The following step-by-step instructions will help you to setup a part from a step (.stp) file then run CAM Assist for Mastercam.
The instructions are split into the following sections:
Step-by-step instructions
Opening STEP files in Mastercam
Open Mastercam
Select the Open icon
(or use CTRL + O)This displays the ‘Open dialog’.
Within the Open dialog:
Change the file type to ‘STEP Files (*.stp;*.step;*.stpnc)’
Navigate to the relevant folder and select the step file.
See the screenshot to the right.
Click Open
The part opens in Mastercam.
Creating a Machine Group
Within Mastercam:
Open the ‘Machine’ tab.
From the ‘Mill’ option, select Default
This should open a toolpath tree with a default Machine group.
Expand ‘Properties’
You’ll see a folder called ‘Files’ (expand the machine group if this is not visible).
See the screenshot to the right.
Using the Machine Group Setup
Double-click Files
This opens the Machine Group Setup.
From the options on the left of the Machine Group Setup, click Master Model.
It’s the second icon from the top.
Click Add from selection
It’s the icon to the left of the red X.
See the screenshot to the right.
Select the part.
The part is highlighted
See the screenshot to the right.
Click End Selection
The ‘Selection’ textbox is populated ('PARTBODY')
Specifying the Stock Setup
From the options on the left of the Machine Group Setup, click Stock Setup.
It’s the third icon from the top.
Click Create rectangular stock.
it’s the section option from the left.
See the screenshot to the right.
Select the part.
The part is highlighted.
Click End Selection.
This will create stock at the part bounding box.
See the screenshot to the right.
Use the ‘Stock Setup’ parameters to change the properties of the stock.
Optional: if you have a fixture in the model, select ‘Workholding’ (fourth icon down), tick fixtures and select the fixtures for this setup.
Saving the Setup
To save your setup, click the green checkmark.
It’s near the top-right corner of the Machine Group Setup.
[Optional] - Creating subsequent setups
Right click ‘Machine Group-1’
A pop-up is displayed
From within the pop-up:
Select Groups →New Machining group → Mill
See the screenshot to the right.
This should create a new machine group.
Configure the part (and optionally fixtures), as above.
Do not set any stock, as CAM Assist currently uses ‘no stock’ to mean ‘use stock from previous setup’.
