CAD

Computer Aided Design spectraCAD/Engraver

Student Activities Book

CAD
Computer Aided Design spectraCAD/Engraver
Student Activities Book

1997 Light Machines Corporation and Intelitek

Manchester, NH, U.S.A.

July, 1997 34-7792-0000

 1997 Light Machines Corporation All Rights Reserved.

The information contained in this guide was accurate at the time of its printing. Light Machines Corporation and Intelitek reserve the right to change specifications and operational performance of its products without notice. Any changes or corrections to the information contained in this publication will be incorporated in future issues. This publication (34-7792-0000, July, 1997) corresponds to the spectraCAD Engraver software program.

Printed in U.S.A.

spectraCAM and spectraCAD are trademarks of Light Machines Corporation. All other register marks or trademarks are of their respective holders.

Table of Contents

Activity 1

Getting Started
Objectives ............................................................................................................ 1-1 Skills ..................................................................................................................... 1-1 Materials............................................................................................................... 1-1 Overview What is CAD? ..................................................................................... 1-2 Procedures ............................................................................................................ 1-4

Activity 2

Using spectraCAD
Objectives ............................................................................................................ 2-1 Skills ..................................................................................................................... 2-1 Materials............................................................................................................... 2-1 Overview In this Section...................................................................................... 2-2 Using Coordinate Systems ............................................................................. 2-2 Cartesian Coordinate System ......................................................................... 2-2 Polar Coordinate System................................................................................ 2-4 Selecting and Cancelling Commands ............................................................ 2-5 Picking Points ................................................................................................ 2-7 Selecting and Deselecting Entities ................................................................. 2-8 Getting Help .................................................................................................. 2-10

Activity 3

Managing Files
Objectives ............................................................................................................ 3-1 Skills ..................................................................................................................... 3-1 Materials............................................................................................................... 3-1 Overview Managing spectraCAD Files ............................................................... 3-2 Procedures ............................................................................................................ 3-2

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Activity 4

Creating the LMC Project

Objectives ............................................................................................................ 4-1 Skills ..................................................................................................................... 4-1 Materials............................................................................................................... 4-1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 4-2 Procedures ............................................................................................................ 4-3

Activity 5

Drawing the M
Objectives ............................................................................................................ 5-1 Skills ..................................................................................................................... 5-1 Materials............................................................................................................... 5-1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 5-2 Procedures ............................................................................................................ 5-2

Activity 6

Drawing the C
Objectives ............................................................................................................ 6-1 Skills ..................................................................................................................... 6-1 Materials............................................................................................................... 6-1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 6-2 Procedures ............................................................................................................ 6-2

Activity 7

Speaker Design Project

Objectives ............................................................................................................ 7-1 Skills ..................................................................................................................... 7-1 Materials............................................................................................................... 7-1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 7-2 Procedures ............................................................................................................ 7-3

Activity 8

Creating the Speaker Cone

Objectives ............................................................................................................ 8-1 Skills ..................................................................................................................... 8-1 Materials............................................................................................................... 8-1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 8-2 Procedures ............................................................................................................ 8-2

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Activity 9

Completing the Project

Objectives ............................................................................................................ 9-1 Skills ..................................................................................................................... 9-1 Materials............................................................................................................... 9-1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 9-2 Procedures ............................................................................................................ 9-2

Activity 10

spectraCAD Engraver
Objectives ........................................................................................................... 10-1 Skills .................................................................................................................... 10-1 Materials.............................................................................................................. 10-1 Overview Engraving Text ................................................................................... 10-2 Procedures ........................................................................................................... 10-2

Activity 11

Generating an NC File
Objectives ........................................................................................................... 11-1 Skills .................................................................................................................... 11-1 Materials.............................................................................................................. 11-1 Overview Generating the NC file ....................................................................... 11-2 Procedures ........................................................................................................... 11-2

Activity 12

NC Files and Coding

Objectives ........................................................................................................... 12-1 Skills .................................................................................................................... 12-1 Materials.............................................................................................................. 12-1 Overview ............................................................................................................. 12-2 Procedures ........................................................................................................... 12-2 What is NC Programming? ................................................................................. 12-3 Elements of a Part Program ................................................................................ 12-4

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Activity 13

Pocketing
Objectives ........................................................................................................... 13-1 Skills .................................................................................................................... 13-1 Materials.............................................................................................................. 13-1 Overview ............................................................................................................. 13-2 Procedures ........................................................................................................... 13-3

Activity 14

Pocket Toolpaths and spectraCAM

Objectives ........................................................................................................... 14-1 Skills .................................................................................................................... 14-1 Materials.............................................................................................................. 14-1 Overview ............................................................................................................. 14-2 Procedures ........................................................................................................... 14-2 Academics CAM and spectraCAM .................................................................... 14-7

Activity 15

Conclusion
Objectives ........................................................................................................... 15-1 Skills .................................................................................................................... 15-1 Materials.............................................................................................................. 15-1 Overview ............................................................................................................. 15-2

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About the Teklink Activities Book

The Teklink Activities Book is a lab manual which contains 15 Activities, each of which can be completed in one 45-minute lab session. Each activity begins with several lists: w w w Objectives are the goals students will achieve. SCANS Skills are the competencies students will develop. Materials are the specific items needed for each activity.

The Overview section introduces the students to the subjects which will be explored in each activity. The Procedures contain series of Tasks, or operations. The first time an operation is to be performed, instructions are given in a tutorial manner. In subsequent tasks students should be able to perform these operations without guidance. Questions and tables for entering lab results appear within the tasks. Questions for discussion and review conclude each activity. All questions and tables are printed on a set of Worksheets supplied with this book. Students should record their answers on the worksheets, or as directed by the instructor. In teklinks which include hardware (e.g., vise, tooling), students will be directed to perform inventory and safety checks at the beginning of every working session, and to shut down the system properly at the end of each activity. In teklinks which utilize software, it is assumed that students are familiar with the PC and are comfortable working in the Windows/DOS operating environment. However, instructions for operating the software are explicit and can be performed by novices.

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Activity 1

Getting Started
Before you begin this activity, take the Pre-Test. The purpose of the pre-test is to measure your knowledge and skills with CAD. You are not graded and can not fail this test. When you finish the test, hand it in to your instructor. Then you can begin this activity. Objectives This activity describes the basics of working with spectraCAD. By reading this section, you will learn:
u u u u u u u

How to start and exit spectraCAD. The parts of the spectraCAD screen. The spectraCAD coordinate systems and types. How to select a command. How to pick a point. How to select an entity. How to get help.

Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w
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Technology: Learn the components of a Design program Systems: Utilize a computer system Resources: Manage time, manage programs Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team Information: Absorb/evaluate information Basic: Reading and writing Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management

Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity One
1-1 Computer Aided Design

Overview

What is CAD? Computer-Aided Design, or CAD, is a way to draw complex shapes easily and accurately using a computer. Once you create a CAD drawing, you can use it in a CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) program, like spectraCAM. CAM turns your drawing into tool paths that the Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machine can use to cut a part. The figure below illustrates the computer-aided design, manufacturing, and control process.

spectraCAD CAD Program

spectraCAM CAM Program

Machining Center Control Program

CAD

CAM

CNC

Following are definitions of the CAD terms frequently used in this manual. You should understand them before you use spectraCAD. Coordinates - The coordinates of a point are a pair of numbers that describe its location in the drawing. This location is relative to the origin, or center, of a two-dimensional coordinate system. We will learn more about coordinate systems in another activity.

(+) Y-axis 3 Point (X=3,Y=3)

X-axis (-) 3 Origin (0,0) (+)

(-)

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DXF -

The drawing interchange file, or DXF, is a standard file format used by many CAD and CAM programs. spectraCAD reads and saves drawings in this file format.

Entity - An entity is an object which you draw, modify, and place to create a drawing. Points, lines, arcs, circles, text blocks, rectangles, and polylines are all entities. Grid The Grid is the rectangular array of dots in the spectraCAD Drawing Area. The grid helps you create accurate freehand drawings.

Drawing Area

Grid Points

Layer - A layer is like a transparent sheet on which you draw entities. You can view just one layer, or a few layers together, or all the layers at once. We will cover layers in more depth in a later activity.

Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

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View -

The view is the position and size of the Drawing Area in relation to the drawing. Drawings can be larger than the spectraCAD Drawing Area. To see different parts of a large drawing, you can change the view. You can also magnify the view, to make the drawing look larger or smaller.

Drawing Area

Procedures

Task 1-1 Starting spectraCAD

To start the Control Program: w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver

After you start spectraCAD, you can use the New command under the File Menu to create a drawing based on a template other than DEFAULT.

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Task 1-2 Exploring the spectraCAD Screen

This section explains the components that make up the spectraCAD screen. They are described in order from the top to the bottom of the screen. As you read through this section, move the mouse over the commands and buttons and select them.
Title Bar Menu Bar Coordinate Type Button Layer Display Box Layers Button Type Button Coordinate Display Box

Tool Bar a tool bar

Cursor

Stock Outline

Drawing Area Status Bar

Title Bar
The Title Bar shows the application name, spectraCAD and the name of the current drawing. If the drawing has not been assigned a name, the word untitled appears on the Title Bar.

Menu Bar
The Menu Bar contains the spectraCAD pull-down menus. Click on each menu to see the list of items.

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New Open Import About spectraCAD Context Help Pan Redraw

Delete Move Copy

Print Copy to Clipboard Save Show Grid

Show Text Show End Points

Grid Snap Ortho Lock

Tool Bar
The Tool Bar contains buttons that correspond to frequently-used commands. Clicking one of these buttons is equivalent to selecting the command from a menu. The Tool Bar can be visible or hidden.

Coordinate Type Button

The Coordinate Type button sets the type of coordinates shown in the Coordinate Display box, either absolute, relative, or polar. Clicking the button changes the type of coordinates displayed.

Coordinate Display Box

The Coordinate Display box shows the current position of the cursor in the Drawing Area. The position is given in the type of coordinates (absolute, relative, or polar) set by the Coordinate Type button.

Type Button
Clicking the Type button brings up various dialog boxes in which you can enter coordinates, distances, factors, and dimensions during certain Draw and Modify operations.

Layers Button
Clicking the Layers button brings up a dialog box in which you can change layer properties.

Layer Display Box

The Layer Display box shows the name and color of a drawing layer. The layer displayed depends on which entities are selected. Clicking the down arrow brings up a list of all the layers in the drawing. You can use this list to change the current layer and to move entities between layers.

Drawing Area
The Drawing Area is where you view and draw entities.

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Tool Bars
The Tool Bars contain buttons that correspond to spectraCAD menu commands. You can make the Tool Bars visible or hidden individually, and you can move and resize Tool Bars. The five Tool Bars are Modify, Draw, View, Tool, and Snap (see next page). Each one contains buttons associated with commands in one spectraCAD pull-down menu.

Status Bar
The Status Bar displays useful information while you work in spectraCAD.

Cursor
The cursor is the point-and-click device, which you control with the mouse. You can select entities, select commands, and pick points with the cursor. When it is within the Drawing Area, the cursor can have two parts: the crosshairs and the entity box. Crosshairs are horizontal and vertical lines that intersect at the precise location of the cursor. The entity box is centered around this intersection point. The look of the crosshairs and entity box change depending on the operation you are performing: 1. 2. 3. 4. When you are in idle mode (when no operations are being performed), the crosshairs and entity box are shown. When you are selecting an entity, only the entity box is shown. When you are picking a point without entity snaps, just the crosshairs are shown. When you are picking a point with entity snaps, the crosshairs and snap box are shown.

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Task 1-2 Review Questions

Q Q Q Q What is CAD? What is a .dxf file? How many layers can you view at once? What does the Status Bar do?

Task 1-3 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select shut down from the start Menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w

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Activity 2

Using spectraCAD
Objectives In this Activity you will learn the following: w w w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Two Technology: Understanding of design technology Systems: Selecting operations in the spectraCAD system, manipulating the Computer system Resources: Manage time, manage programs Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading and writing Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management Types of Coordinate Systems Commands and Command selection How to select the entities in a drawing How to get help within the spectraCAD software

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Overview

In this Section This activity covers some basic information on how a CAD system works and how you work within the system. The different types of coordinate systems are explained, giving you an understanding of entity location in a CAD drawing. Menu commands and different ways of selecting commands are covered so that you can use the tools in an efficient manner. These things may seem boring or repetitive now, but they are a necessary step in coming to learn to use CAD. These steps will also allow you to become a better user and designer in the CAD system.

Procedures

Using Coordinate Systems spectraCAD has two coordinate systems, Cartesian and Polar. These two-dimensional systems describe the location of every point in the drawing with a pair of numbers, called coordinates. These coordinates are given in relation to the origin, or center, of the coordinate system. Using the Cartesian and Polar coordinate systems, you can specify three types of coordinates: Absolute, Relative, and Polar. Cartesian Coordinate System The Cartesian coordinate system describes the location of a point by its horizontal and vertical distance from the origin. Horizontal distance, X, is measured along the X-axis, and vertical distance, Y, is measured along the Y-axis. Using the Cartesian coordinate system, you can specify either the Absolute or Relative coordinates of a point.

Absolute Coordinates
Absolute coordinates are the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) distances of a point from the origin. The origin is fixed at the center of the drawing. The coordinates of the origin are written (0,0), and the coordinates of all other points are written (X,Y). For example, the point 2 units to the right of and 3 units above (0,0) has Absolute coordinates (2,3). Select one of the following methods to use Absolute coordinates:
u u

Click the Coordinate Type button until it says Abs. Select Coordinates from the Draw Menu, then from the submenu, select Absolute. The Coordinate Display box now shows the Absolute coordinates of the cursor.

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(+) Y-axis (-7.5,8)

(2,3) (-) (-5,-1.5) (0,0) origin (9,-5) X-axis (+)

(-)

Relative Coordinates
Relative coordinates are the horizontal (dX) and vertical (dY) distances of the point from the origin. The origin is the last point you picked. The coordinates of the origin are written r(0,0), and the coordinates of all other points are written r(dX,dY). For example, the point 2 units to the right of and 3 units above the last point you picked has Relative coordinates r(2,3). Select one of the following methods to use Relative coordinates:
u u

Click the Coordinate Type button until it says Rel. Select Coordinates from the Draw Menu, then from the submenu, select Relative. The Coordinate Display box now shows the Relative coordinates of the cursor. The coordinates are relative to the last point you picked. If there is no last point pick, the coordinates are relative to the center of the drawing.

(+) Y-axis r(-8.5,7)

r(1,2) (-) r(-6,-2.5) X-axis (+) r(0,0) last point picked r(8,-6)

(-)

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Polar Coordinate System The polar coordinate system describes the location of a point by its radius and angle (in degrees) from the origin. A point due east of the origin is at 0, and angles increase counterclockwise, as shown in the figure below. Using the polar coordinate system, you can specify the Polar coordinates of a point.
90 135 45 Angle measurement convention

180

225 270

315

Polar coordinates are the radius and angle of the point from the origin, which is the last point you picked. The coordinates of the origin are written p(0,0), and the coordinates of all other points are written p(radius,angle). For example, the point 6 units away and 30 from the last point you picked has Polar coordinates p(6,30).

135 p(4,135)

p(6,30) 30 p(0,0) last point picked p(8,300)

300

Select one of the following methods to use Polar coordinates:

u

Click the Coordinate Type button until it says Polar.

Select Coordinates from the Draw Menu, then from the submenu, select Polar. The Coordinate Display box now shows the Polar coordinates of the cursor. The coordinates are relative to the last point you picked. If there is no last point pick, the coordinates are relative to the center of the drawing.

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Task 2-1 Coordinate Systems

Q Q Q Q What is the Cartesian Coordinate system? What is the Polar Coordinate System based on? What is an Absolute coordinate? Are Polar coordinates relative or absolute?

Selecting and Cancelling Commands There are many methods of selecting and cancelling commands. You can use the mouse, or one of the keyboard methods. In the following tasks you will experiment with each method so you can determine which is easiest for you.

Task 2-2 Start spectraCAD

To start the Control Program: w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver

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Task 2-3 Using the Keyboard to Select Commands

You can select commands with the keyboard in two ways: by using the pull-down menus or by using hot keys. Select a pull-down menu command with the keyboard: 1. 2. Press Alt and the first letter of the menu name. For example, press Alt+V to pull down the View menu. The pull-down menu appears. Choose the desired command using one of the two following methods:

w Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight the command, then press Enter to select it. w Press the underlined letter of the command. Press I to select Zoom In. 3. Some menu commands have one or more key designations next to them; these are the hot keys. Pressing the hot keys selects the corresponding command. Learning the hot keys is a great way to become an efficient spectraCAD user. To select a command using hot keys, press the hot key(s) for the desired command. Press Ctrl+R to redraw the drawing area.

Task 2-4 Using the Mouse to Select Commands

You can select spectraCAD commands with the left mouse button. Using the left mouse button, you can select a command from the pull-down menus or click a Tool Bar or Tool bar button.

Using the Left Mouse Button

Select the File pull-down menu command with the mouse: 1. 2. 3. In the Menu Bar, click with the left mouse button the File menu name. The pulldown menu appears. Click with the left mouse button on New. A new file is opened.

To select a command using the Tool Bar or Tool Bars, click with the left mouse button on the button associated with the desired command.

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Picking Points You will often pick points when using Draw, Modify, and View commands. For instance, you pick the center of a circle in Circle; you pick a rotation base point in Rotate; and you pick the corners of a box in Zoom Box. When spectraCAD prompts you to pick a point, you can either click in the Drawing Area or use the Enter Point dialog box. This guide uses the phrase Pick the [kind of] point to mean Pick the point by clicking in the Drawing Area or by using the Enter Point dialog box. Clicking in the Drawing Area is quick, but it can be hard to pick a point accurately. The accuracy of a drawing is very important when you want to machine a part in a CAM program, or when parts from different drawings must fit together precisely. To draw and modify entities accurately, use the Enter Point dialog box instead of clicking in the Drawing Area.

Task 2-5 Clicking in the Drawing Area

1. 2. Move the cursor until the coordinates (1.5, 1.0) are shown in the Coordinate Display box. Click to pick the point.

Task 2-6 Using the Enter Point Dialog Box

1.
u

Do either one of the following: Click the Type button. u Select Type from the Tools Menu. The Enter Point dialog box appears.

2.
u

Select Absolute as the coordinate type. You have a choice of Absolute, Relative, or Polar, but for this exercise, choose Absolute. Absolute coordinates (see next page) specify the X and Y distances of the point from the center of the drawing at (0,0). Relative coordinates specify the dX and dY distances of the point from the last point you picked in that operation. Polar coordinates specify the radius and angle (in degrees) of the point from the last point you picked in that operation.
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3. 4.

Type the coordinates X = 1.5, Y = 1.0. Click OK or press Enter.

Task 2-7 Questions

Q Q What are two ways to select commands in spectraCAD? What is the most accurate way to pick a point?

Selecting and Deselecting Entities After you draw an entity, you may need to modify it, get information about it, or use it to draw other entities. To perform any of these tasks you must select, or activate, the entity. Selected entities temporarily appear dashed. You can select one or more entities at a time.

Task 2-8 Using the Entity Box

You can use the entity box to select or deselect one or more entities.

Select one entity:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Before you can select an entity, you will have to draw one. Select Rectangle from the Draw Menu. Click the cursor on any point in the drawing area. Move the cursor down and to your right and draw a small rectangle. Click the mouse again to complete the rectangle. Repeat steps 3-5 to draw another small rectangle. Press escape to end the rectangle operation. Move the cursor until a part of the first rectangle is inside the entity box. Click to select that entity. The entity appears dashed instead of solid, indicating that it is selected. Note that all the entities that are inside or cross the entity box when you click will be selected.

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Select an additional entity:

1. 2. Move the cursor until part of another entity is inside the entity box. Hold Shift and click to select that entity. Both entities now appear dashed.

You may do this for as many entities as you want.

Deselect one entity:

1. 2. Move the cursor until part of a selected entity is within the entity box. Hold Shift and click to deselect that entity. The entity you clicked on now appears solid, indicating that it is deselected.

Task 2-9 Using a Selection Box

You can drag a selection box around entities to easily select or deselect many entities at once. When you use this method to select entities, the selection is direction-sensitive; that is, there is a difference in selection depending on whether you drag the mouse from left to right, or from right to left. If the selection box is dragged left to right, all entities completely enclosed by the box are selected. If the selection box is dragged right to left, all entities that are within or cross the box are selected. It does not matter whether you draw a selection box top to bottom or bottom to top. 1. 2. Click and hold the mouse button with the cursor above and to the left of the boxes. Drag the cursor and the selection box around the two boxes and then release the mouse button. Both boxes will appear dashed.

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Using Select All

You can select all the visible entities in your drawing using the Select All command from the Edit Menu. Some operations prompt you to select one or more entities to modify; you can use Select All only with these operations. Getting Help When you are first learning to use spectraCAD, there are a variety of ways you can get help. In addition to reading the manual, you can use spectraCAD's on-line help features.

Using the Status Bar

The Status Bar displays brief descriptions of the menu commands once you highlight them with a mouse. After you select a command, the Status Bar prompts you for input. The Status Bar helps you remember what each menu command does and which actions to perform. Using the Status Bar is one of the best ways to learn spectraCAD quickly.

Using the Tool Bar

If you place the cursor over a Tool Bar button (without clicking it), a balloon appears near the cursor. The balloon shows the name of that button. Use the balloons to help you remember what the Tool Bar buttons do.

Using On-line Help

The on-line Help utility gives you detailed help with spectraCAD while you work. You can start Help and browse through Help topics, or you can view the Help topic related an operation, dialog box, command, or Tool Bar or Tool bar button. To learn how to use Help on-line, select Using Help from the Help Menu. The Help utility starts, and the How to Use Help screen opens. Simply follow the directions. To start the Help utility, select Index from the Help menu. The spectraCAD Help utility starts. The Contents screen is displayed. Select the topic with which you require help.

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While performing an operation, select Help from the Help Menu, or press F1. The Help utility starts, and the Help topic related to the current operation is displayed. Click the Help button in any dialog box that includes the button. The Help utility starts, and the Help topic related to the current dialog box is displayed. To get help on a menu command, a Tool Bar, or tool bar button, click on the Context Help button on the toolbar, or press Shift+F1. When the Help cursor appears, use it to open a pull-down menu, and select a command, or to click on a Tool Bar or tool bar button. The Help utility starts, and the Help topic is displayed.

Task 2-10 Questions

Q Q Q If you drag a selection box from right to left across your drawing, which entites are selected? What are 3 ways to get help in spectraCAD? If you have 3 entities selected, how can you deselect one?

Task 2-11 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select shut down from the start Menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w

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Activity 3

Managing Files
Objectives In this Activity you will learn to:
u u u

Create, open, and save spectraCAD drawings Import DXF files Print spectraCAD drawings

Skills In this Activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this Activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Three Technology: Learn basic CAD functions Systems: Use computer filing systems Resources: Manage time, manage computer programs Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading and writing Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management

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Overview

Managing spectraCAD Files File management is an important aspect of using any computer program, and spectraCAD is no different. Creating new drawings, saving new files, importing other drawings into your present one, improving on existing designs, printing, storing and updating information are all part of the file management activity. In this activity you will learn how to use the spectraCAD program to do all of these things, as well as polish your keyboard and mouse skills.

Procedures

Task 3-1 Starting spectraCAD

To start the Control Program: w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver

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Task 3-2 Creating a New Drawing

Use the New command under the File Menu to create a new drawing. A new spectraCAD drawing is based on a template, or pattern. When you start spectraCAD it creates a new drawing based on the default spectraCAD template, called DEFAULT. Your new drawings can be based on any available template. You can create a new drawing any time after you have started spectraCAD, but you can only have one drawing open at a time. If you have changed the current drawing, spectraCAD asks you to save the changes before it creates a new drawing. Create a new drawing: 1. 2. Click the New button on the Toolbar, select New from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+N. If there are unsaved changes to a current drawing, a dialog box appears. Choose whether or not to save the changes: w

Click Yes to save the changes and create a new drawing w Click No to discard the changes and create a new drawing w Click Cancel to close the New dialog box without creating a new drawing or saving the changes. A new blank drawing appears. The Title Bar displays the name Untitled, indicating that this is a new drawing.

Task 3-3 Save Your New Drawing

Use the Save and Save As commands under the File Menu to save the current drawing to a DXF file. Saving your drawings preserves your work for later use in spectraCAD or spectraCAM. You should also save frequently as you work, to ensure that all your changes are recorded. If the current drawing has been saved previously to a DXF file, selecting Save saves the changes to the same file. If the current drawing is new (and still has the name Untitled), selecting Save brings up the Save As dialog box, in which you name, choose a location for, and save the new drawing. Also use Save As if you wish to rename or relocate the current drawing (whether or not you have changed it). 1. Click the Save button on the Toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S.

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Since this is a new drawing, the Save As dialog box appears. It displays the name and location of the current DXF file.

2.

In the Drives field, scroll through the list, then click on the drive where you wish to locate the file. If you have your own directory on the hard drive, select the drive where it is located. If you are saving to a disk, select the floppy drive and install your disk. In the Directories field, scroll through the list and highlight the directory where you wish to locate the file. Press Enter or double-click on the directory to select it. In the File Name field, type NEW as the file name. Click OK or press Enter. The current drawing is saved NEW.DXF in the location that you specified.

3. 4. 5.

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3-4

Computer Aided Drafting

Task 3-4 Open an Existing Drawing

Use the Open command under the File Menu to open an existing drawing. An existing drawing is one that was previously saved to a DXF file (using spectraCAD or another CAD program). For instance, you can open a drawing you created and saved yesterday, so you can modify those entities and draw new ones. You can open an existing drawing any time after you have started spectraCAD, but you can only have one drawing open at a time. If you have changed the current drawing, spectraCAD asks you to save the changes before it opens another drawing. Open an Existing Drawing: 1. Click the Open button on the Toolbar, select Open from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+O. The File Open dialog box appears.

2. 3.

In the Drives field, scroll through the list and click on the C drive. In the Directories list box, scroll through the list and highlight the directory where the desired file is located. In this exercise it will be the Data directory in the CADEng folder. In the Files list box, highlight the CAD.dxf file, or type the file name into the File Name field.

4.

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Computer Aided Drafting

5.

Click the Preview button to display the preview area of the Open dialog box. Preview allows you to view the selected file and obtain information about it. Clicking Preview again hides the preview area of the dialog box. Click OK or press Enter. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the following dialog box appears. Choose whether or not to save the changes: w w w Click Yes to save the changes and open the drawing Click No to discard the changes and open the drawing Click Cancel to close the Open dialog box without opening a drawing or saving the changes The selected drawing is opened. The Title Bar displays the name of the drawing.

6. 7.

Task 3-5 Opening a Recently Used Drawing:

spectraCAD keeps track of the last four drawings you opened, making it easier for you to return to a file you were working on. These recent drawings appear in the File Menu as file 1 (most recent) through file 4 (fourth-most recent). To open a recent drawing, click the mouse on the File menu, and select the number (1, 2, 3, 4) of the file you want. The drawing you selected opens. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, spectraCAD will ask you to save them before it opens the file.

Teklink Activites Book

3-6

Computer Aided Drafting

Task 3-6 Import a DXF File

As you become more experienced working with spectraCAD, you may want to incorporate some of your other drawings into newer ones. Rather than repeating all the drawing steps, you can import the drawing into your current work. Using the Import command under the File Menu will place all of the entities from a DXF file into the current drawing. This operation is useful for merging two spectraCAD drawings, or for placing any DXF file into your spectraCAD drawing. 1. Be sure you have your NEW.DXF file open. Click the Import button on the Toolbar or select Import from the File Menu. The Import File dialog box appears. In the Drives field, scroll through the list, then click on the drive where the Pocket.DXF file is located. In the Directories field, scroll through the list and double-click the directory where the Pocket.DXF file is located. In the list of files, highlight Pocket.DXF, or type the file name into the File Name field.

2. 3. 4.

5.

Click the Preview button to display the preview area of the Open dialog box. Preview allows you to view the selected file and obtain information about it. Clicking Preview again hides the preview area of the dialog box. Click OK or press Enter. The entities in the file you selected are placed in the current drawing. New layers are created, if necessary, and the imported entities are selected, as set by the current Preferences.
3-7 Computer Aided Drafting

6.

Teklink Activities Book

Task 3-7 Printing a Drawing

Next, we will print your NEW.dxf drawing. You can print the current contents of the Drawing Area to any printer supported by Windows. First we will preview the file to be printed, and then print it.

Preview the Drawing:

Previewing the drawing allows you to see what it will look like before you print it. This is helpful when managing a large number of files. Rather than printing files to see what they were, and tying up the printer, you can simply look at a preview to determine whether that file was what you were looking for. 1. 2. w w Select Print Preview from the File Menu. The Preview window appears. You may:

Click Print to print the page, if desired. Click Zoom In to magnify the page, then click Zoom Out to see the whole page again. w Click Close to close the Preview window. To alter the page, you can change the print settings again, change the contents of the Drawing Area, or both.

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Computer Aided Drafting

Print the Drawing:

1. Click the Print button on the Toolbar, select Print from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+P. The Print dialog box appears. Select a Printer. The Windows default printer is currently selected. Select the Copies settings (the number of copies and whether or not the copies are collated). Select a Print Range, All pages, pages From and To, or a Selected page. Click OK to print.

2. 3. 4. 5.

See your printer manual or Windows documentation for more information on installing and using printers with Windows.

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Computer Aided Drafting

Task 3-8 Discussion and Review

Q Q Why is it so important to save your work at regular intervals? What is the quickest way to open an existing drawing that you recently used?

Task 3-9 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w

Teklink Activites Book

3-10

Computer Aided Drafting

Activity 4

Creating the LMC Project

Objectives In this Activity you will learn the following: w w Skills In this Activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this Activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Four Technology: CAD layout and design tools Systems: Utilize a complex design system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team Information: Evaluate and use important information Basic: Reading, writing, and measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management How to draw text using the CAD tools How to draw a rectangle

Teklink Activities Book

4-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview In this activity you will begin the design process of your first part. During this and the next two activities, you will draw the part shown below. It includes a material outline, an inner boundary, and three islands. The islands form the letters L, M, and C.

If you machined this part using a CAM program, the inner boundary and the islands would be cut from a block of material. These activities will teach you some of the basic and a few advanced spectraCAD operations From the previous activities, you should know:
u

How to select a command from the pull-down menus, the Tool Bar, or the Tool Boxes. How to select an entity with the cursor and with a selection box. How to pick a point by clicking in the Drawing Area or by using the Enter Point dialog box. How to use Absolute and Relative coordinates. The parts of the spectraCAD screen.

u u

u u

Teklink Activites Book

4-2

Computer Aided Design

Procedures

Task 4-1 Start spectraCAD and Create a New Drawing

Before you begin drawing, you have to start spectraCAD and create a new drawing. The new drawing will based on a special pattern, or template. The first step is to start spectraCAD from the Programs group on the Windows 95 Start Menu. To start the Control Program: w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver

spectraCAD will open a new drawing, based on a template. The Title Bar displays the drawing name, Untitled, meaning this is a new drawing. w The material outline should be visible in the Drawing Area. If the outline is not visible, select the Show/Stock command from the View Menu.

Teklink Activities Book

4-3

Computer Aided Design

Draw the Inner Boundary The next step is to draw the inner boundary. This boundary forms a margin between the material outline and the material that will be machined. The inner boundary is 0.25" from the material outline on all sides, and has rounded corners of radius 0.125". There are many ways to draw the inner boundary. In this example, you will use the material outline to create the inner boundary. By completing this step, you will learn:
u u

How to offset and fillet entities How to save a new drawing

Task 4-2 Offset the Rectangle

First, offset the rectangle that represents the material outline to create the inner boundary. In this example, you will offset the rectangle toward its center, so the offset is smaller than the original rectangle. The offset distance will be 0.25", so that the offset is separated from the rectangle by 0.25" on all sides. 1. 2. 3. Select Offset from the Modify Menu. Select the rectangle as the entity to offset. Once selected, the rectangle appears dashed, and the offset appears. Moving the cursor changes the size of the offset. Set the offset distance: Click the Type button. The Enter Offset Distance dialog box appears. Enter .25 as the offset value, then click OK or press Enter.

Teklink Activites Book

4-4

Computer Aided Design

4. 5.

Click inside the rectangle to select the offset side. The offset appears inside the rectangle. Press Escape to end the Offset operation.

Side 1 Material outline

Side 2

Side 4

Side 3

Task 4-3 Fillet the Corners

Next, fillet the corners of the inner boundary. This makes the corners rounded. The fillet radius is the radius of the arc in the corner; a smaller radius creates a tighter corner. 1. 2. Select Fillet from the Modify Menu. Set the fillet radius: click the Type button, and the Enter New Fillet Radius dialog box appears.

Type .125, then click OK or press Enter.

Teklink Activities Book

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Computer Aided Design

3. 4.

Select Side 1 as the first fillet entity. Select Side 2 as the second fillet entity.

Click Side 1 1 2 Click Side 2

The resulting Fillet arc

Sides 1 and 2 now have a fillet arc connecting them. The radius of the fillet is 0.125".
The Drawing Area after Step 2.2 Inner boundary

5. 6.

Repeat Steps C and D to fillet the other three corners in the same way. You do not need to set the fillet radius again. Press Escape to end the Fillet operation. The inner boundary is now complete.

Teklink Activites Book

4-6

Computer Aided Design

Task 4-4 Save the Drawing

Finally, save your drawing. You should save your drawings frequently, so you don't lose your work. 1. 2. Click the Save button on the toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S. The File Save As dialog box appears. If you are saving your work to a directory on the hard drive, locate that directory now. If you are saving to a floppy, select the floppy drive (usually A), and insert your disk. Type the name, LMC.dxf, into the File Name field. Click OK or press Enter.

3. 4.

Teklink Activities Book

4-7

Computer Aided Design

Draw the L Island The L, M, and C are called islands because the material surrounding them is machined, but the material inside them is not. They will appear raised on the machined part, just as islands are raised above the ocean's surface. Note that the islands are shaped like letters of the alphabet, but they are not text blocks. In this step you will draw the L island. There are many ways to draw this island. In this example, you will draw continuous lines. By completing this step, you will learn:
u u u

How to draw continuous lines How to use the Grid snap and change Grid spacing How draw with Relative coordinates

Task 4-5 Change Grid Constraints and Coordinate System

First, change Grid Spacing so the Grid points are 0.0625" apart, then enable Grid Snap. Grid spacing ensures that the drawn lines have the correct lengths. Enabling Grid Snap forces the cursor to snap to the Grid points, which makes it easier to draw freehand.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Select Setup from the Snap Menu. The Setup Snaps dialog box appears. In the Constraints area, click the Grid checkbox so it contains an x. Enter .0625 in the Grid Spacing field. Click OK or press Enter.

Now you can only pick Grid points to draw the L island, and the Grid points are 0.0625" apart.
Teklink Activites Book 4-8 Computer Aided Design

Task 4-6 Switch to the Relative Coordinate System

Now change the coordinate type to Relative, so that each point will be measured from the last point you picked. This makes it easy to draw horizontal and vertical lines of specified lengths. Click the Coordinate Type button until it displays Rel. Relative coordinates are now shown in the Coordinate Display box.

Task 4-7 Draw Six Continuous Lines

Draw the six lines that form the L island. They are called continuous lines because the end point of one is the start point of the next. 1. 2. Select Line from the Draw Menu. Move the cursor until the Coordinate Display box says r(.375, .5625). Click to pick the start point of Line 1.

End Point Line 1, Start Point Line 2

End Point Line 2, Start Point Line 3

End Point Line 3, Start Point Line 4 End Point Line 4, Start Point Line 5 Start Point for Line 1, End Point for Line 6 End Point Line 5, Start Point Line 6

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Move the cursor up to r(0.0, 0.875). Click to pick the end point of Line 1. Line 1 appears. Move the cursor right to r(0.25, 0.0). Click to pick the end point of Line 2. Line 2 appears. Move the cursor down to r(0.0, -0.625). Click to pick the end point of Line 3. Line 3 appears. Move the cursor right to r(0.25, 0.0). Click to pick the end point of Line 4. Line 4 appears. Move the cursor down to r(0.0, -0.25). Click to pick the end point of Line 5. Line 5 appears.

Teklink Activities Book

4-9

Computer Aided Design

The Drawing Area after completing the "L".

8. 9.

Move the cursor left to r(-0.5, 0.0). Click to pick the end point of Line 6. Line 6 appears. Press Escape to end the Line operation. The L island is now complete.

Task 4-8 Save the Drawing

Finally, save your drawing to preserve the changes made in this activity. Click the Save button on the toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S.

Task 4-9 Discussion and Review

Q Q Q Q What are continuous lines? When you fillet a corner, what are you doing? What key do you use to end most CAD operations? Why is it a good idea to save your work on a regular basis?

Task 4-10 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w

Teklink Activites Book

4-10

Computer Aided Design

Activity 5

Drawing the M
Objectives In this Activity you will accomplish the following: w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Five Technology: CAD layout and design tools Systems: Utilize a complex design system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team Information: Study and use important information Basic: Reading and writing Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management Continue your product design Learn to use basic and advanced CAD design tools

Teklink Activities Book

5-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview In this step you will draw the M island. There are many ways to draw the M. You could just draw continuous lines. But because it is symmetrical, it is easier to draw the left half and then mirror those lines to create the right half. By completing this step, you will learn:
u u

How to mirror entities How to snap to end points

Procedures

Task 5-1 Start spectraCAD and Open the LMC file

The first step is to start spectraCAD from the Programs group on the Windows 95 Start Menu: w w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver When spectraCAD is running, select Open from the file menu and open the LMC.dxf file you created in the last activity.

Teklink Activites Book

5-2

Computer Aided Design

Task 5-2 Draw Six Continuous Lines

Before you begin this task, check to see that the coordinates box is set to Relative. If it is set to Absolute or Polar, you will have to change it back to relative. You can do this by clicking the mouse on the box until it says Rel. The first step is to draw six continuous lines to form the left half of the M island. Drawing these lines is similar to drawing the continuous lines of the L island. However, this time we will use a different method to pick the start point. 1. 2. Select Line from the Draw Menu. Pick the start point of Line 1. Click the Type button. The Enter Point dialog box appears.

Enter 1.5 for X and 0.8125 for Y, then click OK or press Enter. 3. 4. 5. 6. Move the cursor up and to the left until the Coordinate Display box reads r(-0.25, 0.3125). Click to pick the end point of Line 1. Line 1 appears. Move the cursor down to r(0.0, -0.5625). Click to pick the end point of Line 2. Line 2 appears. Move the cursor left to r(-0.25, 0.0). Click to pick the end point of Line 3. Line 3 appears. Move the cursor up to r(0.0, 0.875). Click to pick the end point of Line 4. Line 4 appears.
End Point Line 4, Start Point Line 5 End Point Line 5, Start Point Line 6

Drawing the left half of the M island

End Point Line 1, Start Point Line 2

End Point Line 6

Start Point for Line 1 End Point Line 3, Start Point Line 4 End Point Line 2, Start Point Line 3

Teklink Activities Book

5-3

Computer Aided Design

7. 8. 9.

Move the cursor right to r(0.25, 0.0). Click to pick the end point of Line 5. Line 5 appears. Move the cursor down and to the right to r(0.25, -0.3125). Click to pick the end point of Line 6. Line 6 appears. Press Escape to end the Line operation. The left half of the M island is complete, and should look similar to the one pictured below.

Teklink Activites Book

5-4

Computer Aided Design

Task 5-3 Mirror the Lines

Next, mirror the lines to create the right half of the M island. Mirroring creates a reflected image of the selected lines. To form the mirror line, you will use the End Point snap. Using this snap makes it much easier to pick an end point of an existing entity. Here, you will snap to the end points of Lines 1 and 6 to form the mirror line. This ensures that the right half of the M island is properly connected to the left half. 1. 2. 3. Click the Mirror button on the Modify Toolbar, or select Mirror from the Modify Menu. Pick a point above and to the left of the existing half of the M island. This is the first corner of a selection box. Drag the cursor down and to the right, until the existing half of the M island is completely inside the selection box, then click to pick the second corner of the selection box. Lines 1 to 6 should be selected. If they are not, or if other entities are also selected, cancel the operation and repeat Steps a, b, and c. Press Enter to end the selection process. Click the End Point button on the Snap Toolbar, select End Point from the Snap Menu, or press F2. Click the cursor on the end point of Line 6 to pick the first point of the mirror line. A mirror image of the existing half appears. Moving the cursor moves the image. Click the End Point button on the Snap Toolbar, select End Point from the Snap Menu, or press F2. Click the cursor on the start point of Line 1 to pick the second point of the mirror line. The right half of the M, a mirror image of the left half, is drawn, and the M is complete.

4. 5. 6.

7. 8.

The completed mirror image. Click on the end point of Line 6.

Click on the start point of Line 1.

Teklink Activities Book

5-5

Computer Aided Design

Task 5-4 Save the Drawing

Finally, save the drawing again. If you make a mistake in Step 5, you can still recover the work you have done to this point. Click the Save button on the Toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S. The drawing is saved with the changes made in Step 4.

The Drawing Area after Step 4

Task 5-5 Discussion and Review

Q Q Why is it more efficient to mirror an entity rather than try to draw it? What would have been the result if you had not checked the coordinate type box and it had been set to Absolute?

Task 5-6 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w

Teklink Activites Book

5-6

Computer Aided Design

Activity 6

Drawing the C
Objectives In this Activity you will learn the following:
u u u

How to draw an arc How to copy, trim, and extend entities How to enlarge part of a drawing and restore the previous view

Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Six Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management

Teklink Activities Book

6-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview In this step you will draw the C island. Again, there are many ways to draw this island. In this example, you will draw two lines and two arcs, then trim them so they share end points. By completing this step, you will learn:
u u u

How to draw an arc How to copy, trim, and extend entities How to enlarge part of a drawing and restore the previous view

Procedures

Task 6-1 Start spectraCAD

w w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver When spectraCAD is running, select Open from the file menu and open your LMC.dxf file.

Teklink Activites Book

6-2

Computer Aided Design

Task 6-2 Draw Line 1

Again, before you begin, check that your coordinate system type is set to Relative. If it is not, click on the button with your mouse until relative is selected. Draw Line 1 of the C island, the vertical line at the top of the C. You will then use Line 1 to create Line 2 in the next step. 1. 2. Click the Line button on the Draw Toolbar, or select Line from the Draw Menu. Pick the start point of Line 1. Click the Type button. The Enter Point dialog box appears. Enter 2.625 for the X Coordinate value and 1.4375 for the Y Coordinate value, then click OK or press Enter. 3. 4. Drag the cursor down to r(0.0, -0.25) and click to pick the end point of Line 1. Line 1 appears. Press Escape to end the Line operation.

Line 1

Teklink Activities Book

6-3

Computer Aided Design

Task 6-3 Copy Line 1

Next, copy Line 1 to create Line 2. Since the lines are the same length and have the same orientation (both are vertical), it is easier to copy the existing line than to draw another one. Also, since you know where Line 2 should be, you will use the End Point snap to position it accurately. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Click the Copy button from the Toolbar, or select Copy from the Modify Menu. Select Line 1, then press Enter to end the selection process. Click the End Point button on the Snap Toolbar, select End Point from the Snap Menu, or press F2. Click on the start point of Line 1 to pick the reference point of the copy. Drag the cursor until the Coordinate Display box reads r(0.0, -0.625), then click to select the new base point of the copy. Line 2 appears directly below Line 1. Press Escape to end the Copy operation.

Click the start point of Line 1.

Line 1

There are now two lines. Drag copy of Line 1 to new base point and click.

Line 2

Teklink Activites Book

6-4

Computer Aided Design

Task 6-4 Draw Arc 1

Now draw the small arc of the C island. You will use End Point snap to make sure that the arc is connected properly to Lines 1 and 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Click the Radius Arc button on the Draw Toolbar, or select Radius Arc from the Draw Menu. Click the End Point button on the Snap Toolbar, select End Point from the Snap Menu, or press F2. Click the end point of Line 1 to pick the start point of Arc 1. Click the End Point button on the Snap Toolbar, select End Point from the Snap Menu, or press F2. Click the start point of Line 2 to select the end point of Arc 1. Move the cursor to r(-0.25, 0.0625) and click to set the radius of Arc 1. Press Escape to end the Radius Arc operation. Arc 1 appears, connected to Line 1 and Line 2.

Drawing Arc 1

1) Click the end point of Line 1. The completed Arc. 3) Click to set the radius or Arc 1. 2) Click the start point of Line 2.

Teklink Activities Book

6-5

Computer Aided Design

Task 6-5 Offset Arc 1 to Create Arc 2

Next, offset Arc 1 to create Arc 2. Offsetting an arc is similar to offsetting a rectangle, as you did when you created the inner boundary. In this example, you will offset Arc 1 away from its center point, so the offset has a larger radius. The difference in radii is equal to the offset distance, which you set in Task 4-2 to be 0.25". 1. 2. 3. Click the Offset button on the Modify Toolbar, or select Offset from the Modify Menu. Select Arc 1 as the entity to offset. The offset appears when you move the cursor to the outside of Arc 1. Click on any point toward the outside (to the left) of Arc 1, to select the offset side. Arc 2 appears. It has the same center point as Arc 1, and a radius 0.25" larger than Arc 1. Press Escape to end the Offset operation.
Arc 2

4.

The Drawing Area after Step 5.4

Teklink Activites Book

6-6

Computer Aided Design

Task 6-6 Zoom in on the Drawing

Next, zoom in on the drawing, so that you have a close-up view of Line 1 and Arc 2. This will make it easier to trim those entities so they share an end point. 1. 2. Click the Zoom Box button on the Display Toolbar, or select Zoom Box from the View Menu. Click on a point above and to the left of Line 1 and Arc 2 as the first corner of the zoom box. Drag the mouse to a point below and to the left of Line 1 and Arc 2 and click. This is the second corner of the zoom box. The view becomes a close-up of the area in which you will be working.

Zooming in on the drawing. Click first point. Click second point.

Drag a zoom box around the area you wish to magnify.

Task 6-7 Disable Grid Snap

You do not need to snap to Grid points to trim and extend entities. This will make it easier to move the cursor when you are zoomed in on the drawing. Select Grid from the Snap Menu. Grid snap is disabled. You can move the cursor anywhere in the drawing.

Teklink Activities Book

6-7

Computer Aided Design

Task 6-8 Extend Line 1 to Arc 2

Extend Line 1 so that it meets Arc 2. Arc 2 is the boundary. Extending Line 1 makes it a bit longer, and will allow you to trim Arc 2 in the next step. 1. 2. 3. Click the Trim/Ext button on the Modify Toolbar, or select Trim/Extend from the Modify Menu. Select Arc 2 as the boundary. Select Line 1 as the entity to extend. Line 1 now starts on Arc 2.

The Drawing Area after Task 6-8

Line 1 extended to Arc 2

Task 6-9 Trim Arc 2 to Line 1

Next, trim Arc 2 to Line 1. Line 1 is now the boundary. Arc 2 will become a bit shorter, so that it starts at Line 1. This ensures that the two entities share an end point. This is important when you use your drawing in a CAM program. 1. 2. 3. Click the Trim/Ext button on the Modify Toolbar, or select Trim/Extend from the Modify Menu. Select Line 1 as the boundary. Select the outer portion of Arc 2 (to the right of Line 1) as the entity to trim. The outer portion is deleted. Arc 2 is trimmed to Line 1, and the two entities share an end point. If you pick the inner portion by mistake, select Undo from the Edit Menu and repeat the task.

Teklink Activites Book

6-8

Computer Aided Design

The Drawing Area after Task 6-9

Arc 2 trimmed to Line 1

Task 6-10 Zoom in on the Drawing

Change the view to a close-up of the ends of Line 2 and Arc 2. This will help you trim and extend these entities more easily. You will go back to the previous view of the drawing (which shows all entities), then use a zoom box to enlarge the desired area. 1. 2. 3. Click the Zoom Previous button on the Display Toolbar, or select Zoom Previous from the View Menu. The entire drawing is now within the Drawing Area. Click the Zoom Box button on the Display Toolbar, or select Zoom Box from the View Menu. Click on a point above and to the left of Line 2 and Arc 2 as the first corner of the zoom box. Drag the mouse to a point below and to the left of Line 1 and Arc 2 and click. This is the second corner of the zoom box. The view becomes a close-up of the area in which you will be working.

The Drawing Area after Task 6-10

Line 2

Arc 2

Teklink Activities Book

6-9

Computer Aided Design

Task 6-11 Extend Line 2 to Arc 2

Extend Line 2 so that it meets Arc 2. Arc 2 is the boundary. This is similar to Task 6-8. 1. 2. 3. Click the Trim/Ext button on the Modify Toolbar, or select Trim/Extend from the Modify Menu. Select Arc 2 as the boundary. Select Line 2 as the entity to extend. Line 2 now starts on Arc 2.

The Drawing Area after Step 5.10

Line 2, extended to Arc 2

Task 6-12 Trim Arc 2 to Line 2

Now trim Arc to Line 2. Line 2 is now the boundary. This is similar to Task 6-9. 1. 2. 3. Click the Trim/Ext button on the Modify Toolbar, or select Trim/Extend from the Modify Menu. Select Line 2 as the boundary. Select the outer portion of Arc 2 (to the right of Line 2) as the entity to trim. The outer portion is deleted. Arc 2 is trimmed to Line 2, and the two entities share an end point.

The Drawing Area after Step 5.11

Arc 2 trimmed to Line 2

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Computer Aided Design

Task 6-13 View the Entire Drawing

Next, view the whole drawing to make sure it is complete and accurate. Click the Zoom All button on the Display Toolbar, or select Zoom All from the View Menu. The entire drawing is now displayed in the Drawing Area.

The complete part drawing.

Task 6-14 Save the Drawing

Finally, save your drawing. This preserves the last changes you made. Click the Save button on the Toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S. Congratulations! Your first part drawing is complete! Now, you can open another drawing, create a new drawing, or exit spectraCAD (by selecting Open, New, or Exit from the File Menu, respectively).

Task 6-15 Review and Discussion

Q Q Q Q In Task 6-3, why was it better to copy line 1 to create line 2, rather than just trying to draw a second line? What are the three points you need to draw a radius arc? When would you disable Grid Snap? Enable Grid Snap? When you are trimming a line, what side of the boundary do you click on, the side you want to save or the side you want to trim?

Teklink Activities Book

6-11

Computer Aided Design

Task 6-16 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab Station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w

Teklink Activites Book

6-12

Computer Aided Design

Activity 7

Speaker Design Project

Objectives In this Activity you will accomplish the following: w w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Seven Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management Begin a new design project Learn about polylines Use basic and advanced CAD operations

Teklink Activities Book

7-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview In the next few activities you will be creating a second dxf file, pictured below. You will be using some other operations in the CAD system, such as layering, rotating, and moving entities. When you complete this module, not only will you have a good understanding of how to use a CAD system, but you will also have a few design projects under your belt to bring to the CAM module, and eventually run on a milling machine. This series of activities requires you to use your imagination a bit. Imagine you are working for a design firm and a client has asked your company to design a new audio speaker for a computer multimedia system. The speaker must be small, no larger than three inches tall, two inches wide, and one and a half inches deep. In the first step of the design process, you use spectraCAD to create a drawing of the speaker that will meet all of the design specifications. spectraCAD allows you draw your part and make changes quickly and easily as you develop your part. Your finished CAD drawing will look like the drawing below.

Speaker Cone (Inner Circle)

Speaker Cone (Outer Circle)

Material Outline

Contour Boundary Nameplate

Volume Knob On/Off Switch

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Computer Aided Design

Procedures

Task 7-1 Start spectraCAD

w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver

spectraCAD will open a new drawing, based on a template. The Title Bar displays the drawing name, Untitled, meaning this is a new drawing. w w The material outline should be visible in the Drawing Area. If the outline is not visible, select the Show/Stock command from the View Menu. Select Open from the File menu. When the list of templates (*.dxf, *.dxt) is shown, click on the 3x2.dxt file. This will open a 3x2 template, which is the size of the speaker stock.

Teklink Activities Book

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Computer Aided Design

Task 7-2 Set the Grid Spacing

Before we begin drawing, the grid spacing must be set to 0.0625 inches. 1. 2. 3. 4. Select Setup from the Snaps menu. In the dialog box that appears, set the grid spacing to 0.0625. Make sure there is a check in the Grid Constraints box. Click on Okay to close the box.

Task 7-3 Draw the Contour Boundary

The design for the speaker calls for a contoured edge with rounded corners for an aesthetically pleasing shape. The contour boundary creates the raised face of the speaker. There are many ways to draw the contour boundary. In this lesson, use the Draw Rectangle feature to create the contour boundary. Then fillet the rectangle to give it the rounded corners. Use the Rectangle command under the Draw Menu to draw a closed rectangular polyline between two corner points. A polyline is a series of two or more connected lines or arcs which are treated as one entity. Closed polylines have the same start and end point, while open polylines have different start and end points. The only polyline you can draw in spectraCAD is a rectangle (though spectraCAD supports polylines created in other CAD programs). The end points of closed polylines are invisible in spectraCAD.

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Computer Aided Design

1. 2. 3.

Click the Rectangle button on the Draw Toolbar or select Rectangle from the Draw Menu. Move the pointer to point (0.125, 1.875) and click to establish the start point of the rectangle. Move the pointer down to point (2.875, 0.125) and click to establish the end point of the rectangle. As you move the mouse, notice that spectraCAD displays the rectangle dimensions on the screen. These are not the coordinates you need. Be sure to look in the Coordinate Display Box for the end point coordinates. Press Esc on your keyboard to end the Draw Rectangle operation. When you complete this step, your drawing should look like the one below.

4.

Task 7-4 Save the Drawing

You should save your drawings frequently, so you don't lose your work. 1. 2. Click the Save button on the toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S. Because this is a new file, the File Save As dialog box appears. If you are saving your work to a directory on the hard drive, locate that directory now. If you are saving to a floppy, select the floppy drive (usually A), and insert your disk. Type the name, SPKR.dxf, into the File Name field. Click OK or press Enter.

3. 4.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 7-5 Fillet the Corners

Use the Fillet command under the Modify Menu to create a rounded corner between two entities. The rounded corner is called a fillet arc, and its radius is the fillet radius. If the current fillet radius is too large for the fillet entities, the operation will fail. We will use the Fillet command on the contour boundary to create the rounded corners of the speaker enclosures front panel. 1. 2. Select the Fillet button from the Modify Toolbar, or from the Modify menu. Click the Type button. The Enter New Fillet Radius dialog box appears. 3. Enter .25 in the Radius field. Click on OK or press Enter.

4. 5.

Select Line 1 as the first fillet entity. Select Line 2 as the second fillet entity. spectraCAD draws the fillet arc connecting Lines 1 and 2.

6.

Repeat this procedure for the remaining three corners of the rectangle.

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Computer Aided Design

7.

Press Esc on your keyboard to end the Fillet operation. When you complete this step, your drawing should look like the one below.

Save the Drawing

Click the Save button on the toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S.

Task 7-6 Discussion and Review

Q Q Q Q Q What is a closed polyline? What is an open polyline? If the fillet radius is too large for the fillet entities, what happens? What is the rounded corner between two entities called? If you chose two entities to fillet, and entered a fillet radius of zero, what kind of corner would result?

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Computer Aided Design

Task 7-7 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w

Teklink Activites Book

7-8

Computer Aided Design

Activity 8

Creating the Speaker Cone

Objectives In this Activity you will learn the following: w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Eight Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management Three methods of drawing circles How to place an entity on another Layer

Teklink Activities Book

8-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview In this activity, you will continue working with the SPKR.dxf file. You will create the speaker cone and what would be a pocket in a CAM operation. You will use both methods of drawing a circle, and place the inner circle on a second layer. Then you will draw the volume knob. Your companys speaker cone manufacturer makes a speaker with a 0.6875 radius. This size should work very well with the compact speaker design. You will have to create the speaker cone in your drawing. Procedures

Task 8-1 Start spectraCAD

w w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver When the program is up and running, open the SPKR.DXF file.

Teklink Activites Book

8-2

Computer Aided Design

Task 8-2 Draw the Outer Circle of the Speaker Cone

You can use either the Circle command under the Draw Menu, or the Circle button on the Draw Toolbar to draw a circle with a specified center point and radius. 1. 2. Click the Circle button on the Draw Toolbar, or select Circle from the Draw Menu. Select the centerpoint for the circle. Move the cursor to the point 2.0625, 1.0 and click. A circle appears, centered at the point you picked.

3.

The circles radius is displayed in the Drawing Area as you draw. Move the cursor to set the radius at 0.6875, and click to set the circle size. This is one method of drawing a circle. We will use another method for the Inner Circle of the speaker cone.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 8-3 Draw the Inner Circle

Because the inner circle is smaller, we will use a different method to create it. 1. 2. 3. Click the Circle button on the Draw Toolbar, or select Circle from the Draw Menu. Select the centerpoint for the circle. Click on the type button. The Enter Point dialog box appears. Enter the coordinates X=2.0625, Y=1.0.

If you put the cursor on the drawing area, a circle will appear with the radius displayed. 4. 5. Select the Type button. The Enter Circle Radius dialog box appears. Enter a radius of 0.25.

6. 7.

The inner circle appears in the drawing area. Press Escape to end the Circle operation.

Save The Drawing

Click the Save button on the Toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 8-3 Draw the Volume Control Knob

The specifications for this new speaker call for a volume knob that is small enough to fit into the design, but large enough to be functional. Your company has managed to find an acceptable knob with a radius of 0.198 from one of your vendors. We will use another method of drawing a circle, which is actually a combination of the first two. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Click the Circle button on the Draw Toolbar, or select Circle from the Draw Menu. Select the centerpoint for the circle. Move the cursor to the point 0.4375, 0.5 and click. Select the Type button. The Enter Circle Radius dialog box appears. Enter a radius of 0.198. The volume knob circle appears in the drawing area. Press Escape to end the Circle operation. Click the Save button on the Toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S.

When complete this step, your drawing should look similar to the one here.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 8-4 Layering

Using layers is an easy way to keep your spectraCAD drawings organized. When you place entities on separate layers, you can choose to see only one layer, a few layers at once, or all the layers in the drawing. This flexibility in viewing layers makes drawing and modifying entities easier, especially when your drawing is complicated. The ability to view one layer at a time is the principal reason to use layers. There are many ways you can organize entities on different layers. You might want to organize entities by: Type: Color: Points on one layer, text on a second, other geometry on a third. Entities on layer #1 are yellow, those on layer #2 are green, etc.

Tool path: Entities on each layer form a separate tool path in a CAM program. Use these suggestions, or create your own ways to organize your drawings with layers. There are a few things to remember when using layers in your drawings. 1. 2. 3. All entities on the same layer are the same color. Changing the layer color changes the color of all entities on the same layer. All entities on the same layer have the same visibility. Making the layer invisible makes all the entities on that layer invisible. You cannot group entities that are on different layers.

Of course, you do not have to use layers in your drawings. Every drawing has at least one layer. You can place every entity on one layer, if you wish. We will put the speaker cone on a separate layer. Since the cone is recessed in the speaker, it makes sense to have it on its own layer. The first step is to create a second layer. We have been working on the default layer, Layer 0. We need to create Layer 1 to put the speaker cone on. Use the Layers command under the Edit Menu to add a layer to the drawing.

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Computer Aided Design

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Click the Layers button, or select Layers from the Edit Menu. The Edit Layers dialog box appears. Click the Add button. A new untitled layer appears on the list, with black as the default color. Name the new layer Layer_1. Highlight Untitled if it is not already highlighted, and type in Layer_1. Select medium blue as the color for the new layer. Make sure there is a check in the Visible box for Layer 1. Press Enter or click OK to accept the changes. The layer that was highlighted when you closed the Edit Layers dialog box becomes the current layer.

Task 8-5 Move the Speaker Cone to the New Layer

Use the Change Layer command under the Modify Menu to move one or more entities to another layer. But before you move an entity to another layer, you must determine which layer the entity is currently on by using one of the following methods:
u

While in idle mode, click on an entity with the right mouse button; the contextsensitive menu displays the layer name. While in idle mode, select an entity; the layer name is shown in the Layer Display box. Select Query from the Tools Menu, then select an entity or its group. The Query dialog box appears, and displays the entity's layer.

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Computer Aided Design

The speaker cone should be on Layer 0. To move the speaker cone to Layer 1: 1. 2. Select Change Layer from the Modify Menu. Select the circles of the speaker cone. Holding the shift key down while clicking on the entities allows you to select more than one entity. Press Enter when finished. The Select Layer dialog box appears. Highlight the layer where you want to move the speaker cone. Click Change or press Enter. The speaker cone moves to the new layer. The speaker cone circles change to medium blue. If the new layer is invisible, the entities become invisible.

3. 4.

There is also a shortcut to move entites between layers. 1. 2. 3. Select the entities to move. Click the arrow in the Layer Display box. Scroll through the list and highlight a new layer. The selected entities are moved to the new layer.

You can use whichever method you want to move the speaker cone. Click the Save button on the Toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 8-5 Discussion and Review

Q Q Q What are two reasons for using layers in a drawing? What would have happened to the Speaker Cone when we moved it to Layer 1 if we had not selected the Visible box in the Add Layer Dialog Box? How could this have been fixed?

Task 8-6 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w

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Computer Aided Design

Teklink Activites Book

8-10

Computer Aided Design

Activity 9

Completing the Project

Objectives In this Activity you will learn the following: w w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Nine Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management How to Explode text How to Rotate entities How to Move entities

Teklink Activities Book

9-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview In this activity you will complete your speaker prototype by adding the on/off switch, the nameplate and the text. Some of the operations you will be performing include exploding and rotating the text, and zooming in on specific areas of the drawing. Procedures

Task 9-1 Start spectraCAD

w w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver When the program is up and running, open the SPKR.DXF file.

Teklink Activites Book

9-2

Computer Aided Design

Task 9-2 Draw the On/Off Switch

Just like the volume control knob, the on off switch must be small but functional. Draw the switch as a rectangle. Creating this small component requires precision, so we will specify coordinates rather than drawing freehand. 1. 2. 3. Select Rectangle from the Draw Toolbar or from the Draw Menu. Click on the Type button. The Enter Point dialog box appears. Enter the starting corner point for the rectangle (X=0.341, Y=1.692). Click on OK or press Enter.

4.

Click the Type button again. The Enter Rectangle Dimensions dialog box appears.

5.

Enter the following dimensions for the rectangle (X=0.191, Y=-0.381). Notice the negative Y value. A negative value is used so that spectraCAD draws the rectangle correctly, going down on the Y axis away from the starting point. Click on OK or press Enter.

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Computer Aided Design

spectraCAD draws the on/off switch. When you complete this step, your drawing should look similar to the one shown here.

Task 9-3 Draw the Nameplate

The nameplate for the speaker enclosure includes the companys initials engraved into an island. To create the nameplate, first draw the rectangle, then add and rotate the text. Because you are still in Rectangle operation, you do not need to select Rectangle from the Draw menu. 1. Click the Type button. The Enter Point dialog box appears.

Teklink Activites Book

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Computer Aided Design

2. 3.

Enter the starting corner point for the rectangle (X=0.774, Y=1.634). Click the Type button again. The Enter Rectangle Dimensions dialog box appears.

4.

Enter the dimensions for the rectangle (width=0.439, height=-1.257). Click on OK or press Enter. spectraCAD draws the nameplate rectangle.

5.

Press Esc on your keyboard to end the Draw Rectangle operation.

Task 9-4 Add the Text

The next step is to add the companys initials to the nameplate. 1. Select Text from the Draw menu. The Enter Text dialog box appears. 2. Enter ITK, with 2 spaces between each letter, in the Text field. Click on OK.

3.

Click on a point at the top of the nameplate rectangle as the text insertion point. You will rotate and move the text shortly, so the text insertion point is not critical for this task. As soon as you move the cursor, the text will appear in the drawing area. Move the cursor to the Type button and select it.

4.

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Computer Aided Design

The Enter Text Height dialog box appears. 5. Enter 0.2 as the text height. Click on OK or press Enter. spectraCAD draws the text with the height you specified in the dialog box.

Save the Drawing

Click the Save button on the Toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S.

Task 9-5 Move the Text

Use the Move command under the Modify Menu to change the location of entities in the drawing. Entities are moved with respect to a reference point and a new base point. These points can be anywhere in the drawing. The relation of the these points determines the direction and distance that the selected entities move. Deselecting the Grid Snap will make it easier for you to select the text in the next few steps. In order to move and explode the text, you will have to select all of the line segments that make up the text. 1. 2. Select Grid from the Snap menu to turn off the snap to grid feature. Zoom in on the drawing by 20%. Click on the Zoom In button on the Toolbar, select Zoom In from the View menu, or press the Ctrl and Plus (+) keys on the keyboard, twice, to increase the view by 20%. Select Move from the Modify menu, or from the Modify Toolbar. Select the ITK text. Press Enter when you are finished. Press Enter again to select the geometric center of the text. A dashed image of the text appears. Click the Type button. The Enter Point dialog box appears.

3. 4. 5. 6.

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Computer Aided Design

7.

Enter an X value of 0.969 and a Y value of 1.000. Click on OK or press Enter. spectraCAD moves the text block to the new location.

8.

Select Zoom All to view the entire drawing again.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 9-6 Explode the Text

Use the Explode command under the Modify Menu to break, or explode, a polyline or a text block into lines and arcs. Exploding a polyline is the only way you can modify its segments individually or move them to separate layers. Text is exploded into lines only. Exploding text is the only way you can modify the lines individually, or engrave text using a CAM program. Exploded lines and arcs are placed on the same layer as the original entity. 1. 2. Click the Explode button on the Modify Tool Bar, or select Explode from the Modify Menu. Select the ITK text to explode. The text is broken into lines and arcs. When you complete this step, your picture should look like the one below.

Task 9-7 Rotate the Text

Use the Rotate command under the Modify Menu to change the orientation of one or more entities. Entities are rotated about a rotation base point, which can be anywhere in the drawing. By picking the entity's center point as the rotation base point, you just rotate the entity. Its angle changes, but its center point does not move. By picking any other point as the rotation base point, you rotate and move the entity. The angle of the entity changes, and its center point rotates about the rotation base point. The rotation angle is the angle by which the entity rotates about the rotation base point.

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Computer Aided Design

1. 2.

Click the Rotate button on the Modify Tool Bar, or select Rotate from the Modify Menu. Select the ITK text to rotate. You need to select each entity of the ITK text block individually by holding down the Shift key while clicking on the entities. Press Enter when finished. Pressing Enter again picks the geometric center of the text as the rotation base point. An image of the selected entities appears. Moving the cursor rotates the image about the rotation base point. The Status Bar displays the current rotation angle.

3.

4.

Click on the Type button. The Enter Rotation Angle dialog box appears.

5.

Enter -90 as the rotation angle. Click on OK. spectraCAD rotates the text -90 degrees.

When you have completed this step, your completed spectraCAD drawing should look like the one below.

Save the Drawing

Click the Save button on the Toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 9-8 Discussion and Review

Q Q Q Q Entities are moved with respect to what two points? Why do you have to explode text in spectraCAD? What is the advantage of picking an entity's center point as the rotation base point? What is a rotation angle?

Task 9-9 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w

Teklink Activites Book

9-10

Computer Aided Design

Activity 10

spectraCAD Engraver
Objectives In this Activity you will accomplish the following: w w w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Ten Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management Edit and define the Engraver stock, tooling, and material Select a post processor Add text and select a font style Insert the text into the drawing

Teklink Activities Book

10-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview

Engraving Text In this section we will be using the Engraver feature of spectraCAD. You will be producing a nameplate using this program. The difference between the spectraCAD Engraver and a plain CAD program is that the Engraver allows you to not only produce the drawing for the product, but to also create the NC code that the milling machine reads to cut the final product. Engraving is a simpler version of Milling. It uses the same machine, tools, and codes, but does not include some of the more advanced operations. Engraving usually uses a higher spindle speed, a lower cutting force, and shallower cuts resulting in less material being removed from the workpiece. Most engraving is done as outlines of drawings, or as text. The first step is, as always, to start spectraCAD Engraver, and create a new file. Once we have done that we can begin the process of designing your nameplate.

Procedures

Task 10-1 Start spectraCAD Engraver

Before you begin drawing, you have to start spectraCAD and create a new drawing. Start the Control Program: w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver

spectraCAD will open a new drawing, based on a template. The Title Bar displays the drawing name, Untitled, meaning this is a new drawing. w The material outline should be visible in the Drawing Area. If the outline is not visible, select the Show/Stock command from the View Menu.

Teklink Activites Book

10-2

Computer Aided Design

Create the Engraver File and Set Parameters In previous CAD exercises, you have opened a new file, started drawing, and then saved it under a new name. In those cases, the default stock size was fine. However, the nameplate stock as a different size and shape. We must create the new stock size before beginning so that the drawing is accurate.

Task 10-2 Open the Engraving Setup Screen

1. 2. Click the Setup button on the Engrave Tool Bar, or select Engraving Setup from the Engraving Menu. The six Engraving Setup panels appear. These panels allow you to create or edit settings for materials, tools, and files that are used by the program when an engraving NC file is generated.

Task 10-3 Select the Material

1. Select the Edit Material Panel, if it is not already selected. The Edit Material Panel provides you with a means of selecting a material type. When you select a material from the list of materials, default cutting speed values are displayed for High Speed Steel and Carbide tools. The Advance Per Tooth default value is also displayed. 2. Since the nameplate stock is made of plastic, and there is no plastic listed in the Materials list, we will have to create it. Start by highlighting Machinable Wax in the library list. Click the New button. Undefined Material appears in the library list and the Name field.

3.

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Computer Aided Design

4. 5.

Type Plastic over Undefined Material in the Name field. The values for plastic are the same as machinable wax, so you do not have to change the cutting speed or the advance per tooth values.

Task 10-4 Define the Tool

Before you can engrave, you must define the tool you wish to use. You may use one of the existing tools from the Tool Library list, or you can create a new tool for your purposes. For this project we will be using an 1/8 End Mill. Although this tool is already defined in the library, we will create another one to understand the steps involved. 1. 2. Click on the Tool Library tab. The Tool Library Panel appears. In the Tool Library scroll box, scroll down to Tool 2, which is undefined at this point. Highlight Tool 2 by clicking on it with your mouse.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

In the Tool Type pull-down list, select End Mill. Enter "End Mill" in the Description box. Enter 0.125 in the Diameter box. Click on the Apply button. You have just defined a new tool in the library. Now whenever you need an 1/8" HSS end mill, it will be there. Click on OK to exit the Tool Library.

Teklink Activites Book

10-4

Computer Aided Design

Task 10-5 Select the Post Processor

The post processor file allows spectraCAD Engraver to generate NC code for different machines. Since different machines have different operating parameters, it is important to match the right files with the right machines. For example, the maximum spindle speed on a Light Machines VMC-5000 (post file plm5000.PST) is much higher than the spindle speed on a spectraLIGHT (post file SPECTRA.PST), as is the travel distance on each of the 3 axes. Details such as these can be very important in the code generation. To select a post processor file: 1. 2. Select the Post Processor tab. The Post Processor list appears. Click on the SPECTRA.PST post processor file in the Posts list.

Teklink Activities Book

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Computer Aided Design

Task 10-6 Change the Stock Dimensions

Since our nameplate stock is different than the default stock size, we will have to change the stock dimensions. 1. 2. Click on the Stock Size tab. Enter the following values in the X, Y, and Z Dimension fields: X: 8 Y: 1.5 Z: 0.0625 The default origin of the stock is X0Y0Z0, the top, front, left corner of the stock. That will not change in this exercise.

3. 4.

Click on OK to accept all the changes you have made to the Engraver file. The dialog box will disappear, and the stock outline will change on the drawing area. Select Zoom All from the View Menu to see the entire stock outline.

Teklink Activites Book

10-6

Computer Aided Design

Task 10-7 Draw the Text

Now that you have the file set up you can create the text to engrave. For this project, you will use your name as the text. You can use your first name, last name, or both. The only limitation is that it must fit on the 8 inch long stock. 1. 2. Click the Text button on the Draw Tool Bar, or select the Text command from the Draw Menu. The Enter Text dialog box appears. Enter the text in the Enter Text dialog box.

3.

If you wish to use a font other than the default font, click the Font button and select a new font. The font is the way the letters are written. They can be fancy or plain. The CAD Engraver Font dialog box appears.

By default, the font is a simple stroke font; the letters are made up of singular centerlines, not outlines. You can engrave outline fonts by selecting the True Type button. If you choose an outline font, the final product will only have the outline of the letters engraved.

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Computer Aided Design

Select a font, if desired, then click on OK. The Enter Text dialog box reappears. Click on the OK button to return to the Drawing Area. 4. Click on the Type button. The Enter Coordinates box appears.

5. 6.

Enter the point 0.25, 0.25 in the box and click on OK. This is the insertion point for the lower left corner of the text. Click on the Type button again. Enter 1 for the text height, and click OK. The text appears in the drawing area on the nameplate. Your drawing should resemble the one shown below.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 10-8 Save the File

Finally, save your drawing. You should save your drawings frequently, so you don't lose your work. 1. 2. Click the Save button on the toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S. The File Save As dialog box appears. If you are saving your work to a directory on the hard drive, locate that directory now. If you are saving to a floppy, select the floppy drive (usually A), and insert your disk. Type the name, Name.dxf, into the File Name field. Click OK or press Enter.

3. 4.

Task 10-9 Discussion and Review

Q Q Q Q What is Engraving? What is the difference between spectraCAD Engraver and a plain CAD program? What do the Engraving Setup panels allow you to do? What is the purpose of the post processor file?

Task 10-10 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

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10-9

Computer Aided Design

Teklink Activites Book

10-10

Computer Aided Design

Activity 11

Generating an NC File
Objectives In this Activity you will accomplish the following: w w w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Eleven Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management Select geometry to be engraved Set cutting parameters Review the engraving Job Summary Generate the NC file to be used by the mill to engrave the name plate

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Computer Aided Drafting

Overview

Generating the NC file Now that you have created the text and laid out the parameters for your nameplate, you have to generate the NC code the milling machine will read when it cuts the nameplate. There are another series of steps to prepare for this operation. The spectraCAD program will walk you through them, but the first step is to select the Engrave Command. When you select the Engrave command from the Engraving Menu, the first of a series of several dialog boxes appears. These dialog boxes guide you through the process of generating an NC part program for engraving. The dialog boxes appear in the following order:
u u u u

Select Geometry Select Cutting Parameters Engraving Job Summary Generate NC File

Procedures

Task 11-1 Start spectraCAD

Start the Control Program: w w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver When spectraCAD is up and running, open your Name.dxf file.

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11-2

Computer Aided Drafting

Task 11-2 Select the Geometry

Select the Engrave command from the Engraving Menu. The Select Geometry dialog box appears as the first in the series. This box allows you to select and name the text in the current drawing for engraving. 1. Click on the Toolpath Name box. Naming the toolpath is for reference only. If you were engraving text and a small graphic, for example, you might name the toolpaths Text, and Graphic.

The text is selected as one entity, so we will call the toolpath Toolpath #1. 2. Choose a geometry selection method. If there were multiple entities in your drawing, you could select them separately, and give each a name. Use the Mouse to Select allows you to manually pick out particular geometries. Select All Geometry and Text selects every entity in the drawing. Select remaining Geometry and Text selects any entities that remain unselected. Click on Select All Geometry and Text. 3. 4. Click on the Do Selection button. Click the Next button.

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Computer Aided Drafting

Task 11-3 Select the Cutting Parameters

The next box to appear is the Select Cutting Parameters dialog box. Here you enter the parameters for the cutting method, the feed rate and the spindle speed.

Cutting Method
u

Final Depth is the finished depth of the engraving. Enter -0.020 for the final depth. Depth Increment is the depth of each step required to reach the final depth. Because the plastic you are cutting is soft, the full cut can be made in a single pass. If you were engraving a harder material, such as steel, multiple passes would be necessary to reach the desired depth. In that case a depth increment would be necessary. Enter 0.020 for the Depth Increment.

Rapid Height is the height to which the cutting tool moves just prior to a rapid traverse motion. If you were engraving on a surface that had been machined to different heights and contours, it would be necessary to raise the tool up above the highest level on the workpiece before moving the tool. This would avoid a tool crash, which could damage the tool, the workpiece, or the machine. Since you are engraving on a flat surface, a safe height here is 0.7.

Top of Stock Z is the location of the stock surface on the Z axis, usually a value of zero.

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Computer Aided Drafting

When Finish Pass is selected (a check mark appears) the machine will perform a finish pass after the engraving is complete. This is not usually necessary in engraving, unless you are roughing out the engraving first and want to make a final pass to smooth out any rough areas. Leave this box unchecked. The Tool box is used to select a cutting tool from the tool library. Tool #1, the 1/8 end mill (0.125), should be selected. If it is not, select it now.

Feeds and Speeds

These values are automatically set by the program, based on the information about the stock and the cutting tool. You should not have to change any of these values. Read through the following explanations before continuing. Select the Next button when you have finished specifying the Cutting Parameters.
u

The Feed Rate is the speed at which the cutting tool moves into the workpiece. The feed rate is based on the type of cutting tool being used and the stock material being cut. The Spindle Speed is the rate at which the spindle turns, measured in RPM. The spindle speed depends on the post processor selected during Engraving Setup. If you enter a speed that is too high or too low, an error message appears informing you of the correct speed range. The Plunge Rate is the speed at which the tool plunges into the workpiece. When checked, the Automatic setting automatically calculates the feed rate and spindle speed based on the tool, material and post processor selected during Engraving Setup. The Material is selected during Engraving Setup. Acc#1 and Acc#2 to turn outputs on and off (a checkmark appears). These are used when the NC program is used with robotics. The current measurement mode is displayed underneath Acc#2.

u u

u u

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Computer Aided Drafting

Task 11-4 View the Engraving Job Summary

The Job Summary dialog box allows you to view and verify all the information about your toolpaths before it creates the NC code. Select Toolpath #1 (if it is not already selected) and view the assigned parameters. If you were generating multiple toolpaths, clicking on the New button would bring you back to the Select Geometry dialog box where you can name a new tool path, and begin assigning new parameters. Click on the Next button to continue.

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Computer Aided Drafting

Task 11-5 Generate NC File

The final dialog box is used to create an NC part program file based on the geometry and parameters you set up in the previous dialog boxes. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Your file name, Name.NC, should be displayed in the NC Output File window. Enter the name that is being engraved in the Job Description field. Verify that the post processor file displayed in the Machine field is the correct one. Click on the Finish button to select the location for the Name.NC file. You should save the file to your directory on the hard drive or to a floppy disk. Click on Save, or press Enter on the keyboard. The program will generate the NC file and exit the dialog box.

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Computer Aided Drafting

Task 11-6 Discussion and Review

Q Q Why would you need to set a Rapid Height? What happens if a spindle speed that is too high or low is selected?

Task 11-7 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
u u u

Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

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11-8

Computer Aided Drafting

Activity 12

NC Files and Coding

Objectives In this Activity you will accomplish the following: w w w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Twelve Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management View your own NC file Define NC code Understand how NC code works Learn how to read NC code

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12-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview In the last activity, you generated an NC file based on your nameplate CAD drawing. In this activity you will look at that file, and learn more about what makes up an NC file, what NC coding is, and how it works. By the time you complete this activity, some of what you see in your Name.NC file may actually make sense to you. Procedures

Task 12-1 Start spectraCAD

Start the Control Program: w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver

Task 12-2 View the NC Part Program

Once an NC part program has been generated, you can view it by selecting the View NC File command from the Engraving Menu. Included at the beginning of the program file are comments that reflect the engraving setup data, such as the machining center (the post processor used), the selected tool and material, the material size and origin, and the unit of measure used for the project. You will also notice that the description you entered in Task 11-5 is at the top of the file.

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Computer Aided Design

As you read through the information in the rest of this activity, refer back to your file to see the blocks of code and different commands that make up an NC program. What is NC Programming? Before a part is machined, every step in the machining process must be described in a part program. The program, or list of instructions, is written in a language that can be understood by many CNC machine tools. The language is called the EIA RS-274D standard format, or G&M code programming. In this module, you will learn how to write NC words using EIA RS-274D codes, and how to combine the codes to form an NC part program. This is a typical block of NC code. N5G90G01X2Y3Z2 These are the individual NC words that make up the block. N5 G90 G01 X2 Y3 Z2

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Computer Aided Design

Elements of a Part Program Part programs use two types of instructions: those that define the tool path (such as X and Y axis coordinates), and those that specify machine operations (such as turning the spindle on or off). An NC part program is made up of blocks (lines) of code. Each code block contains a string of words. An NC word is made up of an alphabetic character (the address character) and a number (the parameter). For example, the coordinate X2 has the address character X and the parameter 2. The address characters you will use for your NC part programs are N, G, X, Y, Z, I, J, K, F, S, T, M, and the semicolon (;). The character N is used in words that number the blocks of code in your program. For instance, the first block in a program begins with the word N0. The next block begins with N1. The next blocks are N2, N3, N4 and so on. The N word is always the first word in each block. The character G is used to create preparatory codes. Preparatory codes tell the machining center what kind of cut to make and which programming mode to use. G words are always written before any instructions that tell the machining center to move the tool. The character X is used to tell the tool where to move to (absolute) or how far to move (incremental) on the X axis. If you are working in absolute programming mode, the word X2 tells the Machining Center to move the tool to the coordinate X2. In incremental programming mode, the tool would move 2 units from its current position. The character Y is used to tell the tool where to move to (absolute) or how far to move (incremental) on the Y axis. The character Z is used to tell the tool where to move to (absolute) or how far to move (incremental) on the Z axis. I, J and K words tell the tool the X, Y and Z coordinates of the center point of an arc (for circular interpolation). In absolute programming, I words represent the X coordinate, J words represent the Y coordinate and the K words represent the Z coordinate. In incremental programming, the I, J and K words specify the distance from the start point to the center point of the arc. The character F is used in words that tell the tool what feed rate to use to move the tool into the workpiece. The parameter represents the rate of speed in inches per minute. For instance, the word F2 means to move the tool into the workpiece at a rate of two inches per minute.

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Computer Aided Design

The character S is used in words to specify spindle rotation speed. The parameter defines the speed at which the spindle rotates in revolutions per minute (RPM). The character T is used in words that define the tool, if more than one tool is used. The parameter in the T word is the number assigned to the tool. For instance, tool #1 (T1) can be an 1/8" end mill, while tool #2 (T2) is a 1/4" end mill. The character S is used in words to represent miscellaneous machine operations. These operations vary from turning the spindle on and off (M03 and M05), to repeating the NC program (M47). A semicolon ( ; ), or comment code, allows you to attach comments, or reminders, to each block of code. These reminders usually contain information about the words in the block. For instance, the comment in this block N2M03;TURN SPINDLE ON tells you exactly what the function of the block is. Any characters that appear after a comment code are not acted upon by the Machining Center. Here is another example:
N5G90G01X2Y3F2; GO TO START POINT AT 2 IPM

Any text following the semicolon is a comment, and has to be on the same line as the semicolon. Some NC words are used more often in part programs than others. Here are some of the more common NC words you should know. The G codes are broken into several groups.

G CODES
G00 G01 G02 G03 G04 G05 G90 G91 Rapid Traverse: Move rapidly to the indicated position. Rapid traverse motion does not necessarily mean the tool moves in a straight line. Linear Interpolation: Move in straight lines. Circular Interpolation, Clockwise: Move the tool in an arc in a clockwise direction. Circular Interpolation, Counterclockwise: Move the tool in an arc in a counterclockwise direction. Dwell (wait): A timed pause equalling the feed rate value in seconds. Pause: Pause until the Return key is pressed. You can also use M00. Absolute Coordinates: Move the tool to the place in the program defined by X, Y or Z. Incremental Coordinates: Move the tool the distance defined by X, Y and Z in the program.

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Computer Aided Design

M CODES
M00 M02 M03 M05 M06 M47 Pause: Pause until the Return key is pressed. You can also use G05. End of Program: This is the last instruction in the program. Spindle On: Turns on spindle motor. Spindle Off: Turns off spindle motor. Tool Change: Pauses all operations, turns off spindle, retracts spindle for tool change. Rewind: Repeats the program. If rewind is used, you must place a G05 or M00 pause at the beginning of the program.

New Terms
Address Character - An alphabetic character representing a command in an NC word. EIA RS-274D Standard Format - A standard for NC programming established in 1979 by the Electronics Industries Association, also called G&M code programming. Block - A word or group of words making up one line of an NC program. Code - In NC programming, the same as a word, typically used for G and M words, also a general term for a set of programming instructions. Parameter - Numbers that describe movement or distance, and are used with an address character command in an NC word. Part Program - A list of numerically coded instructions. Preparatory Code - NC words (G address character plus a parameter) that tell the machine tool what type of interpolation and programming mode to use. Word - The combination of an address character (the command) and a parameter (the distance or movement).

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Computer Aided Design

Task 12-3 Questions

Use the Activity 12 Worksheet and answer the following questions. 1. 2. 3. What is a part program? What are the two parts of an NC word? Here are some new terms you learned in this module. Write a brief definition of each term. CodeAddress CharacterWordEIA RS-274D Standard FormatParameterBlockPreparatory Code4. Match the NC words in the first column to their correct meaning in the second column. _____M02 _____G90 _____T1 _____J.5 _____G00 _____X2.5 _____N12 ____G02 _____F1 _____Z.25 _____I.15 _____M05 _____G91 a. Move the tool to 2.5 on the X axis (absolute) b. Move the tool to .25 on the Z axis (absolute) c. Move the tool rapidly to the indicated position d. Make the center point of the arc .15 on the X axis e. Use clockwise circular interpolation f. End of program g. Turn off the spindle motor h. Make the center point of the arc .5 on the Y axis i. Use incremental coordinates j. Use absolute coordinates k. Move the tool at a feed rate of one inch per minute l. This is the block marked number twelve m. Use tool #1

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Computer Aided Design

Task 12-4 Discussion and Review

Q Q Q Does the code in the program make more sense to you than it did before? Pick out specific blocks of instruction, such as starting and stopping the spindle. What is the programmed feed rate? Spindle speed?

Task 12-5 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
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Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

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Computer Aided Design

Activity 13

Pocketing
Objectives In this Activity you will accomplish the following: w w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Thirteen Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management Draw and create pockets for two entities Use the Measure function Use the Offset function

Teklink Activities Book

13-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview This Activity is the final project the spectraCAM Activity Guide. During this project you will create a pocketing operation for the Engraver program. When you are done, your NC program will cut two pockets in a 3x2 workpiece. Pocketing operations remove all the material within a closed boundary defined by CAD geometry. Geometry is closed if the start point and end point connect to form a completed path, such as a rectangle or circle. By using the Offset and Engrave functions you will create toolpaths manually. The toolpaths are the motions the mill makes to remove material from a workpiece during a milling operation. The manual creation of the toolpaths will give you an idea of what CAM (Computer Assisted Manufacturing) does automatically. Below is a picture of the dxf file you will create.

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Computer Aided Design

Procedures

Task 13-1 Start spectraCAD Engraver

w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver

spectraCAD will open a new drawing, based on a template. The Title Bar displays the drawing name, Untitled, meaning this is a new drawing. w The material outline should be visible in the Drawing Area. If the outline is not visible, select the Show/Stock command from the View Menu.

The stock outline shown may be the nameplate stock you used in the previous activity. You may want to change tis for this project. 1. 2. 3. 4. Select Engraving Setup from the Engrave Menu, or click on the Engraving Setup button on the toolbar. When the dialog box appears, select the Stock Size Tab, and set the size to X=3, Y=2, and Z=1.5. Click on OK to accept the changes. When the drawing area reappears, select Zoom All from the view menu to get a better view of the drawing area.

Task 13-2 Draw the Rectangle

Before you begin drawing, verify that the coordinate system is set to Absolute. If it is not, click on the Coordinate Type button until Absolute is selected. 1. 2. 3. Click on the Rectangle button on the toolbar, or select Rectangle from the Draw menu. Start the rectangle at the point 0.250,0.50. Move the cursor to the point 2.50,1.50 and click to complete the rectangle. Press Escape to end the rectangle operation.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 13-3 Rotate the Rectangle

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Select Rotate from the Modify menu, or click the Rotate button on the toolbar. Select the rectangle as the entity to rotate and press enter. Select the point (0.25,0.625) as the rotation base point. Click on the Type button to set the rotation angle. Enter 15 degrees as the angle, and click OK. The rectangle rotates 15 degrees.

Task 13-4 Draw the Circle

1. 2. 3. 4. Click on the Circle button on the toolbar, or select Circle from the Draw menu. Click on the Type button, and enter the points (2.375, .625). Click on the Type button again to set the radius, and enter .375. The circle appears at the bottom right corner of the drawing.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 13-5 Save your Drawing

1. 2. Click the Save button on the toolbar, select Save from the File Menu, or press Ctrl+S. Because this is a new file, the File Save As dialog box appears. If you are saving your work to a directory on the hard drive, locate that directory now. If you are saving to a floppy, select the floppy drive (usually A), and insert your disk. Type the name, Pockets.dxf, into the File Name field. Click OK or press Enter.

3. 4.

Task 13-6 Toolpaths, Geometry, and Offsets

When you are designing a part, you design it to be a specific size. The geometry of the drawing is the outer boundary, and is not part of a toolpath. In order to preserve the geometry as the outer boundary, we must create toolpaths within the geometry. The toolpaths must be offset from the outer boundary, and from each other. The offset value will be a fraction of the width of the cutting tool used. In spectraCAD Engraver, the toolpaths are always the centerline of the cutting tool. Q Q If we are cutting a centerline toolpath, what value of the tool will be our offset value? We will be using a 0.125 end mill for this project. What is the actual offset value we will use when creating the toolpaths?

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Computer Aided Design

Task 13-7 Offset the Entities

The next step is to generate what will become the toolpaths for the pocket operation. Because we want to remove all the material within each entity, the toolpaths must be close together. The easiest way to do this is by offsetting each entity towards the center. The offset value will be the radius of the cutter, to ensure that no material is missed. 1. 2. 3. Click the Offset button on the Modify Toolbar, or select Offset from the Modify Menu. Select the Type button to set the offset distance. The Enter Offset Distance box appears. The cutter we are using is an 0.125 end mill, so we need to enter an offset value equal to the cutter radius. This will cause an overlap on each cut of .0625, and remove all the necessary material. Enter an offset value of .0625, and press OK. Select the rectangle as the first entity to offset. Click the mouse inside the rectangle as the offset side.

4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9.

A new rectangle appears inside the original, offset by .0625. Select the rectangle you just created as the next entity to be offset, and click inside it. Repeat this operation until you can not create another offset inside the rectangle. Select the circle as the next entity to offset.

10. Repeat steps 5-8 until you can not create another offset inside the circle. 11. Press Escape to end the offset operation. 12. Save your file.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 13-8 Discussion and Review

Q Q What is Pocketing? What is a toolpath?

Task 13-9 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
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Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

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Computer Aided Design

Teklink Activites Book

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Computer Aided Design

Activity 14

Pocket Toolpaths and spectraCAM

Objectives In this activity you will accomplish the following: w w w Skills In this activity you will develop the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w Computer with the spectraCAD Engraver software installed Worksheets for Activity Fourteen Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management Generate Toolpaths for a pocketing operation Set up spectraCAD Engraver to generate an NC file Learn how spectraCAM automates toolpath generation

Teklink Activities Book

14-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview In this activity, you will set up spectraCAD Engraver to generate the toolpaths and the NC file that the mill will use to cut the pockets. Once you have done that, you will view the NC file, and identify the beginning of the toolpaths. Then, when all your hard work is done, you will learn about how CAM can generate all those tool paths automatically. Procedures

Task 14-1 Start spectraCAD Engraver

w w w w w Power up the computer.

From Windows 95: When the Windows desktop appears, select Start from the Task Bar. From the Start menu, select Programs and then the CADEng folder. In that folder, select spectraCAD Engraver When spectraCAD Engraver is up and running, open your pockets.dxf file.

Task 14-2 Engraving Setup

Before you can generate the toolpaths and NC file, you will need to verify settings in the Engraving Setup screens. 1. 2. 3. Select Engraving Setup from the Engrave Menu, or click on the Engraving Setup button on the toolbar. When the dialog box appears, select the Edit Materials tab. Select machinable wax as the current material.

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Computer Aided Design

4. 5.

Click on the Tool Library tab. Verify that Tool 1 is an .125 end mill. Click on the Post Processor tab. Select SPECTRA.PST as the post processor file.

6. 7.

Click on the Stock size tab, and verify that you are machining a 3x2x1.5 workpiece. This setting should not have changed since it was set in activity 13. Select OK to save settings, and exit the dialog.

Task 14-3 Create Toolpaths and Generate NC Code

1. 2. 3. Select Engrave from the Engrave menu. The select Geometry window appears. Choose Use mouse to select geometry and click on the Do it Now button.

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Computer Aided Design

4.

In the Drawing Area, use the mouse to select the first offset rectangle as Toolpath #1. Remember, do not select the outer geometry of the rectangle as the first toolpath. Press the Enter button on the keyboard or click the right mouse button. When the Select Geometry window reappears, click on Next. In the Select Cutting Parameters window, set the following parameters: Final depth Depth Increment Rapid Height Top of stock Z -0.1 .05 .7 0

5. 6.

7.

The Tool should be Tool #1. All other settings should match those shown here.

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Computer Aided Design

8.

Click on the Next button, and in the Engraving Job summary, Toolpath #1 should be highlighted. Click on New, and return to the Select Geometry screen.

9.

Toolpath 2 should be highlighted. Follow steps 3-8 and repeat until all toolpaths are assigned a separate number. Again, remember not to select the outer geometry of the circle as a tool path! There should be 8 different toolpaths when completed. When you have all 8 toolpaths set up, click the next button.

10. The generate NC File window appears. If you wish, enter a message in the description field, and click on Finish.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 14-5 View the NC File

1. 2. Q Q Q From the same Engraving Menu, select View NC File. The Pocket.NC file appears on the screen. Based on what you have learned about NC files, you should be able to answer the following questions. What line is the header for Toolpath #1 on? On line N12, what are the plunge depth, and the feed rate? What are the X and Y coordinates for the start point of Toolpath #2?

When you have finished the questions close the Pocket.NC file.

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Computer Aided Design

Task 14-6 System Shut Down

To exit spectraCAD, select Exit from the File menu, or press Alt+F4. If there are unsaved changes to the current drawing, the dialog box appears.
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Click Yes to save the changes and exit. Click No to ignore the changes and exit. Click Cancel to cancel the Exit command and return to spectraCAD. Return all materials to their proper place at your lab station. Select Shut Down from the Start menu on the computer. Shut the computer off.

w w w Academics

CAM and spectraCAM The generation of NC code with the CAD Engraver program is a simple form of CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing). More sophisticated programs exist to make the job of the design engineer easier. For example, spectraCAM would take the outside border of a pocket and automatically generate the pocketing toolpaths using the correct offset for the tool diameter. You would have to provide some of the same information that you gave the Engraver program, such as tool type, material type, feed rates, spindle speeds, and cut depths. spectraCAM then creates the NC program necessary to cut a pocket from your workpiece. It is not limited just to pocketing operations. CAM provides all the necessary tools to move your design from the drawing board into the machining stage, and is a necessary step for anyone making complex parts on a mill.

Teklink Activities Book

14-7

Computer Aided Design

Teklink Activities Book

14-8

Computer Aided Design

Activity 15

Conclusion
Objectives In this activity you will accomplish the following: w w Skills In this activity you will exercise the following skills: w w w w w w w w Materials In this activity you will need the following materials: w w spectraCAD Engraver Post Test Answer Sheet fot the test Technology: Develop a working knowledge of CAD design tools Systems: Utilize a computer file system, and a CAD system Resources: Manage time Interpersonal: Participate as a member of a work team and provide assistance to members of your own and other teams Information: Evaluate information Basic: Reading, writing, measurement Thinking: Learning Personal: Responsibility and self-management Measure your knowledge of CAD and spectraCAD Engraver Complete the Post Test

Teklink Activities Book

15-1

Computer Aided Design

Overview This activity concludes the spectraCAD Engraver module. The test you will now take will measure your knowledge and skills with CAD and spectraCAD Engraver. Take the test according to your teachers instructions. Allow 30 minutes for the test. When you have completed the test, return it to your instructor.

Teklink Activites Book

15-2

Computer Aided Design