TRAINING

GUIDE

MILL-LESSON-6
GEOMETRY CREATION OF PART
Mastercam Training Guide

Objectives
You will create the geometry for Mill-Lesson-6. In Mill-Lesson-6 you create the geometry and in
Mill-Lesson-7 you will create the Toolpath operations.
This Lesson covers the following topics:

Create a 2-dimensional drawing by:

Creating lines.
Creating arcs.
Using Bolt circle.
Using Xform Translate to copy and move entities.
Trimming geometry using Divide.

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MILL-LESSON-6 DRAWING

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MILL-LESSON-6 - THE PROCESS

Geometry Creation
TASK 1: Setting the environment
TASK 2: Create a rectangle 4.5 X 4.5
TASK 3: Create .375 diameter circles for the tapped holes
TASK 4: Create the 1.25 and 2.00 diameter circles
TASK 5: Create the bolt hole circle
TASK 6: Create the slot
TASK 7: Create the triangular shaped pocket right hand side only
TASK 8: Translate and rotate the triangle
TASK 9: Translate the Geometry in the Z plane
TASK 10: Save the Drawing

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Geometry Creation
TASK 1:
SETTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Before starting the geometry creation you should set up the grid, toolbars and machine type
as outlined in the Setting the environment section at the beginning of this text:
1. Set up the Grid. This will help identify the location of the origin.
2. Customize the toolbars to machine a 2D part.
3. Set the machine type to a Haas Vertical Spindle CNC machine.

TASK 2:
CREATE A RECTANGLE 4.5 X 4.5 – LOWER LEFT CORNER: X0 Y0.
This task explains how to create the 4.5 square. These four lines could be created in many
different ways, this is just one option.

1. Select from the pull down menu Create>Rectangle…

2. The Create Rectangle ribbon bar appears and you are prompted to Select position of first
corner. Please Note: The Anchor to Center option – should not be activated, if it is
deactivate it by clicking on it. With this option deactivated the base point of the rectangle is
set to the lower left corner, in this example X0 Y0.

Anchor to center activated: Sets the base point of the rectangle to the center point, and draws
the rectangle outward from the center.

3. On the ribbon bar click in the space for Width and enter a value of 4.5, hit the tab key and
you will be moved over to the Height section.

4. In the Height section enter a value of 4.5 and then hit Enter.
5. Move the cursor to the center of the Grid and snap to the Origin for the base point.
6. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.
7. Select the Screen Fit icon found at the top of the screen to fit the part to the screen .

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TASK 3:
CREATE .375 DIAMETER CIRCLES FOR THE TAPPED HOLES
In this task you will create the four circles that represent the 3/8-16 UNC holes.

Create Circle #1
1. Select Create>Arc>Circle Center point…

2. The Circle Center Point ribbon bar appears and you are prompted to Enter the center
point.

3. To satisfy this first prompt click on the FastPoint Icon on the Auto Cursor ribbon bar .
4. In the space input the X (0.75) , Y (0.75) values for the center of the circle and hit enter.
Note that there is a comma between the X and Y values, and you do not need to input the Z
value for this example.

5. You have now input the coordinates for the center of this circle and you now need to supply
the value for the diameter. Click in the space for diameter (shown below) and enter a value
of 0.375 and then hit the enter key.

6. On the ribbon bar click on Apply to fix the entity.

The first circle is complete.

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Create Circle #2
7. Before moving on click on the drop down arrow for the diameter values and pick 0.375. Next
click on the icon for diameter on the ribbon bar as shown below. This locks in the
diameter for the circles. To unlock click on the icon for diameter. So with the diameter
locked in all you need to do is input the center X and Y values for the remaining three
circles.

8. To satisfy the prompt Enter the center point click on the FastPoint Icon on the Auto Cursor
ribbon bar.
9. In the space input the X (0.75) , Y (4.5-0.75) values for the center of the circle. The Y (4.5-
0.75) are the values taken from the dimensioned drawing for the location of the circle, let
Mastercam do the math for you. Now hit enter.

10. On the ribbon bar click on Apply to fix the entity.

Create Circle #3
11. To satisfy the prompt Enter the center point click on the FastPoint Icon on the Auto Cursor
ribbon bar.
12. In the space input the X (4.5-0.75) , Y (4.5-0.75) values for the center of the circle. The X
and Y values are taken from the dimensioned drawing. Now hit enter.

13. On the ribbon bar click on Apply to fix the entity.

Create Circle #4
14. To satisfy the prompt Enter the center point click on the FastPoint Icon on the Auto Cursor
ribbon bar.
15. In the space input the X (4.5-0.75) , Y (0.75) values for the center of the circle. The X and Y
values are taken from the dimensioned drawing. Now hit enter.

16. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

The completed geometry is shown on the left.

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TASK 4:
CREATE THE 1.25 AND 2.00 DIAMETER CIRCLES
Create the 1.25 diameter Circle

1. Select from the pull down menu Create>Arc>Circle Center point…

2. The Circle Center Point ribbon bar appears and you are prompted to Enter the center
point. Before moving on click on the icon for diameter on the ribbon bar to unlock it.

3. Click in the space for diameter and enter a value of 1.25 and then hit the enter key.

4. To satisfy the prompt Enter the center point click on the FastPoint Icon on the Auto Cursor

ribbon bar .
5. In the space input the X (1.75), Y (4.5-1.75) values for the center of the circle and hit enter.

6. On the ribbon bar click on Apply to fix the entity.

The 1.25 diameter is complete.

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Create the 2.0 diameter Circle

7. To satisfy the prompt Enter the center point move the cursor over to the center of the 1.25
diameter circle. When the visual cue for center appears click on this point as shown below:

8. Click in the space for diameter and enter a value of 2.0 and then hit the enter key.

9. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

The completed geometry is shown below:

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TASK 5:
CREATE THE BOLT HOLE CIRCLE
IMPORTANT NOTE: This Bolt Hole Circle function does not work in the Mastercam Demo.
If you are using Mastercam Demo to create the geometry for this part, skip TASK 5. When it
comes time to do the toolpath for this part use the file Mill-Lesson-6 found on the CD
supplied with this book.

In this task you will create the Bolt Circle, 8 equidistant spaced holes.
The diameter of the Bolt Circle is 1.625 diameter.
The holes are 3/16” diameter through the part.

1. Select Create>Create Bolt Circle – this is way down at the bottom of the Create menu.

2. The Bolt Circle dialog window appears. Set the following values and let Mastercam do the
math:
Radius: 1.625/2
Angle Between: 360/8
Hole Diameter: 3/16

3. Click on the OK icon to exit the Bolt Circle dialog box.

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4. To satisfy the prompt Snap to a point move the cursor over to the center of the 1.25
diameter circle. When the visual cue for center appears click on this point as shown below:

5. The completed Bolt Circle is shown above on the right:

TASK 6:
CREATE THE SLOT
You will first create the .25 radius circle and then create two lines tangent to this circle and
vertical to the left line.
Finally you will trim the geometry for the slot using Divide.

Create the .25 radius Circle

1. Select Create>Arc>Circle Center point…

2. The Circle Center Point ribbon bar appears and you are prompted to Enter the center
point.

3. Click in the space for radius (shown above) and enter a value of .25 and then hit the enter
key.

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4. To satisfy the prompt Enter the center point click on the FastPoint Icon on the Auto Cursor

ribbon bar .
5. In the space input the X (0.75) , Y (1.5) values for the center of the circle and hit enter.

6. Click on the OK icon to complete

this feature. The completed geometry is
shown on the right:

Create the two lines for the slot

7. Select from the pull down menu: Create>Line>Endpoint…

8. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint and the Line ribbon
bar appears.

9. To satisfy the prompt Specify the first

endpoint move the cursor over the
quadrant area of the circle shown below.

When the visual cue for Quadrant

appears click on this point.

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10. To satisfy the prompt Specify the second endpoint open up the Auto cursor drop down
menu and select Perpendicular. The prompt changes to Select line, arc or spline. Select
the line as shown below right:

11. On the ribbon bar click on Apply to fix the entity.

12. To satisfy the prompt Specify the first endpoint move the cursor over the quadrant area of

the circle shown below. When the visual cue for Quadrant appears click on this point.

13. To satisfy the prompt Specify the second endpoint move the cursor up to the Auto cursor
ribbon bar and select the Perpendicular icon . The prompt changes to Select
line, arc or spline. Select the line as shown below right:

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14. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

The completed geometry is shown below:

Trim the circle

15. Select Edit>Trim/Break>Trim/Break/Extend.

16. The Trim / Extend / Break ribbon bar appears and you are prompted to Select the entity to
trim/extend.

17. Click on the Divide icon to activate it as shown above. Ensure the icon is pressed
down to signal that it is activated.
18. The prompt changes to Select the curve to divide. Move the cursor over the .25 radius
circle and select it as shown below left:

19. The arc is trimmed back to the two closest intersections as shown above right:
20. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

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TASK 7:
CREATE THE TRIANGULAR SHAPED POCKET RIGHT HAND SIDE
In this task you will create the triangular shaped pocket on the right of the part.
First you will create Arc #1 and #2 as shown below.
Next will be line 1, tangent to two circles.
Lines 2 and 3 are tangent to the circles and are at 45 degrees.
Arc #3 will be created using Fillet.
Finally you will trim the geometry for the pocket.
Only the geometry for the right hand pocket will be created.

Create Arc #1
This first arc has its center point dimensioned from the bottom left hand corner of the part.

1. Select Create>Arc>Circle Center point…

2. The Circle Center Point ribbon bar appears and you are prompted to Enter the center
point.

3. Click in the space for the X value box and enter 4.5-0.5625 and hit the Tab key, (the
resulting value will be 3.9375) as shown below. In the Y value box enter 4.5-1.520 and hit
the Tab key, (the resulting value will be 2.98) as shown below. Ensure the value for the Z
box is 0.0 as shown below and hit the Tab key.

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4. Click in the space for radius (shown below) and enter a value of .25 and then hit the enter
key.

5. On the ribbon bar click on Apply to fix the entity.

6. The first circle is shown below:

Create Arc #2
7. You are now prompted to Enter the center point.
8. Click in the space for the X value box and enter 4.5-0.5625 and hit the Tab key, (the
resulting value will be 3.9375) as shown below. In the Y value box enter 4.5-2.980 and hit
the Tab key, (the resulting value will be 1.52) as shown below. Ensure the value for the Z
box is 0.0 as shown below and hit the Tab key.

9. Click in the space for radius (shown below) and enter a value of .25 and then hit the enter
key.

10. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature. The completed geometry is shown
below.

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Create Line #1
11. Select from the pull down menu: Create>Line>Endpoint…

12. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint and the Line ribbon
bar appears. Note that the Tangent function is activated.

13. To satisfy the prompt Specify the first endpoint move the cursor over the area of the circle
shown below. When the visual cue for Endpoint appears click on this point.

14. To satisfy the prompt Specify the second endpoint move the cursor over the area of the
circle shown below. When the visual cue for Endpoint appears click on this point.

15. On the ribbon bar click on Apply to fix the entity.

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Another method of creating Line #1 is by holding down the ALT key and selecting the
circles each time when prompted to specify a point. Holding down the ALT key disables the
snapping function and as Tangent is enabled the line will be created tangent to both circles.

Create Line #2
16. To satisfy the prompt Specify the first endpoint hold down the ALT key and select the
area of the circle shown below and click on this point.

17. Click in the space for Length and enter a value of 2.0 and then hit the Tab key to move over
to the Angle section and input a value of 135 then hit the Enter key. The length of the line
is unknown so a value of 2 will suffice, later on the line will be trimmed.

18. After hitting enter you are prompted to Select a line as shown below left. Two lines are
previewed, both tangent to the circle and at 135 degrees. Select the line as shown below
left:
Note: If you selected the circle above were indicated you may end up with the line on the
wrong side of the circle, as shown below right. If this happens hit the escape button and
select the circle again in the location indicated above.

19. On the ribbon bar click on Apply to fix the entity.

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Create Line #3
20. To satisfy the prompt Specify the first endpoint hold down the ALT key and select the
area of the circle shown below and click on this point.

21. Click in the space for Length and enter a value of 2.0 and then hit the Tab key to move over
to the Angle section and input a value of 225 and then hit the Enter key.

22. After hitting enter you are prompted to Select a line as shown below. Two lines are
previewed, both tangent to the circle and at 225 degrees. Select the line as shown below:

23. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

The completed geometry is shown above right.

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Fillet .25 radius

24. Select Create>Fillet>Entities…

25. On the Fillet ribbon bar enter .25 for the radius. Ensure the Style of radius is set to normal
and the Trim button is activated, depressed as shown below:

26. When prompted to Fillet: Select an entity, select the two lines as shown below on the left.
The fillet radius appears at the corner as shown below on the right:

27. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

Trim the Entities

28. Select Edit>Trim/Break>Trim/Break/Extend

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29. The Trim / Extend / Break ribbon bar.

30. Click on the Divide icon to activate it as shown above. Ensure the icon is pressed
down to signal that it is activated.
31. To satisfy the prompt Select the curve to divide. Move the cursor over one of the circles
shown below left and select it in the position as indicated by the arrows. After the first circle
has been trimmed, select the other circle as shown below:

32. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

The circles are trimmed back to the closest intersections as shown above right:

TASK 8:
TRANSLATE AND ROTATE THE TRIANGLE

Translate the triangle in the X and Y axis.

Rotate the triangle to the final location.

1. Change the graphics view to a Top View by using the toolbar at the top of the screen.

2. Select Xform>Translate…

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3. You are first prompted to Translate: select entities to translate. First select the Chain
button on the General Selection ribbon bar as shown below to select all the geometry.

4. Click on the Triangle as shown below, (anywhere on the triangle is fine):

5. Click on the End Selection icon as shown below:

6. The Translate parameter window appears, click on the From/To button as shown below:

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7. Click in the center of the upper arc as shown below. Note: make sure the Arc Center icon

appears on the mouse cursor before you click the mouse:

8. You are now asked to “Select the point to translate to”, click in X value window as shown
below and enter 4.5-1.520 and hit the tab key. Enter 0.5625 in the Y value window and hit
the tab key. Ensure 0.0 is entered in the Z value window and hit Enter.

9. Click on the OK button in the translate window.

10. Click on the Fit icon .
11. A new triangle will appear on the lower part of the drawing as shown below. Note the new
triangle is a different color:

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12. To rotate the new triangle click Xform>Rotate…

13. You are first prompted to Rotate: select entities to rotate. First select the Chain button on
the General Selection ribbon bar as shown below to select all the geometry.

14. Click on the Triangle as shown below, (anywhere on the triangle is fine):

15. Click on the End Selection icon .

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16. The Rotate parameters window is displayed. Make the changes as listed below:
1. Ensure the Move button is on.
2. Ensure the # is set to 1.
3. Click on the Define center (point) of rotation button. Click in the center of the upper arc
in the new triangle as shown below on the right. Note: make sure the Arc Center icon

appears on the mouse cursor before you click the mouse.

4. Enter -90.0 in the degree of rotation window and hit Enter.

17. Click on the OK button .

18. Click on the Clear Colors.

19. Click on the Fit icon .
20. The geometry should look like the image below:

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TASK 9:
TRANSLATE THE GEOMETRY IN THE Z PLANE
Translate the geometry in the Z axis.
All the geometry created in this part lies at Z zero. In the next sequence of instructions you
will use Xform Translate to move the geometry up in the Z axis to more accurately represent
the true z levels of the various entities.
The toolpath operations could still be successfully completed even if the geometry remained
at z zero. You have used Xform Translate in the X and Y plane before, now lets explore how
we move along the Z axis.

1. If required change the graphics view to a Top View by using the toolbar at the top of the
screen.

2. Select Xform>Translate…

3. You are first prompted to Translate: select entities to translate. First select the All button
on the General Selection ribbon bar as shown below to select all the geometry.

4. The Select All dialog box appears on the left of the screen, select the All Entities button.

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5. To move onto the next step you now need to pick the End Selection icon . This is
located over in the top right of the screen as shown below:

6. After selecting End Selection the Translate window appears. Set the following values as
shown below on the left. Consult the part drawing screen shot below, the Delta Z value is
arrived at by calculating 0.450 - 0.125. In the next sequence of instructions you will move
further entities up another .125.

7. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

8. Click on the Clear Colors at the top right hand corner of the screen.

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The next step will be to Translate the bolt hole circle and the two circles that lie within the
window shown below:

9. Select Xform>Translate…
10. You are first prompted to Translate: select entities to translate. On the General
Selection ribbon bar ensure the Entity selection settings is set to In. In - Selects only
entities that lie completely inside the window.
11. Now finally it is time to capture the entities, left mouse click approximately at position 1
hold the mouse button down and drag to the left and up and release the mouse button at
approximately position 2. Then pick at approximately position 2. What you have done is
described a window around the entities you wish to capture, any entity not completely inside
the window will be omitted.
.

12. To move onto the next step you now need to pick the End Selection icon . This is
located over in the top right of the screen.

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13. After selecting End Selection the Translate window appears. Set the following values as
shown below on the left. Consult the part drawing screen shot below, the Delta Z value is
0.125.

14. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

15. Click on the Clear Colors at the top right hand corner of the screen.
16. For a better view of the part use the toolbar at the top of the screen to change the graphics
view to Isometric.

17.
18. Now select the Fit to screen icon . The translated part is shown below:

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TASK 10:
SAVE THE DRAWING
1. Select File.
2. Select Save as...
3. In the File name box, type Mill-Lesson-6.
4. Save to an appropriate location.
5. Select the OK button to save the file and complete this function.

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