This tutorial guides you through the process of using CAM Assist's ‘3+2 Axis’ machining mode, with a ‘User-defined' machining direction, to compute a toolpath strategy for a part.
When using the ‘User-defined’ machining direction:
The tool orientation comes from the orientation you specify in the Target setup(s) within CAM Assist.
A toolpath strategy will only be computed by limiting the tool to the specified orientation.
Facing operations will only be computed if the +Z Axis is selected.
The tool then operates on the part from a fixed orientation, which means that the orientation cannot change during cutting.
This tutorial uses CloudNC’s part ‘Demo 1’. However, the same process can be used for any part that can be opened in Siemens NX.
Preparation
Before you can follow this tutorial, you must have successfully completed the preparation steps:
Install CAM Assist - follow the instructions in Installing CAM Assist.
Open a part - this tutorial uses the part ‘Demo 1’ (for details on how to open that part, see Getting Started with CAM Assist).
Open CAM Assist - from the CAM Assist panel, select ‘CloudNC CAM Assist’, the first option.
Using the ‘3+2 Axis’ Machining mode
On completing the Preparation, you’ll see the CAM Assist user interface with the part ‘Demo 1’ open, as shown below.
To use the ‘3+2 Axis’ Machining mode with a ‘User-defined’ machining direction, you’ll take the following steps:
Specify the Machining mode
For Machining mode, CAM Assist provides you with two options: ‘3 Axis’ and ‘3+2 Axis’.
From the Machining mode drop-down, select 3+2 Axis
The Machining direction options are now displayed (see the image to the right).
Specify the Machining direction
For machining direction, CAM Assist provides you with three options: ‘Aligned to X, Y, Z axes’, ‘User-defined’, and ‘Automatic’.
Click on the option User-defined
Configure the Setup orientation
The content of the ‘Setup orientation’ section reflects the ‘Machine group’ configuration of the part, as displayed in Mastercam’s ‘Toolpaths’ view.
Check the Machine Groups
You’ll notice that the part ‘Demo 1’ has two Machine Groups: ‘Machine Group-1’ and ‘Machine Group-2’.
If you want CAM Assist to create a toolpath strategy for a Machine Group, ensure its respective checkbox is checked in CAM Assist (see below).
In CAM Assist:
Check the checkbox for Machine Group-1 and Machine Group-2
Selected plane
The ‘Selected plane’ must be configured for each checked Machine group.
For Machine Group-1, select ‘Top’ from the Selected plane drop-down.
For Machine Group-2, select ‘Bottom’ for the Selected plane drop-down
Select Avoidance geometries
Using Select avoidance geometries is an optional step
For details and step-by-step instructions, see the tutorial Using Avoidance Geometry.
Same direction for roughing and finishing
The content of the ‘Setup orientation’ section changes depending on whether ‘Same direction for roughing and finishing' is checked or unchecked.
The following side-by-side screenshots shows a comparison.
‘Same direction for roughing and checking’ is checked.
Checking the box indicates you want the part to be machined using the same direction for both roughing and finishing operations.
Note the button:
Select machining directions (0)
You’ll use this button to indicate the same machining direction for roughing and finishing.
‘Same direction for roughing and checking’ is unchecked.
Unchecking the box indicates you want the part to be machined using different directions for the roughing and finishing operations.
Note the buttons:
Select roughing directions (0)
Select finishing directions (0)
You’ll use these button to indicate different directions for roughing and finishing.
At this point in the tutorial:
For Machine Group-1, check the box for Same direction for roughing and finishing
Later, in the tutorial, you’ll uncheck the box for Machine Group-2.
Set the Workholding security
CAM Assist will choose roughing tools suitable for the specified workholding.
Set the slider to the required position between 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.
Set Workholding security sliders to 'Excellent’
Do this for Machine Group-1 and Machine Group-2
Examining CAM Assist’s other tabs
Before clicking OK, it’s a good idea to examine the other tabs to ensure that the requirements for CAM Assist’s tool strategy are fully configured:
Compute a Toolpath Strategy
When you've fully configured CAM Assist:
Click OK 
On clicking OK, CAM Assist closes and computes a toolpath strategy, which is displayed within Mastercam’s ‘Toolpaths' view (as illustrated in the following screenshot).
