Tutorial: 3+2 Axis Machining Mode (Aligned to X, Y, Z Axes)
- Kevin Strider (Unlicensed)
This tutorial guides you through the process of using CAM Assist's ‘3+2 Axis’ machining mode, with an ‘Aligned to X, Y, Z axes' machining direction, to compute a toolpath strategy for a part.
When using the ‘User-defined’ machining direction:
The tool orientation that CAM Assist uses to create the toolpath strategy can only come from the +X, -X, +Y, -Y, and +Z axes.
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 4’. 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 for Mastercam.
Open a part - this tutorial uses the part ‘Demo 4’ (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.
To magnify any image/screenshot, click it.
Using the ‘3+2 Axis’ Machining mode
On completing the Preparation, you’ll see the CAM Assist user interface with the part ‘Demo 4’ 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
Select a Tool Library from the drop-down
Select a Stock material from the drop-down
CAM Assist selects tools, machining strategies, and cutting presets based on the selected material (see the Tool Use tab for a report on the selected ‘Tool library').
For Machining mode, CAM Assist provides you with two options: ‘3 Axis’ and ‘3+2 Axis’.
The Machining direction options are now displayed.
Specify the Machining direction
For machining direction, CAM Assist provides you with three options: ‘Aligned to X, Y, Z axes’, ‘User-defined’, and ‘Automatic’.
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 Setup
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:
Setting the orientation
The ‘Selected plane’ must be configured for each checked Machine group.
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.
Select Avoidance geometries
For details and step-by-step instructions, see the tutorial Using Avoidance Geometry.
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:
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).