan sub-menu
New
Print
Job Info
Files
Tools
Read
Edit
Save
Insert
List Dir
Delete
Del Fill
Move
Leave
Cam
Layers
Edit
Delete
Shape sub-menu
New
Edit Shape
View
Group
Tool Path
Roughing
Code
Files

Sec 3.4]

SmartCAM
Table 3.2
SmartCAM Menus

View, sub-menu of Shape

Window
Zoom
Pan
Full
Base
Chg Base
Last Window
View 3D
Isometric
Show Path
Window
Name Window
Input Window
Get Window
Window Clear
Output
Adjust
Screen
Printer
Digitizer
List Dir
Colors
Tool Path, sub-menu of Shape
Change
Offset
Tool
Layer
Z-Position
Depth
Hole Op
Rapid Clear
Follow
Sequence
Tool Sort
Rev Order
Prof Start
Lead In/Out
Wall Offset
Explode
Roughing
Pocket(mill)
Face (lathe)

103

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[Ch.3
3.4.1 Example of SmartCAM Programming
A SmartCAM program for the milling example given in Section
2.1.5 is given below. Three sets of geometry for track pocketing, side
cutting and hole pattern are defined within SmartCAM. The relevant
cutter paths are produced automatically as each section is defined. The
geometry can also be defined through AutoCAD, and transferred to
SmartCAM as a DXF file. The principle operations are:
1.
select JOB PLAN to create a job plan
2.
select SHAPE and sub-menus NEW and EDIT SHAPE to
create the part geometry
3.
select SHAPE sub-menu VIEW to display the tool paths
4.
select SHAPE sub-menu CODE to generate the CNC code
5.
select EDIT PLUS to list the CNC code
1.
JOB PLAN
In the NEW menu the filename, metric units, milling operation,
drawing number, part number, machining operations (track pocketing, side
cutting and hole making), and part material (aluminum) are selected. The
end-mill and drill are defined as numbers 1 and 2 respectively and relevant
cutter data, such as diameter, length, cutting speed and feed etc., are
recorded. The screen work area, or window limits, required in order to
display all the geometry and the tool paths for the part is set as:
Min X: -130
Max X: 130

Min Y: -100
Max Y: 100

2.
SHAPE
Insert a tool change point
Select EDIT SHAPE/Insert/Point
End X: 150
End Y: 130
Select Quit
Select the milling tool number 1
Select EDIT SHAPE/Update/Feature Chg/Tool
Select a geometry element associated with tool #1
Select Element 1
Select Tool Number 1
Select Clear Z: 30
Select Prof Top: 0
Select Z Level -5
Select Quit
Define and display side cutting profile
Select Start Point
Enter End X: -90
Enter End Y: -50
Select Line

Figure 3.2(a)

Sec 3.4]

SmartCAM

105

Enter End X: -90

Enter End Y: 50

Figure 3.2(a)

Select Arc (intersection CCW)

Enter Radius: 30
Enter Centre X: -90

Figure 3.2(b)

Select Line (intersection)

Enter End X: 90
Enter End Y: 50

Figure 3.2(b)

Select Line
Enter End X: 90
Enter End Y: -50

Figure 3.2(c)

Select Line
Enter End X: -90
Enter End Y: -50

Figure 3.2(c)

Select Chamfer
Angle from 1st element: 45
Size parallel 1st element: 25

Figure 3.2(d)

Select Blend
Select the line
Enter Radius: 30

Figure 3.2(d)

Select EDIT SHAPE/Update/Feature Chg/Offset Figure 3.2(e)

Select a geometry element associated with tool #1
Select Right
Select Quit
Define and display track pocket
Select EDIT SHAPE/Insert
Select Start Point
Enter End X: 0
Enter End Y: -40
Select Line
Enter End X: 20
Enter End Y: -40

Figure 3.3(a)

Figure 3.3(a)

Select Arc (Tangent)

Enter Radius: 40
Enter End X: 20

Figure 3.3(a)

Select Line (Tangent)

Figure 3.3(b)

106

Computer-Assisted Programming
Enter End X: -20
Enter End Y: 40
Select Arc (Tangent)
Enter Radius: 40
Enter End X: -20

Figure 3.3(b)

Select Line (Tangent)

Enter End X:
0
Enter End Y: -40

Figure 3.3(b)

[Ch.3

Select EDIT SHAPE/Update/Feature Chg/Offset Figure 3.3(c)

Select a track pocket element
Select Left
Select Quit
Rough the pocket

Figure 3.3(c)

Select MAIN/Roughing/Pocket
Select an element on the pocket boundary
Select Spiral
Select Continue
Enter Finish Allowance: 1
Enter Width of Cut:
10
Enter Final Depth:
-10
Select GO
Define and display hole pattern
Insert a tool change point
Select EDIT SHAPE/Insert/Point
End X: 150
End Y: 130
Select Quit
Select the drill, tool number 2
Select EDIT SHAPE/Update/Feature Chg/Tool
Select the tool change point
Select Number 2
Select Start Point
Enter End X: 30
Enter End Y: 0
Select EDIT SHAPE/Group/Copy
Select Rotate Copy
Enter Pivot Point X: 0
Enter Pivot Point Y: 0
Enter Rotation Angle: 60

Figure 3.4

Figure 3.4

SmartCAM

Sec 3.4]

Enter Number of Copies: 5

Select EDIT SHAPE/Update/Feature Chg Figure 3.4
Select Hole OP
Select the holes associated with the drill (tool #2)
Select Clear Z: 30
Select Prof Top: 0
Select Depth Hole/Full Depth
Select Quit
3.
SHAPE/Main
Select VIEW to display tool path
4.
SHAPE/Main
Select CODE to generate the CNC code
Select Quit
Select Leave
5.
EDIT PLUS
To list the NC code:
Select Files/Read
Enter Filename
A 3-D isometric plot of the part is shown in Figure 3.5.

Figure 3.2(a) SmartCAM sidecutting

107

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Computer-Assisted Programming

Figure 3.2(b) SmartCAM sidecutting

Figure 3.2(c) SmartCAM sidecutting

[Ch.3

Sec 3.4]

SmartCAM

Figure 3.2(d) SmartCAM sidecutting

Figure 3.2(e) SmartCAM sidecutting

109

110

Computer-Assisted Programming

Figure 3.3(a) SmartCAM trackpocket

Figure 3.3(b) SmartCAM trackpocket

[Ch.3

Sec 3.4]

SmartCAM

Figure 3.3(c) SmartCAM trackpocket

Figure 3.4 SmartCAM hole pattern

111

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Computer-Assisted Programming

Figure 3.5 SmartCAM isometric view

[Ch.3