Page Comparison

Info
For an example of how to use the Choose Files tab, see Using the Cycle Time Estimator.

The Choose Files tab contains the following sections that can be collapsed or expanded:

About Cycle Time Estimator - shows the version number.
Parts - enables you to specify the ‘Folder Path’ that contains the part files (see ‘Parts’ section, below).
- The Cycle Time Estimator will calculate an estimation for each of the part files in the folder.
- It will also create a toolpath strategy (within Mastercam) for each part.
Options - contains drop-down boxes that enable you to specify the machining environment (see Options ‘Options’ section, below)
Run-

For more information on the Parts and Options sections, see below.

After
after you have specified the ‘Folder Path’, clicking Run will
create the cycle time estimates, which will populate the Cycle Times Estimates and Export tabs with the results
:
In the Cycle Times Estimates tab - create a cycle time estimate for each of the files listed under ‘Parts’.
In the Export tab - enable you to export the results of the cycle time estimates to a CSV (comma-separated values) file in a folder of your choice.
Tooltips
Tooltips contain useful information on the purpose and use of features within the ‘Upload' tab. To see a tooltip, just hover over a feature.

‘Parts’ section

The ‘Parts’ section enables you to upload/select up to 10 part files in a specified folder.

When the Cycle Time Estimator is opened there are no files listed under ‘Parts’.

Files are added to the list via the Folder icon to the right of ‘Folder Path’, which then shows a Mastercam ‘Browse for Folder' dialog.

The screenshot to the right shows three files that have been added to the list of selected parts.

The following table details all of the features of the ‘Parts' section.

Feature

Description

The Folder icon is used to specify the folder that contains the part files. The files in the folder are added to the ‘Parts' list.

Note
Files in the selected folder, that are also in the ‘Parts’ list, will be overwritten when the Cycle Time Estimator runs.

The Refresh icon should be used if the content of the specified folder is changed after the folder was specified (via folder icon) and you want the files listed under ‘Parts’ to be updated.

You cannot remove a file that is in the ‘Parts’ list from the source folder.
However, you can remove it from the ‘Parts’ list by using the ‘Remove file' icon (see below).

The Remove file icon is used to remove the associated file from the ‘Parts’ list.

The source file will remain untouched in the specified folder.

‘Options’ section

The ‘Options’ section enables you to specify the environment for which the cycle time estimation and toolpath strategy computation will take place.

Image RemovedThe following table details all of the features of the ‘Options' section.
Feature
Description
Tool library
The Fusion tool library that will be used to calculate the estimated cycle time and a toolpath strategy for each of the uploaded files, listed under ‘Selecting files’.
Tool summary
Stock material
CAM Assist will select tools, machining strategies, and cutting data presets based on the selected material.
Choose machine
Contains two categories of machine:
[Generic] - a range of CA Assist generic machines offering a combination of speed, power, and torque.
[Local] - Fusion machines that are contained within the ‘Local’ folder of Fusion’s ‘Machine Library’
See Autodesk’s article How to add a custom machine tool to the Machine Library in Fusion.
Edit machine properties
Enables you to specify a set of machine properties that are used to compute a toolpath strategy for each the uploaded files, listed under Selecting files.
For step-by-step instructions on using this button, see How to Edit Machine Properties.
Machining mode
Machining mode - the Cycle Time Estimator provides two machining modes:
3-Axis - if a file does not contain a setup then the approach direction is +Z, otherwise the approach direction is as configured in each file.
3+2 Axis - uses the ‘Aligned to X, Y, Z axes’ Machining direction that features in the CAM Assist UI.
The tool orientation that the Cycle Time Estimator uses to create the toolpath strategy covers all axes, including -Z.

Versions Compared

Old Version 12

New Version 13

Key

Tooltips

‘Parts’ section

‘Options’ section

Feature	Description
Tool library	The Fusion tool library that will be used to calculate the estimated cycle time and a toolpath strategy for each of the uploaded files, listed under ‘Selecting files’.
Tool summary
Stock material	CAM Assist will select tools, machining strategies, and cutting data presets based on the selected material.
Choose machine	Contains two categories of machine: [Generic] - a range of CA Assist generic machines offering a combination of speed, power, and torque. [Local] - Fusion machines that are contained within the ‘Local’ folder of Fusion’s ‘Machine Library’ See Autodesk’s article How to add a custom machine tool to the Machine Library in Fusion.
Edit machine properties	Enables you to specify a set of machine properties that are used to compute a toolpath strategy for each the uploaded files, listed under Selecting files. For step-by-step instructions on using this button, see How to Edit Machine Properties.
Machining mode	Machining mode - the Cycle Time Estimator provides two machining modes: 3-Axis - if a file does not contain a setup then the approach direction is +Z, otherwise the approach direction is as configured in each file. 3+2 Axis - uses the ‘Aligned to X, Y, Z axes’ Machining direction that features in the CAM Assist UI. The tool orientation that the Cycle Time Estimator uses to create the toolpath strategy covers all axes, including -Z.