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This tutorial guides you through the process of using CAM Assist's ‘3-Axis’ machining mode to compute a toolpath strategy for a part.

The tutorial uses CloudNC’s ‘Demo Part 1’. However, the same process can be used for any part that can be opened in Siemens NX.

Info

CAM Assist works with the Siemens NX manufacturing environment and manufacturing templates.

Preparation

Before following this tutorial, you must have successfully completed the following steps:

  1. Install CAM Assist - follow the instructions in Installing CAM Assist.

  2. Open a part - follow the instructions in Opening a Part (this tutorial uses ‘Demo Part 1’).

  1. Open the ‘CAM Assist’ menu - it contains the CAM Assist ribbon shown in the screenshot to the right.

  2. Click CloudNC CAM Assist - in the CAM Assist ribbon.

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Using the ‘3-Axis’ Machining mode

On completing the four steps in the Preparation, you’ll see the CAM Assist user interface with ‘Demo Part 1.prt’ open, as shown below.

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Step 1 - Opening a part

CAM Assist is supplied with 4 ‘Demo’ parts that are available from the CAM Assist menu as soon

Selecting a part and opening CAM Assist

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1. <b>Select a part</b> - you have the choice of using:
  <ul>
    <li>Your own part.</li>
    <li>One of the Demo Parts provided by CAM Assist, available from:</li>
    <ul>
      <li>The opening CAM Assist menu (see <a href="https://cloudnc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CAFSNCUG/pages/153223231/Getting+Started+with+a+Demo+Part" target="_blank">Getting Started with a Demo.</a>)</li>
      <li><a href="https://cloudnc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CAFSNCUG/pages/145096925/CAM+Assist+Ribbon" target="_blank">The CAM Assist Ribbon.</a></li>
    </ul>
</ul>
</ol>

  1. Open CAM Assist - in the /wiki/spaces/CAFSNCUG/pages/145096925, click CloudNC CAM Assist.

image-20240702-094959.pngImage RemovedSpecifying the ‘3+2 Axis’ machining mode
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Within CAM Assist's <a href="https://cloudnc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CAFSNCUG/pages/152174681/Setup+Tab" target="_blank">Setup tab</a>:

  1. For Specify the Machining Mode - select ‘3 +2 Axis’.

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Configuring the ‘Target setups’

Ensure at least one ‘setup’ is checked.

The content of the ‘Target setups’ section reflects the workpiece configuration of the part, as displayed in the 'Geometry View’ of the Siemens NX Operation Navigator.If you want

CAM Assist

to create a toolpath strategy for a setup, ensure that the respective setup's checkbox (such as 'Setup 1') is checked.

For each setup that you’ve checked:

  1. Avoidance geometry - (optional) see Avoidance Geometry, below.

  2. Set the Workholding security - CAM Assist will choose roughing tools suitable for the specified workholding. Set the slider to the required position between, or at, the two extremes:

    • Excellent - a more secure ('excellent') workholding, such as a vise with serrated jaws, will result in CAM Assist selecting larger tools or more aggressive cutting parameters. This will result in faster toolpaths, but with more force on the workpiece.

    • Poor - a less secure ('poor') workholding, such as a thin part held by a soft jaw, will result in CAM Assist selecting smaller tools or less aggressive cutting parameters. This will produce slower toolpaths, but with less force on the workpiece.

image-20240702-114834.pngImage Removed

  1. Configure required parameters within CAM Assist’s other tabs:

image-20240702-114932.pngImage Removed

  1. Click OK.

    • The CAM Assist UI closes.

    • CAM Assist now computes a toolpath strategy for the part within Siemens NX.

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Avoidance Geometry

This geometry ensures that machining operations do not occur in specific portions of the stock for this setup, such as the space under the part or between the vise jaws.

These blocked out portions (Avoidance geometry) are different from fixture bodies. While fixture bodies MUST be avoided, the Avoidance Geometry is considered part of the stock and may be gouged in specific cases. For example, drilling a through-hole may pierce the avoidance geometry but not the fixture.

Fixture bodies also require clearance from any tool, whereas all roughing tools may touch the surface of the Avoidance geometry.

Using Avoidance geometry

To use Avoidance geometry, take the following steps:

  • Click on the Avoidance geometry filled-block icon (to the right of ‘Avoidance geometry (0).

  • Click on the portion of the model/part to indicate avoidance geometry.

  • ‘Avoidance geometry (0)’ changes to ‘Avoidance geometry (1)’

    • On clicking OK,CAM Assist generates the avoidance geometry and integrates it with the computed toolpath strategy. image-20240702-124037.pngImage Removed

    is supplied with 4 ‘Demo’ parts that are available from the CAM Assist menu as soon