4 & 5 Axis Mill Training Tutorials

4 & 5 Axis Mill Training Tutorials

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Mastercam“ X Training Tutorials – 4 & 5 Axis Mill Applications Revised Date: July 8, 2009 Copyright © 1984 - 2009 In-House Solutions Inc. - All rights reserved. Software: Mastercam X Mill Authors: Mariana Lendel ISBN: 978-1-926566-41-2

Notice In-House Solutions Inc. reserves the right to make improvements to this manual at any time and without notice.

Disclaimer Of All Warranties And Liability In-House Solutions Inc. makes no warranties, either express or implied, with respect to this manual or with respect to the software described in this manual, its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. In-House Solutions Inc. manual is sold or licensed "as is." The entire risk as to its quality and performance is with the buyer. Should the manual prove defective following its purchase, the buyer (and not In-House Solutions Inc., its distributor, or its retailer) assumes the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair, of correction and any incidental or consequential damages. In no event will InHouse Solutions Inc. be liable for direct, indirect, or consequential damages resulting from any defect in the manual, even if In-House Solutions Inc. has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties or liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

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Trademarks Mastercam is a registered trademark of CNC Software, Inc. Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, MS, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Mastercam Verify is created in conjunction with Sirius Systems Corporation; Windows 95, and Windows NT; Windows XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Getting Started .............................................................................................................A-1 Axis Substitution, Rotary Axis Positioning and Transform-Rotate Tutorial ................... 1-1  Axis Substitution To Create A Cylindrical and A Conical Helix Tutorial ...........................2-1  Axis Substitution, Rolldie C-Hook Tutorial .....................................................................3-1  Chuck Indexing Tutorial ................................................................................................4-1  Rotary4-Axis Toolpath and Axial 4ax Tutorial ................................................................ 5-1  Curve 5-Axis Tutorial..................................................................................................... 6-1  Drill 5-Axis and Circle Mill 5-Axis Tutorial ...................................................................... 7-1 Swarf 5-Axis With Wall Defined By Using 2 Contours Tutorial........................................ 8-1  Flow 5-Axis Tutorial ...................................................................................................... 9-1  Multisurface 5-Axis Tutorial .......................................................................................... 10-1  Port 5-Axis Tutorial ................................................................................. 11-1 

General Notes ....................................................................................... B-1

TUTORIAL SERIES FOR  

TUTORIAL 4 

CHUCK INDEXING TUTORIAL       

      

       





4/5-Axis

TUTORIAL 4

    

Objectives: 

The Student will design a 3-dimensional drawing by:  Creating the 2D geometry in the Right Side view. Creating the 3D geometry using translate command. Creating circles knowing the diameter and the center location. Changing the view of the part for better visualisation.

The Student will create a 2-dimensional milling toolpath in different Tplanes consisting of: Using View Manager to select the Tplane for each face. Create an operation for each face using the same work offset (G54). Facing one flat surfaces. Facing the other two flat surfaces using Transform-Rotate toolpath. Drilling the two holes. Removing the material inside of one groove using contour toolpath. Machine the second groove using Transform-Rotate toolpath.

The Student will check the toolpath using Mastercam’s Verify verification module by: Defining a 3-dimensional block, the size of the workpiece. Running the Verify function to machine the part on the screen.



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TUTORIAL 4

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TUTORIAL 4

GEOMETRY CREATION STEP 1: CREATE THE 2D GEOMETRY IN THE RIGHT SIDE VIEW  Option 1The geometry file, Tutorial4_geometry.zip, can be downloaded from www.emastercam.com/files The finish part, Tutorial4_finish.zip including the toolpaths, is also provided on the same location www.emastercam.com/files

Option 2-Create the geometry using the following instructions: Create the 2D profile in the Right side view: Create/Arc/ Create Circle Center Point and set parameters to: Diameter = 5.0; Center Origin Create/Line/ Create Line Endpoint and set parameters to: Specify an endpoint = Origin Line length = 2.45 Angle = 165 deg.; Create/Line/ Create Line Perpendicular and set parameters to: Select line, arc or spline; Select the existing line Sketch a point; Select the Endpoint of the existing line opposite the origin. Select which line to keep; Select the line above the existing one. Repeat the steps to select the other perpendicular line below the first line that we created. Delete the first line Edit/Join entities Select the two colinear lines; Press enter to finish the command Edit/ Trim/Break/ Trim/Break/Extend Enable divide and select the arc left to the line and the two ends of the line. Select these lines and the arc here Xform/ Xform Rotate Select the line; Enable Copy and set # to 1; Rotation angle 90 deg Xform/ Xform Rotate Select the rotated line; Enable Copy and set # to 1; Rotation angle 105 deg

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Edit/ Trim/Break/ Trim/Break/Extend Enable divide and select the two arcs one below and the other one to the right of the rotated lines.

Select Entity A here

Create/Line/ Create Line Endpoint and set parameters to: Specify an endpoint = Origin Line length = 2.5 Angle = 120 deg.; Create/Line/ Create Line Parallel and set parameters to: Select a line; Select the 120 deg line Select the point to place a parallel line through; Pick a point above the line; enter the distance 0.25 Select the flip buton several times until you make both parallel lines (above and below the 120 deg. line) Edit/ Trim/Break/ Trim/Break/Extend Enable Break in the ribbon bar. Select an entity to break; Select the first parallel line end that is further away from the origin. Enable the length button in the Ribbon bar and enter -0.25 Repeat the command to break at 0.25 distance the other parallel line that we created in the previous step Delete the center line and the parallel lines closest to the origin. Select these entities

Create/Line/ Create Line Endpoint and set parameters to: Select the endpoints of the parallel lines left to close the slot. Edit/ Trim/Break/ Trim/Break/Extend Enable Divide in the ribbon bar. Select the arc between the two parallel lines. Edit/ Trim/Break/ Trim/Break/Extend Enable Trim 2 entities in the ribbon bar. Select the entities at the top corners of the slot. Xform/ Xform Rotate Select the three lines of the slot; Enable Copy and set # to 1; Rotation angle 180 deg Edit/ Trim/Break/ Trim/Break/Extend Enable Divide in the ribbon bar.

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TUTORIAL 4

Select the arc between the two parallel lines that you rotated in the previous step.

Create the cylindrical shape Xform/ Xform Translate Select all entities; Enable Join; # =1;z = 6.0

Create the circles in the Front plane Set the plane to Front. Set the Z depth at the holes plane. (-2.45)

Select Entity A

Create/Line/ Create Line Parallel and set parameters to: Select a line; Select line A as shown Select the point to place a parallel line through; Pick a point below the line; enter the distance 0.50

Select Entity B Select a line; Select line B as shown Select the point to place a parallel line through; Pick a point to the right of the line; enter the distance 1.50 Select a line; Select line C as shown Select the point to place a parallel line through; Pick a point to the left of the line; enter the distance 1.50

Select Entity C

Create/Arc/ Create Circle Center Point and set parameters to: Diameter = .375; Center at intersection between two of the lines created in the previous step. Diameter = .375; Center at intersection between two of the lines created in the previous step. Delete the construction lines

File/Save as File Name: Tut4_Rotary axis indexing.mcx

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TUTORIAL 4

TOOLPATH CREATION STEP 2: DEFINE THE STOCK To display the Toolpaths Manager press Alt + O. Set the construction plane to Top Plane. If a machine definition is already selected see Tutorial # 2 page 2-4 to learn how to change it.

Otherwise follow the next step.

Machine Type Mill Select Mill 4-AXIS VMC.MMD.

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Select the plus in front of Properties to expand the Toolpaths Group Properties. Select the plus

Select the Stock setup.

Select Stock setup

The stock shape should be set to Cylinder. Enable X- Axis Enter the Diameter and Length values of the stock size. Enable Display stock as Wireframe and enable Fit Screen to the stock.

The Stock Origin values adjust the positioning of the stock, ensuring that you have equal amount of extra stock around the finish part. Display options allows you to set the stock as Wireframe and to fit the stock to the screen.(Fit Screen)

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TUTORIAL 4

Select the Tool Settings tab to set the tool parameters and the part material. Change the parameters to match the following screenshot.

Assign tool numbers sequentially allows you to overwrite the tool number from the library with the next available tool number. (First operationttool number 1; Second operation ttool number 2, etc) Warn of duplicate tool numbers allows you to get a warning if you enter two tools with the same number. Override defaults with modal values enables the system to keep the values that you enter. Feed Calculation set From tool uses feed rate, plunge rate, retract rate and spindle speed from the tool definition.

Select the OK button to exit Toolpath Group Properties.

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TUTORIAL 4

STEP 3: FACE THE FLAT SURFACE AT 165 DEGREES. Tool Planes and Axis Orientation The tool plane (Tplane) is the plane in which the tool approaches and machines the part. The Tplane represents the CNC machine’s coordinate system (XY axis and origin). This is the cutting plane for a toolpath, typically normal to the tool axis The Rotary axis for our part is A-axis. The axis orientation for different views should look as shown in the following picture.

Compare the planes axis orientation when rotating the part about B axis. (horizontal machining centers).

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Toolpath Preview:

3.1 Create the new view at 165 degrees. Select WCS in the Status Bar. Select View Manager.

Select Geometry button.

Select the second line here

[Select a flat entity, 2 lines, or, 3 points]: Select the two lines as shown in the following picture

Select the first line here

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The axis should be orientated as shown in the following picture. Otherwise click on Select Next View.

Y Select Next View Z X

Select the OK button to accept the view.

Enter the Name for the new view as shown. Disable Associative and Set new origin. Select the OK button to exit.

Change the parameters to match the following screenshot. Make sure that X, Y, Z for the Origin are set to 0 and Associative is disable. The Work Offset # should be change to 0 (G54 for Fanuc).

We will set only one work offset at the center of the cylinder.

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3.2 Set both Cplane and Tplane to the flat area on a 165 degree angle. Click on Set your current tool plane and origin to the selected view button. Click on Set your current construction plane and origin to the selected view button.

The View Manager will look as shown to the right

Select the OK button to exit the View Manager name. Set Z to 0.

The grid orientation and origin should look as shown in the following picture.

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3.3 Face the plane. Toolpaths Face Select the OK button to accept the NC name. Enable C-plane in the Chaining dialog box. [Select OK to use the defined stock or select chain 1]:Select the chain as shown

Select the chain here

Select the OK button to exit Chaining. From Tool page, click on the Select library tool button. Select the Filter button in the Tool Selection.

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TUTORIAL 4

In the Tool Types field select the None button to disable all tools.

Select the Face mill tool type as shown. In the Tool Diameter field click the pull-down arrow and select Equal. Enter the Tool Diameter value to 3.0. Select the OK button to exit Tool List Filter. Make sure that the tool is selected (highlighted) in the Tool Selection screen. Select the OK button to exit the Tool Selection dialog box. Make the necessary changes to match the parameters with the screenshot below.

The Tool page allows you to select the tool used in this operation. It also allows you to change the Spindle speed, the Feed rate, Plunge rate and Retract rate. You can insert a comment that will be output in the NC file after running the post processor

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TUTORIAL 4

From the Tree view list, select the Cut parameters and change the parameters as shown in the following screenshots.

Make sure that you change the Cutting method to One pass. Select the Linking Parameters page and match the settings shown.

The Linking Parameters page allows you to establish the heights for rapid movement (Clearance)and (Retract); the height from where the tool moves with feedrate (Feed plane); the Top of stock and the final depth (Depth). Depth and Feed Plane set to Incremental values are relative to the location of the chained geometry.

Select the OK button from the Facing parameter screen.

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Your part should appear as shown.

Press Alt+T to remove the toolpath display.

STEP 4: FACE THE FLAT AT 255 DEGREES ANGLE USING ROTATE-TRANSFORM TOOLPATH Toolpath Preview:

Toolpaths Transform

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TUTORIAL 4

Enable Rotate and the Method should be set to Tool plane to be able to create a new tool plane for the transform toolpath.

Enable Maintain source operation’s to keep the same Work offset number.(G54). Note that the Facing operation is selected

Select the Rotate tab and change the parameters as shown.

Enable Rotation view and select the arrow button.

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Select the Right Side View. Select the OK button to exit View Selection Select the OK button to exit Transform Operation Parameters

Your part should appear as shown.

Press Alt + T to remove the toolpath display.

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TUTORIAL 4

STEP 5: FACE THE FLAT AT 0 DEGREES USING ROTATE-TRANSFORM TOOLPATH Toolpath Preview:

Toolpaths Transform Enable Rotate and the Method should be set to Tool plane to be able to create a new tool plane for the transform toolpath. Enable Maintain source operation’s to keep the same Work offset number.(G54). Select only the Transform operation as shown below.

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TUTORIAL 4

Select the Rotate tab and change the parameters as shown.

Make sure that Rotation view is enabled and set to Right Side. Otherwise follow the previous step to select the Rotation view.

Select the OK button to exit Transform Operation Parameters

Your part should appear as shown.

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TUTORIAL 4

STEP 6: DRILL THE 0.375 DIAMETER HOLES Toolpath Preview:

6.1 Set the Cplane and Tplane. Note the holes are not drilled from the Back plane. We will need to define a new plane by rotating the Top plane -90 degrees.

Press simultaneous Alt &T to disable the toolpath display if needed. Note that pressing Alt + T again will display the toolpath of selected operations. Select Planes in the Status Bar.

Select Top plane.

Select Planes in the Status Bar.

Select Rotate planes.

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TUTORIAL 4

Enter About X -90 degrees. The axis orientation of the plane should look as shown.

Z

X Y Select the OK button to exit Rotate view dialog box.

Enter the Name for the new view as shown. Disable Set new origin if necessary. Select the OK button to exit. Select WCS in the Status Bar.

Select View Manager.

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TUTORIAL 4

Select the Holes View. Click on Set your current tool plane and origin to the selected view button. Click on Set your current construction plane and origin to the selected view button. Change the Work Offset # to 0. Make sure that Enable origin is not checked and x, y, z values for the origin are set to 0 as shown.

Select the OK button to exit the View Manager name.

6.2 Drilling the holes

Toolpaths Drill Select the Entities button in the Drill Point Selection dialog box.

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TUTORIAL 4

Select the arcs as shown in the following picture.

Select these arcs Select the OK button to exit Drill Point Selection. From the Tree view list, select Tool.

Click on the Select library tool. Select the Filter button in the Tool Selection. In the Tool Types field select the None button to disable all tools. Select the Drill tool type as shown (upper right corner). In the Tool Diameter field click the pull-down arrow and select Equal. Enter the Tool Diameter value to 0.375. Select the OK button to exit Tool List Filter.

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TUTORIAL 4

Make sure that the tool is selected (highlighted) in the Tool Selection screen.

Select the OK button to exit the Tool Selection dialog box. Make the necessary changes to match the parameters with the screenshot below.

From the Tree view list, select Cut Parameters page and ensure the cycle is set to Drill/Counterbore

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TUTORIAL 4

Select the Linking Parameters and change the parameters as shown in the following screenshot.

Enable Tip comp. Make the Breakthrough amount 0.

Select the OK button to exit.

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TUTORIAL 4

The part should appear as shown.

STEP 7: MACHINE THE GROOVE AT THE 120 DEGREES ANGLE Toolpath Preview:

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TUTORIAL 4

7.1 Set both Cplane and Tplane Select Planes in the Status Bar.

Select Top plane.

Select Planes in the Status Bar.

Select Rotate planes.

Enter About X 30 degrees. The axis of the new plane should be oriented as shown.

y Z X

Select the OK button to exit. Enter the Name for the new view as shown. Disable Set new origin.

Select the OK button to exit.

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TUTORIAL 4

Select WCS in the Status Bar. Select View Manager. Select the Groove at 120 degrees angle view. Change the Work Offset # to 0 Make sure that Enable origin is not checked and x, y, z values for the origin are set to 0 as shown above. Select the OK button to exit the View Manager name.

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7.2 Machine the groove using contour toolpath Toolpaths Contour Select the contour and the bottom of the groove shape, as shown.

Select the contour here

Select the OK button to exit Chaining dialog box. Click on Tool and then click on Select library tool button. Using Filter select a 0.5 Flat Endmill. Make the necessary changes to match the parameters with the screenshot below.

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TUTORIAL 4

Select the Cut parameters page and change the settings to match the following screenshot.

Select the Lead in/out page to set the parameters that extends the contour start and end.

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TUTORIAL 4

Select the Linking Parameters page and change the values as shown.

Select the OK button to exit Contour parameters.

Your part should appear as shown.

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TUTORIAL 4

STEP 8: MACHINE THE SECOND GROOVE USING TRANSFORM –ROTATE TOOLPATH Toolpath Preview:

Toolpaths Transform Enable Rotate and the Method should be set to Tool plane to be able to create a new tool plane for the transform toolpath. Enable Maintain source operation’s to keep the same Work offset number.(G54). Make sure that only the contour operation is selected as shown in the following screenshot.

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TUTORIAL 4

Select the Rotate tab and change the parameters as shown.

Make sure that the Rotation view is enabled and set to the Right Side View. Select the OK button to exit Transform Operation Parameters

Your part should appear as shown.

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TUTORIAL 4

STEP 9: BACKPLOT THE TOOLPATH. Select the Select all operations button.

Select the Backplot selected operations button.

Make sure that you have the following buttons turned on (they will appear pushed down). Display tool Display rapid moves Display tool

Display rapid moves Select the Play button.

Select the OK button to exit Backplot.

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STEP 10: VERIFY THE TOOLPATHS Select the Verify selected operations button.

Select the Configure button.

Make the changes as shown.

Initial stock size source should be set to Job Setup to use the stock information from Stock Setup. Use True Solid allows you, after verifying the part, to rotate and magnify the part to more closely check features, surface finish, or scallops. Cutter comp in control allows Verify to use the information regarding the tool diameter and to simulate the cutter compensation. Change tool/color to change the color of the cut stock to indicated tool changes in the toolpath.

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Select the OK button to exit Verify Options. Set the Verify speed by moving the slider bar in the speed control bar. Select the Machine button to start simulation. The finished part should appear as shown in the following picture.

To see the part from a different view select Dynamic Rotation button from the toolbar.

[Pick a point to begin dynamics]: Select the midpoint as shown.

Select this midpoint

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Slightly move the cursor to the right. Click the mouse button when done.

To exit Verify close select the OK button.

STEP 11: POST PROCESS THE FILE To apply these toolpaths to a vertical machining center with a rotary axis (A-axis), a customized post processor for your machine is required.

Make sure that all operations are selected. Select the Post selected operations button from Toolpaths Operations Manager.

In the Post processing window, make all the necessary changes as shown to the right. Enable NC file to keep the NC file assigning the same name as the MCX file.

Enable Edit to automatically launch the default editor.

Select the OK button to continue.

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Select the OK button to accept the warning.(we want only one work offset G54 for all the views)

Select the OK button to accept the same name for the NC file as the geometry name.

Note in line N4 the work offset G54 and the angle A75; line N30 G54 and A-90; line N40 G54 and A30.

Select the red X at the upper right side to exit the Editor.

STEP 12: SAVE THE UPDATED MCX FILE Select the Save icon.

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TUTORIAL SERIES FOR   

TUTORIAL 10 5 AXIS MULTISURFACE                    





4/5-AxisTUTORIAL 10 

Objectives:  This tutorial covers Mastercam's 4 and 5-Axis toolpath functionality. To apply these toolpaths to a 5-Axis machine tool, a customized post processor for your machine is required. There are no default 5-Axis post processors included with Mastercam due to the variation in multi-axis machine configurations. Contact your Mastercam reseller to request post processor services such as multi-axis post development. Your post processor may require certain additional programming information not covered in this tutorial. For instance : You may be required to position your stock in machine space rather than at Mastercam's origin You may be required to use the Misc Values box Your post may also prompt for tool gage lengths. The nature of the additional information required depends largely on your machine's configuration. Contact the developer of your post processor for details.

The Student will create a 5 axis milling toolpaths by: Machining the part using the 5 axis multisurface toolpath.

The Student will check the toolpath using Mastercam’s Verify verification module by: Defining a 3-dimensional rectangular block the size of the workpiece. Running the Backplot function by simulating the axis substitution and the rotary axis. Running the Verify function to machine the part on the screen.



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TUTORIAL 10

The geometry file, Tutorial10_geometry.zip, can be downloaded from www.emastercam.com/files The finished part, Tutorial10_finish.zip including the toolpaths, is also provided on the same location www.emastercam.com/files

TOOLPATH CREATION File Open Select the Tut10_5axismultisurface.mcx

STEP 1: SET UP THE STOCK TO BE MACHINED. To display the Toolpaths Manager press Alt + O. If a machine definition is already selected see Tutorial # 2 page 2-4 to learn how to change it. Select Mill 5-AXIS Table-Head Vertical

Otherwise follow next step.

Machine type Mill Select Mill 5-AXIS Table-Head Vertical.

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Select the plus in front of Properties to expand the Toolpaths Group Properties. Select the plus

Select the Stock setup.

Select Stock setup

The stock shape should be set to Rectangular Shape Enter the Y, X and Z values of the stock size.

Set the Stock Origin values as shown Enable Display stock as Wireframe and enable Fit Screen to the stock.

The Stock Origin values adjust the positioning of the stock, ensuring that you have equal amount of extra stock around the finish part. Display options allows you to set the stock as Wireframe and to fit the stock to the screen.(Fit Screen)

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Select the Tool Settings tab to set the tool parameters and the part material. Change the parameters to match the following screenshot. Assign tool numbers sequentially allows you to overwrite the tool number from the library with the next available tool number. (First operationttool number 1; Second operation ttool number 2, etc) Warn of duplicate tool numbers allows you to get a warning if you enter two tools with the same number. Override defaults with modal values enables the system to keep the values that you enter. Feed Calculation set From tool uses feed rate, plunge rate, retract rate and spindle speed from the tool definition.

Select the OK button to exit Toolpath Group Properties.

STEP 2: MULTISURFACE 5 AXIS – ROUGHING THE PART. Toolpath Preview:

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Multisurface 5 Axis generates a 5 axis surface toolpath over a series of surfaces or solids that allows precise control of the scallop height or constant distance stepovers to create a smooth finish.

Toolpaths Multiaxis Multisurface 5 Axis Select the OK button to accept the NC name. Change the parameters for Msurf 5-axis as shown in the following screenshot. The Output Format is 5 Axis. Cut Pattern alows you to establish the surfaces for general cutting area. Tool Axis Control allows you to establish the method to control the tool axis orientation. Tool axis control to the Chain will keep the tool axis oriented to the selected chain. Cut Surfaces are surfaces to project the tool position to, to compensate the tool axis vector for gouge protection. Check Surfaces are surfaces to be avoided during machining.

Select Surface(s) button as shown in the previous screenshot.

Select this surface

Hit Enter key to end the selection.

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Select Chain button. [Select tool vector chain]: Select the line as shown.

Select the line here

Select the OK button to exit from Chaining dialog box. Enable Entire chain per surface in the Chain Option dialog box to allow the tool axis direction to gradually transition along the selected chain one time for the entire surface. Select the OK button to exit from Chain Options dialog box.

Select Comp To Surfaces button as shown in the previous screenshot.

Click on the select button in the Toolpath/surface selection. [Select Comp Surfaces]: Click on Select All button.

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Enable Color and select color magenta no.13 as shown to the right. The top surfaces should be selected as shown below.

Select the OK button to exit Select All. Hit Enter key to end the selection. Select the OK button twice to exit Msurf 5-axis dialog box. Click on Select library tool button and using Filter select 3/8 Ball Endmill. Make all the necessary changes as shown in the following screenshots.

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Select Depth cuts button and change the parameters as shown.

Select the OK button to exit Multiaxis Depth Cuts. Select Entry/Exit button and change the parameters as shown.

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Select the OK button to exit Entry/Exit. Select Msurf5ax Parameters page and change the parameters as shown.

Tool control – Sets the tool tilt along the cut direction (Lead/lag angle) and to the right or left side (Side tilt angle). For more details, see Curve5ax Parameters. Cut control – Sets the toolpath accuracy. Cut tolerance – Sets the tolerance in which the toolpath follows the surfaces. Across Stepover – Sets the stepover as a Distance between the cutting passes. Along Stepover – Sets the stepover as a Distance along the cutting direction. Cutting method – Sets the toolpath motion to Zigzag, One way or Spiral Flow parameters - Allows you to set the Offset, Cut direction,Step direction and Start of the toolpath toggled between the different options (Flip). For more details, see Flow5ax Parameters. Ignore Surface Normals it is used when we are using a separate pattern surface to control the cutting direction. Select the Flow parameters button. If the flowlines look as shown below, across the magenta surfaces, then click on Cut Direction in the Flowline data dialog box.

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The cut direction should be along the magenta surfaces as shown below.

Select the OK button to exit Flowline data dialog box. Select the OK button to exit Multisurface 5 axis parameters. Enter Alt +T to toggle the toolpath display off.

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STEP 3: MULTISURFACE 5 AXIS – FINISH THE PART USING AXIS LIMITS. Toolpath Preview:

Toolpaths Multiaxis Multisurface 5 Axis

Click on Cut Pattern Surface(s) button.

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[Select Tool Pattern Surfaces]: Click on Select All button.

Enable Color and select color magenta no.13 as shown to the right.

The top surfaces should be selected as shown below.

Select the OK button to exit Select All. Hit Enter key to end the selection.

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Select Check Surfaces button as shown.

Click on Select button.

[Select Check Surfaces]: Select the two flat surfaces at the top as shown below.

Hit Enter key to end the selection.

Select the OK button twice to exit Msurf 5-axis dialog box. Click on Select library tool button and using Filter select 1/4 Ball Endmill.

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Make all the necessary changes as shown in the following screenshots.

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Select Msurf5ax Parameters page and change the parameters as shown.

Select Axis Limits and enable Z Axis and change the angles as shown.

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Select Point Generators tab and disable Angle and enable Distance as shown.

Point generators role is to add more tool positions for a more accurate toolpath. Distance is a linear distance used by Mastercam to add one or more additional tool position if the distance between two moves exceeds the current value.

Select the OK button to exit Multisurface 5 axis parameters.

Your part should appear as shown

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STEP 4: BACKPLOT THE 5 AXIS MULTISURFACE TOOLPATHS. Click on the Toolpath Group 1 in the Toolpaths Manager to select all operations Select Backplot selected operations button. Make sure that you have only the following button turned on (they will appear pushed down). Display tool

Display tool

Select the Options button.

Enable Simulate Axis Substitution and disable Simulate Rotary Axis. Disable Connect Top and Shade.

Select the OK button to exit Backplot Options. Select Play button.

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Change the graphic view to Front and check the second operation only. Select Step forward

button to check it step by step.The toolpath should look as shown below.

Select the OK button to exit Backplot.

STEP 5: VERIFY Select Verify selected operations button.

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Change the graphic view to Isometric.

Set the Verify speed by moving the slider bar in the speed control bar. Select Fast forward button to start simulation. The finished part should appear as shown in the picture below

Select the OK button to exit Verify.

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STEP 6: SAVE THE UPDATED MCX FILE. Select the Save icon.

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